how can we help? - playwrights in schools - resources & opportunities
Teachers and students - this section is for you!
We understand many of the issues related to producing and staging a play in an educational environment. Qualification standards must be adhered to, timelines need to be considered and content needs to be suitable as well as the more practical matters of being able to cast roles and finding a budget for the costumes and the set.
So, how can we help you?
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Playmarket edBulletin - keeping you up-to-date with New Zealand plays and resources for your school. If you’re interested in reading, studying or producing a NZ play in your school, or having a playwright visit your class, then the edBulletin is for you.
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Visit here for the latest PLAYMARKET edBulletin - November 2011
Are you looking for a NZ play to read, study or perform?
Have you heard of a great NZ play or Playwright you want to find out more about?
The Playmarket BOOKSHOP holds a comprehensive catalogue of NZ plays.
If you know exactly what you are looking for you can search for it directly in the online SCRIPT SEARCH
If you don’t know exactly what you are looking for, or are looking for some fresh ideas, you can search for a play by cast size, male/female numbers or monologues, playwright, theme and style. This will instantly give you some options that fit your criteria.
You can also browse our catalogue alphabetically by PLAYWRIGHT.
Perfect if you have a writer in mind you would really like to work with.
If you don’t find what you were after give us a call or email, letting us know what you need, and we can make some suggestions.
You’ve found a script you want to have a look at.
How do you get a copy?
Download
If you are a Playmarket member the script may be available for you to download instantly. Visit MEMBERSHIP for more information or DOWNLOAD for a list of scripts available to download.
Buy
If a play is published we will have the book available to purchase.
We are able to invoice your school for this purchase on receipt of a purchase order number.
Order
Unpublished plays are available to buy in manuscript form for $10 +p&p
We are able to invoice your school for this purchase on receipt of a purchase order number.
Free perusal copies for potential productions
In many instances, if you are looking for a play for production, we can provide you with the play in manuscript form, free of charge, as a perusal.
For any bookshop or school enquiries contact:
+64 4 382 8462 xt 4
What next?
The play is exactly what you were looking for and you want to stage a production of it.
Apply for the Performance Rights
Visit PERFORMANCE RIGHTS for all the info on how to apply and submit your application. The play is
These are the only exceptions.
If you are performing in class with only the students normally enrolled in that class present OR the piece is being judged as part of a closed examination process, you do not need a licence.
What are the rules for Copyright in the Education sector?
The Copyright Council of New Zealand has an information sheet - Copyright Use in the Education Sector.
This and further information is available here on the Copyright Council Website.
Can I make changes to the script?
It is a breach of copyright to make changes to a script without the playwright’s express permission but usually our playwrights are very happy to allow you to adapt their scripts to avoid anything you think is inappropriate for your students. Just make sure you enquire first for permission.
Rehearsal scripts
If a play is unpublished you can get a photocopy licence for the number of scripts you need. It is really easy to do when you apply for the performance rights and is a per-copy charge of $5 per copy to a maximum of $50 for a class set (10 or more copies).
If a play is published you will need to purchase the rehearsal copies. This can be done through the BOOKSHOP.
We are able to invoice your school for this purchase on receipt of a purchase order number.
Annotated moderatation scripts
Some standards, at all levels, require the provision of an annotated script. This presents copyright issues for teachers if they intend to provide the whole script for moderation.
While it is appropriate that the teacher sees the annotated script as part of their assessment process, it is not necessary that the whole script is provided for moderation.
The purpose of moderation is to support the refinement of teacher’s assessment practice. Consequently, it is more valuable for teachers to copy extracts of scripts that indicate a sample of the evidence on which they have based their decisions. This may be supplemented with some teacher comment about the annotation, if required. This allows the moderator to pinpoint the teacher’s process and give specific supportive feedback. This may be done without infringing on copyright.
Playwrights in schools
This programme was initiated after overwhelming feedback from teachers that there was not enough background information on NZ playwrights and their plays for study and NCEA assessment.
The scheme has a playwright go into a drama class to meet and talk with students who are studying their play. Any information they need to know on themes/background/original production etc comes straight from the person who wrote the play.
The real advantages to this scheme are intangible but the purposes are to nurture the future playwrights/actors/theatre-goers of NZ, Support the selfless people who teach them, and make NZ plays more accessible and appropriate for study.
Our visits have shown that the students take real ownership of their work after meeting the playwright; and their enthusiasm and passion is amplified.
For all enquiries contact:
+64 4 382 8462 xt 4
Resources & Opportunities
Playwrights b4 25
A competition for young writers who take risks and throw care to the wind, as well as those who write strong, conventional plays. Write about ANYTHING you like that matters to you in ANY way you like, for any kind of audience you like.
Entrance requirements
This competition is open to any New Zealand citizen/permanent resident aged 24 and under at time of application.
To be eligible, plays must not have had a professional production (pending productions, readings, workshops or amateur productions are fine).
Apart from this, there are no rules!
For more information visit OPPORTUNITIES.
