Bruce Mason Award
2007 Award Winner Michael Galvin
Michael Galvin has been recognised as an outstanding emerging playwright, with the award for 2007 of New Zealand's most significant national theatre award, the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award.
This prestigious annual award has since 1983 recognises the work of an outstanding emerging New Zealand playwright. Such a playwright has had one or more full-length plays produced to acclaim. The award is sponsored by the Downstage Theatre Society, The FAME Trust and Playmarket.
The author of three major works for the stage, Galvin's award recognises his dedication as a playwright and the success of his second play
The Ocean Star, which premiered with Auckland Theatre Company in 2006 to strong critical notices.
"A superb black comedy," wrote Kate Ward-Smythe of Theatreview, "Galvin's second play is an insightful yet witty exploration of a dysfunctional family's attempt to confront their past and present, then navigate a way forward together... Galvin juxtaposes bleak reality with comic observation extremely well."
"Galvin is a talented writer," wrote
NZ Listener critic Natasha Hay. "He has a gift for quirky characterisation and sharp, snappy dialogue. There's also a lovely generosity of spirit and optimism beneath the blackness. This captivating and enjoyable show confirms him as a local writer to watch."
The award is decided through voting by a panel of leading directors and play developers throughout New Zealand. The award sees Galvin awarded a $10,000 full-length play commission, to be given a playreading in 2008 or 2009.
A graduate of Victoria University and Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, Galvin had an extensive stage career before joining
Shortland Street. He has had short stories published in anthologies:
The Picnic Virgin and
Boy's Own Stories. His first play,
New Gold Dream is a comedy about the reunion of a once famous performance art group obsessed with 80s music.
Recently given workshop by ATC and Playmarket, his third play
Station to Station is a gutsy work where Galvin mixes comedy with tragedy; Led by a charismatic television presenter turned religious zealot, a mother and son share a rollercoaster journey from drab suburbia to Jerusalem and a devastating act of terrorism.
The Award
The
Bruce Mason Playwriting Award is New Zealand’s most prestigious playwriting award, provided by Playmarket with generous support from the FAME Trust and Downstage Theatre Society.
This annual national award, given in November each year, exists to recognise the work of an outstanding emerging New Zealand playwright. Such a playwright will have had one or more full-length plays produced to critical and audience acclaim. The Award plays a vital part in a playwright’s career by focusing the professional development of the winner. There is no application process for the award, rather playwrights are nominated and ranked by a national panel of leading theatre dramaturgs and artistic directors who are in a position to read or see the work eligible.
The award includes a full-length play commission from the winning playwright and an annual playreading.
Previous recipients of the award are: Albert Belz, 2006; Mitch Tawhi Thomas, 2002; Victor Rodger, 2001; Stuart McKenzie 2000; Toa Fraser 1999; Oscar Kightley 1998; Jo Randerson 1997; John Vakidis, 1996; Briar Grace-Smith, 1995; Duncan Sarkies, 1994; Vivienne Plumb, 1993; Hone Kouka, 1992; David Geary, 1991; John Broughton,1990; James Beaumont, 1989; Stuart Hoar, 1989; Sarah Delahunty, 1987; Rosie Scott, 1986; Stephanie Johnson, 1985; Simon O'Connor, 1984; Fiona Farrell, 1983.
The FAME TRUST (formerly known as the International Arts Foundation of New Zealand) was set up in 1995 to provide interest free loans to post graduate students, with proven ability, seeking further education, frequently offshore. By 6th September 2005 it had assisted 468 students from all artistic genres: performers and creators, actors and playwrights.
Downstage Theatre Society members share a love of live theatre and support Downstage. One way in which the Society contributes, not only to Downstage but to theatre in Wellington, is by working with Playmarket and the theatre in organising the Adam Playreading Series, which has been running annually since 1997. Given Bruce Mason’s importance to Downstage and our theatre’s commitment to the finest new New Zealand playwriting we are thrilled to be able to support this Award.
Born in Wellington in 1921, Bruce Mason was one of New Zealand’s most significant playwrights and a key figure in the birth of a New Zealand theatre. He served as radio, record and music critic for the NZ Listener and was drama critic for The Dominion 1958-60 and again in 1973-80. From 1980 he transferred to the Evening Post.
In 1960-61 Mason was Editor of
Te Ao Hou for the Department of Maori Affairs and from 1967-70 edited the theatre magazine Act. Actively involved in all aspects of New Zealand literature, he was also a founder and president of the NZ branch of PEN and from 1948-60 was variously president, secretary and committee member of Wellington's Unity Theatre. In 1963 he toured Eastern Europe and performed The End of the Golden Weather at that year’s Edinburgh Festival.
Mason wrote over thirty plays, including such classics as
The Pohutakawa Tree,
End of the Golden Weather, Blood of the Lamb and Awatea. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Literature by Victoria University in 1977, was made a CBE in 1980, and in 1982 was given the New Zealand Literary Fund Award for Achievement. Bruce Mason died in 1982.
A staunch supporter of Downstage Theatre, numerous of Mason’s plays were produced in the theatre’s early days and his contribution to Downstage and our theatre have been recognised by the unveiling of a sculpture of Mason at Downstage in 2005.
