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Young Playwrights

THE NEW ZEALAND YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS COMPETITION

CHANGE THE WORLD - WRITE A PLAY

This could be the defining moment of your life!

The deadline for the Tenth New Zealand Young Playwrights' Competition was 1st of December and the winners have been selected and notified. A huge congratulations to;

Kate Morris (for her play Sketch); Martha Hardy-Ward (for Silent Night); and Harry Meech (for Plains).

You will get an opportunity to see these plays at The Edge in Auckland next year. Email us if you'd like to receive more info on this. Put 'Invite me to NZYPC Presentations' in the subject line.

The judges were Lyn Cardy (Auckland Theatre Company), Poppy Haynes (young playwright), and Janie Walker (Playmarket).

Commended certificates were given to; Sophie Henderson,Kate Morris, Thalia Henry,Branwen Miller,Ashley Milne,Hannah McKie,Georgia Heard, Renee Maurice, Susan Jennifer Williams, Joseph E.Harper, Francesca Emms, Jonathan Riley, Hollie Sutton, James Wenly, Uther Dean, and Natalie Medlock.

THE NEXT DEADLINE IS 6 DECEMBER 2010.

This event has established itself as an important stepping-stone in the development of new writers for theatre in Aotearoa. It recognised winners across the country.

NZYPC is every two years and young writers are urged to start working towards the next deadline 1st December 2008. For a brochure, please email scripts@playmarket.org.nz

Your script does not need to be finished - a first draft is okay. It needs to be something you are still passionate about, and one that can withstand a year of development (ie. don't send a finished script in just because you want to win the competition.

Organised by script development agency Playmarket, the competition is open to New Zealand citizens aged between 16 and 24. Winners receive the opportunity to develop their play at The Edge in Auckland, with theatre practitioners who are top in their field. In 2007 this included directors/dramaturgs Stephen Sinclair, Pip Hall, James Beaumont, Sam Scott, and Mary Margaret-Hollins.

All flights, meals, and accommodation are fully paid for.

If you would like to enter this competition but don't know how, either find yourself a mentor, or contact Playmarket. Remember that the best way to learn how to write a play, is to write a play! (Words from Roger Hall).

Written your script? And letting in marinate? Good idea. Leave it for a bit, then read it in one sitting, without writing anything down. You have time for another draft, and you will benefit from doing so. but it’s not the time to edit the odd word or sentence. What was the feeling you got when you read it? Is there enough drama? Does the main character/s want something desperately? Don’t worry about the ending, or tying things up nicely.

Haven’t started? No worries. You've got loads of time. What’s burning for you right now? The fact the Green’s didn’t do as well as expected in the last election; the Bali bombers; your sister’s driving you nuts; exams are over and now what? (go wild – what’s the most extreme thing you could think of doing right now?); if the world ended tomorrow what would you do today?; America has a black president – what if NZ did? Imagine being a ladybug. Just hole yourself up for a weekend and go mad writing – don’t read it back, don’t edit it, don’t show it to anyone. Just get in the zone and stretch your imagination. You know you want to write. The only thing stopping you is that you’re not writing!

Kind of started but are stuck? Get back into it. Don’t re read it. Just think of the single most passionate or angry or fascinating thing about your script, and give a character a monologue about that one thing. Don’t sensor yourself, don’t stop typing/writing for five minutes. Your characters must be passionate. Or, if they aren’t, why not? Tell that critic on your shoulder to just shut up.

You don’t have to know what your script is ‘about’ yet.

Remember we are looking for scripts that have potential, not ones that are perfectly formed. Once we chose a script that was a total mess, but the characters were exciting, quirky, and only that writer could of written them. We’re rather see some dynamic characters and idea than a boring idea that ‘works’. Is there something in your script that you are passionate about?

And please, email us with any questions.

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NZYPC has recognised the following winners:

2008; Kate Morris, Harry Meech, Martha Hardy-Ward

2007 (see below for their bios and photos); Ashley Milne, Thomas Sainsbury, Branwen Millar, Georgina Titheridge, Kate Morris, Thalia Henry

2005; Zoe Deverick, Paul Rothwell, Thomas Sainsbury, Owen Winter, Robbie Ellis, Kate Morris

2003; Benjamin Cleaver, Rochelle Bright, Thomas Sainsbury, Daniel Musgrove, Claire Van Beek, Miria George. Lisa Norriss, Sarah Robertson

2002; Thomas Sainsbury, Tui Matelau, Kathryn van Beek, Dean Hewisonm Sarah Anne Robertson, Robbie Ellis

1999; Natalie Cannon & Aziza Simons, Ruby Brunton, Elsbeth Wood, Kerry Sheehan, Philip Braithwaithe, Anna Reveley – Christchurch

2007 WINNERS

NORTHERN REGION

17 year old Ashley Milne is currently studying for a BA at University of Auckland. She's worked part time at No.1 Shoe Warehouse and has been involved in acting and dancing at the Papakura Theatre Club. She was a winner at last year's Flip the Script competition at The Edge. A line from Ashley's winning play Gotta Light: "Aint no other beat boxin', out foxin', bad assed, super fast, fine mother brother that know what he knows."

"Having the opportunity to have a play produced, directed and acted by professionals is really amazing, especially for someone so young. So I'm really excited to get a glimpse at the professional theatre scene and to see how it compares with what I've done in the past, and even more excited just to see my play come alive on stage."

Thomas Sainsbury is interested in unusual people and drama. He has had productions/readings at The Edge (And then you die), Young & Hungry (Butt Ugly) and Auckland's Wine Cellar (Caustic), He's also directed and produced for theatre and has a 1^st class honours in English Literature at University of Auckland. He's been a Gecko-carer, Deli worker, body double and has sold floral aquariums and retractable hoses. A line from Thomas's winning play Bruised: "I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean to. But sometimes you make me do it. Sometimes you make it so hard."

"I entered NZYPC again because it is such a fantastic opportunity that any young writer shouldn't pass up, and it was my last chance to enter. Having your play workshopped with enthusiastic passionate practitioners is such a privilege and such a joy."

CENTRAL REGION

Branwen Miller has a BA in politics, theatre and development studies from Victoria University discovered her love to playwriting in America. Last year she completed the Ken Duncum's scriptwriting MA course at Victoria University. She's served drinks, stuffed envelopes, ushered people to their seats, and holds high hopes for saving the world. A line from Branwen's winning play Armslength: "They lived on the top of the world, on the axis of this planet, and the world revolved around them."

"I entered NZYPC because I wanted to extend the life of my play, and to meet other young writers and industry professionals who support what we do."

PHOTO COMING. Georgina Titheridge had acted in seven plays and is about to publish poems in an anthology of Wellington poets. She's trained at Victoria University and Hagley Theatre Company, and can sing. She says she's waitressed everywhere in Wellington and Christchurch and has sold and eaten chocolate. A line from her winning play We Should Catch: "Kiwibanks great. It's great cause it's Kiwi, ya know. It's real."

I entered NZYPC because I was doing temp hospo, and going insane, losing hope in life and all that.. I had three weeks to do it. I had printer issues. When I found out I'd won...how it really felt needs bad language to paint it true.

SOUTHERN REGION

Thalia Henry has written since she was a "wee dot" and her short story Huriawa was a runner up in the Clear short story competition. She has a theatre and film degree from Otago University, has made fish and chips and worked as a home help for the elderly. She likes fire-dancing and gliding. A line from her play Sound of a Car: "Strutting around like you're the king of the world you silver BMW mother fucker."

"The play addresses some gay issues and being gay myself I thought this a key topic to try to make people aware of in today's society. This is a story about the nature of love. When I discovered that I'd won a place in the competition I just about cried, I must have sounded like a complete idiot on the telephone. This competition is a step in the right direction for me."

Kate Morris is doing the MA Scriptwriting course at Victoria University and has won this compeitition twice before. She also won the 2006 Gibson Award Winner for Favourite New Writer and was a 2004 NZ Film Commission 1^st Writers' Initiative Finalist. She's worked for ages at The CD & DVD Store to pay the bills. A line from her play Waking Monarch: "He's like a shaken snow globe. This faint image behind a blizzard. I just hope when the snow settles, he won't be forever buried."

"To be honest I thought when Playmarket rang me they were going to tell me my entry had been damaged in the post because I put these metal clips in the envelope to keep the pages together and was worried they would poke a hole in the packaging. I can't wait for the workshop; the only downside is that I have to wait until September. I mean, come on guys, I'm from the generation of impatience and immediacy!"