Nadia Hopkins Wins Relentless Award for "Humane Traps," Blending Dark Humor with Life's Complexities

Nadia Hopkins's Breakthrough Award

Nadia Hopkins's play, Humane Traps, has been awarded this year's Relentless Award, which comes with a hefty prize of $50,000. While its title may suggest a whimsical nod to a mouse trap, the play itself dives into profoundly human themes wrapped in dark humor. Hopkins, a promising 24-year-old playwright, initially crafted this piece as her honors thesis at Connecticut College. It's impressive how she transforms a seemingly mundane subject into an exploration of life, death, and the chaos of familial relationships. Established in memory of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, the Relentless Award honors bold storytelling in American theater. It has a storied history, having previously recognized standout works like Clare Barron's

Dance Nation and Aleshea Harris’s Is God Is. In its tenth year, the award continues to uplift new voices, now also encompassing musicals every alternate year. Hopkins's journey in theater began during her high school years, notably inspired by seeing The Wolves, a play that left a lasting impression on her. “At the time, it felt like the craziest play I’d ever seen. I wanted to be in it,” she recalled. With a foundation built on a theatre-devising class and mentorship from Kenneth Prestininzi, she absorbed the vibrant theatrical landscapes of Boston and Philadelphia. Today, she makes her home in Ridgewood, Brooklyn. This year’s finalist lineup for the Relentless Award was equally impressive, featuring works by Regan Moro, william o’neal ii, and Matt Thekkethala, all of whom received $2,000 awards. These finalists will be honored alongside Hopkins at a ceremony on November 16 at Theatre Row in New York City. In a recent interview, Hopkins shared insights about her play, which centers on Charlie, a young woman confronting the unsettling realities of her relatives’ lives at a time when they're grappling with both a mouse infestation and Rick’s terminal illness. The dynamic between the characters surfaces in unexpected ways, weaving together themes of mortality and acceptance.

Dealing with Life and Death

The play's core idea originated from a simple but profound observation during Hopkins’s time at a Quaker camp, where she encountered persistent mouse problems each summer. “The inevitability—that we just accept that mice are going to tear through our lives—felt similar to the way that death is inevitable,” she explained. This thematic connection between the mundane and the grave sets the stage for a narrative that’s both humorous and poignant. Hopkins’s vision crystallized further while writing scenes about the mouse dilemma and her character’s family struggles. The mice, in a sense, serve as metaphors for how characters deal with death and existential dread. Charlie’s perspective adds another layer; she’s depicted as unafraid of life and death, seeing endless possibilities within transformations — a mindset shaped by her close relationship with nature. While discussing her influences, the playwright highlighted the commendations from judge Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, who recognized the challenging nature of her work. Hopkins herself sees parallels between her writing and the styles of Edward Albee and Christopher Durang, noting how comedic archetypes can reveal deeper truths about human experience. Delivering her play to an audience during its full staging at Connecticut College taught her valuable lessons about timing and audience perception. “Sometimes moments you think will land as funny can evoke gasps instead,” she reflected, exemplifying how live performance can bring unexpected dimensions to a script. As a relatively fresh voice in the theater scene, receiving the Relentless Award signifies not just financial support but also invaluable recognition of her artistic endeavor. “This award really celebrates the courageous and the original,” said Hopkins. Her ambition isn't merely to entertain; she aims to challenge and captivate, pushing the boundaries of narrative form. In a field rich with talent, Hopkins is making her mark, navigating the complexities of life’s absurdities and significances through a uniquely compelling lens.