December e-News – End of year wrap-up!Celebrating the achivements of Australian playwrights
OUR 2022 WRAP-UP
With the year drawing to a close, we’re taking a moment to look back on all the amazing projects and milestones APT has achieved in 2022.
We’re so proud of everything we have achieved this year and would like to extend a sincere thank you for helping support us. We can’t wait to continue in shaping and developing Australian plays and playwrights.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
– APT Team
SEPTEMBER: MAX AFFORD WORKSHOP WITH FRIEDA LEE
In May, Frieda Lee took home the covetted Max Afford Young Playwrights Award for her new work ‘The Bright Side of Bum Town’. A children’s play focusing on the economic effects on families in a post-covid world.
The Max Afford Award is a biennial award for a playwright under 40 years old. The winning playwright is awarded $30 000, which includes $15 000 towards creative development
As part of this award, Lee had a workshop in September to help further develop her script. “[I] Had a fantastic time with Mary Rachel Brown, Lycia Gunawan, Sam Hayes, Madeleine Jones, Adrienne Patterson and Mararo Wangai getting my script on the floor, picking it apart and having a play. Thanks to the Max Afford Development I’ve learnt so much about what needs fixing and where there is more to explore.” – Frieda Lee
Image (Left to Right): Lycia Gunawan, Madeleine Jones, Sam Hayes
OCTOBER: FIRST NATIONS RETREAT
In October, we had our First Nations Retreat & Development Strategy at Shark Island, Kangaroo Valley.
We want to thank our program partners, the brilliant retreat participants, and the team at the Shark Valley Institute for hosting this wonderful project aimed at seeding, developing, connecting, publishing and distributing plays by First Nations playwrights.
2022 First Nations Retreat Participants:
Jorjia Gillis
Melody Dia
Nathan Maynard
Nazaree Dickerson
Ngaire Pigram
Troy “Jungaji” Brady
October was a busy month for APT! As part of the Performing Lines x APT Commission, Nick Atkins continued to develop his work on a week-long retreat in Bundanon.
“When I arrived at Bundanon, one of the team members that manages the site told me that time moved differently in the valley,” said Nick. “I’ve been (and am still) trying to write a new play in and amongst a bunch of other projects. […] Mostly I just felt my way through where the work was and needed to go. I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
“I find there’s a point in a new project when hard questions start to form that need deeper thinking and writing. They come after the excitement of starting something new and addressing them requires the sort of work that’s hard to do when you’re compartmentalising time into chunks between others chunks. My time at Bundanon was mostly spent sitting with these questions.”
We were honoured to have partnered with La Boite in 2022 to facilitate the development of ten new works for the stage. This culminated in last month’s showcase of the diverse and exciting stories of tomorrow. Featuring works from Chenturan Aran, William Hinz, Donna Hughes, Rebecca Meston & Daley Rangi, five rising stars from across the nation, they worked with a brilliant pool of Brisbane actors, to give an exclusive glimpse into their upcoming scripts.
A special shout out to Director Jess Bunz and performers Lauren Abraham, Ayeesha Ash, Emily Burton, Matt Domingo, Billy Fogarty, Finley Kube, Tracey Lee Maxwell, Bryan Probets, Anthony Standish & Perry Mooney.
Image: Chenturan Aran by Stephen Henry
2023: LA MAMA PATHWAYS
We are very excited to announce that from early next year we will be running an innovative new program called La Mama Pathways in partnership with Melbourne’s La Mama Theatre.
This program is aimed at emerging and early mid-career theatre artists who are primarily but not exclusively, text-based theatre makers and playwrights. A series of 15 nuts-and-bolts sessions on the craft of playwriting and contemporary theatre creation will be delivered from the end of February through to end of May, for 12 selected participants chosen by a diverse advisory panel.
The sessions will be delivered by experienced playwrights, educators, directors and leading theatre makers from Victoria’s independent theatre sector.
This program is targeted specifically for theatre artists with demonstrated potential who wish to further develop their craft. Participants will receive up to 18 hours of dramaturgy or mentoring to develop their projects.
Keep your eyes peeled for further information on La Mama’s and APT’s websites in early 2023 for when applications will be open.
SUPPORT AUSTRALIAN PLAYS TRANSFORM
APT has a critical role to play in the future of Australian playwriting. We will be a principal instrument of transformation and better representation, creating space and opportunity for playwrights to be at their best.
We acknowledge that we live and create on unceded lands. We pay our respects to the First Peoples of Australia, and to their elders past, present and future.
