Black Swan State Theatre Company of Western Australia acknowledges the Whadjuk people of the Nyoongar Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live.

First Nations People have been telling stories on this country for many thousands of years, and we acknowledge their incredible contribution to the cultural and environmental landscape we reside in.

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2024 PIGGY-BACK-DRAFT Commission Recipient

Written by Black Swan State Theatre Company 9 May 2024 4 min
After an extensive submission and interview process, Black Swan are excited to announce writer Gita Bezard as the recipient of the 2024 PIGGY-BACK-DRAFT Commission.

With the generous support of the Malcolm Roberston Foundation, the PIGGY-BACK-DRAFT Commission is designed to provide an opportunity for a WA writer to take the next step in their writing career.

Gita is a playwright, theatre maker, mum and Core Artist of The Last Great Hunt. In 2016, she had her playwriting debut at Black Swan with Girl Shut Your Mouth, which was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award. Recent shows include The Paper Escaper for Terrapin Puppet Theatre and Telephone for The Last Great Hunt.

For the PIGGY-BACK-DRAFT commission, Gita is writing Bloody Paris, a rom-com about grief, expectations, and the performance of happiness. Following two travellers whose fates collide, this play promises to be a hilarious romp about getting your sh*t together in the City of Love.

Gita’s pitch was selected from a process of twenty written submissions, narrowed to a shortlist of four who were each interviewed by Artistic Director Kate Champion and Literary Director Chris Isaacs. The initial selection panel consisted of playwright Andrew Bovell and Literary Director Chris Isaacs, with input by Artistic Associate Humphrey Bower and Artistic Director Kate Champion on the shortlisted candidates’ proposals.

Gita says “I’m thrilled to have been selected for this commission, it’s a wonderful step up for me as a playwright and I can’t wait to dive into writing Bloody Paris. Many thanks to the Malcom Robertson Foundation whose commitment to supporting new writing is a huge gift to the arts community in this country.”

Artistic Director Kate Champion says “I am excited that Gita Bezard is able to re-engage her significant talents with Black Swan through the generous support of the Malcolm Robertson Foundation. Bloody Paris has all the signs of becoming an intensely relatable work, embracing all the clichés of 'the romantic city' while deftly playing with their significance to reveal a deeper truth.”

Over the next eighteen months Gita will be supported to deliver a full length play, given mentorship guidance by playwright Andrew Bovell, and offered a workshop/reading of her piece with actors and creatives.

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