Left - Damien MillarThe Griffin Award for 2007 was awarded to Damien Millar last Wednesday evening at SBW Stables Theatre. His play Emergency Sex and Other Desperate Measures is an adaptation of a book by Ken Cain. The Griffin Award is an annual prize offered for the most outstanding new play submitted to Griffin Theatre Company during the year.
From the 115 entries this year, eight plays had been chosen for the shortlist which were in the running to win the $5000 award. These included, Freedom by Ron Elisha; Colder by Lachlan Philpott; Emergency Sex and Other Desperate Measures by Damien Millar; Crushed by Melita Rowston; Men, Love and the Monkey Boy by Caleb Lewis; The Fence by Oliver Torr; Portraits of Modern Evil by Robert Reid and Her Name Tattooed on His Fist… by Tom Holloway.
“Emergency Sex is the first adaptation to win the Griffin Award in ten years. It reflects a growing understanding among Australian playwrights that it is the inherent identity of our creative minds that defines the “new Australian play”, not simply the location. Damien has written an astonishing play that offers us a chance to understand ourselves in a way that matters – as part of a global community. And in times like these, I can’t think of a more deserving winner.” said Nick Marchand, Griffin Theatre Company’s Artistic Director.
Thanks to the generosity of Griffin’s Principal Sponsor, PKF Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers, a brand new laptop computer was added to the cash prize.
Works submitted may be original ideas or adaptations from other forms. Griffin’s Literary Office assessed the entries with a pre-judging team and prepared a shortlist submitted to a judging panel comprising of Victoria Chance (Publisher, Currency Press), Lee Lewis (Director), Nick Marchand (Artistic Director), Lyn Ratcliffe (representing PKF) and Ian Wilding (Playwright).
Damien Millar follows in the footsteps of past winners Mary Rachel Brown (Australian Gothic, 2006), Ian Wilding (The Carnivores, 2005), Debra Oswald (Mr Bailey’s Minder, 2004) and Brendan Cowell (Rabbit, 2003).
