DIRECTORS Festival Supporters PlayWriting Australia is the national peak body working with playwrights and the theatre industry to support the development and promotion of SPON SHOW great new writing for performance.

Susie Dee Tanya Denny Jon Halpin For PlayWriting Australia SORS DRAMATURGS CASE Board of Directors Michael Gow (Chair) Tom Gutteridge Bruce Meagher Julian Meyrick Helen Salmon NATIO Irene Stevens ART Desmond Sweeney Peter Wilson Artistic Director Chris Mead Production Partners Advocates Chris Bendall (WA) Polly Rowe Sam Strong Campion Decent (NSW/VIC) ISTS Jon Halpin (QLD) ACTORS Maryanne Lynch (VIC) Suellen Maunder (QLD) Charles Parkinson (TAS) General Manager Ben White International & Susanna Dowling Community Development NAL

Camilla Ah Kin Alan Andrews Caroline Craig Katharine Cullen MAx AFFORD PlAyWRIGHTS’ AWARD For the National Play Festival 2009 Event Producer Sophie Clausen Marketing Mark Sutcliffe, Make My Mark Thanks Elizabeth Walsh, Marcus Barker, David Roberts, Charles Parkinson, Mark Fitzpatrick, Iain Lang, Annette Downs, Rebecca Noonan, Nick Marchand, John McCallum Publicity Sue Couttie Media Services Graphic Design Andrew Nobbs & Christina Perry Barton Design PlayWriting Australia is supported By Web Design Suzan Freeman PL AY Baylea Davis Wadih Dona Ivan Donato Michael Edgar Web Developer James McRobert Script Readers Melanie Beddie, Katrina Foster, Kate Gaul, Mark Haslam, Rita Kalnejais, Russell Kiefel, Lee Lewis, Hallie Shellam, Matthew Whittet, Rochelle Whyte Senior Readers Tom Healey, Peter Matheson, Daniel Schlusser Margaret Harvey Anita Hegh Noreen Le Mottee Colin Moody FEST www.nationalplayfestival.org.au 2009

TERMS AND CONDITIONS - FREE EVENTS/ Capacity for free events at The Backspace and Peacock Theatre (Backstage Briefing, In Conversation, Road/Show: Tasmania performance) is Mail Street Tel Email strictly limited and entry is by ticket only, subject to availability. Tickets are available in person only at the venue from one hour prior to the advertised start time and limited to one per PO Box 914 CarriageWorks +61 2 8571 9177 [email protected] Yalin Ozucelik Nathan Page Xavier Samuel Bill Young person. 245 Wilson Street CONDITIONS OF SALE/ All bookings are subject to availability and are not confirmed until payment has been finalised and booking confirmation received. Once confirmed, completed bookings Newtown NSW 2042 Fax Web may not be cancelled, exchanged or refunded except as provided for in the Live Performance Australia code of practice. Programme details are correct at the time of printing. All rights are Australia Eveleigh NSW 2015 +61 2 8571 9171 www.pwa.org.au reserved to alter programme details as necessary and without notice, including the withdrawal or substitution of artists, variation of ticket prices and the withdrawal or variation of advertised www.nationalplayfestival.org.au

programmes. The right of admission is reserved by the venue(s) and/or its agent(s). The use of cameras, tape recorders and other recording devices is not permitted. I VA L

Michael Gow, Chair Gow, Michael

Hobart Neighbour Henry Neighbour

Bookshop, With My My With Sky Different Enjoy the Festival. the Enjoy

Fullers A Conversation Conversation A a to Up Hands

and industry partners whose help is invaluable in making the Festival a reality. a Festival the making in invaluable is help whose partners industry and Gentrification: Gentrification: Seed The Cygnet The Cross My Held Have I REAKFAST B

AM 9 AM 9 AM 9 AM 9 AM 9 FOR y A Pl celebration of international visual and performing arts. Thanks, too, to all of our government government our of all to too, Thanks, arts. performing and visual international of celebration

the team at Ten Days on the Island for generously and enthusiastically inviting us to join their their join to us inviting enthusiastically and generously for Island the on Days Ten at team the

Hobart a e s n a w S , s r e b m a h C for the Arts for supporting our vision to bring the Festival to Tasmania, and Elizabeth Walsh and and Walsh Elizabeth and Tasmania, to Festival the bring to vision our supporting for Arts the for

Theatre, Peacock Dunalley Council Swansea Bridport Georgetown Stanley Zeehan Hobart Franklin

On behalf of the PlayWriting Australia Board I would like to thank Arts Tasmania and the Minister Minister the and Tasmania Arts thank to like would I Board Australia PlayWriting the of behalf On

Hall, Dunalley Courtroom, Hall, Bridport Hall, Memorial Hall, Town Stanley , l l a H t u o c S n a h e e Z Backspace, The Theatre, Palais Presentation IA n ASMA T

The Festival is not possible without the support of a great number of individuals and organisations. organisations. and individuals of number great a of support the without possible not is Festival The

10AM , PM-10PM 7 PM-10PM 7 PM-10PM 7 PM-10PM 7 PM-5PM 2 10AM-1PM 10AM-1PM PM-10PM 7 : : OAD/SHOW R

workshops in Launceston. in workshops

state for Road/Show: Tasmania or take part in our northern Tasmania season of Writer’s Forge Forge Writer’s of season Tasmania northern our in part take or Tasmania Road/Show: for state

Hobart Launceston

2009 we take to the road to bring the Festival to more of Tasmania and you can join in around the the around in join can you and Tasmania of more to Festival the bring to road the to take we 2009

Hobart Betzien Angela Launceston Betzien Angela

across the state will join us, get involved and make the Festival your own. For the first time, in in time, first the For own. your Festival the make and involved get us, join will state the across

Studio, One-on-One: Studio, One-on-One:

playwright, an avid theatergoer or someone who has never set foot in a theatre, we hope Tasmanians Tasmanians hope we theatre, a in foot set never has who someone or theatergoer avid an playwright, Young Writers’ Writers’ Young Rayson Hannie Writers’ Young Rayson Hannie ORGE F

festival for the whole of Tasmania to get involved with. Whether an aspiring or established established or aspiring an Whether with. involved get to Tasmania of whole the for festival One-on-One: One-on-One: One-on-One: 10AM-5PM 10AM-5PM ’S RITER W

The Festival is a celebration of our playwriting culture for the whole of Australia to enjoy. It is, too, a a too, is, It enjoy. to Australia of whole the for culture playwriting our of celebration a is Festival The

workshops, masterclasses, presentations and performances across two weeks in March and April. and March in weeks two across performances and presentations masterclasses, workshops,

2009/2010

inaugural Festival put Brisbane in the spotlight. This year Tasmania is our generous host for over 30 30 over for host generous our is Tasmania year This spotlight. the in Brisbane put Festival inaugural Theatre Company Company Theatre Rhoda Roberts Rhoda

the unique creative life bubbling away in a different corner of the country each year. In 2008 the the 2008 In year. each country the of corner different a in away bubbling life creative unique the Tasmanian Tasmanian Hobart Address:

Conversation: In Theatre, Peacock event for playwriting to Tasmania. One of the great joys of the Festival is the opportunity to showcase showcase to opportunity the is Festival the of joys great the of One Tasmania. to playwriting for event Keynote

6.30PM 6.30PM PAGE THE FF O Welcome to the National Play Festival. In 2009 we are excited to be bringing the country’s premier premier country’s the bringing be to excited are we 2009 In Festival. Play National the to Welcome

Return to Earth to Return Man Berry The Dirtyland Plays... Short Three

6.30PM 6.30PM 9.30PM 9.30PM

Briefing Dirtyland Plays... Short Three Revolution Hypatia

Backstage Backstage Hobart 4.30PM 4.30PM 6.30PM 6.30PM

Chris Mead, Artistic Director Artistic Mead, Chris

Backspace, he T Revolution Hypatia Earth to Return Man Berry The Preview:

Come stoke the fire. the stoke Come 1.30PM 1.30PM 4.30PM 4.30PM PM 6 HOWCASE S

the National Play Festival, it will become the engine room of new writing for the theatre. theatre. the for writing new of room engine the become will it Festival, Play National the

Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts the and Heritage Parks, Environment, for Minister l APRI 4 SAT l APRI 3 FRI l APRI 2 THU l APRI 1 WED MARCH 31 TUE MARCH 30 n MO MARCH 29 n SU MARCH 28 AT S MARCH 27 RI F MARCH 26 HU T

Tasmania occupies a very particular place in our national imagination – and for the two weeks of of weeks two the for and – imagination national our in place particular very a occupies Tasmania MP O’Byrne Michelle Hon.

assistance of the Tasmanian Theatre Company, and the redoubtable Charles Parkinson. Parkinson. Charles redoubtable the and Company, Theatre Tasmanian the of assistance the crafting of excellent Australian stories. I urge you to take part. take to you urge I stories. Australian excellent of crafting the

and also to Ten Days on the Island, Elizabeth Walsh in particular and for the on the ground ground the on the for and particular in Walsh Elizabeth Island, the on Days Ten to also and a perfect complement to Ten Days on the Island, offering unique insights into into insights unique offering Island, the on Days Ten to complement perfect a

We are grateful to all our supporters, most particularly the Australia Council and Arts Tasmania, Tasmania, Arts and Council Australia the particularly most supporters, our all to grateful are We is Festival Play National the inspiration, and creativity such of time a During

We offer skills development sessions and the chance to turn your stories and ideas into opportunities. into ideas and stories your turn to chance the and sessions development skills offer We Visit www.nationalplayfestival.org.au for more information on the Festival the on information more for www.nationalplayfestival.org.au Visit

and see any or all of the Showcase plays – to be inspired, enthralled and entertained. and enthralled inspired, be to – plays Showcase the of all or any see and Ten Days on the Island. the on Days Ten

The Festival, however, is about more than just enjoyment of the new and the brave, we want you to get involved. involved. get to you want we brave, the and new the of enjoyment just than more about is however, Festival, The

visionary Rhoda Roberts, fire your imagination at the Writer’s Forge, check out Backstage life life Backstage out check Forge, Writer’s the at imagination your fire Roberts, Rhoda visionary plays feed, you can’t miss this celebration of Australia’s finest new plays. new finest Australia’s of celebration this miss can’t you feed, plays event, cultural state-wide premier, our within placed ideally is it festival

into conversation with the Tasmanian Theatre Company writers of tomorrow, listen to pragmatic pragmatic to listen tomorrow, of writers Company Theatre Tasmanian the with conversation into to make a play kick or tickle, if you want to engage in the lively debate that feeds good plays and that good good that and plays good feeds that debate lively the in engage to want you if tickle, or kick play a make to steps. next their to crucial is audience an where stage to page from play the shepherd dramaturgs and Play Festival’s Showcase Season to our shores. As the centrepiece of the the of centrepiece the As shores. our to Season Showcase Festival’s Play

work One-on-One with Australia’s best playwrights, take part in the Road/Show, jump jump Road/Show, the in part take playwrights, best Australia’s with One-on-One work a play take its first breath and be part of the air that the play breathes, if you want to learn from the best how how best the from learn to want you if breathes, play the that air the of part be and breath first its take play a directors actors, leading Our country. the across from merit on selected plays six features It season. Showcase the has inspired many intriguing tales. We warmly welcome the 2009 National National 2009 the welcome warmly We tales. intriguing many inspired has

Please join us at the Festival any time from sun up to sun well-down – have a Play for Breakfast, Breakfast, for Play a have – well-down sun to up sun from time any Festival the at us join Please Challenging to usher into the world and surprising beasts once they start to strut and bellow, if you want to see see to want you if bellow, and strut to start they once beasts surprising and world the into usher to Challenging in culminate work hard of weeks Two dramaturgs. two and directors five writers, sixteen Tasmania), from (ten Tasmania has a rich literary history of its own and a unique character that that character unique a and own its of history literary rich a has Tasmania

The Festival celebrates writing for the theatre because a play is not just a literary object – it is a living, breathing entity. entity. breathing living, a is it – object literary a just not is play a because theatre the for writing celebrates Festival The actors 23 of company a of consists Island, the on Days Ten within 2009 for nestled Festival, Play National The

Alexandria or an Australian city 25 years hence. hence. years 25 city Australian an or Alexandria remains fundamental to our way of life. of way our to fundamental remains

VIEW century fifth it’s whether flux, in world a and responsibility history, distance, with do they as that telling story of tradition strong a underpin event this throughout

to the future. Indeed Tasmania is the perfect setting for our six Showcase plays, all wrestling wrestling all plays, Showcase six our for setting perfect the is Tasmania Indeed future. the to of great Australian writing. The opportunities and experiences on offer offer on experiences and opportunities The writing. Australian great of

exquisite. Australia’s finest theatre practitioners, many far, far from home, will be there to look look to there be will home, from far far, many practitioners, theatre finest Australia’s exquisite. As Tasmania’s Minister for the Arts, I am very pleased to support this celebration celebration this support to pleased very am I Arts, the for Minister Tasmania’s As

Let’s come together to celebrate, and better understand, the exceptional, the rugged and the the and rugged the exceptional, the understand, better and celebrate, to together come Let’s Our National Play Festival is an opportunity to capitalise on this unique Tasmanian experience. experience. Tasmanian unique this on capitalise to opportunity an is Festival Play National Our OVER

about it – in order to understand Australia better as a whole. a as better Australia understand to order in – it about DUCTION

brutality and beauty, our past, present and future. I had to see it, to experience it – not just read read just not – it experience to it, see to had I future. and present past, our beauty, and brutality

head it collapsed all known distinctions between big and little, isolation and intimacy, near and far, far, and near intimacy, and isolation little, and big between distinctions known all collapsed it head

Franklin, David Boon, that whole south west bit, Tasmania flooded my imagination. In my my In imagination. my flooded Tasmania bit, west south whole that Boon, David Franklin, to go first when I grew up. Truganini, Alexander Pearce, the Model Prison, Rufus Dawes, the the Dawes, Rufus Prison, Model the Pearce, Alexander Truganini, up. grew I when first go to As a kid from Carcoar more than anywhere else in the world it was to Tasmania that I wanted wanted I that Tasmania to was it world the in else anywhere than more Carcoar from kid a As INTRO DIRECTORS Festival Supporters PlayWriting Australia is the national peak body working with playwrights and the theatre industry to support the development and promotion of SPON SHOW great new writing for performance.

Susie Dee Tanya Denny Jon Halpin For PlayWriting Australia SORS DRAMATURGS CASE Board of Directors Michael Gow (Chair) Tom Gutteridge Bruce Meagher Julian Meyrick Helen Salmon NATIO Irene Stevens ART Desmond Sweeney Peter Wilson Artistic Director Chris Mead Production Partners Advocates Chris Bendall (WA) Polly Rowe Sam Strong Campion Decent (NSW/VIC) ISTS Jon Halpin (QLD) ACTORS Maryanne Lynch (VIC) Suellen Maunder (QLD) Charles Parkinson (TAS) General Manager Ben White International & Susanna Dowling Community Development NAL

Camilla Ah Kin Alan Andrews Caroline Craig Katharine Cullen MAx AFFORD PlAyWRIGHTS’ AWARD For the National Play Festival 2009 Event Producer Sophie Clausen Marketing Mark Sutcliffe, Make My Mark Thanks Elizabeth Walsh, Marcus Barker, David Roberts, Charles Parkinson, Mark Fitzpatrick, Iain Lang, Annette Downs, Rebecca Noonan, Nick Marchand, John McCallum Publicity Sue Couttie Media Services Graphic Design Andrew Nobbs & Christina Perry Barton Design PlayWriting Australia is supported By Web Design Suzan Freeman PL AY Baylea Davis Wadih Dona Ivan Donato Michael Edgar Web Developer James McRobert Script Readers Melanie Beddie, Katrina Foster, Kate Gaul, Mark Haslam, Rita Kalnejais, Russell Kiefel, Lee Lewis, Hallie Shellam, Matthew Whittet, Rochelle Whyte Senior Readers Tom Healey, Peter Matheson, Daniel Schlusser Margaret Harvey Anita Hegh Noreen Le Mottee Colin Moody FEST www.nationalplayfestival.org.au 2009

TERMS AND CONDITIONS - FREE EVENTS/ Capacity for free events at The Backspace and Peacock Theatre (Backstage Briefing, In Conversation, Road/Show: Tasmania performance) is Mail Street Tel Email strictly limited and entry is by ticket only, subject to availability. Tickets are available in person only at the venue from one hour prior to the advertised start time and limited to one per PO Box 914 CarriageWorks +61 2 8571 9177 [email protected] Yalin Ozucelik Nathan Page Xavier Samuel Bill Young person. 245 Wilson Street CONDITIONS OF SALE/ All bookings are subject to availability and are not confirmed until payment has been finalised and booking confirmation received. Once confirmed, completed bookings Newtown NSW 2042 Fax Web may not be cancelled, exchanged or refunded except as provided for in the Live Performance Australia code of practice. Programme details are correct at the time of printing. All rights are Australia Eveleigh NSW 2015 +61 2 8571 9171 www.pwa.org.au reserved to alter programme details as necessary and without notice, including the withdrawal or substitution of artists, variation of ticket prices and the withdrawal or variation of advertised www.nationalplayfestival.org.au

programmes. The right of admission is reserved by the venue(s) and/or its agent(s). The use of cameras, tape recorders and other recording devices is not permitted. I VA L

Michael Gow, Chair Gow, Michael

Hobart Neighbour Henry Neighbour

Bookshop, Different Sky Different With My My With Enjoy the Festival. the Enjoy

Fullers Hands Up to a a to Up Hands A Conversation Conversation A

and industry partners whose help is invaluable in making the Festival a reality. a Festival the making in invaluable is help whose partners industry and I Have Held My My Held Have I Gentrification: Gentrification: Seed The Cygnet The Cross REAKFAST B

AM 9 AM 9 AM 9 AM 9 AM 9 FOR y A Pl celebration of international visual and performing arts. Thanks, too, to all of our government government our of all to too, Thanks, arts. performing and visual international of celebration

the team at Ten Days on the Island for generously and enthusiastically inviting us to join their their join to us inviting enthusiastically and generously for Island the on Days Ten at team the

Hobart a e s n a w S , s r e b m a h C for the Arts for supporting our vision to bring the Festival to Tasmania, and Elizabeth Walsh and and Walsh Elizabeth and Tasmania, to Festival the bring to vision our supporting for Arts the for

Georgetown Stanley Zeehan Hobart Franklin Theatre, Peacock Dunalley Council Swansea Bridport

On behalf of the PlayWriting Australia Board I would like to thank Arts Tasmania and the Minister Minister the and Tasmania Arts thank to like would I Board Australia PlayWriting the of behalf On

Memorial Hall, Hall, Memorial Hall, Town Stanley , l l a H t u o c S n a h e e Z Backspace, The Theatre, Palais Hall, Dunalley Courtroom, Hall, Bridport Presentation IA n ASMA T

The Festival is not possible without the support of a great number of individuals and organisations. organisations. and individuals of number great a of support the without possible not is Festival The

PM-10PM 7 PM-5PM 2 10AM-1PM 10AM-1PM PM-10PM 7 10AM , PM-10PM 7 PM-10PM 7 PM-10PM 7 : : OAD/SHOW R

workshops in Launceston. in workshops

state for Road/Show: Tasmania or take part in our northern Tasmania season of Writer’s Forge Forge Writer’s of season Tasmania northern our in part take or Tasmania Road/Show: for state

Hobart Launceston

2009 we take to the road to bring the Festival to more of Tasmania and you can join in around the the around in join can you and Tasmania of more to Festival the bring to road the to take we 2009

Betzien Angela Launceston Betzien Angela Hobart

across the state will join us, get involved and make the Festival your own. For the first time, in in time, first the For own. your Festival the make and involved get us, join will state the across

One-on-One: One-on-One: Studio, One-on-One: Studio,

playwright, an avid theatergoer or someone who has never set foot in a theatre, we hope Tasmanians Tasmanians hope we theatre, a in foot set never has who someone or theatergoer avid an playwright, Rayson Hannie Writers’ Young Rayson Hannie Young Writers’ Writers’ Young ORGE F

festival for the whole of Tasmania to get involved with. Whether an aspiring or established established or aspiring an Whether with. involved get to Tasmania of whole the for festival One-on-One: One-on-One: One-on-One: 10AM-5PM 10AM-5PM ’S RITER W

The Festival is a celebration of our playwriting culture for the whole of Australia to enjoy. It is, too, a a too, is, It enjoy. to Australia of whole the for culture playwriting our of celebration a is Festival The

workshops, masterclasses, presentations and performances across two weeks in March and April. and March in weeks two across performances and presentations masterclasses, workshops,

2009/2010

inaugural Festival put Brisbane in the spotlight. This year Tasmania is our generous host for over 30 30 over for host generous our is Tasmania year This spotlight. the in Brisbane put Festival inaugural Theatre Company Company Theatre Rhoda Roberts Rhoda

the unique creative life bubbling away in a different corner of the country each year. In 2008 the the 2008 In year. each country the of corner different a in away bubbling life creative unique the Tasmanian Tasmanian Hobart Address:

Conversation: In Theatre, Peacock event for playwriting to Tasmania. One of the great joys of the Festival is the opportunity to showcase showcase to opportunity the is Festival the of joys great the of One Tasmania. to playwriting for event Keynote

6.30PM THE PAGE THE FF O 6.30PM Welcome to the National Play Festival. In 2009 we are excited to be bringing the country’s premier premier country’s the bringing be to excited are we 2009 In Festival. Play National the to Welcome

Return to Earth to Return Man Berry The Dirtyland Plays... Short Three

6.30PM 6.30PM 9.30PM 9.30PM

Briefing

Dirtyland Plays... Short Three Revolution Hypatia

Backstage Backstage Hobart 4.30PM 4.30PM 6.30PM 6.30PM

Chris Mead, Artistic Director Artistic Mead, Chris

Backspace, he T Preview: Revolution Hypatia Earth to Return Man Berry The

Come stoke the fire. the stoke Come PM 6 1.30PM 1.30PM 4.30PM 4.30PM HOWCASE S

the National Play Festival, it will become the engine room of new writing for the theatre. theatre. the for writing new of room engine the become will it Festival, Play National the

Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts the and Heritage Parks, Environment, for Minister 30 MARCH 30 n MO MARCH 29 n SU MARCH 28 AT S MARCH 27 RI F MARCH 26 HU T l APRI 4 SAT l APRI 3 FRI l APRI 2 THU l APRI 1 WED MARCH 31 TUE

Tasmania occupies a very particular place in our national imagination – and for the two weeks of of weeks two the for and – imagination national our in place particular very a occupies Tasmania MP O’Byrne Michelle Hon.

assistance of the Tasmanian Theatre Company, and the redoubtable Charles Parkinson. Parkinson. Charles redoubtable the and Company, Theatre Tasmanian the of assistance the crafting of excellent Australian stories. I urge you to take part. take to you urge I stories. Australian excellent of crafting the

and also to Ten Days on the Island, Elizabeth Walsh in particular and for the on the ground ground the on the for and particular in Walsh Elizabeth Island, the on Days Ten to also and a perfect complement to Ten Days on the Island, offering unique insights into into insights unique offering Island, the on Days Ten to complement perfect a

We are grateful to all our supporters, most particularly the Australia Council and Arts Tasmania, Tasmania, Arts and Council Australia the particularly most supporters, our all to grateful are We During a time of such creativity and inspiration, the National Play Festival is Festival Play National the inspiration, and creativity such of time a During

We offer skills development sessions and the chance to turn your stories and ideas into opportunities. into ideas and stories your turn to chance the and sessions development skills offer We Visit www.nationalplayfestival.org.au for more information on the Festival the on information more for www.nationalplayfestival.org.au Visit

and see any or all of the Showcase plays – to be inspired, enthralled and entertained. and enthralled inspired, be to – plays Showcase the of all or any see and Ten Days on the Island. the on Days Ten

The Festival, however, is about more than just enjoyment of the new and the brave, we want you to get involved. involved. get to you want we brave, the and new the of enjoyment just than more about is however, Festival, The

visionary Rhoda Roberts, fire your imagination at the Writer’s Forge, check out Backstage life life Backstage out check Forge, Writer’s the at imagination your fire Roberts, Rhoda visionary plays feed, you can’t miss this celebration of Australia’s finest new plays. new finest Australia’s of celebration this miss can’t you feed, plays festival it is ideally placed within our premier, state-wide cultural event, cultural state-wide premier, our within placed ideally is it festival

into conversation with the Tasmanian Theatre Company writers of tomorrow, listen to pragmatic pragmatic to listen tomorrow, of writers Company Theatre Tasmanian the with conversation into and dramaturgs shepherd the play from page to stage where an audience is crucial to their next steps. steps. next their to crucial is audience an where stage to page from play the shepherd dramaturgs and to make a play kick or tickle, if you want to engage in the lively debate that feeds good plays and that good good that and plays good feeds that debate lively the in engage to want you if tickle, or kick play a make to Play Festival’s Showcase Season to our shores. As the centrepiece of the the of centrepiece the As shores. our to Season Showcase Festival’s Play

work One-on-One with Australia’s best playwrights, take part in the Road/Show, jump jump Road/Show, the in part take playwrights, best Australia’s with One-on-One work the Showcase season. It features six plays selected on merit from across the country. Our leading actors, directors directors actors, leading Our country. the across from merit on selected plays six features It season. Showcase the a play take its first breath and be part of the air that the play breathes, if you want to learn from the best how how best the from learn to want you if breathes, play the that air the of part be and breath first its take play a has inspired many intriguing tales. We warmly welcome the 2009 National National 2009 the welcome warmly We tales. intriguing many inspired has

Please join us at the Festival any time from sun up to sun well-down – have a Play for Breakfast, Breakfast, for Play a have – well-down sun to up sun from time any Festival the at us join Please (ten from Tasmania), sixteen writers, five directors and two dramaturgs. Two weeks of hard work culminate in in culminate work hard of weeks Two dramaturgs. two and directors five writers, sixteen Tasmania), from (ten Challenging to usher into the world and surprising beasts once they start to strut and bellow, if you want to see see to want you if bellow, and strut to start they once beasts surprising and world the into usher to Challenging Tasmania has a rich literary history of its own and a unique character that that character unique a and own its of history literary rich a has Tasmania

The National Play Festival, nestled for 2009 within Ten Days on the Island, consists of a company of 23 actors actors 23 of company a of consists Island, the on Days Ten within 2009 for nestled Festival, Play National The The Festival celebrates writing for the theatre because a play is not just a literary object – it is a living, breathing entity. entity. breathing living, a is it – object literary a just not is play a because theatre the for writing celebrates Festival The

Alexandria or an Australian city 25 years hence. hence. years 25 city Australian an or Alexandria remains fundamental to our way of life. of way our to fundamental remains

VIEW century fifth it’s whether flux, in world a and responsibility history, distance, with do they as throughout this event underpin a strong tradition of story telling that that telling story of tradition strong a underpin event this throughout

to the future. Indeed Tasmania is the perfect setting for our six Showcase plays, all wrestling wrestling all plays, Showcase six our for setting perfect the is Tasmania Indeed future. the to of great Australian writing. The opportunities and experiences on offer offer on experiences and opportunities The writing. Australian great of

exquisite. Australia’s finest theatre practitioners, many far, far from home, will be there to look look to there be will home, from far far, many practitioners, theatre finest Australia’s exquisite. As Tasmania’s Minister for the Arts, I am very pleased to support this celebration celebration this support to pleased very am I Arts, the for Minister Tasmania’s As

Let’s come together to celebrate, and better understand, the exceptional, the rugged and the the and rugged the exceptional, the understand, better and celebrate, to together come Let’s Our National Play Festival is an opportunity to capitalise on this unique Tasmanian experience. experience. Tasmanian unique this on capitalise to opportunity an is Festival Play National Our OVER

about it – in order to understand Australia better as a whole. a as better Australia understand to order in – it about DUCTION

brutality and beauty, our past, present and future. I had to see it, to experience it – not just read read just not – it experience to it, see to had I future. and present past, our beauty, and brutality

head it collapsed all known distinctions between big and little, isolation and intimacy, near and far, far, and near intimacy, and isolation little, and big between distinctions known all collapsed it head

Franklin, David Boon, that whole south west bit, Tasmania flooded my imagination. In my my In imagination. my flooded Tasmania bit, west south whole that Boon, David Franklin, to go first when I grew up. Truganini, Alexander Pearce, the Model Prison, Rufus Dawes, the the Dawes, Rufus Prison, Model the Pearce, Alexander Truganini, up. grew I when first go to As a kid from Carcoar more than anywhere else in the world it was to Tasmania that I wanted wanted I that Tasmania to was it world the in else anywhere than more Carcoar from kid a As INTRO DIRECTORS Festival Supporters PlayWriting Australia is the national peak body working with playwrights and the theatre industry to support the development and promotion of SPON SHOW great new writing for performance.

Susie Dee Tanya Denny Jon Halpin For PlayWriting Australia SORS DRAMATURGS CASE Board of Directors Michael Gow (Chair) Tom Gutteridge Bruce Meagher Julian Meyrick Helen Salmon NATIO Irene Stevens ART Desmond Sweeney Peter Wilson Artistic Director Chris Mead Production Partners Advocates Chris Bendall (WA) Polly Rowe Sam Strong Campion Decent (NSW/VIC) ISTS Jon Halpin (QLD) ACTORS Maryanne Lynch (VIC) Suellen Maunder (QLD) Charles Parkinson (TAS) General Manager Ben White International & Susanna Dowling Community Development NAL

Camilla Ah Kin Alan Andrews Caroline Craig Katharine Cullen MAx AFFORD PlAyWRIGHTS’ AWARD For the National Play Festival 2009 Event Producer Sophie Clausen Marketing Mark Sutcliffe, Make My Mark Thanks Elizabeth Walsh, Marcus Barker, David Roberts, Charles Parkinson, Mark Fitzpatrick, Iain Lang, Annette Downs, Rebecca Noonan, Nick Marchand, John McCallum Publicity Sue Couttie Media Services Graphic Design Andrew Nobbs & Christina Perry Barton Design PlayWriting Australia is supported By Web Design Suzan Freeman PL AY Baylea Davis Wadih Dona Ivan Donato Michael Edgar Web Developer James McRobert Script Readers Melanie Beddie, Katrina Foster, Kate Gaul, Mark Haslam, Rita Kalnejais, Russell Kiefel, Lee Lewis, Hallie Shellam, Matthew Whittet, Rochelle Whyte Senior Readers Tom Healey, Peter Matheson, Daniel Schlusser Margaret Harvey Anita Hegh Noreen Le Mottee Colin Moody FEST www.nationalplayfestival.org.au 2009

TERMS AND CONDITIONS - FREE EVENTS/ Capacity for free events at The Backspace and Peacock Theatre (Backstage Briefing, In Conversation, Road/Show: Tasmania performance) is Mail Street Tel Email strictly limited and entry is by ticket only, subject to availability. Tickets are available in person only at the venue from one hour prior to the advertised start time and limited to one per PO Box 914 CarriageWorks +61 2 8571 9177 [email protected] Yalin Ozucelik Nathan Page Xavier Samuel Bill Young person. 245 Wilson Street CONDITIONS OF SALE/ All bookings are subject to availability and are not confirmed until payment has been finalised and booking confirmation received. Once confirmed, completed bookings Newtown NSW 2042 Fax Web may not be cancelled, exchanged or refunded except as provided for in the Live Performance Australia code of practice. Programme details are correct at the time of printing. All rights are Australia Eveleigh NSW 2015 +61 2 8571 9171 www.pwa.org.au reserved to alter programme details as necessary and without notice, including the withdrawal or substitution of artists, variation of ticket prices and the withdrawal or variation of advertised www.nationalplayfestival.org.au

programmes. The right of admission is reserved by the venue(s) and/or its agent(s). The use of cameras, tape recorders and other recording devices is not permitted. I VA L

Michael Gow, Chair Gow, Michael

Hobart Neighbour Henry Neighbour

Bookshop, Different Sky Different With My My With Enjoy the Festival. the Enjoy

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AM 9 AM 9 AM 9 AM 9 AM 9 FOR y A Pl celebration of international visual and performing arts. Thanks, too, to all of our government government our of all to too, Thanks, arts. performing and visual international of celebration

the team at Ten Days on the Island for generously and enthusiastically inviting us to join their their join to us inviting enthusiastically and generously for Island the on Days Ten at team the

Hobart a e s n a w S , s r e b m a h C for the Arts for supporting our vision to bring the Festival to Tasmania, and Elizabeth Walsh and and Walsh Elizabeth and Tasmania, to Festival the bring to vision our supporting for Arts the for

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On behalf of the PlayWriting Australia Board I would like to thank Arts Tasmania and the Minister Minister the and Tasmania Arts thank to like would I Board Australia PlayWriting the of behalf On

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state for Road/Show: Tasmania or take part in our northern Tasmania season of Writer’s Forge Forge Writer’s of season Tasmania northern our in part take or Tasmania Road/Show: for state

Hobart Launceston

2009 we take to the road to bring the Festival to more of Tasmania and you can join in around the the around in join can you and Tasmania of more to Festival the bring to road the to take we 2009

Betzien Angela Launceston Betzien Angela Hobart

across the state will join us, get involved and make the Festival your own. For the first time, in in time, first the For own. your Festival the make and involved get us, join will state the across

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playwright, an avid theatergoer or someone who has never set foot in a theatre, we hope Tasmanians Tasmanians hope we theatre, a in foot set never has who someone or theatergoer avid an playwright, Rayson Hannie Writers’ Young Rayson Hannie Young Writers’ Writers’ Young ORGE F

festival for the whole of Tasmania to get involved with. Whether an aspiring or established established or aspiring an Whether with. involved get to Tasmania of whole the for festival One-on-One: One-on-One: One-on-One: 10AM-5PM 10AM-5PM ’S RITER W

The Festival is a celebration of our playwriting culture for the whole of Australia to enjoy. It is, too, a a too, is, It enjoy. to Australia of whole the for culture playwriting our of celebration a is Festival The

workshops, masterclasses, presentations and performances across two weeks in March and April. and March in weeks two across performances and presentations masterclasses, workshops,

2009/2010

inaugural Festival put Brisbane in the spotlight. This year Tasmania is our generous host for over 30 30 over for host generous our is Tasmania year This spotlight. the in Brisbane put Festival inaugural Theatre Company Company Theatre Rhoda Roberts Rhoda

the unique creative life bubbling away in a different corner of the country each year. In 2008 the the 2008 In year. each country the of corner different a in away bubbling life creative unique the Tasmanian Tasmanian Hobart Address:

Conversation: In Theatre, Peacock event for playwriting to Tasmania. One of the great joys of the Festival is the opportunity to showcase showcase to opportunity the is Festival the of joys great the of One Tasmania. to playwriting for event Keynote

6.30PM THE PAGE THE FF O 6.30PM Welcome to the National Play Festival. In 2009 we are excited to be bringing the country’s premier premier country’s the bringing be to excited are we 2009 In Festival. Play National the to Welcome

Return to Earth to Return Man Berry The Dirtyland Plays... Short Three

6.30PM 6.30PM 9.30PM 9.30PM

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Backstage Backstage Hobart 4.30PM 4.30PM 6.30PM 6.30PM

Chris Mead, Artistic Director Artistic Mead, Chris

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Come stoke the fire. the stoke Come PM 6 1.30PM 1.30PM 4.30PM 4.30PM HOWCASE S

the National Play Festival, it will become the engine room of new writing for the theatre. theatre. the for writing new of room engine the become will it Festival, Play National the

Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts the and Heritage Parks, Environment, for Minister 30 MARCH 30 n MO MARCH 29 n SU MARCH 28 AT S MARCH 27 RI F MARCH 26 HU T l APRI 4 SAT l APRI 3 FRI l APRI 2 THU l APRI 1 WED MARCH 31 TUE

Tasmania occupies a very particular place in our national imagination – and for the two weeks of of weeks two the for and – imagination national our in place particular very a occupies Tasmania MP O’Byrne Michelle Hon.

assistance of the Tasmanian Theatre Company, and the redoubtable Charles Parkinson. Parkinson. Charles redoubtable the and Company, Theatre Tasmanian the of assistance the crafting of excellent Australian stories. I urge you to take part. take to you urge I stories. Australian excellent of crafting the

and also to Ten Days on the Island, Elizabeth Walsh in particular and for the on the ground ground the on the for and particular in Walsh Elizabeth Island, the on Days Ten to also and a perfect complement to Ten Days on the Island, offering unique insights into into insights unique offering Island, the on Days Ten to complement perfect a

We are grateful to all our supporters, most particularly the Australia Council and Arts Tasmania, Tasmania, Arts and Council Australia the particularly most supporters, our all to grateful are We During a time of such creativity and inspiration, the National Play Festival is Festival Play National the inspiration, and creativity such of time a During

We offer skills development sessions and the chance to turn your stories and ideas into opportunities. into ideas and stories your turn to chance the and sessions development skills offer We Visit www.nationalplayfestival.org.au for more information on the Festival the on information more for www.nationalplayfestival.org.au Visit

and see any or all of the Showcase plays – to be inspired, enthralled and entertained. and enthralled inspired, be to – plays Showcase the of all or any see and Ten Days on the Island. the on Days Ten

The Festival, however, is about more than just enjoyment of the new and the brave, we want you to get involved. involved. get to you want we brave, the and new the of enjoyment just than more about is however, Festival, The

visionary Rhoda Roberts, fire your imagination at the Writer’s Forge, check out Backstage life life Backstage out check Forge, Writer’s the at imagination your fire Roberts, Rhoda visionary plays feed, you can’t miss this celebration of Australia’s finest new plays. new finest Australia’s of celebration this miss can’t you feed, plays festival it is ideally placed within our premier, state-wide cultural event, cultural state-wide premier, our within placed ideally is it festival

into conversation with the Tasmanian Theatre Company writers of tomorrow, listen to pragmatic pragmatic to listen tomorrow, of writers Company Theatre Tasmanian the with conversation into and dramaturgs shepherd the play from page to stage where an audience is crucial to their next steps. steps. next their to crucial is audience an where stage to page from play the shepherd dramaturgs and to make a play kick or tickle, if you want to engage in the lively debate that feeds good plays and that good good that and plays good feeds that debate lively the in engage to want you if tickle, or kick play a make to Play Festival’s Showcase Season to our shores. As the centrepiece of the the of centrepiece the As shores. our to Season Showcase Festival’s Play

work One-on-One with Australia’s best playwrights, take part in the Road/Show, jump jump Road/Show, the in part take playwrights, best Australia’s with One-on-One work the Showcase season. It features six plays selected on merit from across the country. Our leading actors, directors directors actors, leading Our country. the across from merit on selected plays six features It season. Showcase the a play take its first breath and be part of the air that the play breathes, if you want to learn from the best how how best the from learn to want you if breathes, play the that air the of part be and breath first its take play a has inspired many intriguing tales. We warmly welcome the 2009 National National 2009 the welcome warmly We tales. intriguing many inspired has

Please join us at the Festival any time from sun up to sun well-down – have a Play for Breakfast, Breakfast, for Play a have – well-down sun to up sun from time any Festival the at us join Please (ten from Tasmania), sixteen writers, five directors and two dramaturgs. Two weeks of hard work culminate in in culminate work hard of weeks Two dramaturgs. two and directors five writers, sixteen Tasmania), from (ten Challenging to usher into the world and surprising beasts once they start to strut and bellow, if you want to see see to want you if bellow, and strut to start they once beasts surprising and world the into usher to Challenging Tasmania has a rich literary history of its own and a unique character that that character unique a and own its of history literary rich a has Tasmania

The National Play Festival, nestled for 2009 within Ten Days on the Island, consists of a company of 23 actors actors 23 of company a of consists Island, the on Days Ten within 2009 for nestled Festival, Play National The The Festival celebrates writing for the theatre because a play is not just a literary object – it is a living, breathing entity. entity. breathing living, a is it – object literary a just not is play a because theatre the for writing celebrates Festival The

Alexandria or an Australian city 25 years hence. hence. years 25 city Australian an or Alexandria remains fundamental to our way of life. of way our to fundamental remains

VIEW century fifth it’s whether flux, in world a and responsibility history, distance, with do they as throughout this event underpin a strong tradition of story telling that that telling story of tradition strong a underpin event this throughout

to the future. Indeed Tasmania is the perfect setting for our six Showcase plays, all wrestling wrestling all plays, Showcase six our for setting perfect the is Tasmania Indeed future. the to of great Australian writing. The opportunities and experiences on offer offer on experiences and opportunities The writing. Australian great of

exquisite. Australia’s finest theatre practitioners, many far, far from home, will be there to look look to there be will home, from far far, many practitioners, theatre finest Australia’s exquisite. As Tasmania’s Minister for the Arts, I am very pleased to support this celebration celebration this support to pleased very am I Arts, the for Minister Tasmania’s As

Let’s come together to celebrate, and better understand, the exceptional, the rugged and the the and rugged the exceptional, the understand, better and celebrate, to together come Let’s Our National Play Festival is an opportunity to capitalise on this unique Tasmanian experience. experience. Tasmanian unique this on capitalise to opportunity an is Festival Play National Our OVER

about it – in order to understand Australia better as a whole. a as better Australia understand to order in – it about DUCTION

brutality and beauty, our past, present and future. I had to see it, to experience it – not just read read just not – it experience to it, see to had I future. and present past, our beauty, and brutality

head it collapsed all known distinctions between big and little, isolation and intimacy, near and far, far, and near intimacy, and isolation little, and big between distinctions known all collapsed it head

Franklin, David Boon, that whole south west bit, Tasmania flooded my imagination. In my my In imagination. my flooded Tasmania bit, west south whole that Boon, David Franklin, to go first when I grew up. Truganini, Alexander Pearce, the Model Prison, Rufus Dawes, the the Dawes, Rufus Prison, Model the Pearce, Alexander Truganini, up. grew I when first go to As a kid from Carcoar more than anywhere else in the world it was to Tasmania that I wanted wanted I that Tasmania to was it world the in else anywhere than more Carcoar from kid a As INTRO Hypatia by Marcel Dorney Return to Earth by Lally Katz Dirtyland by Elise Hearst In a fifth century world being destroyed by blind faith, Hypatia fights for reason. Winner of the R.E. Ross Trust Playwrights Development Award 2008 What won’t Anya do to get away from her dirty, dirty land? A young woman returns home and finds herself wide awake in a sleepy little town. Hypatia likes books and she loves a fight – as long as the argument proceeds platonically. Anya has chipped her tooth. Something happened and in the fighting it got chipped. SHOW Like her father before her, she is the custodian of the great Library of Alexandria. A new Alice is a bit of a space cadet. Everyone in Tathra thinks so too. Moses and Harry want to help. They’ll do anything for Anya. But no one can leave and there’s religion has captured an empire and Hypatia’s empire of knowledge is not simply a threat to She wants to land. She wants to fit in. She has to fit in – her family need her to sort herself out. no money and the something that happened has poisoned the town against itself. religion but heretical. No one is really as normal as they look though. A stark portrait of human frailty, resilience and treachery. Can Hypatia save the library? Can she save herself? A play about family, friends, love, sacrifice and re-connecting with the world. Elise Hearst graduated in 2005 in Creative Arts at Melbourne University where she co-produced Marcel Dorney is a writer and director. His plays include New Royal and Thieves Like Us. Lally Katz is a graduate of the University of Melbourne’s School of Studies in Creative Arts and wrote various shows for independent company KumQuat Theatre. She attended World Interplay CASEThe Showcase season of new plays is the centrepiece of the National Play Festival. Across four days it 2005 and in 2006 won an award for the Monash University National Playwrights Competition for her He was an associate writer of Griffin Theatre in 2005-2006 and has been commissioned and studied playwriting at London’s Royal Court Theatre. She is a core member of Stuck Pigs showcases six of the best new plays from around Australia, hand-picked by PlayWriting Australia, directed by by Queensland Theatre Company, La Boite Theatre Company, Backbone Youth Arts, and Squealing Theatre, which has rapidly built a reputation as one of the country’s most exciting play Apple. In 2006 she relocated to London to attend the Royal Court Theatre’s Young Writer’s some of the country’s finest directors and performed by a company of our best actors. Presented following the Restaged Histories Project. He received a Matilda Award and a Brisbane Lord Mayor’s theatre companies. Her plays include Frankenstein, The Black Swan of Trespass, The Eisteddfod, Programme and had work performed at the Soho Theatre, Hamspstead Theatre, Theatre 503 two weeks of intensive rehearsals as polished readings, the showcase season is your first look at what’s new Performing Arts Fellowship to study with the Maly Theatre in St Petersburg. Marcel is Lally Katz and the Terrible Mysteries of the Volcano, Criminology (with Tom Wright) and Goodbye New and the Trafalgar Studios. in Australian theatre. completing his PhD through the University of Queensland. York, Goodbye Heart. Awards include several Green Room and Melbourne Fringe Awards, Director: Susie Dee PLUS for a unique insight into the world of making these new Australian plays join us for a special a Melbourne Green Room Award for Best Independent Production and a New York International Director: Jon Halpin With Camilla Ah Kin, Katharine Cullen, Ivan Donato, Michael Edgar, Margaret Harvey, Backstage Briefing. Fringe Festival Producer’s Choice Award. With Alan Andrews, Wadih Dona, Anita Hegh, Colin Moody, Yalin Ozucelik, Bill Young Noreen Le Mottee, Xavier Samuel Director: Jon Halpin Backstage Briefing Wednesday 1 April | 6.30pm With Alan Andrews, Caroline Craig, Katharine Cullen, Noreen Le Mottee, Yalin Ozucelik, Thursday 2 April | 9.30pm Nathan Page Saturday 4 April | 4.30pm Join the writers, directors and actors of the Showcase Friday 3 April | 1.30pm season fresh from the rehearsal room to find out exactly Thursday 2 April | 4.30pm what it takes to get a new play ready for the stage. Saturday 4 April | 6.30pm Your chance to find out first-hand what inspired the SHOWCASE VENUE: The Backspace, Sackville Street, Hobart writers, how the rehearsal process works and what MORE INFORMATION Read more about all of the showcase plays at www.nationalplayfestival.org.au you can expect to see during the Showcase season. With Artistic Director Chris Mead and selected playwrights, directors, actors and dramaturgs Thursday | The Backspace, | 6pm | FREE 26 March Sackville Street TICKETS Hobart Single ticket $18 Three Short Plays About the Same Two People Revolution by Jonathan Ari Lander Multi-session pass (online bookings only) Online Winner of the Max Afford Playwrights Award 2008 A play that takes a running leap at a disenfranchised, bleak and bloody future. 3-play pass $48 www.tendaysontheisland.com by Van Badham 6-play pass $84 Tom and Eve’s relationship shatters under the weight of alcohol, cruelty and warped In person Single tickets only THE PLAYS modern idealism. What if Australia really wanted change? What if we all got out on the streets and demanded Booking your 3-play or 6-play pass not just an education revolution, but the real thing? Change was coming and it was all good. Service Tasmania Step 1: Book online at www.tendaysontheisland.com Visit any of the 27 Service Tasmania outlets across the state. Tom is cool. Eve is cool. Together they were even cooler. After an incident in a London club, We must yet tear up the grass to keep it green. The Berry Man by Patricia Cornelius Step 2: Register for your preferred session times at For locations and opening hours visit www.servicetas.gov.au. Tom and Eve are left frail and brittle, and apart. This play prophesies a perfect future, an austere future, a bloody future for all Australians www.nationalplayfestival.org.au A novice farmer struggles with friends who won’t go away. Manpreet is cool. And young. She makes Tom cool again. where kin with kin and kind with kind confound and in which our blood manures the ground. Theatre Royal When Eve returns, nothing is cool. It’s funny, nasty and shocking, but not cool. Now what? Note: individual session tickets cannot be guaranteed without 29 Campbell Street, Hobart. (03) 6233 2299 Eric wants to put roots down in a remote part of Australia. He’s not much good at farming but Jonathan Ari Lander is currently a PhD candidate in the School of History at UNSW where he advance registration at www.nationalplayfestival.org.au. 9am - 5pm Mon - Fri he likes the silence and he likes potatoes. But when old acquaintances won’t be forgot and Van Badham is the award-winning writer of more than 30 internationally-produced plays Refunds are not available for sold out sessions without lectures and tutors on the subjects of world history and Zionism. In 2001 Ari was admitted into advance registration. 9am - 1pm Sat new friends won’t take the hint Eric has some tough decisions to make. for stage and radio. Her plays have had seasons in Australia at the Sydney Opera House Studio, the NIDA Playwright’s Studio. Since 2003, Timothy Daly has worked as a dramaturg with Ari on Wharf 2, the Seymour Centre, the Arts Centre (Melbourne), Perth’s Blue Room and the Adelaide The Berry Man is a charming, affectionate story about people very like us. his writing. His plays include Broken Dreams, Redemption and Ezekiel’s Song. In October 2008 Ari Festival. She has had plays and music theatre staged at six Edinburgh Festivals, in London and was one of three writers accepted into the 2008-2009 Griffin Writer’s Residency. Patricia Cornelius is a founding member of Melbourne Workers Theatre. She is a playwright, on the UK touring circuit and in America, Iceland, Germany and Austria. Her radio-plays have Production novelist, dramaturg and the recipient of a Fellowship from the Theatre Board of the Australia been broadcast by the BBC World Service and Radio 4. Her plays include The Gabriels, Nikolina, Director: Tanya Denny Partners Council. Her plays include Slut (in a double bill with Christos Tsiolkas’ play Ugly titled Tenderness), Bedtime for Bastards, Letters to W, Black Hands/Dead Section and Petrograd. Awards include the With Camilla Ah Kin, Baylea Davis, Wadih Dona, Michael Edgar, Anita Hegh, Xavier Samuel British National Student Drama Festival Best Play, the Sunday Times Harold Hobson Award, best The Call, Good, Do Not Go Gentle…, Boy Overboard, Cunning, Love, Fever, Who’s Afraid of the Working Thursday 2 April | 6.30pm Class?, Lilly and May. Her many awards include a Gold Awgie, numerous other Awgies, playwright at London’s annual Fringe Report and Naked Theatre Company’s Write Now! prize. a Green Room Award, the Jill Blewett Award and a Patrick White Playwright’s Award. She is completing her PhD at the University of Wollongong and was writer in residence at the Saturday 4 April | 1.30pm London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Director: Susie Dee With Ivan Donato, Margaret Harvey, Colin Moody, Bill Young Director: Tanya Denny With Caroline Craig, Baylea Davis, Nathan Page Wednesday 1 April | 4.30pm MAx AFFORd PLAyWRIgHTS’ AWARd Friday 3 April | 6.30pm Wednesday 1 April | 9.30pm Friday 3 April | 4.30pm

In Conversation: One-on-One Road/Show: Tasmania This unique opportunity gives you two hours of unfettered access to Hannie Rayson or Angela Betzien. Both Not in Launceston or Hobart and still want to get in on the action? Join the Road/Show.Interested in seeing your Tasmanian Theatre Company 2009/2010 are highly skilled playwrights, both are excellent at dramaturgical analysis and both are lovely, generous thinkers story on stage but not sure how? Join the Road/Show.Want to work with professional actors and a director and learn The Tasmanian Theatre Company presented its inaugural season in 2008 and it featured the work of some terrific and thoughtful colleagues. Angela or Hannie will read your play and work with you for two hours honing, tweaking, on the rehearsal room floor? Join the Road/Show. OFF playwrights, old and new. We are very pleased to be able to help celebrate the work of this exciting new company refining and distilling it. This is the chance to talk about your work in great detail with the industry’s finest minds. Over ten days a team of seasoned theatre professionals will jump in a bus and drive around Tasmania opening the by inviting you to join us as we chat with two very fine writers. Both have written plays that are set to become part of It is a session for deep thinking and practical insights. rehearsal room to all Tasmanians. They are looking for great stories, big personalities and grand characters. upcoming Tasmanian Theatre Company seasons, and both featured in the Showcase season at last year’s National Priority applications are invited from Tasmanian writers and applications from interstate writers will only be accepted In each town they will conduct a workshop and interviews looking to share skills and inspire Tasmanians with the Play Festival. Why did they write their play? What inspires them? What do they love about theatre? after 27 February. possibilities of theatrical story-telling. It will all culminate in a performance on the final weekend of Ten Days on the Island. Steve Rodgers grew up in Launceston. His first play Ray’s Tempest was produced by Company B Belvoir in Sydney, Friday 27 March | Launceston | 10am, 1pm, 3.30pm $250 For writers, storytellers, keen observers, and those with something to say. THE PAGE and later by Melbourne Theatre Company. His new play Savage River is a stunning portrait of the first glimpsing of Keynote Address freedom and the weight of things that shackle us. Monday 30 March | Hobart | 10am, 1pm, 3.30pm WORKSHOPS Sue Smith is well known for her work in television drama, most particularly Bastard Boys, My Brother Jack, The Road Thursday 26 March | Palais Theatre, Franklin | 7pm-10pm from Coorain, The Leaving of Liverpool and Brides of Christ. She is also the writer of a feature film, Peaches. Bookings Online www.nationalplayfestival.org.au One of Australia’s finest cultural communicators and directors, Rhoda Roberts will officially launch the Her play In the Violet Time is a raucous, loving and poetic story about a pivotal moment in Australian social and Friday 27 March | The Backspace, Hobart | 10am-1pm Showcase season of new Australian plays. Rhoda was the first Aboriginal presenter on prime-time television, Special conditions political history, told through the eyes of 12 year-old Violet. appeared in the original production of Louis Nowra’s Radiance in a role written for her, and co-directed the STEP 1: Register your expression of interest. Download full application information at www.nationalplayfestival.org.au Saturday 28 March | Zeehan Scout Hall, Zeehan | 10am-1pm Awakening section of the 2000 Sydney Olympic games. Rhoda now runs the Festival of the dreaming and most With Artistic Director Chris Mead, Charles Parkinson (Tasmanian Theatre Company), Steve Rodgers and Sue Smith and register your interest in attending a One-on-One session by submitting a completed application form nominating Sunday 29 March | Stanley Town Hall, Stanley | 2pm-5pm recently she was Creative director of Sydney’s New year’s Eve celebrations, including the fireworks! Monday 30 March | Peacock Theatre | 6.30pm | FREE your preferred location, time and mentor. Your application must be accompanied by the additional information and Monday 30 March | Memorial Hall, Georgetown | 7pm-10pm short script excerpt detailed in the application information. Incomplete applications will not be considered. In her Keynote Address Rhoda will share her insights about making art from an acclaimed, tumultuous and Salamanca Arts Tuesday 31 March | Bridport Hall, Bridport | 7pm-10pm extraordinary career. This talented, candid and prominent Australian will talk about some of the reasons she Centre, Hobart Places are strictly limited. Priority bookings open for Tasmanian residents only until 27 February. Bookings will only be accepted from interstate writers after this date. Eligible expressions of interest will be selected by PlayWriting is compelled to tell stories and to support Australian theatremakers. Join Rhoda as she motivates, challenges Wednesday 1 April | Courtroom, Swansea Council Chambers, Swansea | 7pm-10pm Australia. Preferred times and mentor selections will be accommodated where possible. Alternatives will be offered and pushes us into the future. Thursday 2 April | Dunalley Hall, Dunalley | 7pm-10pm by mutual agreement where necessary and/or available. All expressions of interest will be acknowledged in writing. Director: Les Winspear STEP 2: Accept your place and make payment in full. Bookings are not confirmed until you have received a written With Carmen Falk, Mel King, Jeff Michel Rhoda Roberts is a member of the Bundjalung Nation, Wiyebal Clan of northern New South Wales offer from PlayWriting Australia, you have accepted that offer and payment has been made in full. Payment details and south-east Queensland. As a director, playwright, actress, journalist and presenter, Rhoda’s will be provided with your offer. For more information contact Tasmanian Theatre Company on (03) 6234 8561 involvement with the arts is extensive and through her prolific career she has become highly respected as a performer, arts presenter and cultural commentator. PERFORMANCE As a Creative Director Rhoda most recently orchestrated the Sydney New Year’s Eve celebrations, Young writers’ studio Saturday 4 April | Peacock Theatre | 10am | FREE Rhoda Roberts including the fireworks display. In addition to co-directing the Awakening section of the Opening So you’ve got a story and want to write a play. Together Hannie and Angela offer shrewd advice, useful exercises Salamanca Arts Ceremony for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, she was Indigenous Cultural Adviser across all areas and a no-nonsense guide to crafting your story into a terrific play. Focusing on observation and analytical Centre, Hobart for the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG). Her other roles with SOCOG skills, intuition and good judgment they will walk you through the challenges of exposition, dramatic action and included Artistic Director for the Festival of the Dreaming 1997 and three other Olympic Arts festivals. economy, conflict, characterisation and story. Production In 2005-2006, Rhoda was the Artistic Director for the opening ceremony and events of the Musee du Partner quai Branly in Paris and Creative Director for the opening event of the 2006 Perth Arts Festival. With generosity and a wealth of experience on which to draw, Hannie and Angela will help you to ‘wright’ a scene, to strut and fret with your characters and to show ‘the very age and body of the time his form and pressure’. Rhoda hosted the prime-time current affairs programmes First in Line and Vox Populi on SBS A unique opportunity to hear from working playwrights about what works and how to keep writing. Television. She has also worked for Network Ten and the ABC, producing and writing several GET Suitable for 18 – 26 year-olds. television documentaries. She is Contributing Editor to Vibe Magazine Australia, a journalist for Play for Breakfast the national music and sports programme Deadly Sounds. Saturday 28 March | Launceston | 10am – 5pm $40/$25 concession Whether you are a fan of rice bubbles, the friand, vegemite toast or a croque monsieur and a cappuccino, we’ve got Rhoda is a co-founding and continuing member of the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust Tuesday 31 March | Hobart | 10am – 5pm the play for you. Grab your brekky, a table, and a comfy chair and join us at Fullers as some of Tassie’s finest actors, (ANTT) and was in the original cast of Louis Nowra’s Radiance with Rachael Maza and Lydia under the direction of Annette Downs, give us a glimpse of different worlds and rich imaginations. From remote Miller. In 1998 she co-wrote and performed the hugely successful one-woman show Please Explain INVOLVED islands, cities under siege, to a suburban lounge room and back yard, here are excerpts from some great new plays. The Writer’s Forge Bookings Online www.nationalplayfestival.org.au and she recently toured a one woman show, Bible Boxing Love, around Australia. Featured works: Special conditions Rhoda is currently completing her first novel Tullymorgan and is the Artistic Director of the annual Unless you know how to use the right tools and in what order, writing a play is often more perspiration I Have Held My Hands Up To A Different Sky by Finegan Kruckemeyer (Tasmania) than inspiration. Reading Aristotle can be instructive, as can reading Shakespeare, Miller, Churchill, STEP 1: Submit a short application. Download full application information at www.nationalplayfestival.org.au and Festival of the Dreaming, part of the Woodford Folk Festival. Cross by Stephanie Briarwood (Tasmania) or Kane, watching a Coward or a Wilde, or even experiencing a Broadway show, but it’s learning from the register your interest in attending the Young Writers’ Studio by submitting a completed application form nominating The Cygnet by Alex Duncan (Tasmania) masters that really helps cut a few corners, or at least gives you the right skills to chisel your own corner. your preferred location. Your application must be accompanied by the additional information and written samples Angela Betzien The Seed by Kate Mulvany (NSW/WA) Tuesday 31 March | Peacock Theatre | 6.30pm | $10 detailed in the application information. Incomplete applications will not be considered. All complete applications will For the National Play Festival we offer two different opportunities for playwrights, or those intrigued Gentrification: A Conversation With My Neighbour Henry by Enda Walsh (Ireland) Salamanca Arts by the idea of writing a play, in both Launceston and Hobart. Two writers at the height of their powers, be acknowledged in writing. Centre, Hobart Hannie Rayson and Angela Betzien, are coming to Tasmania to work one-on-one with writers, and to Places are strictly limited. Applications will be assessed by the programme mentors or other personnel appointed Director: Annette Downs lead a Young Writers’ Studio. Sign up now! by PlayWriting Australia. The first application closing date is 27 February. Applications will not be processed until With Sara Cooper, Bryony Geeves, Ryk Goddard, John Unicomb Bookings Hannie is best known for her plays Inheritance, Two Brothers, Life After George, The Glass Soldier and after the application date and you will be advised of the outcome of your application within two weeks of this date. Monday 30 March – Friday 3 April | Fullers Bookshop | 9am | FREE | Duration approx. In person (from one hour prior to advertised start time on the day only) Salamanca Arts Centre. Hannie Rayson Hotel Sorrento. She has won a Sydney Myer Performing Arts Award, the NSW Premier’s Literary In the event that places are still available after this date applications will be accepted until all places have been filled. 140 Collins Street, 30-40 mins Award, The Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, three Helpmann Awards and two Awgies. STEP 2: Accept your place and make payment in full. Your place is not confirmed until you have received a written Hobart Angela’s plays include Hoods and Children of the Black Skirt and she won the Queensland Theatre offer from PlayWriting Australia and you have accepted that offer. Payment details will be provided with your offer. Production Company/Courier Mail George Landen Dann award and the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Performing Arts Partner Fellowship, taking her to London’s Royal Court. Angela was the inaugural recipient of the prestigious Richard Wherrett Prize for a new play. Hypatia by Marcel Dorney Return to Earth by Lally Katz Dirtyland by Elise Hearst In a fifth century world being destroyed by blind faith, Hypatia fights for reason. Winner of the R.E. Ross Trust Playwrights Development Award 2008 What won’t Anya do to get away from her dirty, dirty land? A young woman returns home and finds herself wide awake in a sleepy little town. Hypatia likes books and she loves a fight – as long as the argument proceeds platonically. Anya has chipped her tooth. Something happened and in the fighting it got chipped. SHOW Like her father before her, she is the custodian of the great Library of Alexandria. A new Alice is a bit of a space cadet. Everyone in Tathra thinks so too. Moses and Harry want to help. They’ll do anything for Anya. But no one can leave and there’s religion has captured an empire and Hypatia’s empire of knowledge is not simply a threat to She wants to land. She wants to fit in. She has to fit in – her family need her to sort herself out. no money and the something that happened has poisoned the town against itself. religion but heretical. No one is really as normal as they look though. A stark portrait of human frailty, resilience and treachery. Can Hypatia save the library? Can she save herself? A play about family, friends, love, sacrifice and re-connecting with the world. Elise Hearst graduated in 2005 in Creative Arts at Melbourne University where she co-produced Marcel Dorney is a writer and director. His plays include New Royal and Thieves Like Us. Lally Katz is a graduate of the University of Melbourne’s School of Studies in Creative Arts and wrote various shows for independent company KumQuat Theatre. She attended World Interplay CASEThe Showcase season of new plays is the centrepiece of the National Play Festival. Across four days it 2005 and in 2006 won an award for the Monash University National Playwrights Competition for her He was an associate writer of Griffin Theatre in 2005-2006 and has been commissioned and studied playwriting at London’s Royal Court Theatre. She is a core member of Stuck Pigs showcases six of the best new plays from around Australia, hand-picked by PlayWriting Australia, directed by by Queensland Theatre Company, La Boite Theatre Company, Backbone Youth Arts, and Squealing Theatre, which has rapidly built a reputation as one of the country’s most exciting play Apple. In 2006 she relocated to London to attend the Royal Court Theatre’s Young Writer’s some of the country’s finest directors and performed by a company of our best actors. Presented following the Restaged Histories Project. He received a Matilda Award and a Brisbane Lord Mayor’s theatre companies. Her plays include Frankenstein, The Black Swan of Trespass, The Eisteddfod, Programme and had work performed at the Soho Theatre, Hamspstead Theatre, Theatre 503 two weeks of intensive rehearsals as polished readings, the showcase season is your first look at what’s new Performing Arts Fellowship to study with the Maly Theatre in St Petersburg. Marcel is Lally Katz and the Terrible Mysteries of the Volcano, Criminology (with Tom Wright) and Goodbye New and the Trafalgar Studios. in Australian theatre. completing his PhD through the University of Queensland. York, Goodbye Heart. Awards include several Green Room and Melbourne Fringe Awards, Director: Susie Dee PLUS for a unique insight into the world of making these new Australian plays join us for a special a Melbourne Green Room Award for Best Independent Production and a New York International Director: Jon Halpin With Camilla Ah Kin, Katharine Cullen, Ivan Donato, Michael Edgar, Margaret Harvey, Backstage Briefing. Fringe Festival Producer’s Choice Award. With Alan Andrews, Wadih Dona, Anita Hegh, Colin Moody, Yalin Ozucelik, Bill Young Noreen Le Mottee, Xavier Samuel Director: Jon Halpin Backstage Briefing Wednesday 1 April | 6.30pm With Alan Andrews, Caroline Craig, Katharine Cullen, Noreen Le Mottee, Yalin Ozucelik, Thursday 2 April | 9.30pm Nathan Page Saturday 4 April | 4.30pm Join the writers, directors and actors of the Showcase Friday 3 April | 1.30pm season fresh from the rehearsal room to find out exactly Thursday 2 April | 4.30pm what it takes to get a new play ready for the stage. Saturday 4 April | 6.30pm Your chance to find out first-hand what inspired the SHOWCASE VENUE: The Backspace, Sackville Street, Hobart writers, how the rehearsal process works and what MORE INFORMATION Read more about all of the showcase plays at www.nationalplayfestival.org.au you can expect to see during the Showcase season. With Artistic Director Chris Mead and selected playwrights, directors, actors and dramaturgs Thursday | The Backspace, | 6pm | FREE 26 March Sackville Street TICKETS Hobart Single ticket $18 Three Short Plays About the Same Two People Revolution by Jonathan Ari Lander Multi-session pass (online bookings only) Online Winner of the Max Afford Playwrights Award 2008 A play that takes a running leap at a disenfranchised, bleak and bloody future. 3-play pass $48 www.tendaysontheisland.com by Van Badham 6-play pass $84 Tom and Eve’s relationship shatters under the weight of alcohol, cruelty and warped In person Single tickets only THE PLAYS modern idealism. What if Australia really wanted change? What if we all got out on the streets and demanded Booking your 3-play or 6-play pass not just an education revolution, but the real thing? Change was coming and it was all good. Service Tasmania Step 1: Book online at www.tendaysontheisland.com Visit any of the 27 Service Tasmania outlets across the state. Tom is cool. Eve is cool. Together they were even cooler. After an incident in a London club, We must yet tear up the grass to keep it green. The Berry Man by Patricia Cornelius Step 2: Register for your preferred session times at For locations and opening hours visit www.servicetas.gov.au. Tom and Eve are left frail and brittle, and apart. This play prophesies a perfect future, an austere future, a bloody future for all Australians www.nationalplayfestival.org.au A novice farmer struggles with friends who won’t go away. Manpreet is cool. And young. She makes Tom cool again. where kin with kin and kind with kind confound and in which our blood manures the ground. Theatre Royal When Eve returns, nothing is cool. It’s funny, nasty and shocking, but not cool. Now what? Note: individual session tickets cannot be guaranteed without 29 Campbell Street, Hobart. (03) 6233 2299 Eric wants to put roots down in a remote part of Australia. He’s not much good at farming but Jonathan Ari Lander is currently a PhD candidate in the School of History at UNSW where he advance registration at www.nationalplayfestival.org.au. 9am - 5pm Mon - Fri he likes the silence and he likes potatoes. But when old acquaintances won’t be forgot and Van Badham is the award-winning writer of more than 30 internationally-produced plays Refunds are not available for sold out sessions without lectures and tutors on the subjects of world history and Zionism. In 2001 Ari was admitted into advance registration. 9am - 1pm Sat new friends won’t take the hint Eric has some tough decisions to make. for stage and radio. Her plays have had seasons in Australia at the Sydney Opera House Studio, the NIDA Playwright’s Studio. Since 2003, Timothy Daly has worked as a dramaturg with Ari on Wharf 2, the Seymour Centre, the Arts Centre (Melbourne), Perth’s Blue Room and the Adelaide The Berry Man is a charming, affectionate story about people very like us. his writing. His plays include Broken Dreams, Redemption and Ezekiel’s Song. In October 2008 Ari Festival. She has had plays and music theatre staged at six Edinburgh Festivals, in London and was one of three writers accepted into the 2008-2009 Griffin Writer’s Residency. Patricia Cornelius is a founding member of Melbourne Workers Theatre. She is a playwright, on the UK touring circuit and in America, Iceland, Germany and Austria. Her radio-plays have Production novelist, dramaturg and the recipient of a Fellowship from the Theatre Board of the Australia been broadcast by the BBC World Service and Radio 4. Her plays include The Gabriels, Nikolina, Director: Tanya Denny Partners Council. Her plays include Slut (in a double bill with Christos Tsiolkas’ play Ugly titled Tenderness), Bedtime for Bastards, Letters to W, Black Hands/Dead Section and Petrograd. Awards include the With Camilla Ah Kin, Baylea Davis, Wadih Dona, Michael Edgar, Anita Hegh, Xavier Samuel British National Student Drama Festival Best Play, the Sunday Times Harold Hobson Award, best The Call, Good, Do Not Go Gentle…, Boy Overboard, Cunning, Love, Fever, Who’s Afraid of the Working Thursday 2 April | 6.30pm Class?, Lilly and May. Her many awards include a Gold Awgie, numerous other Awgies, playwright at London’s annual Fringe Report and Naked Theatre Company’s Write Now! prize. a Green Room Award, the Jill Blewett Award and a Patrick White Playwright’s Award. She is completing her PhD at the University of Wollongong and was writer in residence at the Saturday 4 April | 1.30pm London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Director: Susie Dee With Ivan Donato, Margaret Harvey, Colin Moody, Bill Young Director: Tanya Denny With Caroline Craig, Baylea Davis, Nathan Page Wednesday 1 April | 4.30pm MAx AFFORd PLAyWRIgHTS’ AWARd Friday 3 April | 6.30pm Wednesday 1 April | 9.30pm Friday 3 April | 4.30pm

In Conversation: One-on-One Road/Show: Tasmania This unique opportunity gives you two hours of unfettered access to Hannie Rayson or Angela Betzien. Both Not in Launceston or Hobart and still want to get in on the action? Join the Road/Show.Interested in seeing your Tasmanian Theatre Company 2009/2010 are highly skilled playwrights, both are excellent at dramaturgical analysis and both are lovely, generous thinkers story on stage but not sure how? Join the Road/Show.Want to work with professional actors and a director and learn The Tasmanian Theatre Company presented its inaugural season in 2008 and it featured the work of some terrific and thoughtful colleagues. Angela or Hannie will read your play and work with you for two hours honing, tweaking, on the rehearsal room floor? Join the Road/Show. OFF playwrights, old and new. We are very pleased to be able to help celebrate the work of this exciting new company refining and distilling it. This is the chance to talk about your work in great detail with the industry’s finest minds. Over ten days a team of seasoned theatre professionals will jump in a bus and drive around Tasmania opening the by inviting you to join us as we chat with two very fine writers. Both have written plays that are set to become part of It is a session for deep thinking and practical insights. rehearsal room to all Tasmanians. They are looking for great stories, big personalities and grand characters. upcoming Tasmanian Theatre Company seasons, and both featured in the Showcase season at last year’s National Priority applications are invited from Tasmanian writers and applications from interstate writers will only be accepted In each town they will conduct a workshop and interviews looking to share skills and inspire Tasmanians with the Play Festival. Why did they write their play? What inspires them? What do they love about theatre? after 27 February. possibilities of theatrical story-telling. It will all culminate in a performance on the final weekend of Ten Days on the Island. Steve Rodgers grew up in Launceston. His first play Ray’s Tempest was produced by Company B Belvoir in Sydney, Friday 27 March | Launceston | 10am, 1pm, 3.30pm $250 For writers, storytellers, keen observers, and those with something to say. THE PAGE and later by Melbourne Theatre Company. His new play Savage River is a stunning portrait of the first glimpsing of Keynote Address freedom and the weight of things that shackle us. Monday 30 March | Hobart | 10am, 1pm, 3.30pm WORKSHOPS Sue Smith is well known for her work in television drama, most particularly Bastard Boys, My Brother Jack, The Road Thursday 26 March | Palais Theatre, Franklin | 7pm-10pm from Coorain, The Leaving of Liverpool and Brides of Christ. She is also the writer of a feature film, Peaches. Bookings Online www.nationalplayfestival.org.au One of Australia’s finest cultural communicators and directors, Rhoda Roberts will officially launch the Her play In the Violet Time is a raucous, loving and poetic story about a pivotal moment in Australian social and Friday 27 March | The Backspace, Hobart | 10am-1pm Showcase season of new Australian plays. Rhoda was the first Aboriginal presenter on prime-time television, Special conditions political history, told through the eyes of 12 year-old Violet. appeared in the original production of Louis Nowra’s Radiance in a role written for her, and co-directed the STEP 1: Register your expression of interest. Download full application information at www.nationalplayfestival.org.au Saturday 28 March | Zeehan Scout Hall, Zeehan | 10am-1pm Awakening section of the 2000 Sydney Olympic games. Rhoda now runs the Festival of the dreaming and most With Artistic Director Chris Mead, Charles Parkinson (Tasmanian Theatre Company), Steve Rodgers and Sue Smith and register your interest in attending a One-on-One session by submitting a completed application form nominating Sunday 29 March | Stanley Town Hall, Stanley | 2pm-5pm recently she was Creative director of Sydney’s New year’s Eve celebrations, including the fireworks! Monday 30 March | Peacock Theatre | 6.30pm | FREE your preferred location, time and mentor. Your application must be accompanied by the additional information and Monday 30 March | Memorial Hall, Georgetown | 7pm-10pm short script excerpt detailed in the application information. Incomplete applications will not be considered. In her Keynote Address Rhoda will share her insights about making art from an acclaimed, tumultuous and Salamanca Arts Tuesday 31 March | Bridport Hall, Bridport | 7pm-10pm extraordinary career. This talented, candid and prominent Australian will talk about some of the reasons she Centre, Hobart Places are strictly limited. Priority bookings open for Tasmanian residents only until 27 February. Bookings will only be accepted from interstate writers after this date. Eligible expressions of interest will be selected by PlayWriting is compelled to tell stories and to support Australian theatremakers. Join Rhoda as she motivates, challenges Wednesday 1 April | Courtroom, Swansea Council Chambers, Swansea | 7pm-10pm Australia. Preferred times and mentor selections will be accommodated where possible. Alternatives will be offered and pushes us into the future. Thursday 2 April | Dunalley Hall, Dunalley | 7pm-10pm by mutual agreement where necessary and/or available. All expressions of interest will be acknowledged in writing. Director: Les Winspear STEP 2: Accept your place and make payment in full. Bookings are not confirmed until you have received a written With Carmen Falk, Mel King, Jeff Michel Rhoda Roberts is a member of the Bundjalung Nation, Wiyebal Clan of northern New South Wales offer from PlayWriting Australia, you have accepted that offer and payment has been made in full. Payment details and south-east Queensland. As a director, playwright, actress, journalist and presenter, Rhoda’s will be provided with your offer. For more information contact Tasmanian Theatre Company on (03) 6234 8561 involvement with the arts is extensive and through her prolific career she has become highly respected as a performer, arts presenter and cultural commentator. PERFORMANCE As a Creative Director Rhoda most recently orchestrated the Sydney New Year’s Eve celebrations, Young writers’ studio Saturday 4 April | Peacock Theatre | 10am | FREE Rhoda Roberts including the fireworks display. In addition to co-directing the Awakening section of the Opening So you’ve got a story and want to write a play. Together Hannie and Angela offer shrewd advice, useful exercises Salamanca Arts Ceremony for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, she was Indigenous Cultural Adviser across all areas and a no-nonsense guide to crafting your story into a terrific play. Focusing on observation and analytical Centre, Hobart for the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG). Her other roles with SOCOG skills, intuition and good judgment they will walk you through the challenges of exposition, dramatic action and included Artistic Director for the Festival of the Dreaming 1997 and three other Olympic Arts festivals. economy, conflict, characterisation and story. Production In 2005-2006, Rhoda was the Artistic Director for the opening ceremony and events of the Musee du Partner quai Branly in Paris and Creative Director for the opening event of the 2006 Perth Arts Festival. With generosity and a wealth of experience on which to draw, Hannie and Angela will help you to ‘wright’ a scene, to strut and fret with your characters and to show ‘the very age and body of the time his form and pressure’. Rhoda hosted the prime-time current affairs programmes First in Line and Vox Populi on SBS A unique opportunity to hear from working playwrights about what works and how to keep writing. Television. She has also worked for Network Ten and the ABC, producing and writing several GET Suitable for 18 – 26 year-olds. television documentaries. She is Contributing Editor to Vibe Magazine Australia, a journalist for Play for Breakfast the national music and sports programme Deadly Sounds. Saturday 28 March | Launceston | 10am – 5pm $40/$25 concession Whether you are a fan of rice bubbles, the friand, vegemite toast or a croque monsieur and a cappuccino, we’ve got Rhoda is a co-founding and continuing member of the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust Tuesday 31 March | Hobart | 10am – 5pm the play for you. Grab your brekky, a table, and a comfy chair and join us at Fullers as some of Tassie’s finest actors, (ANTT) and was in the original cast of Louis Nowra’s Radiance with Rachael Maza and Lydia under the direction of Annette Downs, give us a glimpse of different worlds and rich imaginations. From remote Miller. In 1998 she co-wrote and performed the hugely successful one-woman show Please Explain INVOLVED islands, cities under siege, to a suburban lounge room and back yard, here are excerpts from some great new plays. The Writer’s Forge Bookings Online www.nationalplayfestival.org.au and she recently toured a one woman show, Bible Boxing Love, around Australia. Featured works: Special conditions Rhoda is currently completing her first novel Tullymorgan and is the Artistic Director of the annual Unless you know how to use the right tools and in what order, writing a play is often more perspiration I Have Held My Hands Up To A Different Sky by Finegan Kruckemeyer (Tasmania) than inspiration. Reading Aristotle can be instructive, as can reading Shakespeare, Miller, Churchill, STEP 1: Submit a short application. Download full application information at www.nationalplayfestival.org.au and Festival of the Dreaming, part of the Woodford Folk Festival. Cross by Stephanie Briarwood (Tasmania) or Kane, watching a Coward or a Wilde, or even experiencing a Broadway show, but it’s learning from the register your interest in attending the Young Writers’ Studio by submitting a completed application form nominating The Cygnet by Alex Duncan (Tasmania) masters that really helps cut a few corners, or at least gives you the right skills to chisel your own corner. your preferred location. Your application must be accompanied by the additional information and written samples Angela Betzien The Seed by Kate Mulvany (NSW/WA) Tuesday 31 March | Peacock Theatre | 6.30pm | $10 detailed in the application information. Incomplete applications will not be considered. All complete applications will For the National Play Festival we offer two different opportunities for playwrights, or those intrigued Gentrification: A Conversation With My Neighbour Henry by Enda Walsh (Ireland) Salamanca Arts by the idea of writing a play, in both Launceston and Hobart. Two writers at the height of their powers, be acknowledged in writing. Centre, Hobart Hannie Rayson and Angela Betzien, are coming to Tasmania to work one-on-one with writers, and to Places are strictly limited. Applications will be assessed by the programme mentors or other personnel appointed Director: Annette Downs lead a Young Writers’ Studio. Sign up now! by PlayWriting Australia. The first application closing date is 27 February. Applications will not be processed until With Sara Cooper, Bryony Geeves, Ryk Goddard, John Unicomb Bookings Hannie is best known for her plays Inheritance, Two Brothers, Life After George, The Glass Soldier and after the application date and you will be advised of the outcome of your application within two weeks of this date. Monday 30 March – Friday 3 April | Fullers Bookshop | 9am | FREE | Duration approx. In person (from one hour prior to advertised start time on the day only) Salamanca Arts Centre. Hannie Rayson Hotel Sorrento. She has won a Sydney Myer Performing Arts Award, the NSW Premier’s Literary In the event that places are still available after this date applications will be accepted until all places have been filled. 140 Collins Street, 30-40 mins Award, The Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, three Helpmann Awards and two Awgies. STEP 2: Accept your place and make payment in full. Your place is not confirmed until you have received a written Hobart Angela’s plays include Hoods and Children of the Black Skirt and she won the Queensland Theatre offer from PlayWriting Australia and you have accepted that offer. Payment details will be provided with your offer. Production Company/Courier Mail George Landen Dann award and the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Performing Arts Partner Fellowship, taking her to London’s Royal Court. Angela was the inaugural recipient of the prestigious Richard Wherrett Prize for a new play. Hypatia by Marcel Dorney Return to Earth by Lally Katz Dirtyland by Elise Hearst In a fifth century world being destroyed by blind faith, Hypatia fights for reason. Winner of the R.E. Ross Trust Playwrights Development Award 2008 What won’t Anya do to get away from her dirty, dirty land? A young woman returns home and finds herself wide awake in a sleepy little town. Hypatia likes books and she loves a fight – as long as the argument proceeds platonically. Anya has chipped her tooth. Something happened and in the fighting it got chipped. SHOW Like her father before her, she is the custodian of the great Library of Alexandria. A new Alice is a bit of a space cadet. Everyone in Tathra thinks so too. Moses and Harry want to help. They’ll do anything for Anya. But no one can leave and there’s religion has captured an empire and Hypatia’s empire of knowledge is not simply a threat to She wants to land. She wants to fit in. She has to fit in – her family need her to sort herself out. no money and the something that happened has poisoned the town against itself. religion but heretical. No one is really as normal as they look though. A stark portrait of human frailty, resilience and treachery. Can Hypatia save the library? Can she save herself? A play about family, friends, love, sacrifice and re-connecting with the world. Elise Hearst graduated in 2005 in Creative Arts at Melbourne University where she co-produced Marcel Dorney is a writer and director. His plays include New Royal and Thieves Like Us. Lally Katz is a graduate of the University of Melbourne’s School of Studies in Creative Arts and wrote various shows for independent company KumQuat Theatre. She attended World Interplay CASEThe Showcase season of new plays is the centrepiece of the National Play Festival. Across four days it 2005 and in 2006 won an award for the Monash University National Playwrights Competition for her He was an associate writer of Griffin Theatre in 2005-2006 and has been commissioned and studied playwriting at London’s Royal Court Theatre. She is a core member of Stuck Pigs showcases six of the best new plays from around Australia, hand-picked by PlayWriting Australia, directed by by Queensland Theatre Company, La Boite Theatre Company, Backbone Youth Arts, and Squealing Theatre, which has rapidly built a reputation as one of the country’s most exciting play Apple. In 2006 she relocated to London to attend the Royal Court Theatre’s Young Writer’s some of the country’s finest directors and performed by a company of our best actors. Presented following the Restaged Histories Project. He received a Matilda Award and a Brisbane Lord Mayor’s theatre companies. Her plays include Frankenstein, The Black Swan of Trespass, The Eisteddfod, Programme and had work performed at the Soho Theatre, Hamspstead Theatre, Theatre 503 two weeks of intensive rehearsals as polished readings, the showcase season is your first look at what’s new Performing Arts Fellowship to study with the Maly Theatre in St Petersburg. Marcel is Lally Katz and the Terrible Mysteries of the Volcano, Criminology (with Tom Wright) and Goodbye New and the Trafalgar Studios. in Australian theatre. completing his PhD through the University of Queensland. York, Goodbye Heart. Awards include several Green Room and Melbourne Fringe Awards, Director: Susie Dee PLUS for a unique insight into the world of making these new Australian plays join us for a special a Melbourne Green Room Award for Best Independent Production and a New York International Director: Jon Halpin With Camilla Ah Kin, Katharine Cullen, Ivan Donato, Michael Edgar, Margaret Harvey, Backstage Briefing. Fringe Festival Producer’s Choice Award. With Alan Andrews, Wadih Dona, Anita Hegh, Colin Moody, Yalin Ozucelik, Bill Young Noreen Le Mottee, Xavier Samuel Director: Jon Halpin Backstage Briefing Wednesday 1 April | 6.30pm With Alan Andrews, Caroline Craig, Katharine Cullen, Noreen Le Mottee, Yalin Ozucelik, Thursday 2 April | 9.30pm Nathan Page Saturday 4 April | 4.30pm Join the writers, directors and actors of the Showcase Friday 3 April | 1.30pm season fresh from the rehearsal room to find out exactly Thursday 2 April | 4.30pm what it takes to get a new play ready for the stage. Saturday 4 April | 6.30pm Your chance to find out first-hand what inspired the SHOWCASE VENUE: The Backspace, Sackville Street, Hobart writers, how the rehearsal process works and what MORE INFORMATION Read more about all of the showcase plays at www.nationalplayfestival.org.au you can expect to see during the Showcase season. With Artistic Director Chris Mead and selected playwrights, directors, actors and dramaturgs Thursday | The Backspace, | 6pm | FREE 26 March Sackville Street TICKETS Hobart Single ticket $18 Three Short Plays About the Same Two People Revolution by Jonathan Ari Lander Multi-session pass (online bookings only) Online Winner of the Max Afford Playwrights Award 2008 A play that takes a running leap at a disenfranchised, bleak and bloody future. 3-play pass $48 www.tendaysontheisland.com by Van Badham 6-play pass $84 Tom and Eve’s relationship shatters under the weight of alcohol, cruelty and warped In person Single tickets only THE PLAYS modern idealism. What if Australia really wanted change? What if we all got out on the streets and demanded Booking your 3-play or 6-play pass not just an education revolution, but the real thing? Change was coming and it was all good. Service Tasmania Step 1: Book online at www.tendaysontheisland.com Visit any of the 27 Service Tasmania outlets across the state. Tom is cool. Eve is cool. Together they were even cooler. After an incident in a London club, We must yet tear up the grass to keep it green. The Berry Man by Patricia Cornelius Step 2: Register for your preferred session times at For locations and opening hours visit www.servicetas.gov.au. Tom and Eve are left frail and brittle, and apart. This play prophesies a perfect future, an austere future, a bloody future for all Australians www.nationalplayfestival.org.au A novice farmer struggles with friends who won’t go away. Manpreet is cool. And young. She makes Tom cool again. where kin with kin and kind with kind confound and in which our blood manures the ground. Theatre Royal When Eve returns, nothing is cool. It’s funny, nasty and shocking, but not cool. Now what? Note: individual session tickets cannot be guaranteed without 29 Campbell Street, Hobart. (03) 6233 2299 Eric wants to put roots down in a remote part of Australia. He’s not much good at farming but Jonathan Ari Lander is currently a PhD candidate in the School of History at UNSW where he advance registration at www.nationalplayfestival.org.au. 9am - 5pm Mon - Fri he likes the silence and he likes potatoes. But when old acquaintances won’t be forgot and Van Badham is the award-winning writer of more than 30 internationally-produced plays Refunds are not available for sold out sessions without lectures and tutors on the subjects of world history and Zionism. In 2001 Ari was admitted into advance registration. 9am - 1pm Sat new friends won’t take the hint Eric has some tough decisions to make. for stage and radio. Her plays have had seasons in Australia at the Sydney Opera House Studio, the NIDA Playwright’s Studio. Since 2003, Timothy Daly has worked as a dramaturg with Ari on Wharf 2, the Seymour Centre, the Arts Centre (Melbourne), Perth’s Blue Room and the Adelaide The Berry Man is a charming, affectionate story about people very like us. his writing. His plays include Broken Dreams, Redemption and Ezekiel’s Song. In October 2008 Ari Festival. She has had plays and music theatre staged at six Edinburgh Festivals, in London and was one of three writers accepted into the 2008-2009 Griffin Writer’s Residency. Patricia Cornelius is a founding member of Melbourne Workers Theatre. She is a playwright, on the UK touring circuit and in America, Iceland, Germany and Austria. Her radio-plays have Production novelist, dramaturg and the recipient of a Fellowship from the Theatre Board of the Australia been broadcast by the BBC World Service and Radio 4. Her plays include The Gabriels, Nikolina, Director: Tanya Denny Partners Council. Her plays include Slut (in a double bill with Christos Tsiolkas’ play Ugly titled Tenderness), Bedtime for Bastards, Letters to W, Black Hands/Dead Section and Petrograd. Awards include the With Camilla Ah Kin, Baylea Davis, Wadih Dona, Michael Edgar, Anita Hegh, Xavier Samuel British National Student Drama Festival Best Play, the Sunday Times Harold Hobson Award, best The Call, Good, Do Not Go Gentle…, Boy Overboard, Cunning, Love, Fever, Who’s Afraid of the Working Thursday 2 April | 6.30pm Class?, Lilly and May. Her many awards include a Gold Awgie, numerous other Awgies, playwright at London’s annual Fringe Report and Naked Theatre Company’s Write Now! prize. a Green Room Award, the Jill Blewett Award and a Patrick White Playwright’s Award. She is completing her PhD at the University of Wollongong and was writer in residence at the Saturday 4 April | 1.30pm London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Director: Susie Dee With Ivan Donato, Margaret Harvey, Colin Moody, Bill Young Director: Tanya Denny With Caroline Craig, Baylea Davis, Nathan Page Wednesday 1 April | 4.30pm MAx AFFORd PLAyWRIgHTS’ AWARd Friday 3 April | 6.30pm Wednesday 1 April | 9.30pm Friday 3 April | 4.30pm

In Conversation: One-on-One Road/Show: Tasmania This unique opportunity gives you two hours of unfettered access to Hannie Rayson or Angela Betzien. Both Not in Launceston or Hobart and still want to get in on the action? Join the Road/Show.Interested in seeing your Tasmanian Theatre Company 2009/2010 are highly skilled playwrights, both are excellent at dramaturgical analysis and both are lovely, generous thinkers story on stage but not sure how? Join the Road/Show.Want to work with professional actors and a director and learn The Tasmanian Theatre Company presented its inaugural season in 2008 and it featured the work of some terrific and thoughtful colleagues. Angela or Hannie will read your play and work with you for two hours honing, tweaking, on the rehearsal room floor? Join the Road/Show. OFF playwrights, old and new. We are very pleased to be able to help celebrate the work of this exciting new company refining and distilling it. This is the chance to talk about your work in great detail with the industry’s finest minds. Over ten days a team of seasoned theatre professionals will jump in a bus and drive around Tasmania opening the by inviting you to join us as we chat with two very fine writers. Both have written plays that are set to become part of It is a session for deep thinking and practical insights. rehearsal room to all Tasmanians. They are looking for great stories, big personalities and grand characters. upcoming Tasmanian Theatre Company seasons, and both featured in the Showcase season at last year’s National Priority applications are invited from Tasmanian writers and applications from interstate writers will only be accepted In each town they will conduct a workshop and interviews looking to share skills and inspire Tasmanians with the Play Festival. Why did they write their play? What inspires them? What do they love about theatre? after 27 February. possibilities of theatrical story-telling. It will all culminate in a performance on the final weekend of Ten Days on the Island. Steve Rodgers grew up in Launceston. His first play Ray’s Tempest was produced by Company B Belvoir in Sydney, Friday 27 March | Launceston | 10am, 1pm, 3.30pm $250 For writers, storytellers, keen observers, and those with something to say. THE PAGE and later by Melbourne Theatre Company. His new play Savage River is a stunning portrait of the first glimpsing of Keynote Address freedom and the weight of things that shackle us. Monday 30 March | Hobart | 10am, 1pm, 3.30pm WORKSHOPS Sue Smith is well known for her work in television drama, most particularly Bastard Boys, My Brother Jack, The Road Thursday 26 March | Palais Theatre, Franklin | 7pm-10pm from Coorain, The Leaving of Liverpool and Brides of Christ. She is also the writer of a feature film, Peaches. Bookings Online www.nationalplayfestival.org.au One of Australia’s finest cultural communicators and directors, Rhoda Roberts will officially launch the Her play In the Violet Time is a raucous, loving and poetic story about a pivotal moment in Australian social and Friday 27 March | The Backspace, Hobart | 10am-1pm Showcase season of new Australian plays. Rhoda was the first Aboriginal presenter on prime-time television, Special conditions political history, told through the eyes of 12 year-old Violet. appeared in the original production of Louis Nowra’s Radiance in a role written for her, and co-directed the STEP 1: Register your expression of interest. Download full application information at www.nationalplayfestival.org.au Saturday 28 March | Zeehan Scout Hall, Zeehan | 10am-1pm Awakening section of the 2000 Sydney Olympic games. Rhoda now runs the Festival of the dreaming and most With Artistic Director Chris Mead, Charles Parkinson (Tasmanian Theatre Company), Steve Rodgers and Sue Smith and register your interest in attending a One-on-One session by submitting a completed application form nominating Sunday 29 March | Stanley Town Hall, Stanley | 2pm-5pm recently she was Creative director of Sydney’s New year’s Eve celebrations, including the fireworks! Monday 30 March | Peacock Theatre | 6.30pm | FREE your preferred location, time and mentor. Your application must be accompanied by the additional information and Monday 30 March | Memorial Hall, Georgetown | 7pm-10pm short script excerpt detailed in the application information. Incomplete applications will not be considered. In her Keynote Address Rhoda will share her insights about making art from an acclaimed, tumultuous and Salamanca Arts Tuesday 31 March | Bridport Hall, Bridport | 7pm-10pm extraordinary career. This talented, candid and prominent Australian will talk about some of the reasons she Centre, Hobart Places are strictly limited. Priority bookings open for Tasmanian residents only until 27 February. Bookings will only be accepted from interstate writers after this date. Eligible expressions of interest will be selected by PlayWriting is compelled to tell stories and to support Australian theatremakers. Join Rhoda as she motivates, challenges Wednesday 1 April | Courtroom, Swansea Council Chambers, Swansea | 7pm-10pm Australia. Preferred times and mentor selections will be accommodated where possible. Alternatives will be offered and pushes us into the future. Thursday 2 April | Dunalley Hall, Dunalley | 7pm-10pm by mutual agreement where necessary and/or available. All expressions of interest will be acknowledged in writing. Director: Les Winspear STEP 2: Accept your place and make payment in full. Bookings are not confirmed until you have received a written With Carmen Falk, Mel King, Jeff Michel Rhoda Roberts is a member of the Bundjalung Nation, Wiyebal Clan of northern New South Wales offer from PlayWriting Australia, you have accepted that offer and payment has been made in full. Payment details and south-east Queensland. As a director, playwright, actress, journalist and presenter, Rhoda’s will be provided with your offer. For more information contact Tasmanian Theatre Company on (03) 6234 8561 involvement with the arts is extensive and through her prolific career she has become highly respected as a performer, arts presenter and cultural commentator. PERFORMANCE As a Creative Director Rhoda most recently orchestrated the Sydney New Year’s Eve celebrations, Young writers’ studio Saturday 4 April | Peacock Theatre | 10am | FREE Rhoda Roberts including the fireworks display. In addition to co-directing the Awakening section of the Opening So you’ve got a story and want to write a play. Together Hannie and Angela offer shrewd advice, useful exercises Salamanca Arts Ceremony for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, she was Indigenous Cultural Adviser across all areas and a no-nonsense guide to crafting your story into a terrific play. Focusing on observation and analytical Centre, Hobart for the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG). Her other roles with SOCOG skills, intuition and good judgment they will walk you through the challenges of exposition, dramatic action and included Artistic Director for the Festival of the Dreaming 1997 and three other Olympic Arts festivals. economy, conflict, characterisation and story. Production In 2005-2006, Rhoda was the Artistic Director for the opening ceremony and events of the Musee du Partner quai Branly in Paris and Creative Director for the opening event of the 2006 Perth Arts Festival. With generosity and a wealth of experience on which to draw, Hannie and Angela will help you to ‘wright’ a scene, to strut and fret with your characters and to show ‘the very age and body of the time his form and pressure’. Rhoda hosted the prime-time current affairs programmes First in Line and Vox Populi on SBS A unique opportunity to hear from working playwrights about what works and how to keep writing. Television. She has also worked for Network Ten and the ABC, producing and writing several GET Suitable for 18 – 26 year-olds. television documentaries. She is Contributing Editor to Vibe Magazine Australia, a journalist for Play for Breakfast the national music and sports programme Deadly Sounds. Saturday 28 March | Launceston | 10am – 5pm $40/$25 concession Whether you are a fan of rice bubbles, the friand, vegemite toast or a croque monsieur and a cappuccino, we’ve got Rhoda is a co-founding and continuing member of the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust Tuesday 31 March | Hobart | 10am – 5pm the play for you. Grab your brekky, a table, and a comfy chair and join us at Fullers as some of Tassie’s finest actors, (ANTT) and was in the original cast of Louis Nowra’s Radiance with Rachael Maza and Lydia under the direction of Annette Downs, give us a glimpse of different worlds and rich imaginations. From remote Miller. In 1998 she co-wrote and performed the hugely successful one-woman show Please Explain INVOLVED islands, cities under siege, to a suburban lounge room and back yard, here are excerpts from some great new plays. The Writer’s Forge Bookings Online www.nationalplayfestival.org.au and she recently toured a one woman show, Bible Boxing Love, around Australia. Featured works: Special conditions Rhoda is currently completing her first novel Tullymorgan and is the Artistic Director of the annual Unless you know how to use the right tools and in what order, writing a play is often more perspiration I Have Held My Hands Up To A Different Sky by Finegan Kruckemeyer (Tasmania) than inspiration. Reading Aristotle can be instructive, as can reading Shakespeare, Miller, Churchill, STEP 1: Submit a short application. Download full application information at www.nationalplayfestival.org.au and Festival of the Dreaming, part of the Woodford Folk Festival. Cross by Stephanie Briarwood (Tasmania) or Kane, watching a Coward or a Wilde, or even experiencing a Broadway show, but it’s learning from the register your interest in attending the Young Writers’ Studio by submitting a completed application form nominating The Cygnet by Alex Duncan (Tasmania) masters that really helps cut a few corners, or at least gives you the right skills to chisel your own corner. your preferred location. Your application must be accompanied by the additional information and written samples Angela Betzien The Seed by Kate Mulvany (NSW/WA) Tuesday 31 March | Peacock Theatre | 6.30pm | $10 detailed in the application information. Incomplete applications will not be considered. All complete applications will For the National Play Festival we offer two different opportunities for playwrights, or those intrigued Gentrification: A Conversation With My Neighbour Henry by Enda Walsh (Ireland) Salamanca Arts by the idea of writing a play, in both Launceston and Hobart. Two writers at the height of their powers, be acknowledged in writing. Centre, Hobart Hannie Rayson and Angela Betzien, are coming to Tasmania to work one-on-one with writers, and to Places are strictly limited. Applications will be assessed by the programme mentors or other personnel appointed Director: Annette Downs lead a Young Writers’ Studio. Sign up now! by PlayWriting Australia. The first application closing date is 27 February. Applications will not be processed until With Sara Cooper, Bryony Geeves, Ryk Goddard, John Unicomb Bookings Hannie is best known for her plays Inheritance, Two Brothers, Life After George, The Glass Soldier and after the application date and you will be advised of the outcome of your application within two weeks of this date. Monday 30 March – Friday 3 April | Fullers Bookshop | 9am | FREE | Duration approx. In person (from one hour prior to advertised start time on the day only) Salamanca Arts Centre. Hannie Rayson Hotel Sorrento. She has won a Sydney Myer Performing Arts Award, the NSW Premier’s Literary In the event that places are still available after this date applications will be accepted until all places have been filled. 140 Collins Street, 30-40 mins Award, The Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, three Helpmann Awards and two Awgies. STEP 2: Accept your place and make payment in full. Your place is not confirmed until you have received a written Hobart Angela’s plays include Hoods and Children of the Black Skirt and she won the Queensland Theatre offer from PlayWriting Australia and you have accepted that offer. Payment details will be provided with your offer. Production Company/Courier Mail George Landen Dann award and the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Performing Arts Partner Fellowship, taking her to London’s Royal Court. Angela was the inaugural recipient of the prestigious Richard Wherrett Prize for a new play. Hypatia by Marcel Dorney Return to Earth by Lally Katz Dirtyland by Elise Hearst In a fifth century world being destroyed by blind faith, Hypatia fights for reason. Winner of the R.E. Ross Trust Playwrights Development Award 2008 What won’t Anya do to get away from her dirty, dirty land? A young woman returns home and finds herself wide awake in a sleepy little town. Hypatia likes books and she loves a fight – as long as the argument proceeds platonically. Anya has chipped her tooth. Something happened and in the fighting it got chipped. SHOW Like her father before her, she is the custodian of the great Library of Alexandria. A new Alice is a bit of a space cadet. Everyone in Tathra thinks so too. Moses and Harry want to help. They’ll do anything for Anya. But no one can leave and there’s religion has captured an empire and Hypatia’s empire of knowledge is not simply a threat to She wants to land. She wants to fit in. She has to fit in – her family need her to sort herself out. no money and the something that happened has poisoned the town against itself. religion but heretical. No one is really as normal as they look though. A stark portrait of human frailty, resilience and treachery. Can Hypatia save the library? Can she save herself? A play about family, friends, love, sacrifice and re-connecting with the world. Elise Hearst graduated in 2005 in Creative Arts at Melbourne University where she co-produced Marcel Dorney is a writer and director. His plays include New Royal and Thieves Like Us. Lally Katz is a graduate of the University of Melbourne’s School of Studies in Creative Arts and wrote various shows for independent company KumQuat Theatre. She attended World Interplay CASEThe Showcase season of new plays is the centrepiece of the National Play Festival. Across four days it 2005 and in 2006 won an award for the Monash University National Playwrights Competition for her He was an associate writer of Griffin Theatre in 2005-2006 and has been commissioned and studied playwriting at London’s Royal Court Theatre. She is a core member of Stuck Pigs showcases six of the best new plays from around Australia, hand-picked by PlayWriting Australia, directed by by Queensland Theatre Company, La Boite Theatre Company, Backbone Youth Arts, and Squealing Theatre, which has rapidly built a reputation as one of the country’s most exciting play Apple. In 2006 she relocated to London to attend the Royal Court Theatre’s Young Writer’s some of the country’s finest directors and performed by a company of our best actors. Presented following the Restaged Histories Project. He received a Matilda Award and a Brisbane Lord Mayor’s theatre companies. Her plays include Frankenstein, The Black Swan of Trespass, The Eisteddfod, Programme and had work performed at the Soho Theatre, Hamspstead Theatre, Theatre 503 two weeks of intensive rehearsals as polished readings, the showcase season is your first look at what’s new Performing Arts Fellowship to study with the Maly Theatre in St Petersburg. Marcel is Lally Katz and the Terrible Mysteries of the Volcano, Criminology (with Tom Wright) and Goodbye New and the Trafalgar Studios. in Australian theatre. completing his PhD through the University of Queensland. York, Goodbye Heart. Awards include several Green Room and Melbourne Fringe Awards, Director: Susie Dee PLUS for a unique insight into the world of making these new Australian plays join us for a special a Melbourne Green Room Award for Best Independent Production and a New York International Director: Jon Halpin With Camilla Ah Kin, Katharine Cullen, Ivan Donato, Michael Edgar, Margaret Harvey, Backstage Briefing. Fringe Festival Producer’s Choice Award. With Alan Andrews, Wadih Dona, Anita Hegh, Colin Moody, Yalin Ozucelik, Bill Young Noreen Le Mottee, Xavier Samuel Director: Jon Halpin Backstage Briefing Wednesday 1 April | 6.30pm With Alan Andrews, Caroline Craig, Katharine Cullen, Noreen Le Mottee, Yalin Ozucelik, Thursday 2 April | 9.30pm Nathan Page Saturday 4 April | 4.30pm Join the writers, directors and actors of the Showcase Friday 3 April | 1.30pm season fresh from the rehearsal room to find out exactly Thursday 2 April | 4.30pm what it takes to get a new play ready for the stage. Saturday 4 April | 6.30pm Your chance to find out first-hand what inspired the SHOWCASE VENUE: The Backspace, Sackville Street, Hobart writers, how the rehearsal process works and what MORE INFORMATION Read more about all of the showcase plays at www.nationalplayfestival.org.au you can expect to see during the Showcase season. With Artistic Director Chris Mead and selected playwrights, directors, actors and dramaturgs Thursday | The Backspace, | 6pm | FREE 26 March Sackville Street TICKETS Hobart Single ticket $18 Three Short Plays About the Same Two People Revolution by Jonathan Ari Lander Multi-session pass (online bookings only) Online Winner of the Max Afford Playwrights Award 2008 A play that takes a running leap at a disenfranchised, bleak and bloody future. 3-play pass $48 www.tendaysontheisland.com by Van Badham 6-play pass $84 Tom and Eve’s relationship shatters under the weight of alcohol, cruelty and warped In person Single tickets only THE PLAYS modern idealism. What if Australia really wanted change? What if we all got out on the streets and demanded Booking your 3-play or 6-play pass not just an education revolution, but the real thing? Change was coming and it was all good. Service Tasmania Step 1: Book online at www.tendaysontheisland.com Visit any of the 27 Service Tasmania outlets across the state. Tom is cool. Eve is cool. Together they were even cooler. After an incident in a London club, We must yet tear up the grass to keep it green. The Berry Man by Patricia Cornelius Step 2: Register for your preferred session times at For locations and opening hours visit www.servicetas.gov.au. Tom and Eve are left frail and brittle, and apart. This play prophesies a perfect future, an austere future, a bloody future for all Australians www.nationalplayfestival.org.au A novice farmer struggles with friends who won’t go away. Manpreet is cool. And young. She makes Tom cool again. where kin with kin and kind with kind confound and in which our blood manures the ground. Theatre Royal When Eve returns, nothing is cool. It’s funny, nasty and shocking, but not cool. Now what? Note: individual session tickets cannot be guaranteed without 29 Campbell Street, Hobart. (03) 6233 2299 Eric wants to put roots down in a remote part of Australia. He’s not much good at farming but Jonathan Ari Lander is currently a PhD candidate in the School of History at UNSW where he advance registration at www.nationalplayfestival.org.au. 9am - 5pm Mon - Fri he likes the silence and he likes potatoes. But when old acquaintances won’t be forgot and Van Badham is the award-winning writer of more than 30 internationally-produced plays Refunds are not available for sold out sessions without lectures and tutors on the subjects of world history and Zionism. In 2001 Ari was admitted into advance registration. 9am - 1pm Sat new friends won’t take the hint Eric has some tough decisions to make. for stage and radio. Her plays have had seasons in Australia at the Sydney Opera House Studio, the NIDA Playwright’s Studio. Since 2003, Timothy Daly has worked as a dramaturg with Ari on Wharf 2, the Seymour Centre, the Arts Centre (Melbourne), Perth’s Blue Room and the Adelaide The Berry Man is a charming, affectionate story about people very like us. his writing. His plays include Broken Dreams, Redemption and Ezekiel’s Song. In October 2008 Ari Festival. She has had plays and music theatre staged at six Edinburgh Festivals, in London and was one of three writers accepted into the 2008-2009 Griffin Writer’s Residency. Patricia Cornelius is a founding member of Melbourne Workers Theatre. She is a playwright, on the UK touring circuit and in America, Iceland, Germany and Austria. Her radio-plays have Production novelist, dramaturg and the recipient of a Fellowship from the Theatre Board of the Australia been broadcast by the BBC World Service and Radio 4. Her plays include The Gabriels, Nikolina, Director: Tanya Denny Partners Council. Her plays include Slut (in a double bill with Christos Tsiolkas’ play Ugly titled Tenderness), Bedtime for Bastards, Letters to W, Black Hands/Dead Section and Petrograd. Awards include the With Camilla Ah Kin, Baylea Davis, Wadih Dona, Michael Edgar, Anita Hegh, Xavier Samuel British National Student Drama Festival Best Play, the Sunday Times Harold Hobson Award, best The Call, Good, Do Not Go Gentle…, Boy Overboard, Cunning, Love, Fever, Who’s Afraid of the Working Thursday 2 April | 6.30pm Class?, Lilly and May. Her many awards include a Gold Awgie, numerous other Awgies, playwright at London’s annual Fringe Report and Naked Theatre Company’s Write Now! prize. a Green Room Award, the Jill Blewett Award and a Patrick White Playwright’s Award. She is completing her PhD at the University of Wollongong and was writer in residence at the Saturday 4 April | 1.30pm London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Director: Susie Dee With Ivan Donato, Margaret Harvey, Colin Moody, Bill Young Director: Tanya Denny With Caroline Craig, Baylea Davis, Nathan Page Wednesday 1 April | 4.30pm MAx AFFORd PLAyWRIgHTS’ AWARd Friday 3 April | 6.30pm Wednesday 1 April | 9.30pm Friday 3 April | 4.30pm

In Conversation: One-on-One Road/Show: Tasmania This unique opportunity gives you two hours of unfettered access to Hannie Rayson or Angela Betzien. Both Not in Launceston or Hobart and still want to get in on the action? Join the Road/Show.Interested in seeing your Tasmanian Theatre Company 2009/2010 are highly skilled playwrights, both are excellent at dramaturgical analysis and both are lovely, generous thinkers story on stage but not sure how? Join the Road/Show.Want to work with professional actors and a director and learn The Tasmanian Theatre Company presented its inaugural season in 2008 and it featured the work of some terrific and thoughtful colleagues. Angela or Hannie will read your play and work with you for two hours honing, tweaking, on the rehearsal room floor? Join the Road/Show. OFF playwrights, old and new. We are very pleased to be able to help celebrate the work of this exciting new company refining and distilling it. This is the chance to talk about your work in great detail with the industry’s finest minds. Over ten days a team of seasoned theatre professionals will jump in a bus and drive around Tasmania opening the by inviting you to join us as we chat with two very fine writers. Both have written plays that are set to become part of It is a session for deep thinking and practical insights. rehearsal room to all Tasmanians. They are looking for great stories, big personalities and grand characters. upcoming Tasmanian Theatre Company seasons, and both featured in the Showcase season at last year’s National Priority applications are invited from Tasmanian writers and applications from interstate writers will only be accepted In each town they will conduct a workshop and interviews looking to share skills and inspire Tasmanians with the Play Festival. Why did they write their play? What inspires them? What do they love about theatre? after 27 February. possibilities of theatrical story-telling. It will all culminate in a performance on the final weekend of Ten Days on the Island. Steve Rodgers grew up in Launceston. His first play Ray’s Tempest was produced by Company B Belvoir in Sydney, Friday 27 March | Launceston | 10am, 1pm, 3.30pm $250 For writers, storytellers, keen observers, and those with something to say. THE PAGE and later by Melbourne Theatre Company. His new play Savage River is a stunning portrait of the first glimpsing of Keynote Address freedom and the weight of things that shackle us. Monday 30 March | Hobart | 10am, 1pm, 3.30pm WORKSHOPS Sue Smith is well known for her work in television drama, most particularly Bastard Boys, My Brother Jack, The Road Thursday 26 March | Palais Theatre, Franklin | 7pm-10pm from Coorain, The Leaving of Liverpool and Brides of Christ. She is also the writer of a feature film, Peaches. Bookings Online www.nationalplayfestival.org.au One of Australia’s finest cultural communicators and directors, Rhoda Roberts will officially launch the Her play In the Violet Time is a raucous, loving and poetic story about a pivotal moment in Australian social and Friday 27 March | The Backspace, Hobart | 10am-1pm Showcase season of new Australian plays. Rhoda was the first Aboriginal presenter on prime-time television, Special conditions political history, told through the eyes of 12 year-old Violet. appeared in the original production of Louis Nowra’s Radiance in a role written for her, and co-directed the STEP 1: Register your expression of interest. Download full application information at www.nationalplayfestival.org.au Saturday 28 March | Zeehan Scout Hall, Zeehan | 10am-1pm Awakening section of the 2000 Sydney Olympic games. Rhoda now runs the Festival of the dreaming and most With Artistic Director Chris Mead, Charles Parkinson (Tasmanian Theatre Company), Steve Rodgers and Sue Smith and register your interest in attending a One-on-One session by submitting a completed application form nominating Sunday 29 March | Stanley Town Hall, Stanley | 2pm-5pm recently she was Creative director of Sydney’s New year’s Eve celebrations, including the fireworks! Monday 30 March | Peacock Theatre | 6.30pm | FREE your preferred location, time and mentor. Your application must be accompanied by the additional information and Monday 30 March | Memorial Hall, Georgetown | 7pm-10pm short script excerpt detailed in the application information. Incomplete applications will not be considered. In her Keynote Address Rhoda will share her insights about making art from an acclaimed, tumultuous and Salamanca Arts Tuesday 31 March | Bridport Hall, Bridport | 7pm-10pm extraordinary career. This talented, candid and prominent Australian will talk about some of the reasons she Centre, Hobart Places are strictly limited. Priority bookings open for Tasmanian residents only until 27 February. Bookings will only be accepted from interstate writers after this date. Eligible expressions of interest will be selected by PlayWriting is compelled to tell stories and to support Australian theatremakers. Join Rhoda as she motivates, challenges Wednesday 1 April | Courtroom, Swansea Council Chambers, Swansea | 7pm-10pm Australia. Preferred times and mentor selections will be accommodated where possible. Alternatives will be offered and pushes us into the future. Thursday 2 April | Dunalley Hall, Dunalley | 7pm-10pm by mutual agreement where necessary and/or available. All expressions of interest will be acknowledged in writing. Director: Les Winspear STEP 2: Accept your place and make payment in full. Bookings are not confirmed until you have received a written With Carmen Falk, Mel King, Jeff Michel Rhoda Roberts is a member of the Bundjalung Nation, Wiyebal Clan of northern New South Wales offer from PlayWriting Australia, you have accepted that offer and payment has been made in full. Payment details and south-east Queensland. As a director, playwright, actress, journalist and presenter, Rhoda’s will be provided with your offer. For more information contact Tasmanian Theatre Company on (03) 6234 8561 involvement with the arts is extensive and through her prolific career she has become highly respected as a performer, arts presenter and cultural commentator. PERFORMANCE As a Creative Director Rhoda most recently orchestrated the Sydney New Year’s Eve celebrations, Young writers’ studio Saturday 4 April | Peacock Theatre | 10am | FREE Rhoda Roberts including the fireworks display. In addition to co-directing the Awakening section of the Opening So you’ve got a story and want to write a play. Together Hannie and Angela offer shrewd advice, useful exercises Salamanca Arts Ceremony for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, she was Indigenous Cultural Adviser across all areas and a no-nonsense guide to crafting your story into a terrific play. Focusing on observation and analytical Centre, Hobart for the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG). Her other roles with SOCOG skills, intuition and good judgment they will walk you through the challenges of exposition, dramatic action and included Artistic Director for the Festival of the Dreaming 1997 and three other Olympic Arts festivals. economy, conflict, characterisation and story. Production In 2005-2006, Rhoda was the Artistic Director for the opening ceremony and events of the Musee du Partner quai Branly in Paris and Creative Director for the opening event of the 2006 Perth Arts Festival. With generosity and a wealth of experience on which to draw, Hannie and Angela will help you to ‘wright’ a scene, to strut and fret with your characters and to show ‘the very age and body of the time his form and pressure’. Rhoda hosted the prime-time current affairs programmes First in Line and Vox Populi on SBS A unique opportunity to hear from working playwrights about what works and how to keep writing. Television. She has also worked for Network Ten and the ABC, producing and writing several GET Suitable for 18 – 26 year-olds. television documentaries. She is Contributing Editor to Vibe Magazine Australia, a journalist for Play for Breakfast the national music and sports programme Deadly Sounds. Saturday 28 March | Launceston | 10am – 5pm $40/$25 concession Whether you are a fan of rice bubbles, the friand, vegemite toast or a croque monsieur and a cappuccino, we’ve got Rhoda is a co-founding and continuing member of the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust Tuesday 31 March | Hobart | 10am – 5pm the play for you. Grab your brekky, a table, and a comfy chair and join us at Fullers as some of Tassie’s finest actors, (ANTT) and was in the original cast of Louis Nowra’s Radiance with Rachael Maza and Lydia under the direction of Annette Downs, give us a glimpse of different worlds and rich imaginations. From remote Miller. In 1998 she co-wrote and performed the hugely successful one-woman show Please Explain INVOLVED islands, cities under siege, to a suburban lounge room and back yard, here are excerpts from some great new plays. The Writer’s Forge Bookings Online www.nationalplayfestival.org.au and she recently toured a one woman show, Bible Boxing Love, around Australia. Featured works: Special conditions Rhoda is currently completing her first novel Tullymorgan and is the Artistic Director of the annual Unless you know how to use the right tools and in what order, writing a play is often more perspiration I Have Held My Hands Up To A Different Sky by Finegan Kruckemeyer (Tasmania) than inspiration. Reading Aristotle can be instructive, as can reading Shakespeare, Miller, Churchill, STEP 1: Submit a short application. Download full application information at www.nationalplayfestival.org.au and Festival of the Dreaming, part of the Woodford Folk Festival. Cross by Stephanie Briarwood (Tasmania) or Kane, watching a Coward or a Wilde, or even experiencing a Broadway show, but it’s learning from the register your interest in attending the Young Writers’ Studio by submitting a completed application form nominating The Cygnet by Alex Duncan (Tasmania) masters that really helps cut a few corners, or at least gives you the right skills to chisel your own corner. your preferred location. Your application must be accompanied by the additional information and written samples Angela Betzien The Seed by Kate Mulvany (NSW/WA) Tuesday 31 March | Peacock Theatre | 6.30pm | $10 detailed in the application information. Incomplete applications will not be considered. All complete applications will For the National Play Festival we offer two different opportunities for playwrights, or those intrigued Gentrification: A Conversation With My Neighbour Henry by Enda Walsh (Ireland) Salamanca Arts by the idea of writing a play, in both Launceston and Hobart. Two writers at the height of their powers, be acknowledged in writing. Centre, Hobart Hannie Rayson and Angela Betzien, are coming to Tasmania to work one-on-one with writers, and to Places are strictly limited. Applications will be assessed by the programme mentors or other personnel appointed Director: Annette Downs lead a Young Writers’ Studio. Sign up now! by PlayWriting Australia. The first application closing date is 27 February. Applications will not be processed until With Sara Cooper, Bryony Geeves, Ryk Goddard, John Unicomb Bookings Hannie is best known for her plays Inheritance, Two Brothers, Life After George, The Glass Soldier and after the application date and you will be advised of the outcome of your application within two weeks of this date. Monday 30 March – Friday 3 April | Fullers Bookshop | 9am | FREE | Duration approx. In person (from one hour prior to advertised start time on the day only) Salamanca Arts Centre. Hannie Rayson Hotel Sorrento. She has won a Sydney Myer Performing Arts Award, the NSW Premier’s Literary In the event that places are still available after this date applications will be accepted until all places have been filled. 140 Collins Street, 30-40 mins Award, The Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, three Helpmann Awards and two Awgies. STEP 2: Accept your place and make payment in full. Your place is not confirmed until you have received a written Hobart Angela’s plays include Hoods and Children of the Black Skirt and she won the Queensland Theatre offer from PlayWriting Australia and you have accepted that offer. Payment details will be provided with your offer. Production Company/Courier Mail George Landen Dann award and the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Performing Arts Partner Fellowship, taking her to London’s Royal Court. Angela was the inaugural recipient of the prestigious Richard Wherrett Prize for a new play. DIRECTORS Festival Supporters PlayWriting Australia is the national peak body working with playwrights and the theatre industry to support the development and promotion of SPON SHOW great new writing for performance.

Susie Dee Tanya Denny Jon Halpin For PlayWriting Australia SORS DRAMATURGS CASE Board of Directors Michael Gow (Chair) Tom Gutteridge Bruce Meagher Julian Meyrick Helen Salmon NATIO Irene Stevens ART Desmond Sweeney Peter Wilson Artistic Director Chris Mead Production Partners Advocates Chris Bendall (WA) Polly Rowe Sam Strong Campion Decent (NSW/VIC) ISTS Jon Halpin (QLD) ACTORS Maryanne Lynch (VIC) Suellen Maunder (QLD) Charles Parkinson (TAS) General Manager Ben White International & Susanna Dowling Community Development NAL

Camilla Ah Kin Alan Andrews Caroline Craig Katharine Cullen MAx AFFORD PlAyWRIGHTS’ AWARD For the National Play Festival 2009 Event Producer Sophie Clausen Marketing Mark Sutcliffe, Make My Mark Thanks Elizabeth Walsh, Marcus Barker, David Roberts, Charles Parkinson, Mark Fitzpatrick, Iain Lang, Annette Downs, Rebecca Noonan, Nick Marchand, John McCallum Publicity Sue Couttie Media Services Graphic Design Andrew Nobbs & Christina Perry Barton Design PlayWriting Australia is supported By Web Design Suzan Freeman PL AY Baylea Davis Wadih Dona Ivan Donato Michael Edgar Web Developer James McRobert Script Readers Melanie Beddie, Katrina Foster, Kate Gaul, Mark Haslam, Rita Kalnejais, Russell Kiefel, Lee Lewis, Hallie Shellam, Matthew Whittet, Rochelle Whyte Senior Readers Tom Healey, Peter Matheson, Daniel Schlusser Margaret Harvey Anita Hegh Noreen Le Mottee Colin Moody FEST www.nationalplayfestival.org.au 2009

TERMS AND CONDITIONS - FREE EVENTS/ Capacity for free events at The Backspace and Peacock Theatre (Backstage Briefing, In Conversation, Road/Show: Tasmania performance) is Mail Street Tel Email strictly limited and entry is by ticket only, subject to availability. Tickets are available in person only at the venue from one hour prior to the advertised start time and limited to one per PO Box 914 CarriageWorks +61 2 8571 9177 [email protected] Yalin Ozucelik Nathan Page Xavier Samuel Bill Young person. 245 Wilson Street CONDITIONS OF SALE/ All bookings are subject to availability and are not confirmed until payment has been finalised and booking confirmation received. Once confirmed, completed bookings Newtown NSW 2042 Fax Web may not be cancelled, exchanged or refunded except as provided for in the Live Performance Australia code of practice. Programme details are correct at the time of printing. All rights are Australia Eveleigh NSW 2015 +61 2 8571 9171 www.pwa.org.au reserved to alter programme details as necessary and without notice, including the withdrawal or substitution of artists, variation of ticket prices and the withdrawal or variation of advertised www.nationalplayfestival.org.au

programmes. The right of admission is reserved by the venue(s) and/or its agent(s). The use of cameras, tape recorders and other recording devices is not permitted. I VA L

Michael Gow, Chair Gow, Michael

Hobart Neighbour Henry Neighbour

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and industry partners whose help is invaluable in making the Festival a reality. a Festival the making in invaluable is help whose partners industry and Gentrification: Gentrification: Seed The Cygnet The Cross My Held Have I REAKFAST B

AM 9 AM 9 AM 9 AM 9 AM 9 FOR y A Pl celebration of international visual and performing arts. Thanks, too, to all of our government government our of all to too, Thanks, arts. performing and visual international of celebration

the team at Ten Days on the Island for generously and enthusiastically inviting us to join their their join to us inviting enthusiastically and generously for Island the on Days Ten at team the

Hobart a e s n a w S , s r e b m a h C for the Arts for supporting our vision to bring the Festival to Tasmania, and Elizabeth Walsh and and Walsh Elizabeth and Tasmania, to Festival the bring to vision our supporting for Arts the for

Theatre, Peacock Dunalley Council Swansea Bridport Georgetown Stanley Zeehan Hobart Franklin

On behalf of the PlayWriting Australia Board I would like to thank Arts Tasmania and the Minister Minister the and Tasmania Arts thank to like would I Board Australia PlayWriting the of behalf On

Hall, Dunalley Courtroom, Hall, Bridport Hall, Memorial Hall, Town Stanley , l l a H t u o c S n a h e e Z Backspace, The Theatre, Palais Presentation IA n ASMA T

The Festival is not possible without the support of a great number of individuals and organisations. organisations. and individuals of number great a of support the without possible not is Festival The

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workshops in Launceston. in workshops

state for Road/Show: Tasmania or take part in our northern Tasmania season of Writer’s Forge Forge Writer’s of season Tasmania northern our in part take or Tasmania Road/Show: for state

Hobart Launceston

2009 we take to the road to bring the Festival to more of Tasmania and you can join in around the the around in join can you and Tasmania of more to Festival the bring to road the to take we 2009

Hobart Betzien Angela Launceston Betzien Angela

across the state will join us, get involved and make the Festival your own. For the first time, in in time, first the For own. your Festival the make and involved get us, join will state the across

Studio, One-on-One: Studio, One-on-One:

playwright, an avid theatergoer or someone who has never set foot in a theatre, we hope Tasmanians Tasmanians hope we theatre, a in foot set never has who someone or theatergoer avid an playwright, Young Writers’ Writers’ Young Rayson Hannie Writers’ Young Rayson Hannie ORGE F

festival for the whole of Tasmania to get involved with. Whether an aspiring or established established or aspiring an Whether with. involved get to Tasmania of whole the for festival One-on-One: One-on-One: One-on-One: 10AM-5PM 10AM-5PM ’S RITER W

The Festival is a celebration of our playwriting culture for the whole of Australia to enjoy. It is, too, a a too, is, It enjoy. to Australia of whole the for culture playwriting our of celebration a is Festival The

workshops, masterclasses, presentations and performances across two weeks in March and April. and March in weeks two across performances and presentations masterclasses, workshops,

2009/2010

inaugural Festival put Brisbane in the spotlight. This year Tasmania is our generous host for over 30 30 over for host generous our is Tasmania year This spotlight. the in Brisbane put Festival inaugural Theatre Company Company Theatre Rhoda Roberts Rhoda

the unique creative life bubbling away in a different corner of the country each year. In 2008 the the 2008 In year. each country the of corner different a in away bubbling life creative unique the Tasmanian Tasmanian Hobart Address:

Conversation: In Theatre, Peacock event for playwriting to Tasmania. One of the great joys of the Festival is the opportunity to showcase showcase to opportunity the is Festival the of joys great the of One Tasmania. to playwriting for event Keynote

6.30PM 6.30PM PAGE THE FF O Welcome to the National Play Festival. In 2009 we are excited to be bringing the country’s premier premier country’s the bringing be to excited are we 2009 In Festival. Play National the to Welcome

Return to Earth to Return Man Berry The Dirtyland Plays... Short Three

6.30PM 6.30PM 9.30PM 9.30PM

Briefing Dirtyland Plays... Short Three Revolution Hypatia

Backstage Backstage Hobart 4.30PM 4.30PM 6.30PM 6.30PM

Chris Mead, Artistic Director Artistic Mead, Chris

Backspace, he T Revolution Hypatia Earth to Return Man Berry The Preview:

Come stoke the fire. the stoke Come 1.30PM 1.30PM 4.30PM 4.30PM PM 6 HOWCASE S

the National Play Festival, it will become the engine room of new writing for the theatre. theatre. the for writing new of room engine the become will it Festival, Play National the

Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts the and Heritage Parks, Environment, for Minister l APRI 4 SAT l APRI 3 FRI l APRI 2 THU l APRI 1 WED MARCH 31 TUE MARCH 30 n MO MARCH 29 n SU MARCH 28 AT S MARCH 27 RI F MARCH 26 HU T

Tasmania occupies a very particular place in our national imagination – and for the two weeks of of weeks two the for and – imagination national our in place particular very a occupies Tasmania MP O’Byrne Michelle Hon.

assistance of the Tasmanian Theatre Company, and the redoubtable Charles Parkinson. Parkinson. Charles redoubtable the and Company, Theatre Tasmanian the of assistance the crafting of excellent Australian stories. I urge you to take part. take to you urge I stories. Australian excellent of crafting the

and also to Ten Days on the Island, Elizabeth Walsh in particular and for the on the ground ground the on the for and particular in Walsh Elizabeth Island, the on Days Ten to also and a perfect complement to Ten Days on the Island, offering unique insights into into insights unique offering Island, the on Days Ten to complement perfect a

We are grateful to all our supporters, most particularly the Australia Council and Arts Tasmania, Tasmania, Arts and Council Australia the particularly most supporters, our all to grateful are We is Festival Play National the inspiration, and creativity such of time a During

We offer skills development sessions and the chance to turn your stories and ideas into opportunities. into ideas and stories your turn to chance the and sessions development skills offer We Visit www.nationalplayfestival.org.au for more information on the Festival the on information more for www.nationalplayfestival.org.au Visit

and see any or all of the Showcase plays – to be inspired, enthralled and entertained. and enthralled inspired, be to – plays Showcase the of all or any see and Ten Days on the Island. the on Days Ten

The Festival, however, is about more than just enjoyment of the new and the brave, we want you to get involved. involved. get to you want we brave, the and new the of enjoyment just than more about is however, Festival, The

visionary Rhoda Roberts, fire your imagination at the Writer’s Forge, check out Backstage life life Backstage out check Forge, Writer’s the at imagination your fire Roberts, Rhoda visionary plays feed, you can’t miss this celebration of Australia’s finest new plays. new finest Australia’s of celebration this miss can’t you feed, plays event, cultural state-wide premier, our within placed ideally is it festival

into conversation with the Tasmanian Theatre Company writers of tomorrow, listen to pragmatic pragmatic to listen tomorrow, of writers Company Theatre Tasmanian the with conversation into to make a play kick or tickle, if you want to engage in the lively debate that feeds good plays and that good good that and plays good feeds that debate lively the in engage to want you if tickle, or kick play a make to steps. next their to crucial is audience an where stage to page from play the shepherd dramaturgs and Play Festival’s Showcase Season to our shores. As the centrepiece of the the of centrepiece the As shores. our to Season Showcase Festival’s Play

work One-on-One with Australia’s best playwrights, take part in the Road/Show, jump jump Road/Show, the in part take playwrights, best Australia’s with One-on-One work a play take its first breath and be part of the air that the play breathes, if you want to learn from the best how how best the from learn to want you if breathes, play the that air the of part be and breath first its take play a directors actors, leading Our country. the across from merit on selected plays six features It season. Showcase the has inspired many intriguing tales. We warmly welcome the 2009 National National 2009 the welcome warmly We tales. intriguing many inspired has

Please join us at the Festival any time from sun up to sun well-down – have a Play for Breakfast, Breakfast, for Play a have – well-down sun to up sun from time any Festival the at us join Please Challenging to usher into the world and surprising beasts once they start to strut and bellow, if you want to see see to want you if bellow, and strut to start they once beasts surprising and world the into usher to Challenging in culminate work hard of weeks Two dramaturgs. two and directors five writers, sixteen Tasmania), from (ten Tasmania has a rich literary history of its own and a unique character that that character unique a and own its of history literary rich a has Tasmania

The Festival celebrates writing for the theatre because a play is not just a literary object – it is a living, breathing entity. entity. breathing living, a is it – object literary a just not is play a because theatre the for writing celebrates Festival The actors 23 of company a of consists Island, the on Days Ten within 2009 for nestled Festival, Play National The

Alexandria or an Australian city 25 years hence. hence. years 25 city Australian an or Alexandria remains fundamental to our way of life. of way our to fundamental remains

VIEW century fifth it’s whether flux, in world a and responsibility history, distance, with do they as that telling story of tradition strong a underpin event this throughout

to the future. Indeed Tasmania is the perfect setting for our six Showcase plays, all wrestling wrestling all plays, Showcase six our for setting perfect the is Tasmania Indeed future. the to of great Australian writing. The opportunities and experiences on offer offer on experiences and opportunities The writing. Australian great of

exquisite. Australia’s finest theatre practitioners, many far, far from home, will be there to look look to there be will home, from far far, many practitioners, theatre finest Australia’s exquisite. As Tasmania’s Minister for the Arts, I am very pleased to support this celebration celebration this support to pleased very am I Arts, the for Minister Tasmania’s As

Let’s come together to celebrate, and better understand, the exceptional, the rugged and the the and rugged the exceptional, the understand, better and celebrate, to together come Let’s Our National Play Festival is an opportunity to capitalise on this unique Tasmanian experience. experience. Tasmanian unique this on capitalise to opportunity an is Festival Play National Our OVER

about it – in order to understand Australia better as a whole. a as better Australia understand to order in – it about DUCTION

brutality and beauty, our past, present and future. I had to see it, to experience it – not just read read just not – it experience to it, see to had I future. and present past, our beauty, and brutality

head it collapsed all known distinctions between big and little, isolation and intimacy, near and far, far, and near intimacy, and isolation little, and big between distinctions known all collapsed it head

Franklin, David Boon, that whole south west bit, Tasmania flooded my imagination. In my my In imagination. my flooded Tasmania bit, west south whole that Boon, David Franklin, to go first when I grew up. Truganini, Alexander Pearce, the Model Prison, Rufus Dawes, the the Dawes, Rufus Prison, Model the Pearce, Alexander Truganini, up. grew I when first go to As a kid from Carcoar more than anywhere else in the world it was to Tasmania that I wanted wanted I that Tasmania to was it world the in else anywhere than more Carcoar from kid a As INTRO