APATA In Conversation – Australian Theatre Festival NYC

It’s a BIG month in May for the team at the Australian Theatre Festival NYC with the finalists and winner of the 2024 New Play Award to be announced!

The Australian Theatre Festival is an annual celebration of Australian stories and artists in New York City. Finalists will be announced Thursday 16 May (NYC, EST) and the winner Thursday 30 May (NYC, EST). Now in its fifth year, the Australian Theatre Festival NYC 2024 New Play Award will celebrate two new plays or musicals with distinct Australian voices.

“This year we have doubled both the winner and runner up’s cash prize with the winner receiving $15,000 USD and the runner-up receiving $5,000 USD”.

The award now offers a total cash prize of $20,000 USD for two unproduced, full-length plays or musicals written by Australian writers, over the age of 18.

Along with the cash prize, the winning play or musical will be developed with ATF Co-Artistic Director Mark Barford and presented as an elevated staged reading in New York City as part of the 2024 Australian Theatre Festival NYC held in September.

Last month we had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with Co-Artistic Directors, Mark Barford and Connor Delves to discuss the 2024 New Play Award, the Australian Theatre Festival NYC and life as an Australian in the big apple. To learn more about the 2024 New Play Award and Australian Theatre Festival NYC – CLICK HERE

(Australian Theatre Festival NYC Co-Artistic Director: Connor Delves – Jillian Geurts – Mark Barford)

APATA In Conversation with the Australian Theatre Festival NYC

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Mark Barford is an Australian born stage director, writer and producer based in New York City. He specializes in the development of new work and the reimagining of classics.

Mark is a Founding Co-Artistic Director and Executive Producer of the Australian Theatre Festival NYC.

Recent directing highlights include: ‘Wavelength’ (Theatre Row, NY), ‘As You Like It’ (Circle in the Square, NY), ‘The Children’s Hour’ (Circle in the Square, NY), ‘Hubris & Humiliation’ (Theaterlab, NY), ‘The Tiniest Thing’ (Alchemical, NY), and the award-winning production ‘Breakfast’ (Secret Theatre, NY).

He wrote and co-directed ‘Stranded’ (ATF online), and co-wrote and directed ‘Hadrian & Antinous’ (Lenfest, NY) and the Croatian National Theatre production of ‘Antidote’ (CNT, Rijeka).

Mark’s multi award-winning, 5 star production of ‘F*cking Men’ played at The Vaults London (11 week run), Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Assembly Festival), International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival, and The King’s Head Theatre London (multiple sold-out seasons).

As resident director for ICW Productions/ The Music Theatre Company of W.A, he directed large-scale productions of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘The Mikado’, ‘CATS’, and ‘Company’.

Other directing highlights include: ‘King Richard II’, ‘The Cherry Orchard’, ‘Freddie’, ‘Dark Meat’, ‘The Only Living Boys in South Jersey’, ‘Hillary &; Monica’, ‘The Cat in the Box’, and ‘Never Mind the Monsters’.

Mark has worked as an assistant to director Barrie Kosky on ‘La Boheme’ (Komische Oper, Berlin) and Ivo van Hove on ‘Network’ (Belasco, Broadway).

He has been an educator for over 10 years and is currently the Chair of Acting at Circle in the Square Theatre School in NYC.

Mark is a graduate of the Acting Shakespeare program at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Film & Theatre) and Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary Teaching) from Murdoch University. He earned an MFA in Theatre Directing from Columbia University, under professors Anne Bogart and Brian Kulick.

Mark is an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC).

www.markbarford.com IG @markbarford

Connor Delves is an Australian-born, New York-based actor, singer, producer and director who has worked in the US, UK and Australia.

Connor is a Founding Co-Artistic Director and Executive Producer of the Australian Theatre Festival NYC. Currently, he can be seen in ‘Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game’ with Mike Faist, on Hulu. Connor recently starred as Mercutio in the UK premiere of ‘Starcrossed’ at Wilton’s Music Hall, London, for which he earned Off and BroadwayWorld Nominations.

Critical praise for his performance includes:

“Connor Delves is truly fabulous…his speech at the top of act two, is a masterpiece” – WhatsOnStage.

“Delves’ electric performance” – Theatre and Other Things London.

“Delves’ energetic and deliciously posturing Mercutio is a thrill to watch as he minces about the stage” – London Life.

“This year’s discovery of blazing talent is, hands down, Connor Delves” – Curtain UP.

He leads ‘Who We Were’, a short film he wrote, directed by Ryan Spahn, which went on to win 2 awards and garner 9 nominations across the 2022 film festival season. Other Off-Broadway credits include ‘Daniel’s Husband’, ‘Endangered: The Musical’, ‘Holy Day’ and ‘Precious Little Talent’.

Up next, he leads the film ‘The Weight of Home’ an Australian film from Rookeward Cohen Productions .

As a Producer he has worked on Award Winning NY Premiere of ‘Precious Little Talent’, 1st Irish Theatre Festival, and on the Award-Winning film ‘Who We Were’.

Connor is a proud graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NY) and was a member of the 2017 NY Academy Company. He is represented in the U.S by TalentINK Management and Metropolis Artist Agency, and TTA in the UK.

www.connordelves.com  IG @connordelves 

Born and raised in Brisbane, Australia, Jillian is an actor and producer who began her professional theatrical career with the acclaimed physical theatre company Zen Zen Zo. She is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Griffith University, and is a Founding Co-Artistic Director and Executive Producer of the Australian Theatre Festival NYC.

In Australia Jillian has worked with Queensland Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane Festival, and the Melbourne and Adelaide Fringe Festivals. Her regional American credits include Isabella in ‘Measure for Measure’, Juliet in ‘Romeo and Juliet’, Lady Anne in ‘Hood: The Musical’ (Scranton Shakespeare Festival), and Lady Macbeth in ‘Macbeth’ (Flat Rock Playhouse). NYC credits include ‘The Collector’ (59E59), ‘Camel, The First Man’ (Under St Marks), ‘Kill Hamlet’ (Signature Theatre), ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (Hypokrit Productions), and ‘Holy Day’ (New Ohio).

Jillian worked on the development of Felicia Anchuli King’s play ‘Golden Shield’ (EST and MTC Workshops), and her producing credits include ‘Camel, The First Man’ (Under St Marks), ‘Holy Day’ (New Ohio Theatre), ‘Tipping the Velvet’ (Theaterlab), ‘Proud Voices’ (Pride 2020, 2021) and the Australian Theatre Festival NYC. Jillian also works in film and TV, and can be seen in the ‘Hell House LLC franchise (Director, Stephen Cognetti), ‘Catching Up’ (Director, Bill Crossland) and ‘Detroit: Evolution’ (Director, Michelle Iannantuono). Upcoming credits include ‘The Bell’ (Douglas Gordon), ‘Wild Fire’ (Jennifer Cooney), and ‘And Just Like That’ (Opposite, Sarah Jessica Parker). She is a member of Actors Equity, SAG-Eligible.