STC expands premier playwrighting prize

Sydney Theatre Company has announced significant changes to the prestigious Patrick White Playwrights’ Award, which include the establishment of a second playwrights’ prize – The Patrick White Fellowship – and an increase in the total prize pool from $20,000 to $32,500.

Sydney Theatre Company has announced significant changes to the prestigious Patrick White Playwrights’ Award, which include the establishment of a second playwrights’ prize – The Patrick White Fellowship – and an increase in the total prize pool from $20,000 to $32,500.

The Award has been an annual initiative of Sydney Theatre Company and The Sydney Morning Herald since 2000 and is held in honour of Patrick White’s contribution to Australian theatre and to foster the development of Australian playwrights.

The Patrick White Playwrights’ Award will now offer a cash prize of $7,500 for a full-length unproduced play of any genre written by an Australian playwright. The readers and judges assessing the scripts will be seeking a work that is original and artistically ambitious, with great potential for a stage production.

The Patrick White Playwrights’ Fellowship is a new position for an established Australian playwright who has had a new play produced professionally in Australia within the last four years. The winning playwright will receive $25,000 for a year long Fellowship in recognition of their contribution to the theatre and their art form. A panel of peers and an STC representative will select the successful candidate based on their artistic contribution to theatre in Australia.

During the year of the Fellowship (21 May 2011 through to 21 May 2012), the Fellow will participate in a range of activities including giving playwriting workshops at Sydney Theatre Company as well as participating in a mentoring programming for two emerging playwrights.

Sydney Theatre Company’s Literary Manager Polly Rowe says that the changes are designed to benefit both emerging writers and mid-career writers.

“We’re inviting playwrights to enter the Award OR the Fellowship,” Rowe said. 

“The Fellowship allows us to recognise more experienced writers for their best work.  And we hope that this in turn will free the field for emerging writers to get a shot at winning the Award, gaining recognition and showcasing their potential. We’re delighted to have expanded the competition and to be creating more opportunities for Australia’s finest and most promising playwrights.”

Entry forms and information about the Award and the Fellowship can be found on the Sydney Theatre Company website at: www.sydneytheatre.com.au/patrickwhite.

The deadline for entries is November 19.