• 2026 National Playwriting Group Application Form

  • 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: Mid-Career Playwrights nationally.

    This application is for the Mid-Career Playwrights Group.

    If you have already applied for the Playwrights Living with Disability Group (now closed) and indicated in the application form that you'd like to be considered for the Mid-Career playwrights group, you do not need to apply again.

    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 across the program dates. 


    Consider your availability over the period of the program. You will be paid for the group sessions you attend. 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 the group session hours.

    This is not a “learn to write” program. This is a group of peers who have an existing playwriting practice.

    Group Leaders & Times 

    • Mid-Career Playwrights: Courtney Stewart
    • Monday evenings, a mix of weekly and fortnightly sessions
    • The program begins on September 21, 2026
    • Sessions will take place from 7-9pm AEST

    Program Dates: 

    Session 1 - Mon 21/Sep
    Session 2 - Friday 2/Oct
    Session 3 - Mon 05/Oct
    Session 4 - Mon 19/Oct
    Session 5 - Mon 02/Nov
    Session 6 - Mon 16/Nov
    Session 7 - Mon 30/Nov
    Session 8 - Mon 14/Dec
    Break Dec-Jan
    Session 9 - Mon 11/Jan
    Session 10 - Mon 18/Jan
    Session 11 - Mon 25/Jan
    Session 12 - Mon 01/Feb

    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.

    • 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 Monday 31 August at 6pm-7pm AEST. 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. RSVP is essential. Please RSVP here: 

  • This application is for the Playwrights Living with Disability Group. Our Mid-Career Playwriting group is opening at a later date. 

    If you'd like to be considered for both groups, check yes below — you won't need to reapply. We'll use this application for the Mid-Career Group as well.

  • Would you also like to be considered for the Mid-Career Playwriting group?

  • Tell Us About You and Your Play

  • The following section consists of 5 questions/prompts: 

    1. Tell us about your practice as a playwright, including your experience in theatre and what you are working on now.
    2. Describe the play you would like to work on during the program 
    3. Where is your play at and what would you like to achieve with your project over the course of the group? How will you achieve this? 
    4. Tell us about a time you've given feedback and received feedback and what you learnt from the process. 
    5. What do you seek to get out from the group/groups you have chosen?

    Answers to these will be accepted in the following formats: text, audio, or and video. Text answers will be limited to 300 words. Audio and video responses should be limited to 2-4 minutes.

  • Which format would you like to submit your responses in?*
  • 0/300
  • 0/300
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  • 0/300
  • 0/300
  • Does your project include specific First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property?*

  • FNCIP rights are First Nations peoples’ rights to their cultural heritage.

    APT follows the lead of First Nations people and is guided by the resources below:

    • http://www.terrijanke.com.au/indigenous-cultural-protocols-and-arts
    • https://australiacouncil.gov.au/investment-and-development/protocols-and-resources/protocols-for-using-first-nations-cultural-and-intellectual-property-in-the-arts/
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  • Why do we ask this question?
    You will be drafting and redrafting your play in response to the discussions and feedback of your Group Leader and peers. This may mean you go in a direction that the commissioning company or literary manager does not agree with. In essence, we want you to be as free as possible to make the creative decisions you want at this stage of the process.

  • Optional Demographic Questions

  • The following questions help us understand whether our programs are reaching a wide range of people.

    Answering the questions below is your choice, and will have no impact on the success of your entry.

    Your information will not be seen by anyone other than APT staff. The responses are de-identified and aggregated in order for us to report to the Board and government funders, who ask for this information.

    If you would prefer to not answer these questions, please head to the next section.

  • Do you identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander?
  • Do you live in an outer metro, regional or remote area?
  • Do you identify as being d/Deaf or a person living with disability?*
  • Do you identify as culturally and linguistically diverse, a Person of Colour, or from a non-western background?
  • How do you describe your gender? (select all that apply)
  • What personal pronouns do you use? (select all that apply)
  • Do you identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community?
  • If yes and you would like to add more detail, please feel welcome to select from the below (select all that apply)

  • Acknowledgement for Application

    By selecting 'Acknowledgement for Application' above I certify that;- all information submitted in this form is true.- the work I am submitting for consideration is original and I am the author and copyright owner.
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