Playmarket eBulletin – News for New Zealand Playwrights
“Grammar, which knows how to control even kings.”
Moliere
Kia ora tatou katoa . Welcome to Playmarket’s first eBulletin for 2010, providing news, opportunities, articles and deadlines to playwrights. As well as the monthly eBulletins make sure you visit our website for regular news, and opportunities throughout the yearhere:
First up: on the eve of current Director Mark Amery’s departure we asked him to write a few words of farewell.
Ngaa Mihi nui na whanau Playmarket
Diving in and Getting Out
Mark Amery
Departing this very precious organisation after more than seven staggering years I’m particularly stoked to leave behind such experienced staff and board.
When I began there were three of us, led by Anna Cameron. We were brand new and fairly green. We learnt a lot from talking widely to others, and diving in and doing – opening things up for discussion. There’s plenty to be proud of and plenty I’d do differently with hindsight!
I‘m proud of how playwrights and theatres we’ve worked with, and the organisation itself, have grown in this time. Activity has broadened, but I feel our focus, particularly recently, has got keener on supporting our best established and emerging playwrights.
Yet there is still a very long way to go to really see New Zealand represented well on stages.
It’s tribute to Playmarket’s staff that the organisation has the strength of focus it has today. Their ideas, drive and many a robust discussion have driven growth here. From them I have learnt an enormous amount.
Over five and half years Katrina Chandra has brought a huge passion, dedication and skill to the advancement of playwrights, and a keen talent for ensuring our systems are strong. I’m not sure whether we’d have an office in Auckland without her. Jean Betts has been on staff for four and a half years and has bought clear focus, intelligence and care to ensuring our development work has greater flexibility and rigour to serve our best playwrights’ needs. She has driven the creation of crucial initiatives like the Playwrights Retreat, New NZ Play Award, and Plays for the Young Award.
Both Pania Stevenson and Jenni Heka have been with Playmarket for two years. As well as heaps of aroha bringing us together, Pania has brought stability and professionalism to our office management, plus a big step up in our bookshop’s operation, and playwrights’ interaction with schools. Jenni has created an impressive infrastructure for Maori and Pacific Island playwright development in Auckland, moving apace now with a clear set of priorities. Late last year we welcomed Aneta Ruth to the Administrative Assistant Position, to which she brings great experience with both theatre administration and education. Behind them all, our go-to financial and computer officer Dave Jenkins has been a bearded rock, and essential devil’s advocate.
Between all these staff I believe there is a far more proactive representation of New Zealand playwrights than ever before, and great improvement in our services. The best thing I ever did was employ them. See you at the theatre! Mark
Submissions
The Manawatu International One-Act Playwriting Competition
Massey University, Palmerston North City Council and Palmerston North City Library announce an open call for playwrights for the 2010 Manawatu (New Zealand) International One-Act Playwriting Competition. Winning writers have their plays developed and presented at the Biennial Manawatu Festival of New Arts in October. The theme of the 2010 festival is ‘Back to Earth’ looking at writing that explores this theme experimentally and in a theatrically challenging manner. Submission deadline is Friday March 19. More information can be found here
MOONDANCE best stageplay competition
The Moondance International Film Festival competition has a stageplay category – jointly won by Greg McGee last year with Me and Robert McKee. The 2010 competition is open for submissions. Please visit their website for more informationwww.moondancefilmfestival.com
Everyone Has the Right
Everyone Has the Right is a rolling script submission service for plays with human rights at their heart. A joint initiative with Amnesty International UK. More information can be found here.
Opportunities
Aotearoa Playwrights Conference Playwrights’ Retreat, 2010
We are planning another playwrights’ retreat this year for ten lucky playwrights, returning to the beautiful Strathean in Otaki for eight days between 19–25 July 2010. We had very good feedback from last time, and very good results too. The playwrights were Pip Hall, Ken Duncum, Gary Henderson, Matthew Saville, Stayci Taylor, Julie Hill, John Vakidis, Paul Rothwell and Philip Braithwaite.
Once again we will be offering this opportunity free. You will have your own room and won’t need to cook, clean, email, or organise. We aim to provide a quiet, distraction-free atmosphere so you can concentrate on your work. Applications are now open and close Friday 14 May 2010. For more information go here.
Maori and Pasifika Opportunities
Banana Boat Writers Group supported by Auckland City Creative Communities and Playmarket will host a series of intensive half day play workshops with Director/Producer James Wilson (Massive Company) and playwright one-on-one labs with Albert Belz (Whero’s New Net, Awhi Tapu) as part of the Pasifika Festival on the 8th and 9th March 2010.
Workshops will take place 10am – 4.30pm at the Council Chambers, Auckland Town Hall. Pasifika and Maori Playwrights with full draftsof a play are invited to apply at bananaboatnz@gmail.com. Please email for application details. All applications must be received byFriday 12 February 2010, 3pm. Places are limited. For more details please contact Jenni Heka jenni@playmarket.org.nz or David Mameabananaboatnz@gmail.com
Playmarket script circulation
We will soon be planning this year’s script circulation, and we would love to hear from all producers and directors out there, young and old, experienced and green, looking for new NZ scripts. Please let us know if you prefer any particular kind of work, and if you need hard copy or if PDFs will suffice, and we will attempt to meet your requirements.
Please send details to scripts@playmarket.org.nz
CNZ seminars – Auckland and Wellington
We are currently looking to organise seminars in April with CNZ personnel to help explain how playwrights can best benefit from the funding on offer and how to approach making out an application. If you think you may be interested please let us know,scripts@playmarket.org.nz. Notes will be compiled for those who won’t be able to attend these seminars.
Auckland Regional Parks Artist in Residence Programme 2010
Proposals are sought from established artists for Auckland Regional Parks Artist in Residence Programme 2010. Visual artists and other creators including writers, composers and choreographers are invited to apply.
This is an opportunity to live in a regional park for eight weeks and to create work in a natural setting in a medium of your choice. Applications close Friday 19 February 2010. More information can be found here.
Banana Boat Writers Group
The Banana Boat is a loose collective of Pasifika writers who meet the 4th Thursday of every month in Grey Lynn, Auckland. The Banana Boat is an initiative of Playmarket. The next fono is on Thursday 25 February 2010 from 7PM TO 9PM. It will be held at the funky TOI ORA LIVE ART TRUST STUDIO, 6 Putiki Street, Grey Lynn. For details contact Jenni Heka jenni@playmarket.org.nz or 09 3652648 (office hours) or contact David Mamea 021 668 346. bananaboatnz@gmail.com
Arts Alive Funding round 32
Arts Alive is an Auckland City Council performing arts funding programme that supports independent performing arts professionals.
The programmes objectives are to build audiences for the performing arts and to develop and maintain Auckland’s performing arts infrastructure. Projects may be a production season, a performance series, a one-night show or concert, or festival work of music, dance or theatre, or a combination of these artforms. For projects taking place between 1 May and 31 October 2010. Submissions due Friday 19 February 2010. More information can be found here
Michael King Writers’ Centre Maori Writers residency
The Michael King Writers’ Centre is calling for applications for the first Maori writer’s residency at the centre. The residency is for eight weeks from 14 May 2010. The selected author will have free accommodation, use of a writing studio and will receive a stipend of $8,000.
The residency is open to emerging and established authors, working on a project in fiction, non-fiction, drama, poetry or creative writing.
Applications close Friday 12 February 2010. More Information here.
Faith Broome Playwright-in-Residence
The University of Oklahoma’s School of Drama invites applications from established or emerging playwrights for the Faith Broome Playwright-in-Residence. For further information visit their website here:
Applications close Monday 1 March 2010.
NZ Musical Theatre Conference 2010
The 50th Anniversary conference will be held in Auckland 9 – 21 March 2010. The conference will feature 11 Forums and 10 Seminars covering everything for performers, technicians, production people and administrators. More information can be found here.
The NZ Performing Arts Directory
Theatreview has launched the NZ Performing Arts Directory. Membership is open to all performing arts practitioners, organisations and supporters. Further information can be found here.
Maori and Pasifika Playwrights
Playmarket is in the process of clearly verifying on our database playwrights who identify as Maori or Pasifika in line with our wish to see stronger representation in our theatre. This will help ensure that when we offer events that may especially interest you, that you are alerted (such as the new award for Maori Playwrights). Please confirm by emailing scripts@playmarket.org.nz
Getting your play on a stage
For those playwrights among you sick of waiting for someone else to put on your play – why not consider doing it yourself? Check out Production Advice here and see if it inspires. If anything you need is missing, or if you have any information that you feel would be useful to others, please get in touch and we will see what we can do to help – scripts@playmarket.org.nz
News
Playmarket marks two sad losses over the Christmas period. Just before New Year’s New Zealand lost one of its most respected writers and literary executor of the James K Baxter Estate: Jacquie Baxter, aged 72, also known as the wonderful poet and short story writer JC Turm. Jacquie was one of the first Maori women to obtain a university degree and, amongst other firsts for Maori writers, she was the first to be published in an anthology.
One of Christchurch’s most celebrated actors Elizabeth Moody also passed away aged 70. Elizabeth acted in and directed countless New Zealand plays. As recently as last year Elizabeth directed Roger Hall’s Social Climbers for Christchurch Repertory Theatre.
Adam New Zealand Play Award
Thanks very much for all playwright’s entries. Out of 70 in all we are pleased to announce a short list of a dozen.
Denis Edwards Jack’s Big Big Day
Ella West The Middlemarch Singles Ball
Fiona Samuel Ghost Train and The Liar’s Bible
Greg McGee Me & Robert McKee
Hannah McKie The Avon Lady
Justin Eade Home Invasion
Lorae Parry & Pinky Agnew Sex Drive
Mike Hudson A Thousand Hills
Paul Baker Unfinished Business
Stuart Hoar Pasefika
Thomas Sainsbury The Canary
Whiti Hereaka Te Kaupoi
It’s great to see that while there are some well known names here, three had previously received Playmarket Script Assessments. Playmarket staff and four independent judges are now assessing the shortlist.
New Clients
We’re very pleased to welcome to the Playmarket agency a number of excellent writers: Ellie Smith, Louise Tu’u, Gavin McGibbon and Eli Kent. And as associates representing specific works, going into professional production Grant Buist, Neil Troost and Caroline Lark. Please check our website for biographies and works for these writers as they become available.
2009
We’re also pleased to be able to announce that 2009 was a record year both for the number of licenses issued for New Zealand plays and for royalties collected on playwrights’ behalf. As well as the success of Roger Hall’s Four Flat Whites in Italy, box office was strong for New Zealand work of all kinds – something we hope our theatre naturally will build on. It was a busy year for Playmarket. We circulated670 Scripts, licensed plays for 76 professional productions, 62 amateur productions and 94 school and tertiary productions. We received 199 new New Zealand plays, 63 of them by Playmarket clients.
Pasifika and Matariki Playwrights 2010
Selected for the Pasifika Playwrights development programme in 2010 are Niuean/Cook Island playwright Arnette Arapai (Running with the Bulls, Miss South Pacific, Love Handles) will develop her new work Tangimama’s 21st and Playmarket client writer Louise Tu’u will develop her new play, working title “Base Bar“. Selected for the Matariki Playwrights development programme for 2010 are Michael Rewiri Thorsen’s Strong Hands and Chris Molloy’s The Last Taniwha.
All these playwrights will receive support in developing their work through labs or workshops and readings.
Short+Sweet Sydney 2010 – New Zealand winner
While Short+Sweet launched in Auckland, in Sydney a New Zealander came through strongly at Newtown Theatre: Playmarket client Angie Farrow’s play Lifetime. Lifetime, which asks the question “is it possible to be loved in a lifetime of ten minutes?” was the run away winner of the Judge’s Choice for top 100 Newtown Theatre Week 3 and now progresses through to the Gala Final at the NIDA Parade Theatre on Saturday March 13th.
The Packer goes to Hollywood
Dianna Fuemana’s The Packer is being taken by Newwayintheatre productions to the inaugural Hollywood Fringe Festival June 17 – 27 (www.hollywoodfringe.org), with funding support from CNZ. Meanwhile Dianna has also been working on a film adaptation with South Pacific Pictures entitled Solo. The play The Packer is available for your reading pleasure from our bookshop here.
Radio New Zealand Summer Season
Each year the Radio NZ drama department runs a series of writing-for-radio drama workshops throughout New Zealand. Two writers from Playmarket’s Pasifika and Maori workshops are having readings as part of the season. Skin Deep by Ole Maiava and Where’s Wiki’s House Gone Dad by Rob Tuwhare can be heard at 3pm Sunday 24 February on Radio New Zealand online here. Further Pasifika and Maori Writing for Radio workshops in Auckland are planned for 2010, for more details email Jenni Heka jenni@playmarket.org.nz
The Arrival gains praise in Sydney
Red Leap Theatre’s adaptation for stage of Shaun Tan’s graphic novel The Arrival has performed to rave reviews in the Sydney Festival 2010.
“The wildly energetic production is worthy of Tan’s evocative original. Language is minimal and mainly in an unfathomable dialect so we, the audience, also feel like strangers in a strange land. This is theatre to feel, rather than think about.” The Daily Telegraph. Read the full review here.
“There is a passion for Fringe in this city”
The programme for the 20th Wellington Fringe Festival 2010 was launched at Mighty Mighty last Friday. Fringe 2010 begins February 12 with the first annual Running of the Fringe and concludes March 7 with the Fringe Awards and infamous closing night party at the Paramount Theatre. The programme boasts 80 shows that span the genres of comedy, theatre, music, dance and visual arts – with a new category to house those that refuse to be boxed: WTF? (What the Fringe?). The programme can be found online here.
Auckland Performing Arts Forum 2009 notes online
Notes for the 2009 Auckland Performing Arts Forum are now available online here. Some topics covered in the forum include Audience Cultivation, Media – How can we engage and inspire the media to want to tell/write about the arts? How do we make theatre an accepted & normalised form of entertainment to the general public? And Resources for self-producing.
Q Theatre construction begins
After more than a decade of work, Q Theatre management and supporters gathered for the official ceremony to mark the start of construction on this new home for the performing arts. Article found here
Articles of interest
The drama factory: how theatre scripts reach the stage
The Guardian
What is Britain’s biggest growth industry? Playwriting, according to a recent report by Arts Council of England. But how does a script make it from first draft to first rehearsal? Full article found here
What’s the place of migrant stories in our literature?
Renee Liang interviews Croatian-Kiwi playwright Donna Banicevich Gera about the place of Migrant Stories in our literature here
The Enlightening Bridge Between Art And Work
If a Martian came to Earth and tried to understand what human beings do just from reading most literature published today, he would come away with the extraordinary impression that we basically spend our time falling in love, squabbling with our families, and occasionally murdering one another. Full article found here
Are audiences just too old?
Theatres are convinced the only way to survive is to cram in youngsters, but are they guilty of ageism? Full article found here.
“Outrageous Fortune: The Life and Times of the New American Play” New York Times
A new book examines the “collaboration in crisis” between playwrights and those who produce their work. Full article found here
From Barbie to Renoir: Intellectual Property and Culture
Professor Susy Frankel’s inaugural lecture on copyright at Massey University here
Christchurch Arts Festival funding secured
Christchurch Arts Festival Trust, Creative New Zealand and the Christchurch City Council have agreed to funding that secures the future of the Christchurch Arts Festival. Full article found here.
What’s On ?
NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIONS
February 2010
Featured Production
MEDEA SONGS
Sarah Delahunty
24 February – 27 Feb 2010
Blondini’s Lounge, Embassy Theatre, Wellington
A contemporary ancient Greek Tragedy musical. Zeus sits at a table in his downtown Wellington café, watching the mess mortals make of their lives. But must all who begin life in a tragedy remain there? “Many matters the gods bring to surprising ends”
Auckland
Le Sud
Dave Armstrong
11 February – 6 March 2010
Maidment Theatre, Auckland
I *heart* Camping
Sophie Henderson and Curtis Vowell
24 February – 6 March 2010
Basement Theatre, Auckland
Wellington
Ladies a Plate
Geraldine Brophy and Bea Joblin
10 February – 13 February 2010
Caffiend Cafe, Petone
Christchurch
Home land
Gary Henderson
20 February – 20 March 2010
Court Theatre, Christchurch
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