ZOE COOMBS MARR: Winner of Belvoir’s 2011 Philip Parsons Young Playwright Award

“I was pretty bloody shocked when I found out I’d won because I think everyone shortlisted is just great,” enthuses Zoe Coombs Marr about her recent acceptance of Belvoir’s 2011 Philip Parsons Young Playwright’s Award. Coombs Marr, in addition to being a well-regarded individual writer and performer, is also a part of performance trio post, whose most recent show Who’s the Best? was staged as part of the Sydney Theatre Company’s Next Stage program to rave reviews. The Philip Parsons Award, accompanied by a writer’s commission supported by Belvoir to develop a new work, was announced late last month, with Coombs Marr beating out some of Sydney’s best playwrights under 35, including Nick Coyle, Charlie Garber and Gareth Davies, and Team MESS.

“I’ve worked in close proximity with all of them through Cab Sav and Imperial Panda, so I said pretty early on that I’d be happy if any of them won,” Coombs Marr says, while admitting that, “Of course, I’m still happy that it turned out to be me.”

The show that got her over the line, And That Was The Summer That Changed My Life, premiered at the Next Wave Festival in 2010.

“It’s a coming of age story that involves: embarrassing teenage anecdotes, band camp, first kisses, dinosaurs, puns, and a lot of cringing,” says its author and star, whose new commissioned show was pitched as part of the short listing process.

“I proposed a show which is a narrative told entirely through interwoven stand up comedy routines. It takes place over a number of years. It’s not fourth wall. It’ll have lots of women in it. I don’t know much more at this point.” The show will join the illustrious ranks of previous winners Matthew Whittet, whose new play Old Man is part of Belvoir’s 2012 Season; Brendan Cowell whose play Ruben Guthrie was part of Belvoir’s 2009 Season; and Kate Mulvany whose play The Seed was part of Belvoir’s 2008 season, has toured nationally and is now part of Melbourne Theatre Company’s 2012 Season.

“We’re delighted to be awarding Zoe Coombs Marr the Philip Parsons Young Playwright’s Award for 2011,” said Belvoir’s Literary Manager Anthea Williams. “Zoe’s work with post over the last eight years has shown her to be one of Sydney’s most vibrant and original independent artists; her solo work And That Was the Summer That Changed My Life is both the most heart-warming and hilarious coming-of-age tale I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. We’re thrilled to be working with this fantastic theatrical and comic mind.”

With this latest accolade, Coombs Marr has firmly established herself as a talent to watch, having been centre stage in Sydney’s burgeoning alternative theatre scene for a number of years now.

“I think there are a lot of incredibly talented people around and they’re all making work in whatever way they can, and that’s had some really interesting results. I (along with Rosie Fisher, Eddie Sharp and Mish Grigor) am one of the Imperial Panda directors. I’m also part of Cab Sav, and both of those arose out of an attempt to create a platform for work that we saw as lacking in Sydney. All of the people shortlisted for Parsons this year are part of that ‘scene’, which I find pretty exciting. It’s very supportive. Everyone works really hard, making stadiums out of milk crates, and lugging around strange homemade props, for years in the belief that the work is good and your friends are talented,” said Coombs Marr of her artistic development, again emphasising the support she receives from her (also very talented) peers.

After seeing post’s hilarious Who’s the Best? at STC earlier in the year, I couldn’t resist asking Coombs Marr one last question – does her Parsons Award win put her ahead in the interminable competition to be ‘the best’ of her fellow post members? “Oh yeah, definitely. But don’t tell Nat and Mish I said that.” My lips are sealed.

Catch Coombs Marr at the Horse Mouth’s Festival, until Dec 17, Old Fitzroy Theatre, cnr Cathedral & Dowling Sts, Woolloomooloo, $20-42 (3-night pass), 8019 0282, rocksurfers.org