Holding Redlich and Canberra Youth Theatre announces 2024 Emerging Playwright Commission winner

National law firm Holding Redlich congratulates Melbourne-based playwright Sarah Matthews on being named the winner of Canberra Youth Theatre’s 2024 Emerging Playwright Commission. Her play, 'The Hit List', focuses on teen experiences and language to explore the themes of sexism and gender-based violence in Australia. The play has an ensemble cast of eight characters whose relationships come under intense pressure in the final days of school.

Sarah’s play was selected from over 60 submissions from across Australia. With the support of Holding Redlich, the commission offers the winning emerging playwright $17,000 to create a full-length work that brings the voices of Australian youth to the stage.

Elizabeth Carroll, Head of Holding Redlich’s Canberra Office, says: “Since our partnership with Canberra Youth Theatre began in 2022, we have seen exceptional young talent emerge, bringing their creative works to life and inspiring the next generation of playwrights. We are excited to see Sarah’s play and will continue to support the Commission and Canberra Youth Theatre in the years to come.”

Holding Redlich’s partnership with Canberra Youth Theatre is part of the firm’s long-standing support of the arts which also includes sponsorship of Salon des Refusés in New South Wales, the Flying Arts Alliance in Brisbane and regional Queensland, and the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.

Sarah is a passionate writer and primary school teacher who enjoys telling stories of young people through an Australian lens. She has recently completed her Master of Theatre (Writing) at the Victorian College of Arts and has also attended the ATYP’s National Studio residency with 19 other emerging playwrights from across the country.

When accepting the commission, Sarah says: “It means the world to me that my first step into a career as a writer will be with Canberra Youth Theatre, as being shortlisted for the commission in 2023 is what gave me the confidence to pursue playwriting in the first place.”

“My play interrogates the aftermath of two acts of misogyny that occur during the final days of Year 12 muck-up week. It explores sexism, class, and the differences in how institutions react to incidents based upon the gender of the perpetrators. I hope to create an emotionally complex and nuanced work that challenges our understanding of misogyny in educational environments.”

The two other finalists for the commission, Rebecca Duke (NSW) and Thea Jade (NSW) will also receive $1,500 each to support their writing.

Canberra Youth Theatre provides a platform where writers, performers, and all those involved in theatre can gain valuable professional experiences to develop their craft and find their creative voice. The winner of the Emerging Playwright Commission will receive ongoing support in the theatre along with collaboration with an ensemble of young artists, participate in creative development workshops, and see their script come to life in a staged reading of their work.

Luke Rogers, Artistic Director & CEO of Canberra Youth Theatre, says: “Our Emerging Playwright Commission, with the generous support of Holding Redlich, has become a celebrated program with both local and national impact. We take pride in our legacy of new Australian writing, supporting the journeys of emerging writers to become some of the most significant playwrights in Australia today. The Emerging Playwright Commission has become synonymous with work that expresses the voice of young people, artistic excellence, and innovative creative practices.”

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