SEEKING NEW AFRICAN VOICES IN THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES

The deadline for applications is: 2 February 2020
Enquiries, contact Faye Kabali-Kagwa: theatre4youthwc@assitej.org.za

ASSITEJ South Africa announces a playwriting competition open to African playwrights. All playwrights with young audiences as the target market for their work are encouraged to apply. We are looking at work for these three age groups: 6-10, 10-13 and 13-16. The theme, plot, genre and style are totally open.

Each of the shortlist of up to 15 plays, including at least 5 playwrights from the greater African Continent, and at least 5 from South Africa, will receive online mentoring with an international expert from the ASSITEJ, Write Local, Play Global network of professionals. The plays will be tested and developed as works in progress at the "In the Works" festival to be held from 10-23 August 2020, at the Market Theatre and Windybrow Theatre, Johannesburg. Playwrights must make themselves available for the period since this will be an opportunity for further development with the intended audience and with other theatre professionals.

The winning play will be published and will be invited to perform at the Cradle of Creativity 2021, a Biennial International Festival of Theatre for Young Audiences in South Africa to be held at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg in August 2021.

Scripts will be shortlisted based on:
work that has been written for a specific stage of childhood and youth
        the level of excellence in chosen medium
the level of innovation and originality
the suitability for audience for which it was created 
the suitability for an audience of South African children 

The play may have had previous readings or amateur performances, but no professional showings.

Entrants will be required to submit a 1 page synopsis of their play as well as 1 page of sample text or dialogue, from this play or another play written by the entrant.