Entries are now open in a competition offering a unique chance for new Australian playwrights to write a work guaranteed to be staged by a professional theatre company.
The competition, commissioning and production, marks a best-practice collaboration between the Australian Writers’ Guild, internationally renowned playwright David Williamson and Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre.
Writers have until the end of October to submit their ideas for a play that will be written during 2016 and staged by the Ensemble Theatre in their 2017 season.
The winner will be an Australian playwright who demonstrates a strong contemporary voice and a talent for storytelling.
He or she will also receive a $12,500 commission and entry into the AWG’s Pathways Program, an initiative which links talent with opportunity and helps to forge relationships between writers and producers.
The $12,500 commission will come from David Williamson’s prize money from winning the NSW Premier’s Special Award in early 2015.
Williamson – who is also Emeritus President of the AWG – says he well remembers his feelings as a young playwright trying to interest theatre companies in two plays he had written.
“After a year I’d almost given up,” he said. “Then the small La Mama company decided to do The Removalists and the APG [Australian Performing Group] decided to do Don’s Party. I got two productions and my life was transformed.
“ I realised from that moment that words on the page don’t help playwrights at all. It’s only when those words on page come to life on stage that a playwright has a chance.”
Entries open today to writers who are current financial members of the AWG and own all rights to the project. Entries close on 30 October 2015.
Submissions must include: a one page synopsis; one to two pages outlining the intention of the play and the next steps for development; a writing sample of up to 20 pages that best demonstrates their skill as a writer plus an up-to-date c.v. Entry form is available here.
The AWG is offering to waive the one-off Joining Fee for applicants entering the competition. To be eligible for this offer, they will need to fill out the Application Form and pay the AWG Membership Fee. For information about AWG membership please click here.