This year's Martin-Lysicrates Prize happened on Wednesday 29 November in the Martin Place Amphitheatre.
The prize celebrates new Australian playwrights writing for 12 - 15 year olds, whereby the top three playwright finalists have the first act of their plays presented to an audience of 500 young people live, with an additional 1,500 watching on live stream.
The winner is voted by the audience and is awarded $15,000 to finish the play, working with a professional dramaturg to get the script ready for production.
“It's a brilliant initiative that combines the traditions of democracy in Greek theatre whilst also creating a marketplace for work to be put to the public/young people, creating a mandate for the work to be picked up for a professional production,” says Martin-Lysicrates Prize Producer and Co-Artistic Director, Hayden Tonazzi.
The James Martin Walk
The Martin-Lysicrates competition for plays written for children began at 6am at the James Martin Statue in Parramatta Square in the presence of the NSW Premier, Chris Minns, the Deputy Premier, Prue Car, the leader of the Opposition, Mark Speakman and the Mayor of Parramatta, Pierre Esber.
From Parramatta Square 14 gutsy kids trekked all the way by foot to the statue’s twin in Sydney's Martin Place, where they joined the 500-strong audience of young people to watch the plays.
The 20 kilometre route they took was the exact same path trodden by former premier of NSW and Chief Justice James Martin from 1832 to 1834 as he walked to school each day from his home in Parramatta as he wanted an education but his parents could not afford the carriage fare to Sydney.
Upon reaching Martin Place, they were warmly received by His Excellency General, the Honourable David Hurley, Governor General of Australia, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Hurley, the esteemed patron of the Lysicrates Foundation.
"Linda and I are delighted to be part of the sixth Martin-Lysicrates competition for plays written for children," said the Honourable David Hurley.
"One of the many features about the Play competition that appeals to us is that the competition is named after James Martin - a poor Irish boy brought up in servants' quarters who rose to become Premier of New South Wales and Chief Justice thanks to his determination and a love for education.
"The James Martin Children's Walk from Parramatta to Martin Place is a wonderful way to honour his legacy. I am looking forward to presenting the commemorative medals to the students who completed the walk."
After The Walk, the Performance: The Martin Lysicrates Play Prize Event
An event to decide the best play is the first step for children to learn about the power they have in their hands: their vote.
Starting at 12 noon, immediately following the Martin Children's walk, the children enjoyed a performance at the ATYP's Rebel Theatre in Walsh Bay, featuring three short plays written specifically for those in year 7 and 8. Subsequently, they actively engaged in a genuine display of democratic principles by forming lines and casting their votes for their favourite play.
The Finalists
This year's finalists are three young Australian playwrights who have been given the chance to have the first act of their plays performed in front of a live (and online) audience, hoping to win the prize of $15,000 plus have their play produced in a theatre season.
Let’s take a look at each finalist and a short synopsis of their play.
Arty Fishal by Brendan Hogan (Yackandandah, VIC)
It's not every day you see a fourteen-year-old girl dragging a dead body across the schoolyard. But this isn't an ordinary day. The girl is Benny, and the body...well that belongs to her twin brother, Arty...if she can even be sure that he is her brother. With a nod to the chase/escape/fugitive genre, mixed with a strong dose of sci-fi and futurism, 'Arty Fishal' asks some big questions about what it means to be human.
This is Brendan's third year as a finalist, who previously won the prize with his play 'Play Number Four'. He is a teacher in Regional Victoria with a clear connection to the ideas and themes of today's young people.
Nothing Scares Us Anymore by Joseph Brown (Sydney, NSW)
It all started the night Fiona went missing...Claudia, Reuben, Max, and Harrison have been friends forever. But this year things are changing. The summer holidays have felt different. Reuben's parents are moving him to the private school across town, and Claudia's not sure how she'll deal with it. Meanwhile, twins Max and Harrison can feel a rift emerging between them. Oh, and in the middle of all that, there's clearly a haunted house in town.
Joseph Brown is new to the Lysicrates family, but his murder mystery is going to be a huge hit with the young people. A graduate of the NIDA Playwriting course, this prize is offering him a chance at finally catching his break into playwriting after graduating.
Duck! by Amy May Nunn (Melbourne, VIC)
'Duck!" is a story of boy vs duck and a strange and epic battle that changes a town forever. 12-year-old Louie is the angriest, weirdest kid in Greenville (a nowhere town, dry as a bone without a patch of green in sight. The once thriving town is now a dust bowl full of broken things. But an unexpected guest is about to roll into town...A duck.
Amy May Nunn is an exciting emerging playwright, with their play for young people. The Lemon Tree On Dreg Street receiving critical acclaim in Melbourne this year, and they have just been awarded the Foundation Commission Award at the Australian Theatre for Young People to write a new play for young people aged 14 - 17.
And the winner is…
As voted by the children, the winner on the day was Nothing Scares Us Anymore by Joseph Brown. Voting, however, remains open online for schools to continue watching until Thursday 14th of December, and then the winner is expected to be announced at Parliament House shortly after that date.
So head to the website or email [email protected] to watch the plays and cast your vote.
The winner of last year's prize is Donna Hughes who lives in Freemantle, WA. Her play 'Hit, Delete!' has been through the development process and has just been showcased at the Western Australian Academy of the Performing Arts (WAAPA).
As we eagerly anticipate the outcome for this year's finalists, let's extend a heartfelt congratulations to them for the unwavering dedication they've poured into their craft, paving the way for an incredible opportunity. Best of luck to all!
Read more about The Lysicrates Prize here on greekcitytimes.com:
