Program Overview

WORDS IN MOTION: New Plays Development is a collaborative program between APT, the nation’s leading organisation dedicated to supporting playwriting, Black Swan State Theatre Company, The Blue Room Theatre and Encounter Theatre. 

This pilot program enables five emerging and mid-career Western Australian playwrights to develop unproduced plays through a two-week intensive script development process. 

Playwrights will work closely with directors, actors and a dramaturg to workshop their plays in a series of “in-room” development days, honing their skills and diving deep into their plays through hands-on, in-depth analysis. The program will culminate in a public showcase of new works at The Blue Room Theatre. 

Dedicated to nurturing local stories and content, Words In Motion is a vital part of creating production-ready, world-class plays and equips playwrights to prepare their work for success on local, national, and global stages. 

Key Dates & Info 

Applications Open: 29 July, 2025 

Applications Close: Sunday 24 August, 2025, 11:59pm AWST

Program Dates: 17 - 29 November, 2025

Location: Perth/Boorloo, Western Australia 

Open to: Emerging and Mid-Career Western Australian playwrights based in WA.

Zoom Info Session: 6:30-7:30pm AWST, Wednesday 6 August, 2025

If you have questions about this program or require help with your application, please contact Creative Producer Sian Murphy: sian@apt.org.au and she will get back to you within 2-3 business days.
 

Eligibility Definitions: 

• Definition of Emerging: playwrights in the first eight years of their practice who have demonstrated at least some experience writing plays or live works for theatre audiences. Note: due to the nature of this program, emerging playwrights must have at least one full length produced play writing credit. 
• Definition of Mid-Career: playwrights with a body of at least two professionally produced full length works and industry recognition.
• Definition of professionally produced work: the work has been staged by a theatre company that operates on a professional basis, meaning it pays its artists and staff, has a formal organisational structure, and/or is recognised within the industry.
• Full length play: Minimum duration of 60 minutes
   

About the Program 

Things to know and consider about the program: 

• Playwrights will be paid a fee of $3018.00 for the two weeks.
• Playwrights must be proposing a full length work (60+ minutes) to undergo development. While there is no need for the full play to be written, the Playwright must have at least 30 pages/one act of written text to work with prior to commencement of the program on the 17 November, 2025. 
• This program is a fast-paced in room development for new plays, where you will be working with Directors, Actors and a Dramaturg over two weeks. Playwrights are expected to be available for the full two weeks and play reading on Saturday, 29 November. 
• Consider your availability over the period of the program. You will be paid for your time in the development room over the two weeks. 
• This is not a “learn to write” program. This is for playwrights who have an existing playwriting practice and experience working with plays and actors on the floor. 
• There is a public play reading outcome for this program at the Blue Room Theatre on Saturday 29 November. While the audience will be friendly peers and fellow playwrights, please consider whether you are happy to share your work in progress.
• Please note we do not accept submissions or works that are under commission by a theatre company or licensed. Playwrights should be  free to take on feedback from your peers, your director, dramaturg and self-directed in this period.
• We encourage applications from Playwrights based in regional WA. 

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 up on the floor.  
• 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.  
   

There will be a Zoom Q&A session on Wednesday 6 August from 6:30-7:30pm AWST. This session will include APT producers giving an overview of the program and being available to answer any questions you may have about the program or the application process. 

To RSVP for this Q&A please use the following form: https://forms.office.com/r/h0R2cPwr4r

If you have questions about this program or require help with your application, please contact Creative Producer Sian Murphy: sian@apt.org.au and she will get back to you within 2-3 business days. 

Australian Plays Transform (APT) is now accepting EOIs from creatives who are interested in sharing their playwrighting, dramaturgical, and theatrical expertise to support the formation of our program cohorts. Read on for more info about Reading/Assessing with us. 

About APT

APT is Australia’s national play development and publication organisation. It hosts the world’s largest online showcase and searchable database of the best Australian playwriting. APT develops, promotes, and publishes plays. We look for new voices for new times and connect them with production opportunities and promote them here and around the world. 

Reading/Assessing with APT

APT runs various programs throughout the year, and the participants in these programs are chosen by different selection panels. Each panel we assemble represents the professional and lived experience of our industry and contemporary Australia.

All Readers/Assessors are paid for their time and expertise. The amount of time required can differ depending on the project or program - Readers/Assessors are contacted before the start of the project and provided with additional information about payment and time commitment. 

The process involves reading submissions/scripts, making notes via an assessment form (we use this submissions platform, Submittable, for all program applications) and meeting (often over Zoom) with the other panel members and APT staff to make decisions.

Please note: This form registers your interest in becoming part of APT's database of Readers/Assessors; submitting an expression of interest does not guarantee that you will be engaged as a Reader/Assessor. 

Completing this Form

The form takes an estimated 15-30 minutes to complete. Expressions of Interest are being accepted in text, audio, and video formats. 

If you have questions about this form or require assistance completing it, please contact hello@apt.org.au and we will get back to you within two or three business days.

About the Program

Australian Plays Transform in partnership with Ilbijerri Theatre Company, Moogahlin Performing Arts and Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company invite Australian First Nations playwrights from around Australia to submit an Expression-of-Interest to participate in a residential writing retreat and development program.

All EOIs are evaluated by Australian First Nations theatre industry practitioners. 

The Retreat is playwright-led in that:

• Playwrights nominate the dramaturgs they'd like to work with
• Playwrights are consulted on what skills they'd like to develop and how they best work and this is accommodated
• Playwrights are consulted on the next steps of the development of their work and have input into development structure and outcomes.
• APT will work with playwrights, where requested, to forge pathways for their play toward further development and or production opportunities.

Digital publication, distribution and licensing of the plays developed is also offered to the participating playwrights through APT’s Blakstage collection: https://apt.org.au/blakstage-2/

We welcome EOI submissions from Australian First Nations early, mid, and established career playwrights. We also welcome EOI submissions from Australian First Nations writers in other genres with some playwriting experience.  

To touch base with a human about this Program, please contact APT's Creative Producer, Sian Murphy: sian@apt.org.au or Resident Dramaturg Jada Alberts jada@apt.org.au and we'll get back to you within 2-3 business days.  

About the Retreat

The Retreat will be held at Bundanon, NSW (Dharawal and Dhurga land) from 1 - 7 December 2025.

The Retreat is an opportunity for First Nations playwrights to spend focused time on the development of a new play or plays.

Whilst the Retreat structure and rhythm is determined by the participating playwrights, playwrights will have access to story and dramaturgical support through an on-site dramaturg.

An APT Producer will be in attendance, and will work with the playwrights and companies to produce the Retreat.  

Bundanon accessibility: There are wheelchair accessible rooms at Bundanon. If you would like more information about these rooms, or to discuss your access needs, please contact us. There is also an opportunity to outline your access needs (including any carer needs) within the application.

Other Important Information

• Playwrights will be paid a fee for their participation on the Retreat. 
• Retreat accommodation, travel, and food will be provided for by APT. This includes travel to Sydney for playwrights based outside of Sydney.
• Playwrights travelling from outside of Sydney will need to travel to Sydney on Sunday November 30.
• Up to six (6) playwrights will be selected to attend the Retreat.
• After the Retreat there are resources to support further development of the plays, including workshopping opportunities with creatives and ongoing dramaturgical support in 2026. 

Completing this Form

The application takes an estimated 30-60 minutes to complete. 

If you have questions about this form or would like any assistance completing it, please contact APT's Creative Producer, Sian Murphy: sian@apt.org.au. She will get back to you within 2-3 business days.