Australian Plays Transform's Playwriting Groups embed a national playwriting group model within the Australian theatre ecosystem, connecting playwrights nationwide. This online program forms a supportive peer community that actively engages in honing their skills and fosters 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 groups in 2025 will be: 

• Mid-Career Playwrights 
• Playwrights living with disability
   

We will provide more information on the groups soon and hold an information session to answer questions. Please stay tuned.

Playwrights are encouraged to apply for the group or groups they feel most comfortable in. There is more information about nominations below. If you are unsure of which group you wish to nominate for, please contact us and we can discuss your options.
 

Things to know and consider about the program: 

• 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 playwriting practice.  

Group Leaders  

• Playwrights living with disability: Anthea Williams (Monday evenings)
• Mid-Career Playwrights Leader: Wesley Enoch (Times tbc) 

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. We acknowledge that identities are intersectional and shift in different contexts. We have provided some guidelines and definitions below, if you still have questions after reading them please reach out to us to discuss.  

• You could identify as a “Mid-Career 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 “Mid-Career” and “Playwrights with disability” and we can contact you to discuss this as the groups are formed.  
• 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 is recognised within the industry.
   

There will be a Zoom Q&A session on the evening of Wednesday 26th March. 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/eY6tdTsF5e

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.