Are you a playwright interested in developing a new work for young audiences (aged 11-15) and in cross-cultural exchange?
ASSITEJ South Africa is calling for playwrights interested in cross-cultural exchange, and wishing to explore new writing in theatre for young audiences (ages 11-14), for a workshop, potentially leading to a commission (supported with R25 000) and a first public reading of the play.
Young people are experiencing complex and difficult situations, within a challenging social and political context, but often these are considered taboo for representation on stage. When difficult topics are explored for this audience, choices may be made that render the work didactic or prescriptive. Alternatively, work is created that misses this audience and does not address their concerns in ways that engage them.
ASSITEJ SA is interested in developing work that challenges young people, aged 11-14, to think and discover for themselves, and which engenders genuine and honest conversation between young people, and between them and the adults in their lives.The project is supported by the Government of Flanders, with the involvement of Kunstenpunt (the Flemish Arts Institute) and Flemish Department of Culture, Youth and Media.
What?
The project hopes to stimulate the creation of new work using innovative methodologies and approaches, which will allow young audiences in South Africa to access theatre, directly relevant to their most burning concerns, through fostering a dynamic intercultural exchange between artists passionate about theatre for young audiences.
In dialogue between local writers and the Fikry El Azzouzzi, a Flemish guest playwright, the workshop aims not only to exchange knowledge and practices but also to promote out of the box thinking, writing and use of language to address sensitive topics and through theatre give voice and agency to their young audiences from 11 – 15+ years old.
Playwrights wishing to apply should meet the following criteria:
• Be passionate about working for/ with young audiences, “pushing boundaries” and speaking to contemporary issues for young people;
• Be interested in intercultural exchange and open to learning with other South African and Flemish artists in TYA;
• Be (or become) a member of ASSITEJ SA;
• Be available from 8-12 July 2024 to attend a workshop for writers/theatre-makers at the Windybrow Theatre, Johannesburg (note: the budget does not cater for playwright’s travel and accommodation if they live outside of Johannesburg);
• Should they be commissioned to develop their play further, be prepared to engage with Fikry El Azzouzzi as their “sparring partner” to help develop their text between August and October 2024, through online meetings;
• Present a rehearsed stage-reading of the play at Teksmark (24-26 October 2024) at the University of Johannesburg;
• Engage in public discussions and media engagements around the play and their work.
How to apply?
• Please send a brief CV (max 2 pages) and a motivation letter (max 2 pages) to info@assitej.org.za, entitled Pushing Boundaries for Young Minds. Due Date: 1 July 2024
• Your motivation letter should present why you want to (or do) write for young audiences, your personal and current interests in writing, and your reasons for wanting to be part of this project. We are also particularly interested in your attitudes towards the question: what risks are we willing to take in our own writing/ storytelling and for whom do we risk what for?
More information:
Fikry El Azzouzi, a Flemish-Moroccan author, writes novels, columns and plays. His texts are relevant, multifaceted and often deal with current topics. He portrays a generation of young people looking for meaning and identity in our society, and depicts the clash between people with different backgrounds in an open, impartial way. He does so in a highly distinctive style that is fast-paced, has lots of dialogue and is laced with biting humour. His is a unique voice in Flanders, for which he received the Ultima for Literature (The Flemish state prize for literature) in 2021.
Fikry made his debut in 2010 with Het Schapenfeest, which would be the first novel in a trilogy. Drarrie in de nacht followed in 2014 and Alleen zij rounded off the trilogy in 2016. His novel De Beloning (2019) was inspired by the ‘man in the hat’, one of the suspects in the terror attacks in Brussels in March 2016. He has also made his mark with theatre pieces such as Troost and Rumble in da jungle (2013), Reizen Jihad (2015) as well as Pax Europa and Alleen voor actrice Sara De Roo (2016). Together with his theatre company Jr.cE.sA.r, he has created Malcolm X (2016) and Dear Winnie (2019), two highly relevant and original multimedia theatre pieces. Besides also taking on the role as columnist for, among others, De Morgen and De Standaard, he has now written a first book for children, called Aicha en de verloren taal (2022). He has received both the Arkprijs of the Vrije Woord as well as the Ultima for Literature.
About Teksmark: This dynamic playwriting initiative is a script development programme driven from KKNK (one of the leading Afrikaans arts festivals) in collaboration with NATi, the Baxter Theatre centre and the University of Johannesburg, amongst others. The initiative allows playwrights to develop out their ideas and potentially find producers for their nascent work. It has resulted in the production of new texts and their touring between festivals within South Africa. https://teksmark.kknk.co.za/
About Kunstenpunt: The Flanders Arts Institute is the professional arts support centre for three disciplines: the visual arts, the performing arts and classical music. For all who work in the arts, Flanders Arts Institute aims to be an inspiration, an available and reliable source of knowledge, a data provider and fact-checker, a source of support, a facilitator and an innovator. https://www.kunsten.be/en/about-flanders-arts-institute/
About ASSITEJ South Africa: Our vision is for all South African children and young people to have access to quality, performing arts especially designed for them, contributing to a more empathic, engaged and creative society. ASSITEJ South Africa is a registered NPO (066-875) and Public Benefit Organisation, with Section 18A status that operates as a networking platform for people working with or interested in theatre for children and young people. It aims to promote and foster high quality theatre for children and young people, to raise standards within the industry, to increase access and awareness, to develop and support artists working in the field, to be an advocate for the right of every child to arts education in schools, and to build relationships within the sector locally, nationally, across the continent and globally. ASSITEJ SA is the national centre for the international ASSITEJ (International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People) which works across more than 100 countries. More info: www.assitej.org.za
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