
This is the third year of our annual award, open to ANY new unproduced New Zealand play.
The deadline for your submission this year for the 2010 award is December 4th, 2009. Please note that submissions should be emailed, and MUST include page numbers, a brief synopsis and a list of characters. Playmarket staff will be the judges and the winner(s) will be announced by the end of March 2010.
NB:- The best play submitted by a woman will also be eligible for submission to The Play Press as their entry for the annual Susan Smith Blackburn Prize (submissions by invitation only; www.blackburnprize.org). As only a third of Playmarket’s clients are women, we hope this will encourage a few more to get serious!
All submissions and enquiries to Jean, scripts@playmarket.org.nz.
The 53rd Victim by Pip Hall has won Playmarket’s 2009 New Play Award, from a very strong field. The 53rd Victim, and Sketch by Wellington playwright Kate Morris have also been selected to be given rehearsed public readings as part of the upcoming Aotearoa Playwrights Conference NEW WRITING / NEW PRODUCING Forum at the Auckland Festival, March 7 and 8.
The winner in 2008 was Ninna Tersman, whose play Fucking Parasites was workshopped in London, directed by Lorae Parry with script advisor Tanika Gupta. Its premiere will take place at the Alcyone Festival in Chicago this year.
The prize this year is also a professional workshop, or similar development assistance depending on the play and the wishes of the winner; and ongoing feedback throughout the year from Playmarket - once again, depending on the needs of your script. But don't worry about winning - take this opportunity to have your play read by our experienced staff and to get it on the Playmarket radar. We would love to see your work. You might get on the short list - and who knows, you might even win! All good for the CV.