Special Projects

These include joint projects with other organisations, regional initiatives and advocacy opportunities. There are three ongoing annual projects, the Stages Deckchair Residency, the Albany Residency and the Mentorship Program. Other projects are developed dependent on resources, partnerships, and as the occasions arise. Recent projects include

2006 - Australian Playwrights’ Exchange to Scotland and England.

In February 2006 local playwrights Reg Cribb and Ian Wilding travelled to the United Kingdom and had their works read publicly at the Traverse Theatre, a theatre dedicated to new writing in Scotland and London’s Bush Theatre.

The value and benefits of this project, funded by the Australia Council for the Arts, can be measured in perhaps two distinctly different ways. The first being the immediate and long-term benefits to the two playwrights who participated in the exchange and whose work was read in a different country and context to that in which they usually write. The second being a range of broader benefits gained in forging a relationship with a company of this kind and beginning to develop a stronger understanding of how best to develop strategies for script export and playwright exchange not only with the Traverse Theatre but on a broader scope.

The plays read were:

“I found the moved reading at the Traverse and Bush theatres to be an invaluable experience. Apart from the contacts and connections made through this international collaboration, it forced me to see the play for its universal value. Through the work of some fine Scottish and British actors and directors, I was able to present a slice of Gothic Australiana for an uninitiated audience and see it out of its comfort zone. U.K actors have an innate sense of comic rhythm and this brought the play very much alive for me. After talking with the artists involved, they all seemed to have enjoyed seeing a side of Australia that is kept well hidden from them through their sunny, suburban Neighbours and Home And away saturation. It also helped me to move on to another draft assured of where the play needed work and what direction I was moving in.” – Reg Cribb

“I was interested in taking my play October to the Traverse for three main reasons: firstly, to test the quality of the work against the expectations of one of the leading new writing theatres in the UK; secondly to work with a director and actors of standing and experience within that company framework; and finally, to develop my professional profile beyond Australia. I found the work was successful in that test and survived intact the Traverse workshop and reading process, a result that has given me great personal satisfaction and the confidence to push myself further on the next writing project. Working with the director and actors from the Traverse was very gratifying and illuminating, especially I believe as the work was undertaken in parallel with Australian actors - consequently the response to the play from the audience and company personnel alike reinforced my feelings about the play (they liked it). And finally, I am no longer considered an unsolicited writer by Traverse – and having a theatre company of their standing have that as their policy is a very positive step forward in my goal of creating an international profile.” – Ian Wilding

2005 - A Scene Change

In 2005 Stages supported the Australian Script Centre in their development of an inaugural event focusing on regional writing, A Scene Change, which took place in December. Billed as a festival of regional theatre with three participating states, thirteen playwrights and seventeen events including performances, panels and play readings.

WA playwrights Melissa Cantwell and Hellie Turner were selected to attend and to take their plays The Chicken Play and Sardines respectively. Stages Director Sophia Hall, directed Melissa’s play and also spoke on several panels. The festival was a huge undertaking and highlighted the comparative good fortune theatre practitioners in WA enjoy, compared with those in Tasmania who have no professional theatre companies. The project also represented the reverse leg of the TASWA Playwrights’ Exchange which took place in 2003 and saw three new Tasmanian plays being read in Perth over two days, following a forum with 2 WA and 2 Tasmanian playwrights.

2005 - JUTE Playwrights Conference

In September 2005 Stages Director Sophia Hall was invited to the JUTE (Just Us Theatre Ensemble) Playwrights Conference in Cairns to speak on three panels: What is Contemporary Theatre?; Resource and Major Organisations – what do they have to offer writers from the Edges of Australia?; and Why do we make Theatre not Film (what can we learn from reality TV and film).

Sophia also attended the pre-conference “From the Edge” discussions focussing on work being developed in regional areas of Australia; whether it might have its own particular voice or brand and how it might be networked such that productions mounted in companies like JUTE or Mainstreet could have longer and broader lives. It was immensely valuable to hear from practitioners from many regions and to gain a quick understanding of the kind of successes and challenges companies such as JUTE are achieving and facing.

Perth playwright Melissa Cantwell’s script The Chicken Play was read at the Conference. This Conference is an annual event and its energy, collegiate focus and spirit of enquiry is inspiring.