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Playwright a.k. payne, who studied under Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Tarell Alvin McCraney at Yale, chooses not to capitalize their name.

This biographical information is pertinent to payne’s “Furlough’s Paradise,” which won the 2025 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and is now having its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse.

What distinguishes payne as a rising talent is the breadth of human understanding that makes the characters of “Furlough’s Paradise” seem like old friends by the end of the drama.

Running alongside Mr Aguiar will be Jinnie Payne, the headteacher of Churchtown Primary School, where Alice and Bebe were pupils.

Ms Payne said the school was "deeply touched and encouraged by William's and Kate's support".