Silva is an award-winning playwright whose work puts women’s stories centre stage, whether in a steampunk dystopia, suburban Michigan, or Tahrir Square. She looks for humanity and humour wherever she can find them. Born in Michigan to Armenian parents from Lebanon and Turkey and now living in the Southwest of England, she isn’t afraid to cast her eye worldwide.

Her awards include the William Saroyan Prize for Another Man’s Son and Best New Play at the Brighton Fringe Festival for Gather Ye Rosebuds. Her first radio play Varanasi was shortlisted for a BBC Audio Drama Award, and her play I and the Village, was a finalist for The Bruntwood Prize and an OffWestEnd Award for best new play. Her work has been performed at a number of prestigious theatres including the Bristol Old Vic, Young Vic, National Theatre Studio, and Theatre 503.

She is also passionate about writing for youth and community theatre groups, and these plays include The Tinderbox, Under a Cardboard Sea, Witches Can’t Be Burned and Flashes. The Light Burns Blue, about the Cottingley Fairies, has been performed by youth theatre groups around the world.