Do you want to be part of a cross-cultural script written by women on Wiradjuri Country in the Riverina region?
Who are the women of the Riverina on Wiradjuri Country? What is their story? We invite all women to submit short monologues (stories written in the first person) for a live performance in Sydney and Wagga Wagga called Women of the Riverina. We are keen to hear from everyone – First Nations women, women on the land, refugees and migrants, young women, families, urban and rural women, women from the queer community, women living with a disability, young and older women – everyone is welcome. The region is broadly inclusive of all villages and towns in and around Albury, Wagga Wagga, Leeton, Griffith, Junee, Narrandera, Deniliquin, Hay, and Condobolin.
The story must be short (800 words), written in the first person, and the writer needs to have a connection to the area – from there, lived there, worked there, spent time there, family there. The story can be about any topic, but needs to celebrate resilience in some way and reference the region.
We will be holding a series of workshops and one-on one mentoring sessions in Wagga to support you and inspire you to craft your story. Please register your interest below.
The stories will be selected by an editorial panel and will form a powerful multi-arts theatrical production with projection and commissioned music toured by professional actors and musicians. The performances will unveil heartfelt narratives, probe our dramatic past and paint a vision for our collective future.
A small selection of stories will be filmed. The stories will be presented in Sydney at the KXT Broadway Theatre in November 2024 and at Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, with a planned tour to Albury and to Melbourne.
The project is led by a collaborative group of women with three strong years of partnership in the Riverina, managed by Voices of Women (VOW). The key group is Aunty Cheryl Penrith OAM, Curious Rabbit Director Vicki Burkinshaw and Voices of Women Artistic Director Lliane Clarke.
They are supported by Multicultural Council of Wagga Wagga, writer/performer and refugee advocate Haya Arzidin, Eastern Riverina Arts, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, Booranga Writers’ Centre, Eastern Riverina Arts, Oddball Theatre Director Saasha McMillan, and First Nations Australia Writers Network. New relationships will also be built, while existing ones strengthened and we welcome all collaborations.
The deadline for the submission of stories is 31 August 2024.
Click below to register your interest in a workshop OR to submit your story.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS WOMEN OF THE RIVERINA 2024
- Closing date is 11.59pm EST, 31 August 2024
- Late entries will not be accepted. There is no cost to submit your story.
- All women and young women with a connection to the Riverina Region of NSW are welcome to enter (over 16 years of age). The writer must have and needs to include a connection to the region, living, spending time, working there.
- Entry must be 800 words maximum and no longer than three minutes spoken.
- Your submitted story must be in the first person and be spoken in a woman’s voice, which includes female-identifying women, trans women and non binary voices.
- Stories must be the original work of the author and must not have been published before or be subject to a previous publishing agreement or infringe any copyright or licence or any other right of any person including defamation.
- An author may submit unlimited entries, but each entry must be accompanied by an entry form.
- All writers selected by the Editorial Panel will receive $100.00 AUS. This includes a performance fee.
- Submission of the story gives permission for the piece to be performed in ticketed live events in Australia. Selected entries will be performed by professional actors in live events in Australia, beginning with KXY Broadway in Sydney in November 2024.
- The stories may be made into a limited digital release online.
- Entries may be read on the Voices of Women podcast on Apple Podcasts.
- Stories will remain the copyright of the author. We ask that the stories are not published until after they appear in the digital release or events.
- This agreement does not include publication. Any publication of the stories will be subject to a separate agreement between the writer and a publisher.
- All writers receive a free link to film and free tickets to any performances.
- Some edits may be required for the writers to take on board during the assessment period and actors rehearsals. Every attempt will be made to liaise with the writer during the rehearsals.
- Entries will not be returned. Keep a copy of your entry for your own reference.
- Voices of Women takes no responsibility for lost or misdirected entries.
- Please note that as part of the submission process you will be automatically subscribed to our newsletter, from which you may unsubscribe at any time.
- Contact: Lliane Clarke, Artistic Director
Voices of Women Incorporated
Email: monologue@optusnet.com.au
NEED INSPO?
Have a look at this short trailer for Entanglement for some inspiration: