PIGGY-BACK-DRAFT Commission
PIGGYBACK: Lift up on one’s shoulders
BACKDRAFT: A phenomenon where fire suddenly explodes when more fuel is made available
Background
Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA has been supporting emerging writers for over a decade with various learning, mentoring, and award opportunities. Through different iterations of the Emerging Writers Program we have seen a wonderful increase in well-constructed plays across the Perth theatre landscape.
The PIGGY-BACK-DRAFT Commission is designed to provide an opportunity for a WA writer to take the next step in their writing career.
This full commission with the company will see Black Swan support a writer of promise who has had their work produced independently to write a full length play which Black Swan can consider for programming. The PIGGY-BACK-DRAFT Commission programme helps promote the professional development of playwrights across the state.
THE DETAILS
The chosen recipient will be awarded a full professional commission for the writing of the successful pitch, support from the Black Swan in house artistic staff, and development money to be used in way that will best support the development of the script.
Writers who are eligible are asked to submit:
- A 2-3 page pitch for a new play to Black Swan explaining the key concepts and story of their proposed work and a methodology to their writing process.
- A maximum ten page excerpt of their writing from a play that has had a public performance.
From these applications, a shortlist of writers will be invited to an in person meeting with Black Swan artistic personnel to discuss their pitch further.
Written applications close midnight on 10 October 2025.
Submissions and further questions regarding an application to be addressed to literary director Chris Isaacs c.isaacs@blackswantheatre.com.au.
Eligibility
Writers must meet these eligibility conditions
- Must be a WA resident at time of commission agreement
- Must have had theatrical worked produced (independently or professionally) in the last 10 years in Australia
The PIGGY-BACK-DRAFT Commission is made possible by the generous support from the Malcolm Robertson Foundation
Gita Bezard
2024 Commission Recipient
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.
Laura Liu
2023 Commission Recipient
Laura is a Christian Chinese-Australian emerging performance maker, playwright, and director. An Honours graduate from WAAPA’s Bachelor Of Performing Arts (Performance Making) course, Laura is a member of Black Swan’s Emerging Writers Program FORGE. Her short play CHIKO ROLL, written for ATYP’s National Studio, has been published by Currency Press (2023).
Laura’s proposed pitch for the PIGGY-BACK-DRAFT Commission is a new bi-lingual new work which intends to explore the multi-faceted aspects, effects, and repercussions of population restrictions.
With Thanks To
The PIGGY-BACK-DRAFT Commission is made possible by the generous support from the Malcolm Robertson Foundation.