NSW Writers Centre

I remain in awe, in love and astounded by Australian playwrights. Their strength of character, their will to continue – their bloody-minded defiance of any one who says it’s all been said and done before. Their ability to come together to celebrate and challenge each other. Their passion. Their personal stubbornness. Their generosity to cut a new path for our history of playwriting which is still so young (in the context of the English-speaking world).

What a delight and honour it is to be included in the conversation at the NSW Writers’ Centre’s Playwriting Festival today.

How lucky am I to be keeping the company of some of my favourite artists and commentators -all who I consider to be an essential part of our creative, cultural eco-system. Not all will/can come – but they are never far from my mind…

If you can… come join me… I’ll be at Garry Owen House, Callan Park, Balmain Rd, Rozelle. (Enter the former park grounds from the Balmain Road gate opposite Cecily Street and follow the green signs to the NSW Writers’ Centre.) I’ll be the nervous one in a pretty dress, casually chewing my nails…

ALL THE INFO YOU NEED:
NSW Writer’s Centre 2012 Playwriting Festival is curated by award-winning writer Kate Mulvany which will bring together some of Australia’s best and brightest playwrights, dramaturgs, artistic directors and reviewers including Van Badham, Vanessa Bates, Jane Bodie, Fraser Corfield, Duncan Graham, Timothy Daly, Kevin Jackson, Andrea James, Leland Kean, Mark Kilmurry, John McCallum, Tony McNamara, Tommy Murphy, Debra Oswald, Lachlan Philpott, Polly Rowe, Diana Simmonds, Sam Strong, Augusta Supple, Katherine Thomson and Ian Meadows.

The program will cover the craft and business of playwriting with panels on the changing face of Australian playwriting; the pros and cons of working with directors and dramaturgs; what mainstage theatre companies are looking for; working in the fringe theatre scene; the reviewed versus the reviewer; and the playwright’s role in the production process.

There will be script sales, gourmet food and coffee, plenty of free parking and you are welcome to join us on the veranda at the end of the day for a complimentary post-festival drink. NSW Writers’ Centre members also receive a generous discount on festival bookings.

NSW Writers’ Centre Members $55 / Concession Members $45 / Non-members $80.

SITE: http://www.nswwc.org.au/whats-on/festivals-2/playwriting-festival/

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THE FESTIVAL PROGRAM

PATRICK WHITE ROOM10-10.45am – Keynote Address By John McCallum
Sydney theatre critic for The Australian, lecturer in theatre and performance studies at UNSW, and author of Belonging: Australian Playwriting in the 20th Century.

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PATRICK WHITE ROOM11-11.45am – The Changing Face of Australian Playwriting
A discussion on what it means to be an Australian playwright. Whether it is “traditional” playwriting, adapting classics to suit our national psyche, poetry or multimedia – what works? Where are we headed? … Are we headed anywhere? With Tommy Murphy, Vanessa Bates, Andrea James, Ian Meadows, Lachlan Philpott. Chaired by Chris Mead.

JUDITH WRIGHT ROOM 11-11.45am – On Women
After the controversies of the past couple of years, where does the female writer now stand? With Van Badham, Jane Bodie, Duncan Graham, Debra Oswald and Katherine Thomson.

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PATRICK WHITE ROOM12-1pm – Reviewers V The Reviewed
An analysis of the art of reviewing plays. Do audiences really care or is it just the artists reading? And what about the growing trend of reviewing by “blog”? Is it a legitimate way of analysing a play or just another method of getting the boot in? Either way, if they review us – do we have the right to review them? With reviewers John McCallum (The Australian), Diana Simmonds (Stage Noise), Kevin Jackson and Augusta Supple, and the reviewed Van Badham, Kate Mulvany, Lachlan Philpott and Katherine Thomson

JUDITH WRIGHT ROOM 12-12.45pm – Dramaturgs and Directors – Getting Them to “Get” You
Is it productive to tie yourself to a director? A dramaturg? What are the pros? What are the cons? Is it better to have an ally in the arts or keep your voice singularly clear? With Tom Holloway, Andrea James, Chris Mead and Iain Sinclair. Chaired by David Ryding.

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12.45-2pm – LUNCH
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PATRICK WHITE ROOM 2-2.45pm – What the Hell Are Mainstage Companies Looking For Anyway?
The title says it all – Polly Rowe from Sydney Theatre Company, Sam Strong from Griffin, Belvoir’s Eamon Flack, Mark Kilmurry from Ensemble and Fraser Corfield from Australian Theatre for Young People will be here to let you know.

JUDITH WRIGHT ROOM 2-2.45pm – Handing Over The Baby
Going from the solitary writing desk to the buzzing rehearsal room. Where do sound, lighting, publicity and casting come into it? How do you maintain some semblance of control as a writer? With Vanessa Bates, Hilary Bell, Jane Bodie, Ian Meadows. Chaired by Timothy Daly.

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PATRICK WHITE ROOM 3-3.45pm – Fringe Benefits
Life on the fringe. The audiences, the laksas, the reviews, the poker machines next door and the life of the play afterwards … With Leland Kean from Tamarama Rock Surfers, Drew Fairley and Augusta Supple. Chaired by Duncan Graham.

JUDITH WRIGHT ROOM 3-3.45pm – I’m Not “Latest Thing” …
“I’m not the latest thing and I am not a stalwart either” – just where does a mid-career playwright fit in? Are we losing our best playwrights to other arenas by not supporting them mid-career? With Timothy Daly, Tony McNamara, Debra Oswald and Katherine Thomson. Chaired by Dianna Simmonds.

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PATRICK WHITE ROOM 4-5pm – What are our Favourite Playwright’s Favourite Plays?
Our favourite playwrights tell us which plays they love and why they love them. With Van Badham, Hilary Bell, Duncan Graham, Tony McNamara, Ian Meadows and Kate Mulvany. Chaired by Sam Strong.

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PATRICK WHITE ROOM 5-6pm – ON THE VERANDA
Join your fellow writers for a complimentary post-festival drink.

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AND OF COURSE A SONG
A little dedication to this festival – to the spirit of conversation – brave artistic offerings – diversity of voice and perspective.