Write Together, Rise Together aims to establish and embed a national playwrighting group model within the Australian theatre ecosystem. This online program will connect playwrights nationwide, forming a supportive peer community that actively engages in honing their skills and fostering robust dialogue. With industry leaders at the helm, this groups will meet fortnightly for six months to work on a new play.

 OPEN TO: Playwrights nationally.  

 The three groups in 2024 will be:
 

• Mid-Career Playwrights 
• Playwrights living with disability 
• Emerging Playwrights 

 Playwrights are encouraged to apply for the group or groups they feel most comfortable in. We will provide more information on the groups soon and hold an information session to answer questions. Please stay tuned.

 If you are unsure of which group you wish to nominate for, please contact us and we can organise a chat.

 

Things to know and consider about the program:
 

• This is a pilot program, so it is being shaped with and for you as the first cohort. 
• The intention is to create a safe and robust peer group environment in which you, with the guidance of your Group Leader progress a play you are working on for a 6 month period. 
• Consider your availability over the period of the program. You will be paid for the group sessions every two weeks. We do not however have the capacity to pay you outside of these hours. So, we ask you to consider whether you will have time to work on your play outside of these hours. 
• This is not a “learn to write” program. This is a group of peers who have an existing playwrighting practice.  

Group Leaders and Group Session Times
 

• Emerging Playwrights and Playwrights living with disability: Anthea WIlliams (Monday evenings 7pm - 9pm)  
• Mid-Career Playwrights Leader: Wesley Enoch (Tuesday evenings 7pm – 9pm) 

Things to bring to the program:
 

• A burning idea or play that you want to work on. This could be; the play idea that won’t leave you alone, the play that you need peers to motivate you to push it further, the play that is pushing you in a different direction (form or content) and you want test it in a safe space.  
• A sense of collaboration, openness and willingness to share your work.  
• A sense of collaboration, openness and willingness to support the work of others. 
• Respect for different ways of working and willingness to share your process with others.  

What group should I nominate for?
 

• Good question. We know it is a tricky thing sometimes to fit into the different categories that we use in the arts. Here are some guidelines, if you still have questions after reading them please reach out to us to discuss. We acknowledge that identities are intersectional and shift in different contexts.  
• You could identify as an “Emerging playwright with disability” and be asking which group should I nominate for? The answer is: this is up to you. We would like you to nominate whichever group you feel most suits your practice at this time and makes you feel most comfortable. You can nominate for both “Emerging” and “Playwrights with disability” and we can contact you to discuss this as the groups are formed.  
• Definition of Mid-Career: You have had a least two plays produced and performed  

There will be a Zoom Q&A session on the evening of Thursday 11th April. To RSVP please use the following form: https://forms.office.com/r/kAEBtQnwL6?origin=lprLink

Your words, your way, your collaborator. 

Duologue is a long-standing program that fosters the unique and important relationship between Playwright and Dramaturg. We are offering a six-month program where mid-career playwrights can bring their visions to life with their chosen collaborator, either face-to-face or remotely. The relationship is self-determined, and the focus can be on a single play or multiple works at any stage of development. Up to six duos will be chosen by a panel of three theatre industry experts.

Duologue is proudly supported by the SBW Foundation in 2024.

Details to know and consider before applying:
 

• Duologue is open to mid-career writers with an established practice who have both industry recognition and a body of at least two professionally produced works.
• APT provides support for face-to-face (or remote) working time - you do not need to be in the same state to participate/collaborate
• Both playwright and collaborator are paid for three hours each month for 6 months, from June through to November 2024; please consider your availability over this period.
• Duologue is open to applicants nationwide.

APT welcomes submissions from a variety of playwrights that represent the make-up of contemporary Australia.
 

There will be a Zoom Q&A session on the evening of Thursday 4th April. To RSVP please use the following form: https://forms.office.com/r/v0K30itufg?origin=lprLink

Submissions Open: 10:00 am AEDT, Friday 15th of March 2024
Submissions Close:  11:59 pm AEDT, Sunday 21st of April 2024
Playwrights may only submit one EOI per round.
       All decisions are final, and feedback cannot be provided.

CONTACT US 

If you would like to touch base with a human about this form, reach out to us at hello@apt.org.au - we aim to get back to you within 2-3 working days.

The Erin Thomas Playwright Fund commemorates playwright Erin Thomas’ optimism and creative talent; it furthers her generous contribution to the arts by helping emerging regional writers pursue their dreams. 

With the support of the Thomas family, the Fund will support regional playwrights: 

• pursue a deep creative connection over a period of time with a mentor dramaturg as the playwright develops a new play
• via a travel bursary to connect with the broader Australian theatre industry
   

Details to know and consider before applying:

Mentor

APT will work with you to select, contact, contract and remunerate an appropriate mentor. You may elect to work face-to-face if you and your mentor live in the same area. If you do not, you will undertake your work together online. You can apply with or without a confirmed mentor.  

Support for dramaturgical mentorship provides a fee of $1000 for the playwright and $1000 for the mentor. The playwright/mentor fee covers 16 hours of contact time between the playwright and their collaborator/mentor, as well as any preparation time. 

Travel Bursary

The maximum support per playwright seeking a travel bursary is $1000. 

Funded travel costs can include airfares, accommodation, per diems or other relevant expenses. Playwrights may apply to attend events and opportunities, rehearsal room internships with a professional company or presenting organisation.
 

Successful playwrights will be selected by a committee including Australian Plays Transform’s key staff, representatives from the Thomas family and appointed external playwright peers.  

The Erin Thomas Playwright Fund has been made possible through the generosity of the Thomas family and some of Erin’s closest friends, who believe in supporting regional and remote playwrights connecting nationwide. 

There will be a Zoom Q&A session on the evening of Thursday 4th April. To RSVP please use the following form: https://forms.office.com/r/v0K30itufg?origin=lprLink

ELIGIBILITY:

To be eligible for this initiative, Playwrights need to;

- reside in a regional, remote, or rural area of Australia

- be at an early stage of their career

- have had no more than two professional productions of their writing 

Submissions Open: 10:00am AEDT, Friday 15th of March 2024

Submissions Close:  11:59pm AEDT, Sunday 21st of April 2024

Playwrights may only submit one EOI per round.

All decisions are final and feedback cannot be provided.

CONTACT US 

If you would like to touch base with a human about this form, reach out to us at hello@apt.org.au - we aim to get back to you within 2-3 working days.