THE PROGRAM

WORKSHOPS

1. TEN-MINUTE PLAY WORKSHOP with Alex Broun

Sunday 30th May, 2pm-5pm, online on Zoom

Inspire participants to write a ten-minute play, by acknowledging and embracing their own inherent stories and natural creativity, and then inform them with the basic techniques and tools to write the play. By the end of the workshop all participants will hopefully have a number of ideas for a ten-minute play and then using this information, including handouts, they will then have the tools required to write the play.

2. FUSION PLAYWRITING WORKSHOP with Hellie Turner

Sunday 25th July, 2pm-5pm, online on Zoom

It is the mindful fusion of a number of elements that produces dynamic well-made stories for theatre.

In her 3-hour workshop Hellie will impart her particular take on the essential/critical elements of playwriting ... especially for new and emerging writers.

This workshop will focus on further development of your playwriting skills and includes exercises for the participants. It's recommended that you bring your ten-minute play idea or draft script if you're currently working on one. This workshop is also suitable for those at an early stage of their writing.

3. An Authentic Voice PLAYWRITING WORKSHOP with Vivienne Garrett

Sunday 12th September, 2pm-5pm, online on Zoom

This workshop will focus on the craft of storytelling, character development, themes, finding the character’s unique voice, writing in the present tense, and plot development and twists.

COST

• EACH WORKSHOP: $25 Edge full members, $50 non-members, $10 students.

• We’ve set ticket prices to make this program as accessible as possible. As a gift to those without work right now, we’ve also set aside some complimentary tickets. Please contact Therese at therese@rewrite.net.au for more information or to apply for those.

ALEX BROUN

Often referred to as the ‘Shakespeare of short plays’, Alex is one of the world’s most-produced 10-minute playwrights, with over 150 different 10-minute plays produced in over 2,000 productions in over 40 countries. His play 10,000 cigarettes has been performed over 300 times. His plays have also been translated into many languages, including Arabic, and published around the world. His website, www.alexbroun.com, has had over 35 million hits and has reached #2 in a Google search for ‘ten-minute plays’.

A former winner of the Sydney Theatre Company’s Young Playwrights’ Scheme, an Inscription Script Award winner, and AWGIE nominee, playwright and screenwriter Alex Broun is a graduate of both the NIDA Playwrights Studio and the Australian Film Television and Radio School. As a screenwriter, Alex has twice received funding from Screen Australia as well as having numerous short screenplays filmed.

Alex has also worked extensively with Short+Sweet, including as Festival Director in Sydney and Melbourne and Artistic Director of the inaugural Short+Sweet Singapore. He launched Short+Sweet festivals in Brisbane, Auckland, Delhi, Rockhampton, Bangalore, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. He currently serves as the Literary Manager for Short+Sweet International.

HELLIE TURNER

Hellie is a prolific, veteran, West Australian playwright and director. She has written for all sectors of theatre. She was resident playwright/director for independent ‘kompany M’ theatre ensemble 2005-2010, where her work attracted a number of tours and artist-in-residence at Black Swan State Theatre Co during 2015 and 2016.

She teaches playwriting craft and mentors young theatre makers. Along with a range of independent productions, her freelance work has involved various commissions and/or productions with Perth’s major theatre companies.

Her awards include winning the WA Premier’s Book Award twice, winning the inaugural Maj Monologues, inclusion in the National Playwrights Festival, an AWGIE nomination, runner-up for the Richard Burton Award, her work was showcased in New York then shortlisted for Theatre 503 in London and also showcased at the International Playwrights Festival in London. Her adaptation The Lighthouse Girl, first performed in Albany, received an extended sell-out season with Black Swan State Theatre Company.

VIVIENNE GARRETT

Vivienne is a sought-after theatre, film and television actress, voice artist, theatre director, acting and voice coach who has won numerous stage and screen acting awards. She has worked with most of the major theatre companies in Australia including Black Swan State Theatre Company, studied Voice and Shakespearean text at Simon Fraser University in Canada, and has taught Stage and Screen Acting, Voice and Theatre studies at the Australian Film and Television Academy, Fremantle Television Institute, NIDA’s open program, and at WAAPA, ECU and Notre Dame universities.

A NIDA graduate with a BA in Dramatic Arts and Post Graduate studies in Voice, she has won WA’s Award for Best Female Actor, was nominated three times, and has won Best Female Supporting Actor. Her TV career spans four decades, including as a company member of the celebrated Rex Cramphorns Performance Syndicate working with internationally acclaimed Jerzy Grotowski and his company.

Vivienne has performed in many Australian plays, as well as starring in and producing two one-woman shows. Her directing credentials include several plays and over 20 short stories for ABC Radio national.

SELL US A STORY, BUSSELTON FRINGE 2021
March 2021

Short stories by WA writers about an object with little or no apparent value were read by local actors then auctioned along with their object to a Busselton Fringe audience. The idea was to see how creating a story can add value to something. In spirited bidding, not only was every story sold, but we also raised enough money for five youth theatre scholarships in Busselton.

SOUTH-WEST SHORTS 2020
August 2020

The first theatrical performance at the Margaret River HEART theatre after Covid-19 restrictions lifted was the sell-out South-West Shorts 2020 event. The six finalists’ plays were also broadcast live online across Australia and into the UK.

The 2020 theme was ‘Look on the Funny Side’.

Read more…

SOUTH-WEST SHORTS 2019
July 2019

The six finalists from the 2019 South-West Shorts event were performed to a sell-out audience at the new HEART black box theatre in Margaret River on Saturday 18th May and published in the South-West Shorts 2019 anthology.

The 2019 theme was ‘Changing Landscapes’.

Read more…

THE CIRCUIT, BUSSELTON FRINGE 2019
February 2019

The Circuit took audiences on a journey around the ArtGeo Complex in Busselton to four different locations where Edge writers’ original short plays were performed. Each ten-minute story depicted a tale of life in the region.

The first play was staged in the original 1860 Courthouse, the second was filmed and shown in a pop-up cinema outside the old Fodder Room, the third was performed on the steps of the Stables, and the fourth performed after a short walk through the historic buildings to the lawns where champagne was served for the final performance.

A hit of the 2019 Busselton Fringe, The Circuit was a sell-out event.

TALL TALES STORYTELLING WORKSHOP
January 2019

Presented by Ocean Edge Performance Writers, participants to this inaugural summer school workshop brought a five-minute story or concept to the first session, where they were taught the physicality of telling a story before an audience and the basics of live storytelling to help them shape a story that resonates with their audience.  They had one week to develop their piece before performing it for a live audience who were invited to share this experience with the performers through their witness of this first performance and by providing feedback to each writer.

BUSSELTON REPERTORY COMPANY SOIREE
November 2019

Busselton Repertory Company invited Ocean Edge writers to join them for a Friday evening soiree so we could meet their actors and directors and know more about who’s who in the club. Several readings of Ocean Edge writers’ short plays were performed on stage at the The Weld after a relaxed glass of wine and a mingle. New relationships were formed along with some of the outstanding talent in this club.

SOUTH-WEST SHORTS 2018
March 2018

Writers were once again invited by Western Edge to create a short play about life in WA’s south-west. The 2018 theme for the competition was “Stranger in a strange land”.
The six finalists’ plays were performed by actors from the Busselton Repertory Club and the Margaret River Theatre Group at a rehearsed reading at Caves House in Yallingup on Sunday 25th March 2018 and published in the South-West Shorts 2018 anthology.

SOUTH-WEST SHORTS 2017
March 2017

Writers from the City of Busselton, the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, and the City of Bunbury were invited by Western Edge in Perth to join them in writing a short, original monologue or duologue about life in WA's south-west.
Six finalists - three from the south-west and three from Perth - were chosen. The six winning authors workshopped their scripts with the director before having their play performed at a rehearsed reading at Rivendell Winery in Yallingup on Sunday 26th March 2017, where the audience voted for the People’s Choice Award and the Judges Award was also presented.
The competition gives West Australian playwrights an opportunity to develop their work with other local writers, to broaden their network within the industry, to have their work performed by a live audience and to be published. This is a valuable asset to a playwright’s career, particularly for an emerging writer.
All six plays are published in the South-West Shorts 2017 anthology. Copies have been distributed to the National Library in Canberra, The State and Battye libraries in Perth and to local bookshops and writers events.