ICYMI, we love the arts! 💛✨
For a year that’s been given many labels – unprecedented, wild, bizarre, unexpected – slow is not one of them. Sure, it felt like March went on for 10 years rather than 31 days, but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer and closer as restrictions across the country are easing and we are starting to see live theatre return to stages. Give yourself a pat on the back, you’ve made it through 9 months of a hectic year! You’re awesome! 👏
At ATYP, we’re proud to have continued to keep pumping out programs (particularly through our online courses) for you throughout this crazy year and October shows no signs of slowing.
The second instalment of our webinar series, Your Journey into the Arts, is nearly upon us. In a couple of weeks time, our panel of industry experts will lead a discussion on how to maintain a successful career in the arts. We are lucky to be joined by Adam Drake, Tasnim Hossain, and our Ambassador, Rose Byrne. These three individuals have such varied and strong career paths that you’d be silly to miss the opportunity to hear their advice! Tickets are still available for the webinar and can be purchased here.
We’re about halfway through the September/October school holiday drama workshop program (the first one back in person this year 🙌) and have another great week in store after the long weekend. ATYP is a registered COVID-safe business, so all budding performers coming through our doors can rest assured that they are learning in a fun, supportive, but most importantly, safe environment. There are still some places left in the week 2 courses so take a look at what’s available here.
For our emerging writers, you definitely want to check out our online Playwriting Masterclass series. With one down and four to go, this series is a valuable opportunity to learn from some of the country’s best playwrights! Upcoming masterclasses are with Anchuli Felicia King, Tommy Murphy, Mary Anne Butler, and Michele Lee (who has just been nominated for an AWGIE Award for her work on Hungry Ghosts). The calibre of these playwrights speaks for itself, so make sure you book your place before they sell out!
We are thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s Foundation Commissions – George Kemp and Emme Hoy! George won the Junior Foundation Commission for performers aged 10-13 years old with his play, Shack, and Emme won the Senior Foundation Commission for performers aged 14-17 years old with her play, Cry Havoc. You can read more about George and Emme here, and I for one cannot wait to see the final plays!
For anyone who is itching to create but may not be able to make it to Sydney for an in-person workshop, our Home Theatre 2.0 Competition ends this Sunday! That gives you a few short days to show us your creative take on one of eleven Aussie scripts that were written just for us (and you!) to play with. Head to the Home Theatre page on our website to see how you can get involved and to check out the awesome prizes you could win by entering.
A huge thank you to everyone who has signed our #TakeTheStage petition so far! It has been extremely heart-warming to see the outpouring of support from not only you guys, our community, but also from those who want to highlight the importance of Australian youth arts to the Federal Government. We would love to hit our next target of 15,000 signatures, so please help us by spreading the word. You can sign the Change.org petition and add your support here.
Lastly, a big chookas to the 20 young writers who are participating in a virtual National Studio next week. Like many, we have been affected by the myriad of restrictions the COVID pandemic has imposed, but we are fortunate to be able to still offer this landmark mentoring program – just with a bit of a 2020 twist.
If all of that’s not enough to fill your proverbial arts cup for the month, then I don’t know what will! Treat yourself to some Netflix or a good book, maybe. Shout your love of the arts from the nearest rooftop! I can’t tell you how to live your life.
Erica