One-Act Playwriting & Poetry for Performance

The Manawatu (New Zealand) International One-Act Playwriting Competition 2010:

Massey University, The Palmerston North City Council and Palmerston North City Library announce an open call for playwrights for the 2010 Manawatu (New Zealand) International One-Act Playwriting Competition. The competition provides an opportunity for winning writers to have their plays developed and presented at the Biennial Manawatu Festival of New Arts in Palmerston North, New Zealand in October 2010.

The theme of the 2010 festival is ‘Back to Earth’ and we are looking for writing that explores this theme experimentally and in a theatrically challenging manner. Plays should be a minimum of 10 minutes and a maximum of 20 minutes playing time. They should contain no more than 6 characters and no less than 2.

Prizes:

The first 6 plays will receive professionally-directed productions at the Manawatu Festival of New Arts, Palmerston North, New Zealand 2010. The successful writers will also receive a one-year Playwright’s Membership of Playmarket, which is the national agency for playwrights in New Zealand.

First prize:  NZ$1,000 and full production at the Festival
Second prize:  NZ$300 and full production at the Festival
Third prize:  NZ$200 and full production at the Festival
Fourth, fifth and sixth prizes:  Full production at the Festival

Travel costs are not included.

The Manawatu (New Zealand) International Poetry for Performance Competition 2010:

Massey University, The Palmerston North City Council and Palmerston North City Library, announce an open call for poets for the 2010 Manawatu (New Zealand) International Poetry for Performance competition. The competition provides an opportunity for winning writers to have their poems developed and presented at the Biennial Manawatu Festival of New Arts in Palmerston North, New Zealand in October 2010.

We are seeking poetry that not only reads well, but also crosses the boundary between page and stage, to intrigue and involve an audience in performance (by which, we mean a presentation that goes beyond simple reading).  Therefore, in addition to the poem itself, we ask poets to submit an overview of their performance concept in up to 200 words; concepts might include multiple voice pieces, the incorporation of dance, music, film or visual images: the scope is limited only by your imagination.  This overview should not be prescriptive; it should communicate your vision, but leave room for directorial interpretation.

The theme of the 2010  festival is ‘Back to Earth’  and we are looking for writing that explores this theme in new and surprising ways, through both the written words and performance.  Poems should take no less than two minutes and no more than five minutes to perform.

Prizes:

The first 6 poems will be fully developed and produced at the Manawatu Festival of New Arts, Palmerston North, New Zealand in October 2010.  Three highly commended pieces will also receive a prize.

First prize:  NZ$500 and full production at the Festival
Second prize:  NZ$300 and full production at the Festival
Third prize:  NZ$200 and full production at the Festival
Highly commended x 3:  NZ$100 and full production at the Festival

Travel costs are not included. 

By submitting a poem, you grant the Manawatu Festival of New Arts non-exclusive rights to include the piece in the FONA magazine.

Submission Guidelines:

• The submitted play must not have been produced in any completed form other than as a staged reading.
• The submitted poem must not have been published or performed in any context other than as a standard reading.
• Do NOT include your name on the play or poem.
• The play(s) must be submitted in English, in hard copy using standard script formatting, with cover or title sheet.
• The poem(s) must be submitted in English, in hard copy using a standard serif font such as Times New Roman, with cover or title sheet, and have an outline of performance concept attached – this outline should be no more than 200 words long.
• The play or poem must be accompanied by a letter containing playwright’s/poet’s name, address, telephone number, email address, and a short biography (one paragraph).
• Entry fee is NZ$20 per play or poem to cover administration costs.  Please include a cheque for NZ$20 made payable to ‘Massey University’.  If you prefer to use your credit card, we require the following information:

• Type of card - Visa or Mastercard
• Card number
• Expiry date
• Name on card

• Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope with adequate postage for return of play(s) or poem(s) following judging.  Plays or Poems received without return envelope and adequate postage will be recycled.

Submission Deadline: 5pm Friday, 19 March 2010

All entries must be submitted to:
Carol Seelye
School Administrator 
School of English & Media Studies 
Massey University 
Private Bag 11 222 
Palmerston North
New Zealand

For more information please contact:
C.A.Seelye@massey.ac.nz.

For information about the School of English & Media Studies, Massey University, and the Awards, visit http://ems.massey.ac.nz