playwright David MacLennan has scooped an award for outstanding achievement after producing 250 plays in eight years.

The Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland (CATS) announced the new award, the CATS Whiskers, to celebrate impressive achievement in Scottish theatre.

And David was the first winner, for his efforts arranging A Play, A Pie and A Pint, Oran Mor's innovative lunchtime drama series, which is backed by the Evening Times.

David said: "I am very touched by this award – it is really being given to the whole theatrical community in Scotland whose enthusiasm and support for A Play A Pie and a Pint has made it their success."

The success of A Play A Pie and A Pint has spawned spin-offs, such as Dinner, A Dram and a Drama, and A Bottle of Wine and Patsy Cline.

Joyce McMillan, co-convener of the CATS, said: "Since 2004, David MacLennan and A Play, A Pie and A Pint have transformed the Scottish theatre scene with their brilliant invention of a lunchtime theatre format that allows them – in complete freedom, and without direct public subsidy – to present more than 30 new short plays each year, by a dazzling range of writers from Scotland and across the world."

The announcement of the CATS Whiskers winner comes ahead of the CATS awards ceremony at Glasgow's Tron Theatre next Sunday, which will be presented by X-Men star Alan Cumming.

The event is open to the public and offers a unique opportunity for audiences to come together with the cream of Scottish theatre.

Tickets, £15, from the Tron Theatre, box office.

For more information on the CATS, visit: www.criticsawards.theatrescotland.com

l See A Play, A Pie and A Pint feature on Pages 32-33

catriona.stewart@ eveningtimes.co.uk