17.04.25
Hello Grif-friend!
I hope this email finds you well and you’re organising some exciting plans for the two upcoming long weekends—you deserve it! My name’s Whitney and I’m writing as a seasonal Associate Producer at Griffin currently supporting the team during a busy and exciting period of play readings and programs. Diehard members of the Grif-family may connect that I was previously Griffin’s Admin and Programs Manager (circa 2019 – 2022). For me, it was a time of growing fond of the Kings Cross community and history, deepening my appreciation for new writing, building COVID-safe online broadcast studios in the office, making new lifelong best friends and beginning to dream about what facilities the new theatre post-redevelopment could contain. In the month I’ve been back, I’ve been delighted to witness the organisation evolving and notice palpable growth of the company’s artistic programs.
We have heard a read of Happy Feraren’s new work and we can’t share much but it’s going to be a good one. We hosted an impressive showcase of the culmination of work by the Griffin Studio 2024 artists, a year-long creative lab for early career playwrights. I was impressed by the efforts of the playwrights Josipa Draisma, Jorjia Gillis and Jacob Parker and how confidently they took the program by the horns. Side note—three of Griffin’s 2025 Season playwrights are Griffin Studio alumni, including Koreaboo playwright Michelle Lim Davidson, Birdsong of Tomorrow playwright Nathan Harrison, and Whitefella Yella Tree playwright Dylan Van Den Berg!
Since returning to Griffin I’m pleased to see the continuation of the Griffin Ambassadors program, where a cohort of high school students from NSW attend Griffin plays and workshops for free! Our next workshop is actually just around the corner on 10 May—any budding dramatists can apply here! I am also excitedly working towards the 2025 Griffin Award & Keynote this year, presented in partnership with Sydney Writers’ Festival. The Keynote, delivered this year by icon Leah Purcell (Black Chicks Talking, The Drover’s Wife), is a new addition since my previous time at the company. Combining a playwriting award that has a strong history of elevating the next urgent Australian play with a state-of-play address by an industry leader is genius! Being held at Carriageworks with Sydney Writers’ Festival this year means even more people can attend, and we hope you can join us!
Thanks for reading when you should be planning your holiday to-read list.
Wishing you all a safe and treat-filled long weekend!
Whitney
Whitney Richards
Associate Producer
