Applications are now open for Malthouse Theatre’s Besen Emerging Writers Group and – new this year – Besen Emerging Dramaturgs Group as part of an ongoing commitment to providing artist development opportunities for emerging and early career artists.
These two artist development programs bring together a cohort of storytellers to explore their craft of writing or dramaturgy for live performance. An offshoot of the Besen Family Artist Program, which gives training to emerging artists across multiple theatre disciplines, these groups are designed to support emerging and early career writers and dramaturgs in developing their craft, exploring technical skills, and building their artistic networks.
Both programs are structured as a series of regular group sessions, where participants will be mentored by New Work Manager Bernadette Fam. The two programs are designed to occur alongside one another and will culminate in a final intensive where the writers and dramaturgs will have the opportunity to work with each other.
The Besen Family Artist Program and Writers Groups are proudly supported by the Besen Family Foundation and Debbie Dadon AM.
Recent alumni of the Besen Emerging Writers Group include Ra Chapman (K-BOX, 2022), Aran Thangaratnam (Stay Woke, 2022), Vidya Rajan (Looking For Alibrandi, 2022), and Alistair Baldwin (Telethon Kid, 2023).
“I am delighted to be facilitating the Besen Emerging Writers Group and Besen Emerging Dramaturgs Group this year,” said Malthouse Theatre New Work Manager Bernadette Fam.
“These programs are a vital pathway for emerging artists to build on their craft, develop their toolkits, and foster creative connections.”
“The practices of Writing and Dramaturgy can often feel isolating, and so I am excited to deliver a program where participants are able to engage in a meaningful knowledge exchange with one another,” said Bernadette Fam.
Further information and applications to participate in the Emerging Writers and Dramaturg Groups are now open via written or video submission at: www.malthousetheatre.com.au.
Applications must be submitted by 11.59pm on Sunday 30 July 2023 and applicants must be available to participate from 30 August to 4 November 2023.
For more information on the programs, please contact Malthouse Theatre’s New Work Manager Bernadette Fam at engineroom@malthousetheatre.com.au.
Image: Besen Writers Group – courtesy of Malthouse Theatre