Calling all Writers

Apply to be part of The South African New Play Writing Programme

The vision for The South African New Play Writing Programme is that it will prov
ide
support to playwrights.”
Ashraf Johaardien, playwright and general manager of the Wits Theatre.
The Wits Theatre, in partnership with the British Council, the Department of Art
s and Culture and Sustained Theatre, UK is pleased to announce the launch of The
South African New Play Writing Programme.
“The Programme will include the sharing of new play development programmes in the
UK with a focus on development of theatre writers in South Africa,” explains Perva
iz Khan of Sustained Theatre,UK. The process will see writers in SA and the UK s
haring extant and new scripts as well as developing a process for the exchange o
f dramaturgical support. In collaboration with theatres and higher education ins
titutions, the Programme will also seek opportunities for collaboration and co-p
roduction with a view to touring work, readings of work in progress, showcases,
artists’ and writers’ exchange,” adds Khan. “For the British Council, this is an opport
unity to join South African talent and UK art forms and in so doing, enable them
to experience the transformational dialogue effect of the arts,’’ states Deputy Dir
ector of the British Council. “The Department of Arts and Culture sees this as an
historic partnership which aims to equip a new generation of South African write
rs with skills that will enable them to develop dramatic work that resonates wi
th the challenges of the world around them,” states Professor Keorapetse Kgogsitsi
le, Special Adviser to the Minister of Arts & Culture.
The first phase of the programme will comprise writing workshops in Johannesburg
and Cape Town with local writers to be facilitated by Patricia Cumper and Ola A
nimashawun from the UK who will be joined by two South African writers. The work
shops will be aimed at people who are already writing but may not be writing for
theatre so it is a chance for them to explore the medium of theatre.
The Johannesburg workshop will take place on 25 and 26 January 2011 and the Cape
Town workshop on 27 and 28 January 2011. Interested writers are invited to subm
it applications as a single Word document no longer than 5 pages with the follow
ing information:
• one-page CV including contact details,
• one page letter of motivation
• three-page writing sample.
Applications should be submitted via e-mail to catherine.pisanti@wits.ac.za by n
o later than 26th November 2010. The selection process will be facilitated by Th
e Arts & Culture Trust, South Africa premier independent arts funding and develo
pment agency. There will be a number of bursaries covering accommodation and tra
vel for writers selected from outside of Cape Town and Johannesburg.