MARTIN-LYSICRATES PRIZE 2022
ATYP is proud to partner once again with The Lysicrates Foundation and Riverside Theatres to present the exciting Martin-Lysicrates Prize 2022.
The annual Martin Lysicrates Prize, first awarded in 2017, with a one-year COVID break in 2020, is a unique playwriting competition supporting the development of new plays for young audiences. The Martin Lysicrates Prize is a national competition open to playwrights Australia-wide.
At the heart of the Martin Lysicrates Prize are young people and their particular worldview. Young people are the inspiration and intended audience of this unique commission; as well as key participants in the process of awarding the annual Prize.
ABOUT THE PRIZE:
Inspired by the Ancient Greek theatre festivals where audiences voted for a winner, The Martin-Lysicrates Prize champions the best new Australian writing for young people.
Playwrights are invited to submit the first 15 minutes of a new play for young people aged 11 – 14 years. Following a short-listing process, three scripts are presented to a live and online audience of school students of the relevant age. It is the audience of young people who judge which play is awarded a full commission.
The inspiration for the Martin Lysicrates Prize is the Great Dionysia Ancient Greek theatre festivals where the city of Athens stopped, spirited audiences converged, new plays were watched and the people effectively chose their annual award-winning playwright. The Martin Lysicrates Prize honours past tradition and today’s young people by weaving democratic ideals and new cultural experiences together.
In 2021, over 1000 students across Australia attended in person, via live-stream or the recorded performance via ATYP’s free On Demand platform where they watched all three plays and cast their votes.
THE PRIZES
The Martin Lysicrates Award is a genuine endeavour to inspire new stories and support playwrights to develop original scripts ready for production consideration. Along with a full commission, the winner enters a dramaturgical process supported by ATYP, providing a fantastic opportunity for a playwright to work with a dramaturge from Australia’s leading producer of new works for young people.
Lysicrates Commission: $12,000
Live Awards: $3,000 & $2,000
AFTER THE EVENT
ATYP will work closely with the winner to develop the script from the first draft to completion.
Please note: there is no commitment to produce the completed script.
Entries Close 6pm, 30 September 2022
Live Play Readings: 11am, 8 November at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, NSW
Find out more about The Martin-Lysicrates Prize here.
