Hayley Lawson-Smith | Public figure
Hayley Lawson-Smith
Phone: +61 435 364 065
Reviews
to load big map
25.01.2022 Save the date. Thursday November 22nd, you can see exciting new work, currently being developed by some wonderful theatre-makers and artists ...
25.01.2022 I'm pleased to announce that starting Saturday I'll be returning to my old stomping grounds to take part in this excellent program. http://artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au/Education_Publ/HATCH
24.01.2022 Hi folks! I've been given the brilliant opportunity to conduct an email interview with an experienced female gamer / games reviewer. I'd love to hear from anyone about their thoughts on this subject, particularly from those who have questions to ask, or thoughts they'd like to share. Comment of PM!
24.01.2022 This will be a brilliant collection of very important plays. Check it out!
24.01.2022 My new play The Tom will be performed as a moved reading as part of Twelve Angry Theatre's Summer Development Program. Directed by the talented Vidya Rajan, and dramaturged by experienced writer Fiona Spitzkowsky, this full-length piece has a brilliant cast! Introducing:... Jessica Tanner as Sally Thomas Caine as James Kristina J A-Benton as Linda Sam Browne as Friend, Daveoh, and the Guide Nick Clark as Friend, Nickie and the Curator Ruth Katerelos as Mum and Lady Rohan Mirchandaney as Dickie and Phone Guy Bernard Nolan as Frank Matt Young as Friend and Farmer Synopsis: Sally is turning into a cat. She and her boyfriend James have travelled to Gippsland, where Sally hopes to research the urban legend of the Phantom Cat, a panther-like creature which supposedly roams the Australian bushland. But James is far more interested in bees and honey than he is in making sure she's happy. Linda, the owner of their Bed and Breakfast, devours their stories of city life. Rumours abound of women missing in the outback. Were the cats abandoned by the American troops in World War Two? Or was a travelling circus to blame? A newborn calf makes Sally's mouth water. And the horny Tom watches from close by. With the aim of capturing the aesthetic landscape of the Australian bushland, this play is an exploration of outback meets city, and civilisation meeting the wild.
23.01.2022 Sunday was the final day of Antipodes Theatre's brilliant Winter Development retreat, and I am so grateful for the amazing support of the entire team. It was an uplifting experience, and I loved and was inspired by every single artist's work and passion. Thank you! If you would like to support Antipodes and their wonderful initiatives, please click on this link: https://australianculturalfund.org.au//atc-2020-virtual-/
22.01.2022 From 2018 - 2019 I spent a year as Playwright in Residence at the Historic Billilla Mansion in Brighton. It was a brilliant opportunity and I was fortunate enough to work with local young writers as well as members of the University of the Third Age in Bayside. Afterwards, I was invited to be a part of the awesome Changing Faces Exhibition, a wonderful initiative from Bayside Council with photography by Ponch Hawkes. Very much looking forward to the day when we can see this exhibition in real life ... I hope the beard suits me.
21.01.2022 Such blog. https://dramaticpauseitc.wordpress.com/
21.01.2022 La Mama have made the important decision to postpone many of their upcoming productions for 2020. The health of our community is too important, and our Clowder ensemble fully support this decision. We can promise you a brilliant show next year; good things are worth waiting for! Keep safe, keep well, and keep your distance x
20.01.2022 Thanks for having us, Art Smitten! Some brilliant questions in this interview ...
19.01.2022 Two #Awards for Dramatic Pause. Third place Best #Production and Best #Playwright at the Monash One Act Play Awards. #Melbourne #theatre #dogsofmelbourne.
19.01.2022 A little something for a bit of fun ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-A1FZXj4eA
18.01.2022 What a brilliant opportunity to come home to. No rest for the wicked ... and a good chance to get my best gaming-self on.
17.01.2022 Do you identify as a female gamer? Do you identify as a troll? I want to hear from you! As part of The Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas Hot Desk 2019 Playwriting Fellowship, I will be writing Dox (working title) ... Dox is a predominately female character-led full-length play, which explores issues of online gaming culture in Australia and beyond. Utilising true stories, this piece will examine the benefits of gaming to society; the way feminism is perceived and how women are treated within the gaming world; the unfolding of GamerGate and what the gaming industry can do - if anything - to create equality and reduce harassment. Voices and opinions requested. The louder the better. Private messages and public comments very welcome, but please be respectful at all times; offensive and inappropriate comments will be deleted.
16.01.2022 YouthPLAYS, the publishing company in LA who represent my play Warriors, present blog posts written by their authors. This week, it's my turn: http://youthplays.com/blog_details.php?blog_id=54
13.01.2022 Gotta love a sneak peek ...
13.01.2022 I'm incredibly lucky to have this space at the Historic Billilla Mansion in Brighton, as part of the Bayside Artist in Residence Program. I'm luckier still to be able to bring Annie Theatre Dog along with me. Writing can be such a lonely, daunting task that constantly sees you second guessing yourself; having a companion to bring joy to your day (and to encourage you to take regular walks) eases that self-doubt.
11.01.2022 Very excited to announce that La Mancha!, my full-length adaption of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervante, is now available for purchase and hire from YouthPLAYS.com When old Mr. Quixano's imagination runs away with him, bedlam befalls a quiet Spanish town. Accompanied by his loyal squire Sancho, who desires nothing more than three square meals a day and his own island, knight-errant Don Quixote has arrived to inflict justice on farmers and tourists, giants pretending to be w...indmills and even on very real and dangerous lions! But sometimes even a knight needs a knight in shining armor; when the townspeople finally crush Quixote's spirit in the name of calm, it's up to Dulcinea the Doughnut Lady to pick up the mantle and demonstrate her bravery and wisdom. Comedy. 70-80 minutes. 7 females, 8 males, 3-33+ any gender (18-50+ performers possible). Suitable for middle school and older performers, and elementary and older audiences.
11.01.2022 Some gorgeous photos of a recent, student-directed production of my play Warriors, performed by the talented young actors at Midway Highschool, Waco, Texas. Congrats guys! Warriors is published through youthplays.com
10.01.2022 There's been a lot of recent discussion in the Australian playwriting community regarding the developments (I'm not sure what else to call them, as updates from the board have been vague and not particularly transparent) at Playwriting Australia. A review is to be managed by REA Consulting. It's a curious use of funding, considering the extremely thorough and comprehensive approach undertaken by then-Artistic Director Lachlan Philpott not so long ago, when he - along with Lei...la Enright - travelled city to city to talk to playwrights about the concerns and hopes we have for our challenging industry. The forum I attended in Melbourne was terrific, and encouraging because these were opinions directly from playwrights, the people PWA aim to represent. REA Consulting will, apparently, do their review in discussion with 'playwrights, other individuals, organisations and government entities'. Perhaps one of the results of this review is that Playwriting Australia will change its name to Random People - Some of Them Theatre-makers, Some of Them Government Entities - With a Handful of Playwrights Australia. A concern some more established playwrights have expressed is that there will no longer be anywhere for emerging playwrights to find support. I understand this concern. But I also find it problematic. I would have loved the opportunity to work with Playwriting Australia and I was thrilled when Lachlan - an actual playwright - was given the position of AD after the sudden resignation of Tim Roseman. PWA's subsequent playwriting forums were a further breath of fresh air, and I was hopeful. But, while frustrated, I also cannot be despairing that my chance to work with PWA may now be at an end, and I can't believe that this means there is no hope for emerging playwrights. This doubt is based on my own experiences of writing. While often frustrating and always hard work, I have had plays workshopped and produced. I haven't made profit. I haven't found fame. But my practice has benefited, and this is due in part to the tireless efforts of small, often community-based theatre companies who believe in giving young creatives the chance to develop their work and their voice. I have been mentored and guided, been given forgiving spaces to fail and encouraging spaces to succeed. I am fortunate enough to have made close friends with other writers, with directors and performers who have become my support network. There is hope for emerging playwrights so long as there are peers, mentors and friends willing to create opportunities by donating time and support. This is my takeaway from these developments and I hope my two cents-worth offers some encouragement to those who might need it. I wish everyone who has been made redundant by the board of PWA the very best, and thank them for trying to bring a voice back to Australian Playwrights. See more
10.01.2022 First review is in!
10.01.2022 The Julius Romeros Extravaganza part 3, Return to Greener Pastures, out now!
10.01.2022 I'm willing to suspend disbelief when it comes to my writing. ... I just hope my audience are too.
09.01.2022 Well, this is jolly nice! Thank you O.D Book Reviews. http://odbookreviews.blogspot.com.au//the-julius-romeros-e
09.01.2022 This is always one of my favourite times of the year ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpV5Cnfn4s0
08.01.2022 For teens in Bayside and surrounding districts!
06.01.2022 Off I go to UNESCO!
05.01.2022 I'm very pleased to announce that I have been awarded a City of Melbourne grant to continue developing Dox, a play about women in gaming, and the suffragette era. Congratulations to all the recipients!
04.01.2022 For young theatre makers who would like to spend some Wednesday evenings reading, writing and creating ...
03.01.2022 When opportunities put you in lovely company ... Thank you to The Wheeler Centre and congratulations to all the fellows.
02.01.2022 Will you happen to be in Dunedin, New Zealand in September? Come along to the UNESCO Short Play Festival at the University of Otago, part of their 150th birthday celebrations! I'm excited to be attending with two excerpts of my longer works; Fly performed, and The Tom workshopped. Very much excited and grateful for this wonderful opportunity!
01.01.2022 Felt the love in the room at The Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas last night, meeting some clever brains and hearing inspiring ideas. Enjoyed myself too much to remember to post a fancy photo, so here's a pic of Annie, reminding me to take her with me next time.
01.01.2022 I'm very excited to announce that I will be a part of Antipodes Theatre Company's inaugural Winter Development retreat, along with some truly amazing creatives. I will be working on a new, devised feminist piece, directed by the brilliant Deborah Leiser-Moore.
