A University of the Sunshine Coast Creative Industries student has been accepted into the prestigious National Studio playwriting program run by the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP).

Tremayne Gordon, 19, is one of just 20 young writers nationwide selected for this program from 14-19 September that will see him coached by some of Australia’s leading playwrights and arts professionals.

The Pomona resident was chosen after completing a theatre internship with Hot House Theatre in Albury-Wodonga on the NSW-Victoria border. This internship was organised as part of his USC degree.

Tremayne said he’d jumped at the opportunity to attend the National Studio program that will be held at Illaroo in NSW.

“When I was offered a place in the program, I called my parents and my lecturer, and their reactions made me realise how big of an opportunity it was,” he said.

“Over the course of a week, we’ll be working with the playwrights to develop monologues, and 10 of those monologues will be selected to be performed by ATYP in their 2016 season.

“Being in that professional development environment and getting the chance to work with some of Australia’s best writers is a break that doesn’t come along every day.

“I’d love to develop a career as an actor and writer. I have a fascination with exploring social awkwardness and feel there’s so much untapped material in exploring social expectations and requirements.

“It’s brilliant to write characters that are a little bit quirky and defy those norms.”

USC Lecturer in Drama Dr Natasha Budd congratulated Tremayne and said he had made the most of the doors that were opened to him by his internship.

“It’s exciting to have one of our students accepted into a national program that’s so competitive,” she said. “The arts are a tough game, and Tremayne has shown enormous initiative and motivation.

“The University has a really strong Creative Writing program, and now that we’re also offering Drama, students can develop diverse skills and become extremely well equipped to navigate their way through the industry.”

— Gen Kennedy