3 March 2010

Fredericton, NB – Theatre New Brunswick is pleased to announce that two short plays have been selected from among TNB New Voices’ inaugural call for submissions, and will be featured as Opening Acts in our 2010-2011 season. The Truth is a Hard Flat Surface by Bruce Allen Lynch is a hard-hitting, fist-flying drama that recreates Yvon Durelle’s 1958 bid for the Heavy Weight World Championship, and how he got there from Baie-Sainte-Anne New Brunswick.  The Marketeer by Step Taylor begins early one Saturday morning as an active, hungry Frederictonian eagerly introduces a friend from Western Canada to the Boyce Farmers’ Market.  The meeting, however, does not go as planned…Special mention should also be given to The Smokey Mokes by Rick Merrill, a strong contender this year, and which is currently under consideration as an Opening Act for the following season.

Theatre New Brunswick would like to thank all those writers who took the time to explore their interpretation of a true New Brunswick event, and offer honorable mentions to Berry’n by Tina Fowler, Different Skin by Brendan Jones, Franklin & Eleanor by Lex Gigeroff, The Lobster Pit by Margaret Murray, Bridge to Nowhere by Todd Ross, and 1, 2…3? by Ashley Robinson.

Part of Theatre New Brunswick’s mission is to create extraordinary theatre while celebrating New Brunswick’s best theatre artists. TNB New Voices offers playwrights the opportunity to have New Brunswick plays professionally produced, also allowing New Brunswickers a chance to see innovative and thought-provoking portrayals of their own stories brought to life on stage.

“The submissions were so strong this year,” said Artistic Producer Caleb Marshall, “that we've decided to add a workshop weekend next season, so that more of the playwrights will have the chance to hear and get feedback on their work.”  Continues Marshall, “New Brunswick's rich history and diversity is ripe with stories to tell, and I am proud to see a breadth of those stories being tackled and brought to life. I urge all of this year's writers, and others, to continue this kind of work."  Submissions may incorporate intimate and domestic themes, or subjects large in historic scope. They may be tales from our past or present, but they must be based on a true New Brunswick story.

Submission details:

Please ensure that name and contact details are part of the script.

Theatre New Brunswick also encourages playwrights to enter the annual province-wide English-language playwriting competition held by the Notable Acts Summer Theatre Festival. Contest winners will have their work featured as part of the festival offerings held in Fredericton this summer. For contest details, visit www.nbacts.com.

Theatre New Brunswick has a history of supporting and nurturing local and emerging talent. We are pleased to offer mutual support to the Notable Acts Summer Theatre Festival in this endeavour, and thank them for supporting TNB New Voices.