Full length play competition soon

Taupo Times, Volume 20, Issue 6, 26 January 1971, Page 7

Full length play competition soon

A new full length play competition for New Zealand writers, with prizes worth $400 has been announced by the Rothmans Director of Drama, Mr Roy Hope. The winning award will be $300 and two highly commended awards of $50 each will be made. Mr Hope said the rules of the new competition insisted that playwrights should have lived in New Zealand for at least a year. "But there is no stipulation about subject material," he said. "Plays can be about anything and everything." Mr Hope said the New Zealand Theatre Federation would organise the competb tion, known as the Play of the Year award. It was in keeping with the Book of the Year award by the Rothmans Cultural Foundation two years ago. "The plays need not necessarily be standard three acts," he said 'But they should

provide a full evening's entertainment. In this respect, double bills — or two shorter plays — will be acceptable." The award winning play, if acceptable, would be included in a cycle of five New Zealand works to be presented by the Mercury professional company in Auckland later this year. Mr Hope said he would judge the competition. Entry forms and additional information were available from the New Zealand Theatre Federation at P.O. Box 6158, Wellington.