T: 0420 210 353 E: katelouisemcdowell@gmail.com P: linkedin.

com Curriculum Vitae For Writing

Kate McDowell

T: 0420201353 E: katelouisemcdowell@gmail.com Kate writes theatre that engages. She presents highly personal experiences in forms that explore a characters essence. She experiments with ideas and true-to-life, rendered to inspire.

Biography
Kate began her playwriting career in grade one when she wrote a play about pirates: it was performed for her infants school classmates. She has gained skills in writing, performing, producing, directing, dance, music and visual art. She traveled in: the US, Asia and Europe, including studying in Spain for one year and then took playwriting and Spanish in a BA/BCA at the University of Wollongong (UOW). There she became immersed in the craft of scriptwriting: developing story writing skills; writing for theatre; film and radio as well as studying Editing and Publishing. She also has a keen interest in Politics, History, Psychology and Linguistics. Her work has been shown at The Griffin Theatre, The New Theatre, The Merrigong Theatre and UOW. She has stretched her skills by participating in scriptwriting programs such as the ATYP National Studio and internships at professional theatre companies Belvoir Theatre Company and Playwriting Australia.

Education
2007 - Present 2008 - 2009 2004 BCA (Playwriting)/ BA (Spanish, Minor: International Studies) UOW, NSW. One year Study Abroad, University of Leon, Spain. HSC (UAI - 98.35), St Johns College Woodlawn, Lismore, NSW Nominated for Art Express for major artwork; excelled in Extension English; developed a full-length play.

Awards
2011 2011 2004 Recipient of the Deans Merit List Award for Excellence in Arts. Recipient of the Deans Merit List Award for Excellence in Creative Arts. Included in the Premiers Honour Roll for the HSC graduating year of 2004. This was awarded for achieving above 90% in all units undertaken: Drama, Visual Art, Ancient History, Extension II English. Kate received awards all years for Highest Academic Achievement (1st place) in a range of subjects. Recipient of the St Carthages Catholic School Sister Maria Literacy Prize.

1999 - 2004 1998

Experience 2011
PRODUCER/ CO-FOUNDER OF BOLD TYPE, WOLLONGONG/ BELVOIR REHEARSAL ROOM, SYDNEY, NSW.

Ongoing

Under the company Bold Type, Kate is coordinating a script development workshop for November 2011 with three other UOW graduating playwrights and teams of actors, directors and dramaturgs. She is enlisting UOW students and well-known theatre professionals (Heather Mitchell, Shannon Murphy, Kai Raisbeck) and producing Bold Type, a performed reading of the outcome in the Rehearsal Room at Belvoir Theatre.

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VOLUNTEER, BELVOIR THEATRE, SURREY HILLS, SYDNEY, NSW.

Ongoing

Kate volunteers at Belvoir Street Theatre for the Marketing team weekly. She has edited, compiled and written a digital archive of past productions that will be uploaded to Belvoirs website. This invaluable experience has allowed Kate to study Belvoirs history and trawl through unpublished scripts. She also aids in editing copy for programs and liaises with agents to ensure veracity of content.
STAGE PLAY THEATRE COMPANY,

DRAMATURG, THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE, SPRINGWOOD, THE BLUE MOUNTAINS, NSW.

Ongoing

Dramaturg for Amy McDowells theatre adaption of the childrens stories by Enid Blyton, The Magic Faraway Tree and The Enchanted Wood. Kate conducts PASS sessions with Creative Arts students to strengthen their study skills and encourage debate on topics covered in lectures, awakening thought beyond that achieved in tutorials. She will represent UOW at the National PASS Forum 2011 in October where she will be presenting a workshop to an international audience on marketing PASS. Working with Cathy Hunt, Education Manager at Bevloir, to assist in post show workshops for primary school students with the cast of the traveling production The Book of Everything. For two weeks Kate helped to facilitate a development on Angela Betziens new Australian play Helicopter. The role required liaising with Angela and ensuring a smooth production. She learned script development skills and dramaturgy working alongside Leticia Caceres (director) and Iain Sinclair (dramaturg). One of 5 playwrights, each developing a 15-minute play based on the theme of 15 minutes of fame to be performed in a festival at the UOW Unibar in October. This initiative was developed by students to bring theatre to the student body in a relaxed in the round format.

PASS LEADER, UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG, NSW.

Feb Dec

WORKSHOP FACILITATOR, COMPANY B, SURREY HILLS, SYDNEY, NSW.

Aug - Sep

INTERN, NATIONAL SCRIPT WORKSHOP, PLAYWRITING AUSTRALIA, REDFERN, NSW.

Aug Sep

PLAYWRIGHT, 15 MINUTES OF FAME FESTIVAL, UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG, NSW.

Jun - Oct

OBSERVER, NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH, BELVOIR THEATRE, SURREY HILLS, SYDNEY, NSW.

Jun - Aug

During a five-week rehearsal period for Lally Katzs new play Neighbourhood Watch, Kate observed the process of bringing a new text to life on stage. She learned about script development by watching Lally Katz, Simon Stone and the Belvoir Company harden the script to present the optimum version of the work. 10-minute plays, Burnt Fingers and Learning Adult performed at Crash Test Drama (affiliated with the Short + Sweet festival). Burnt Fingers was directed by Stephen Carnell and achieved second place. Learning Adult was directed by Pauline Kingsford-Smith and won Best Male Actor (Leofric KingsfordSmith). Stephen Carnell requested to direct Learning Adult at Script-In-Hand (affiliated with Actors Anonymous), for further development in October and it is being submitted by Bold Type, for Short + Sweet 2012 (Kate producer/writer, Stephen director)

PLAYWRIGHT, CRASH TEST DRAMA, NEWTOWN THEATRE, SYDNEY, NSW.

Nov 2010 - present

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CREATIVE WRITING LIASON, PLAYWRIGHT, PERFORMER, NOTHING TO SEE HERE FESTIVAL, UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG, NSW.

Jul - Aug

Co-coordinated the writers and assisted in the management of the installation works for the 2011 festival. Wrote, produced and directed Hannah as a performance art installation, and performed the monologue Olga Godbeef by Owen Everitt. In 2010 Kate wrote and produced Burnt Fingers for the festival. Directed Tim Spencers short play in the 24-Hour Play Challenge during the Griffin Theatres Festival of New Writing.

DIRECTOR, 24 HOUR PLAY CHALLENGE, GRIFFIN THEATRE, KINGS CROSS, NSW.

Jul

MENTOR: PLAYS IN PROGRESS, WOLLONGONG ARTS COUNCIL AND IPAC, NSW AND HSC EXTENSION II ENGLISH STUDENTS, SUTHERLAND SHIRE, NSW.

Apr - Jun

With other UOW students Kate mentored high school students writing 10minute plays (performed at the IPAC in June); mentored HSC students in Sutherland Shire with HSC Extension II English major works.

Experience 2010
NOMINATED AND ACCEPTED FOR: ATYP FRESH INK NATIONAL STUDIO, BUNDANON, NSW.

Dec

Alongside 15 other emerging writers, Kate participated in master classes with some of the most significant names in Australian theatre and developed a monologue, to be published in a collection by ATYP for HSC drama students. Naraka, a 15-minute play for a commissioned production inspired by The Six Realms of Buddhism, was performed at the IPAC.

PLAYWRIGHT, ILLAWARRA YOUNG WRITERS PROJECT, IPAC, WOLLONGONG, NSW.

Jun

ACTOR, STAGE PLAY THEATRE COMPANY, SPRINGWOOD, THE BLUE MOUNTAINS, NSW.

Apr

Performed in a production of Eyes to the floor by Alana Valentine.

Experience prior to 2010

PERFORMER, THEATRE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS, LISMORE, NSW.

1997 - 2004

An integral member of the company as a performer, writer, stage manager and makeup artist. Performed in productions for the public, Theatre In Education across the Northern Rivers region of NSW, traveling productions, and festivals. Kate also worked as a drama teacher for younger students.

Skills Training
EDITING

On the editing team for the literary anthology Tide; learning the skills required to solicit work; select a shortlist; liaise with the designers and fundraisers; deal with authors to ensure adequate edits are secured; proofread and finalise copy; ensure the entire publication is completed on time and on budget. In 2010 Kate also worked in a team to edit, design, and layout in Photoshop the zine Trinaries.

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PRODUCING

Actively pursed producing experience by co-coordinating, promoting, and facilitating opportunities to present hers and her peers work: most notably by networking to assemble an experienced team for Bold Type, securing the venue (rehearsal room at Belvoir) and promoting the event to significant members of the industry.
DRAMATURGY

(Nov 2011 - Jan 2012) In November Kate will commence a three-month internship as Anthea Williams (Belvoir Literary Manager) assistant. Kate will read and file incoming scripts, write reports, offer dramaturgical advice, go to readings, and perform research for upcoming productions and events. She will gain insight into the dramaturgy undertaken within a main stage theatre company, and sharpen her instincts in script assessment. (2009 - 2011) Kate developed a student group named The Bridge to meet weekly with writers and performance students to present and critique moved readings. Through The Bridge Kate has leant invaluable skills in collaboration, script development, and providing dramaturgical advice.
WRITING

Workshopping her writing with students at UOW in writing workshops and with actors and directors in The Bridge, in her company Bold Type, with students at St Johns College Woodlawn and Theatre Theatre Productions.
DANCE

(1990 - 2004) Study of dance including: ballet, jazz, national character, tap, salsa and contemporary.
PERFORMANCE

(1997 - 2004) Studying acting craft with Theatre Theatre Productions. Completion of a number of master classes on mime, clowning, physical theatre, contemporary dance theatre and acting with local and visiting theatre and dance professionals on the Far North Coast.
MUSIC

(2000 - 2003) Study of music and the alto saxophone. Kate currently takes occasional lessons from a jazz and blues saxophonist from the Far North Coast, David Ades.
VISUAL ART

Painting and drawing workshops at Coorabell Art Studios, NSW.

Referees
Cathy Hunt, Education Coordinator, Belvoir Theatre Company. E: cathy@belvoir.com.au Cathy has also been a mentor for Kates professional development. Gabrielle Bonney, Publications Coordinator, Belvoir Theatre Company. E: gabe@belvoir.com.au Gabe instructed Kate as a volunteering with Marketing at Belvoir. Dr. Catherine Fargher, University of Wollongong. P: 02 4221 3551. Lecturer in Script Writing, and professional playwright. Dr. Joshua Lobb, University of Wollongong. P: 02 4221 3996 Lecturer in Writing Theory, professional playwright/ writer. Dr. Glen Mitchell, University of Wollongong. P: 02 4221 3087. Glen has been a mentor to Kate throughout her degrees. Angela Mitchell, Director, Theatre Theatre Productions. P: 0403 564 304. Angela nurtured Kates theatre aspirations throughout her youth.