What is INTERPLAY?

Interplay is a world wide organisation for the furtherance of young playwrights.

Interplay supports the intercultural youth exchange and contributes to a better understanding between nations. It promotes the values of the contemporary national literature to an international public. It introduces the international variety of theatrical texts to the national centers. The network was founded in Sydney in 1985 and now has 26 representative organisations and individuals around the world which assist in the recruitment of talented young playwrights and tutor delegates.

Many professional artists have given their time and expertise to encourage and assist young writers through World Interplay. Our patrons are: Dorothy Hewett (Australia), Edward Bond (UK), and Stephen Sondheim (USA):

The aims of INTERPLAY

Interplay Festivals are held in order to:

n    celebrate the creative richness of young playwrights

n    provide an international meeting place where their work can be discussed, workshopped and performed

n    provide an international platform for the ideas of young playwrights

n    offer the general public access to the work of young writers

n    expose playwrights to the collaborative nature of writing for performance

Festivals of INTERPLAY

A biennial event, World Interplay Festivals occur in Townsville, Australia, at James Cook University. Besides the World Interplay Festivals in Australia, festivals take place regularly on the different continents. The first INTERPLAY Europe took place in Germany in 1995. In 2002 Hungary will host the participants from all over Europe. Playwright delegates are aged between 18 and 25 years, tutor delegates from professional theatre groups and institutions lead the workshops and events program. In workshops, intensive discussions with experienced international tutors, and small scale productions the plays of the participants from all over the world are put through a critical test. National representatives have the right to select and appoint the young playwrights and the tutors who actually take part.

New member-countries are welcome!

World INTERPLAY Australia, www.jcu.edu.au/school/comvat/interplay
INTERPLAY Europe www.f.shuttle.de/kjtz