PLAYHOUSE LAUNCHES YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS UNIT

Vancouver, BC.... The Playhouse Theatre Company is pleased to announce a new programme for high school writers, Playhouse Young Playwrights: E-Stage, aimed at encouraging a new generation of playwrights who speak to the diverse cultural experiences of our region.

The Playhouse will select up to 15 young writers to participate in this intensive that will take place between January and March 2008, including regular activities and meetings and a weeklong workshop during spring break. The Playhouse is looking specifically for budding playwrights from a wide range of backgrounds, in the hopes of reflecting the many cultural and socio-economic faces of our community.

The participants will be mentored by Playhouse Playwright-in-Residence C.E. Gatchalian and will meet as a group bi-weekly, or as agreed upon by the group, with Chris to discuss ideas, characters, and the specific requirements of writing for the stage. In addition to the monthly meetings, the young playwrights will keep in touch through a dedicated section of the Playhouse website, designed to act as an online writing workshop and writers' blog. Posting access will be limited to the participants and mentors, and the site will encourage discussion of writing issues, feedback on works-in-progress, and general support during the writing process.

The expectation at the end of this period is that each participant will create an 8-minute scene featuring no more than three characters.

The students will also have the opportunity to meet Governor General award-winning playwright Morris Panych, and observe the development of his latest project for the Playhouse stage, The Amorous Adventures of Anatol. The students will attend the first read-through of the script, a technical dress rehearsal, and the opening night of this world premiere.
Playhouse Young Playwrights: E-Stage is generously supported by the City of Vancouver's Diversity Initiatives Program and the Telus Community Fund.