Designed to bridge the gap between burning ambition and professional practice, Incubator provides a creative, nurturing environment in which emerging Meanjin playwrights develop two full-length drafts of an original theatrical work. The program culminates with external dramaturgical feedback and a public staged-reading.
Incubator participants are mentored by nationally-recognised playwright, Kathryn Marquet, through intensive workshops, structured writing time, creative development, and one on one mentorship. Through a range of activities designed to cultivate unique voices and development of craft, participants emerge from the program with a professionally-developed original Australian play.
To be eligible to apply, applicants must be in the first five years of your playwriting practice (18+), have written at least one play (short or long form), and be based in Meanjin/Brisbane. In-person attendance to all workshops and development readings is required.
Incubator will move through five phases: Roads In, Brick Laying, Butt/Chair, On the Floor & Finalising.
Phase 1 – Roads In (Exploration & Brainstorming)
Phase 2 – Brick Laying (Craft, Structure and Decision-making)
Phase 3 – Butt/Chair (Drafting & Redrafting)
Phase 4 – On the Floor
Phase 5 – Finalising
Q. What should I submit as part of my writing sample?
A. Any style/form of writing can be submitted in your sample. We recommend focusing on whatever you think highlights your skills the most.
Q. Does it cost money to participate in Incubator?
A. No! This development program is fully funded by Playlab Theatre.
Q. Do I need an idea for a full-length play to apply?
A. No. In fact, we’d rather you didn’t. Our intensive workshops are designed to be creative idea generators that get the stories flowing!
Q. What if I have special circumstances or accessibility requirements?
A. Please reach out to us at info@playlabtheatre.com.au before applying if you would like to chat about the ways we can best support you in this program.
Q. Why should I apply for Incubator?
A. Incubator participants who have excelled in the program have gone on to professional commissioning opportunities through Playlab Theatre, with our productions of Rising and Unconditional providing a clear pathway for emerging playwrights to the mainstage. Theft is the latest project where past Incubator participants share a commission to develop a new work. Many Incubator plays have also gone on to be shortlisted or a finalist in the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award.
Q. Where is this program held?
A. This program will be held in Brisbane at Playlab Theatre’s offices (156 Roma Street, Brisbane City 4000)
Q. Can I apply if I am not from Brisbane?
A. To be eligible participants must be able to attend the program in-person.
Kathryn Marquet is an actor and a playwright. Her published/performed works include: The Secret Garden (QT Young Artist Ensemble/Dead Puppet Society); The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek (Playlab/La Boite); The Owl and the Pussycat (Little Match); Furious Creatures (QPDA Finalist/Playwriting Australia workshop participant); and Pale Blue Dot (La Boite). In 2017, Kathryn was Playwright In Residence at Playlab, and, in 2013, Kathryn held the position of Playwright in Residence at La Boite Theatre Company. Kathryn sat on the board of Associate Artists at Queensland Theatre from 2011 until 2013. Kathryn has recently completed her Masters of Philosophy in Playwriting from UQ.Kathryn’s theatre performances include Magpie (Playlab), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Glass Menagerie, As You Like It, Ruben Guthrie and The White Earth (La Boite), Faustus (Bell Shakespeare/QT), The Crucible, Maxine Mellor’s Mystery Project, and 25 Down (Queensland Theatre), Bastard Territory (JUTE/Brown’s Mart), Prehistoric and After All This (Elbow Room), April’s Fool (Empire), Tender (…and Moor), Risk (Umber), Catholic School Girls (ThreeSisters/Mad Cat), Brontë (ThreeSisters), Cinderella, Jane Eyre, Little Women, Two Weeks with the Queen, Into the Woods, and The Taming of the Shrew (HRTC).
Her film and television credits include the feature film Don’t Tell (Tori Garrett), and series’ Secrets & Lies (Hoodlum/Network Ten), and Sisters of War (ABC). Kathryn was engaged in the Emerging Artist program for QT in 2009. She won the 2009 Matilda Award for Best Emerging Artist, was nominated for the 2010 Matilda for Best Supporting Actress and won Best Ensemble at the 2015 Melbourne Green Room Awards for Prehistoric. She is a graduate of the acting program at the University of Southern Queensland.