The Cowshed Masters - Plays & Playwrights Development Program
The Cowshed, now in its 11th year, is the longest, most comprehensive plays/playwright’s development program in Tasmania, attracting storytellers from across Australia.
The Master’s Program works with established, mid-career and emerging playwrights and writers. Whilst the Cowshed was predominantly founded in text-based work, it has evolved to include more iconoclastic delivery sharing a focus on narrative, character, and plot, exploring the universal. The Cowshed is an annual program and we gather in person 4 weekends during the year.
The Cowshed is not for beginners however performing artists looking to transition into creating work with a narrative are welcome to apply.
““The Cowshed, provided by Blue Cow Theatre, is an important and incredible opportunity and a much-needed addition to the Australian theatre landscape. With their support, workshops, and one on one sessions with a dramaturg of Peter Matheson’s experience and ability, I have grown as a playwright”. 2021 participant”
DRAMATURGY
Peter Matheson
Peter deals with script development, script assessment and dramaturgy, he works on story, structure, characterisation, and language skills taking your play script, your story, your manuscript to the next level.
Check out his qualifications here
Sue Hayes
Sue Hayes is Cowshed Associate Producer. Sue is an Ensemble Studios graduate with many feathers in her cap as a writer/performer/director/physical-dramaturgy/visual artist and Cowshed alumni. Sue is passionate about supporting artists to tap into their potential and grab life by their short and curlies. Her main mantra is not about how many breaths we take each moment, but how many moments that take our breath away.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The Cowshed Master’s program is a collegial meeting of creative people who are committed to storytelling outcomes. Under the guidance of Peter and Sue, playwright’s come together to support their creative process.
To get the most of this program you need to put in. You’ll be writing and re-writing throughout the year and meeting deadlines agreed upon between you and Peter. There is group work, play readings, social occasions, and solo time with Peter to specifically discuss and work on your script. Peter will set homework specific to where you are in your process.
Be ready to;
Learn about the craft of writing which can be both new information or timely reminders.
Play reading sessions that demonstrate writing styles and technique.
Reading of each other’s work to hear your words off the page.
Informal discussions about process, successes, and hurdles.
Public play reading as a final event with professional actors and invited industry people, friends and family.
Social invitations.
Group Work
The Cowshed is an annual program and we gather in person 4 weekends during the year. In 2022 we are introducing Play Group. Facilitated by Peter, as a group we will read together, good plays, bad plays, famous plays and then interrogate. Unpacking what makes them work or not, learning through example the how and whys to make your story pop.
Time will also be allocated to reading sections of participant plays so that early in the program you get to hear your words off the page. Mid-year there will be a private reading of a section of everyone’s work with actors followed by a public reading at the end of the year.
One on One
Peter is incredibly generous with his time, engaging with each playwright with the insight they need for where they are in the process. Feedback from previous years rates highest the one-on-one sessions with Peter, and credits them as a positive driving force in their writing, offering timely milestones that supports writing discipline. These one on one sessions occur in person at the weekend gatherings and by Zoom or phone between those weekends.
Where
SOHO ARTS 14 Weld St South Hobart. Free parking available on site.
Cowshed annual program is $545 including GST
The Cowshed program remains incredible value and is subsidised by our 300 Club patrons.
You can apply to pay in two instalments. There are some scholarship options available for those experiencing financial hardship. Email us directly to discuss. Should Covid-19 disrupt the 2022 Cowshed program it will delivered online - Refunds will not be given.
Grant Opportunities
You might like to consider a grant application to cover the costs of the Cowshed program.
The Regional Arts Fund (RAF) offers quick response grants 10 times each year during the following months: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November. Applications submitted by 11:59pm on the last day of each month.
“A stage play is basically a form of uber-schizophrenia. You split yourself into two minds - one being the protagonist and the other being the antagonist. The playwright also splits themself into two other minds: the mind of the writer and the mind of the audience. ”
“There are some specialised considerations that often accompany the crafting of playscripts and the collegiality and expertise with which The Cowshed’s development program is infused allow a safe, prolonged and meaningful engagement with those skills, as well as the more general requirements and demands of developing a script.
”The Cowshed provided extremely worthwhile opportunities to make contact with fellow scriptwriters and to engage with professionals in the theatrical community, such as directors and actors.... (with) extended workshops and individual consultations with a widely successful and experienced dramaturg in Peter Matheson.”
The Cowshed is supported by Blue Cow Theatre’s 300 Club Patrons
Blue Cow’s 300 Club has supported the following Cowshed plays to full professional production
Blue Cow is committed to discovering and developing exceptional playwrights, and fostering exceptional plays.