The Rio Tinto Black Swan Commissions
Through collaboration with our Principal Partner, Rio Tinto, Black Swan has created a research and development wing of the company that offers commissions, dramaturgy and workshops for new work. The new work that is created through the commissioning program takes various forms. Occasionally, Black Swan offers a substantial commission to a writer of national stature to deliver a script that we are convinced, based on the writer’s track record, will go straight to the main stage. Other writers are offered a commission because we would like to see how they intend to develop an idea that intrigues us or because we would like to foster an ongoing relationship and we want the playwright to continue writing.
So far the Rio Tinto Black Swan Commissions have produced two mainstage works: Kate Mulvany’s The Web (2009) and The Swimming Club by Hannie Rayson (2010), and The Damned by Reg Cribb (2011). In 2012, two commissioned works will premiere at the State Theatre Centre of WA: The White Divers of Broome by Hilary Bell and National Interest by Aidan Fennessy. Writers currently under commission include Reg Cribb, Matt Dyktynski and Hellie Turner. We look forward to sharing the fruits of their work with you over the coming years!
