Thu 23 Oct 2014 In: Performance View at Wayback View at NDHA
The clock is ticking to get your story in for the Legacy Project, with submissions closing in just over a week. Artistic Director Bruce Brown tells us rather than just polished scripts, the team are also looking for ideas which grab them. Bruce Brown says people interested in theatre should "just get involved" Bruce Brown caught the theatre bug in high school. He thought he’d be an actor, but changed tack in seventh form when he realised he enjoyed telling classmates what to do. So he went to Unitec and did a Bachelor of Performing Arts, majoring in directing and writing. After an OE to London he came home and had to get a job to pay off his student loan. He found something he loves to pay the bills, working for Sky TV’s Arts Channel. “It ticks off all the creative boxes for me. But it’s also a 9-5 job, and freed up my time outside that to do whatever else I wanted.” Brown started working with Ellerslie Community Theatre, where he’s been for five years, four on its committee. He started by directing plays, and then began dabbling in writing. “I think that’s how anyone should do it. Just get involved.” That’s the ethos he’s brought to the Legacy Project. He saw a gap, so he rallied people from all aspects of the lgbti communities to submit scripts telling distinctively Kiwi lgbti stories, which were workshopped and performed, with directors and actors also gathered from our communities. “I wanted it to be ‘open source’ so people who wanted to be involved, could be involved. That’s from open submissions for writers, directors, actors and people who wanted to work behind the scenes. That allowed us to start that conversation with the community before we sold tickets.” Cole Jenkins and Coen Falke in Locked Out, from the Legacy Project 2014 The Legacy Project made its debut at this year’s Auckland Pride Festival and was one of its must-sees, with vignettes ranging from the drama of coming out in the Wairarapa to the awkwardness of an almost late-night city hook up. Auckland Pride has obviously been a great platform. “It wouldn’t be possible without Pride. The first year I was blown away by the wealth of events and in the second year that pretty much doubled,” Brown says. He had high hopes for the Legacy Project feels it lived up to them. Absorbed audiences filled The Basement Theatre and the feedback was positive. Brown is now nearing the end of the hunting for fresh 10 to 15 minute scripts for 2015 stage, with submissions closing in just over a week on 31 October. The crucial thing he is looking for, is ideas which grab him. “When we’re looking at submissions, we’re not looking for polished scripts. We are a workshop platform. Some of the ones we took on last year, by the final script it was a completely different play. Some didn’t have such huge changes because they were more developed. “So if you have an idea and you don’t know how to write it, or it’s not in a polished script, submit it anyway - because if the wealth of the ideas is there, we are willing to work with you and develop it.” Directors are also welcome to get in touch, while casting calls for actors will come later. The project will, like some other Pride events, overlap with Auckland Fringe Festival. It’s also moving to a more spacious home, The Q Theatre’s Loft. “As much as we loved working with The Basement last year and it’s a fantastic space, and I love what we do there, we’re taking the next step up for next year … it’s more seats to sell. I am sure we will do it.” Submit your script or idea NOW, before it’s too late, here Jacqui Stanford - 23rd October 2014