'ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST
FASCINATING THEATRE PRACTITIONERS'
'ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST
FASCINATING THEATRE PRACTITIONERS'
BRITISH THEATRE
Empowering experimental artists in Australia
Patrick Kennedy Theatre Machine is proud to present the inaugural Richard Foreman Experimental Theatre Grant, an exciting opportunity for Australian artists and small theatre companies to push the boundaries of experimental, avant-garde, and postmodern theatre.
In honour of the iconoclastic Richard Foreman, a pioneer of theatre and Patrick Kennedy's mentor, this grant offers a $2,500 cash award annually to support the development or production of bold, innovative theatrical work.
The grant is designed to fuel the next wave of radical and experimental theatre in Australia - whether you're developing a new piece or bringing an existing work to life. We're looking for artists who are challenging the status quo, breaking conventions, and creating theatre that is thought-provoking, boundary-pushing, and above all, unapologetically original.
What's On Offer?
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$2,500 Grant: To support your project's development or production
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Eligibility: Open to individual artists or small theatre companies working in experimental, avant-garde or postmodern theatre.
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Purpose: Funds can be used for creative development, design research, rehearsal space, technical costs and artists fees.
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Timeline: The successful applicant must use the grant within 12 months of receiving it.
What We're Looking For
We are looking for work that:
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Pushes boundaries: Whether you're exploring new forms, challenging societal norms, or reimagining what theatre can be, we want to hear from you
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Has artistic merit: A clear, compelling vision that captivates, excites and disrupts
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Is achievable: A project that's feasible within budget and timeline
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Has impact: A work that will leave a lasting impression on the audience and the Australian landscape
Why Apply?
This is your chance to secure funding for your work while joining a legacy of innovative theatre-making. With Richard Foreman as an inspiration, the grant seeks to amplify work that challenges the form, creates conversations, and sparks new ways of thinking about theatre.
How to Apply
Applying is simple - just tell us about your project and how the grant will support it. Whether you're submitting a brand new idea or an ongoing project, we want to know what drives you and how the grant will help bring your vision to life.
Submit your application by 6pm AEST on 30 April 2025. Interviews for shortlisted artists will be conducted in mid-May. The recipient will be announced on 2 June 2025.
I came to Richard Foreman's work in 2013 when trying to find an off-the-wall musical to produce. The team at R&H Theatricals put a DOCTOR SELAVY'S MAGIC THEATER CD in front of me.
So began a decade of engaging with Richard's work. It has dominated my theatrical life day-in day-out. His influence on me is immeasurable; it has shaped my approach to theatre and what it can be.
I met him on a number of occasions at his New York loft and stayed in regular contact via email. Though he expressed indifference to his own legacy, I sensed a quiet pride in recent years particularly when I shared reviews and reactions to SOPHIA=(WISDOM) Part 3: The Cliffs from Sydney last year.
His work came from another dimension. Infinitely complex, jarring and loud yet unmistakably theatrical, profoundly funny and very much ALIVE.
Richard Foreman's passing marks the loss of an extraordinary artist, sui generis.
I will miss the privilege of knowing him.
His work endures, and so does the profound impact on those fortunate enough to encounter it.
PATRICK KENNEDY
6 Jan 2025
