The Richard Burton Award for Playwriting

 

To celebrate the illustrious career of one of the great stars of the silver screen, Sally Burton, in association with Black Swan State Theatre Company, has created a major playwriting initiative, the Richard Burton Award for Playwriting.

The Award is presented each year to Australian playwrights whose work demonstrates an original and outstanding theatrical voice.

Please note that the Award guidelines have changed for 2012.

In 2012, the Award will provide two recipients with a $15,000 commissioning fee, with a view to developing a new work. Applications will be accepted from writers whose plays have been produced in Australia or internationally within the last three years.

Submitted plays will be assessed by the Award judging panel and shortlisted writers chosen on the strength of these works.  Shortlisted writers will be asked to submit a treatment of up to five pages for a proposed new work.

Criteria

Writers may submit one play per year for the Award. This work must have been produced as a public season by a professional or co-operative company in Australia or overseas between 1 June 2009 and 28 May 2012 (see details below).

The running time of the play must be no less than 45 minutes.

The Award is open to all Australian Citizens or recognised Australian Residents.  Applicants must be 21 years of age by 28 May 2012.

What constitutes an eligible season/production?
Black Swan acknowledges that the small to medium and independent theatre scene provide valuable production opportunities for many writers. To be eligible for the Award, a playwright’s work may have been produced by a professional mainstream company or by a co-operative at a fringe venue in Australia or overseas. For the purposes of assessment, a co-operative is identified as a team of independent theatre makers, furthering their professional development or interests.

The production must constitute a public season; ie plays that have been given one-off showings or moved/rehearsed readings are not considered produced works. The production season may have commenced prior to 1 June 2009, but some performances need to have taken place within the specified period and before the cut-off date of 28 May 2012.

Dates and Deadlines

Mon 28 May 2012:      Award applications open
Fri 6 July 2012:          Award applications close
Fri 17 August 2012:    Shortlisted writers notified

Shortlisted writers will be required to submit a treatment of up to five pages for a proposed new work by Monday 17 September (within four weeks).

The Award recipients will be announced by 31 October 2012.

How To Apply

Download the application form here.

Applications must include:

• The completed and signed application form.
• A current CV.
• Three A4 single-sided copies of the produced script, without staples or binding. Text should be double-spaced in 12 point legible font (Courier, Times New Roman, Arial or Verdana). Pages must be numbered.

Note: Please ensure copies of the play do not include your name or any identification as scripts will be blind assessed as part of the judging process.

Applications will not be accepted by email.

Assessment

Sally Burton, in association with Black Swan, will appoint a judging panel each year. The Panel will be chaired by Sally Burton and include Black Swan’s Artistic Director Kate Cherry.  

The judges’ decisions are final and no debate or correspondence will be entered into, nor any feedback provided on individual scripts or applications.

Commissions

Black Swan will negotiate a commission agreement and schedule for completion for two new plays with the Award recipients. The fee for a successfully completed commission is $15,000 per recipient. Black Swan will have the first exclusive right to produce the play.

Black Swan may provide guidance, dramaturgical assistance and other forms of script development support.

Applications must be received by 5PM on FRIDAY 6 JULY 2012.

Addressed to:
The Richard Burton Award for Playwriting
Black Swan State Theatre Company
PO Box 337
Northbridge WA 6865

 

Click here to see past winners of the Richard Burton Award for New Plays. Please note that the Award was not awarded to any 2011 applicants.