AUSSIETHEATRE.COM.AU - A Showstopping Opportunity: The Australian Theatre Festival NYC 2025 New Play Award
Where Broadway Meets Bondi.
Have you ever dreamed of seeing your new Australian play or musical take centre stage in the heart of New York City? The Australian Theatre Festival NYC has just the opportunity for you. Offering a substantial total prize of $20,000 USD, it’s a chance to stand shoulder to shoulder with some of Australia’s finest theatre-makers and have your voice heard by audiences on the global stage. If you’re an Australian writer—whether a seasoned playwright or someone just starting to dip their toes into the theatre world—this initiative is designed to ignite your creativity and connect you with an international community of artists.
Where Broadway Meets Bondi
New York City has long been the mecca of theatre, famed for shaping trends that reverberate around the globe. The Australian Theatre Festival NYC taps into this powerhouse hub, shining a bright spotlight on homegrown Australian talent. Founded with the mission to celebrate Australian voices, the festival has been going strong for six years, each edition showcasing fresh work that fuses the spirit of Down Under with the energy of the Big Apple.
Since its inception, the festival has attracted the attention of theatre lovers worldwide and connected a diverse range of artists. From playwrights to producers, from actors to stage technicians, the vibrant exchange of ideas spans from the laid-back shores of Australia to the bustling streets of Manhattan. This cultural cross-pollination results in bold, dynamic theatre that speaks to audiences far beyond the respective borders of each country.
The Prestigious Prize
Thanks to the generosity of Shane & Cathryn Brennan, the Australian Theatre Festival NYC 2025 New Play Award offers a total of $20,000 USD in prize money. Two new works will be recognised: one taking home a cash prize of $15,000 USD, and the other receiving a runner-up prize of $5,000 USD.
It’s not just about the money, though. The winning playwright will benefit from dedicated development work with Mark Barford, Co-Artistic Director of the Australian Theatre Festival NYC, ensuring the piece is shaped and refined to match its full potential. This support culminates in the opportunity to present a staged reading during the 2025 festival, introducing the new work to a discerning New York theatre audience. For emerging and established playwrights alike, having your script realised in one of the world’s most vibrant theatre cities could be the boost that propels your career to the next level.
The Stories That Came Before
Previous winners of the New Play Award have already set a high bar. In 2021, Lewis Treston’s HUBRIS & HUMILIATION received glowing praise and went on to a production at Sydney Theatre Company. The Guardian awarded it five stars, calling it “startlingly good,” cementing its place among the new Australian theatre greats.
The 2022 winner, Melissa-Kelly Franklinwith PARADISE LOST, continued this pattern of success by winning the 2024 Jill Blewett Playwright’s Award. Most recently, the 2023 winner Sally Alrich-Smythe highlighted just how powerful the platform can be. Her piece was showcased on 42nd Street in front of an engaged audience, something she described as an unforgettable experience. For her, the festival’s support transcended mere accolades: it offered genuine care and resources to bolster her script and bring it to life in front of New York’s theatre aficionados.
Easy Entry Requirements
The award’s mission is clear: to nurture unproduced Australian stories and the artists behind them. Writers must be Australian citizens or permanent residents aged 18 and over. Musicals are equally welcome, with all members of the writing team (composer, lyricist, librettist) meeting the same nationality requirement.
Submissions need to be at least 60 minutes in length and unproduced at a professional level, although readings and workshops are allowed. It’s also crucial that the rights to any adapted material or songs within the script are fully secured. The entry process is refreshingly straightforward and, best of all, free.
Scripts must not be under contract for any future production. Additionally, they should not have won—or been a runner-up or finalist in—another Australian or international writing award. That said, if your script has only been short-listed elsewhere, you’re still in the clear to apply.
What Sets This Award Apart
While there are a handful of prizes for dramatic writing in Australia, this is the only award of its kind that guarantees its winner a formal development opportunity in New York City. Connor Delves and Mark Barford, the festival’s Co-Artistic & Executive Directors, are dedicated to nurturing fresh Australian talent and bridging the gap between two of the world’s most vibrant theatre cultures.
To sweeten the deal, the winning script gains a chance for a live reading, “conditional upon the ability to appropriately cast NY based Australian actors.” This ensures that your story remains authentically Australian, even in the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. It also offers the added benefit of forging valuable international connections. Such networks can prove invaluable later, whether you’re seeking further readings, full productions, or simply creative collaborators who understand your work.
Over the years, Australian theatre has garnered global recognition for its raw, engaging storytelling and innovative performance style. From the National Theatre of Parramatta’s groundbreaking productions to Belvoir St Theatre’s distinctive ensemble work, Australian theatre is often celebrated for its focus on culturally diverse stories and adventurous stagecraft. This diversity resonates across continents, and audiences in New York and beyond are taking note.
Although the Aussie accent might get a playful comment or two from international audiences, Australian scripts often resonate with universal themes that transcend cultural boundaries. Stories of identity, resilience, and community speak to theatre lovers around the world. There is a refreshing honesty in Australian writing, unafraid to be both humorous and poignant in the same breath. Bringing these stories to the global stage helps foster greater understanding and appreciation of Australia’s complex cultural tapestry.
Timelines and How to Apply
Submissions for the 2025 New Play Award officially open on Monday, 27 January 2025 (NYC, EST), and close at 9am on Monday, 24 February 2025 (NYC, EST). All entries must be submitted via the 2025 New Play Award Submission Form, which is a Google Form linked through the festival’s official channels. It’s a simple and clear process that asks for your script and a few essential details. Just remember: only one entry per writer or writing team is allowed.
Finalists will be announced on Monday, 5 May 2025, with the winner and runner-up revealed on Monday, 19 May 2025. For those who make the shortlist, the festival extends a valuable opportunity for your script to be read by industry professionals with an eye for spotting the next big thing in Australian theatre. Even if you don’t progress to the final two, you’ll have placed your work among some of the most promising new scripts produced by Australian writers—and that alone can help forge valuable connections.
Making the Most of the Prize
For many playwrights, $15,000 USD can be a transformative sum. It can be invested back into the play to fund further development, travel to international theatre showcases, or even cover everyday expenses while devoting more time to writing. And for the runner-up, $5,000 USD offers an equally exciting boost. Yet, as several past winners have testified, it’s not just the financial element that makes this award so impactful. The real magic lies in the development process and the subsequent reading, which can thrust your work into the limelight of the fiercely competitive New York theatre scene.
Furthermore, the festival holds a worldwide first right of refusal to produce the winning play for 12 months following the announcement date. This clause reflects the festival’s commitment to its playwrights, ensuring that any plans for a full-scale production are handled with care and guided by those who understand the power of your story.
An Immersive Community Experience
Once you become part of the Australian Theatre Festival NYC family, you’ll find that the sense of community extends well beyond opening night. The festival has repeatedly emphasised the importance of establishing deeper connections between Australian artists scattered across the globe. Whether it’s informal catch-ups after performances, workshop collaborations, or social media networking, participants forge bonds that can lead to ongoing creative partnerships.
By uniting different perspectives and theatrical backgrounds, the festival has created a nurturing environment where artists can refine their craft, learn from each other, and explore collaborative ventures. In doing so, it helps maintain Australia’s global reputation for innovative, heartfelt theatre—and ensures that new generations of Aussie writers continue to make waves worldwide.
A Curtain Call Like No Other
The Australian Theatre Festival NYC 2025 New Play Award shines as a beacon for unproduced Australian work, offering not just financial gain but a powerful platform that connects your story to a vibrant community. It’s a call to action for playwrights who dream of Broadway’s bright lights and for those who simply want to expand their horizons by sharing a unique Australian narrative. With the chance to develop your piece alongside dedicated theatre professionals—and possibly see it read by top New York performers—you have every reason to submit your play or musical.
As you shape your script, consider that you could be following in the footsteps of Lewis Treston, Melissa-Kelly Franklin, and Sally Alrich-Smythe, whose plays found both critical acclaim and transformative opportunities thanks to this award. So, don’t be afraid to dream big: the next unforgettable Australian story to enthral New York City crowds might well be yours.
Australia’s theatre scene has long been acclaimed for its courage, creativity, and willingness to experiment. Now, that same adventurous spirit can find a second home in the heart of Manhattan, courtesy of the Australian Theatre Festival NYC. Whether you’re passionate about drama or musical theatre, this award has the potential to elevate your work, expand your network, and open new doors in the global arts landscape. If you have a story waiting in the wings, this is your chance to take centre stage and shine. Break a leg!
