Published Monday, 11 February, 2008 at 02:34 PM
Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
Queensland hosts inaugural play festival
Arts Minister Rod Welford today welcomed the best of new Australian theatre to Queensland for the first National Play Festival.
Mr Welford said the 14-day festival, from 10–23 February, would be a hothouse for ideas, workshops, forums and showcase performances by top Australian artists.
“A festival like this cultivates and profiles our home-grown playwrights, giving them the opportunity to tell their own unique stories to the world,” Mr Welford said.
“During the festival, we will see eight new cutting-edge plays from the country’s most promising playwrights.
“Audiences will also be able to participate in a public dialogue about theatre at numerous forums and presentations.”
Mr Welford said the Bligh Government would provide $250,000 over three years to the National Play Festival, positioning Queensland as a key centre for new performance writing in Australia.
“With our own vibrant theatre culture here in Queensland, it’s very fitting for our state to host the inaugural National Play Festival,” he said.
“We’re working with our counterparts from other states to help shape a national theatre identity and create a buzz about Australian theatre on the world stage.”
The festival will present new works from Mary Rachel Brown (Australian Gothic), Rosalba Clemente (Helly’s Magic Cup), John Fraser (Rock Paper Scissors), Ross Mueller (Concussion), Sue Smith (In the Violet Time), Sven Swenson (The Wiredancer’s Waltz), Steve Rodgers (Savage River), and Kylie Trounson (The Man with the September Face).
Mr Welford said the eight plays were chosen from over 160 entries for their theatricality and engagement with ideas and for their potential for critical and commercial success.
“As part of the festival, finalists in the Queensland Premier’s Drama Awards will be announced on 20 February. Playwright Sven Swenson was the inaugural winner of the award in 2002.”
The National Play Festival takes place at the Queensland Theatre Company, Metro Arts and the Brisbane Powerhouse with information available at www.brisbanepowerhouse.org
The National Play Festival is coordinated by PlayWriting Australia, the national peak body for playwriting, and is funded by Arts Queensland and the Australia Council and delivered in partnership with national and local performing arts organisations.
Media contact: Emma Clarey on 3237 1000
Mr Welford said the 14-day festival, from 10–23 February, would be a hothouse for ideas, workshops, forums and showcase performances by top Australian artists.
“A festival like this cultivates and profiles our home-grown playwrights, giving them the opportunity to tell their own unique stories to the world,” Mr Welford said.
“During the festival, we will see eight new cutting-edge plays from the country’s most promising playwrights.
“Audiences will also be able to participate in a public dialogue about theatre at numerous forums and presentations.”
Mr Welford said the Bligh Government would provide $250,000 over three years to the National Play Festival, positioning Queensland as a key centre for new performance writing in Australia.
“With our own vibrant theatre culture here in Queensland, it’s very fitting for our state to host the inaugural National Play Festival,” he said.
“We’re working with our counterparts from other states to help shape a national theatre identity and create a buzz about Australian theatre on the world stage.”
The festival will present new works from Mary Rachel Brown (Australian Gothic), Rosalba Clemente (Helly’s Magic Cup), John Fraser (Rock Paper Scissors), Ross Mueller (Concussion), Sue Smith (In the Violet Time), Sven Swenson (The Wiredancer’s Waltz), Steve Rodgers (Savage River), and Kylie Trounson (The Man with the September Face).
Mr Welford said the eight plays were chosen from over 160 entries for their theatricality and engagement with ideas and for their potential for critical and commercial success.
“As part of the festival, finalists in the Queensland Premier’s Drama Awards will be announced on 20 February. Playwright Sven Swenson was the inaugural winner of the award in 2002.”
The National Play Festival takes place at the Queensland Theatre Company, Metro Arts and the Brisbane Powerhouse with information available at www.brisbanepowerhouse.org
The National Play Festival is coordinated by PlayWriting Australia, the national peak body for playwriting, and is funded by Arts Queensland and the Australia Council and delivered in partnership with national and local performing arts organisations.
Media contact: Emma Clarey on 3237 1000