Due to heavy demand on limited company resources, La Boite does not accept unsolicited scripts. For writers who wish to be considered, we suggest that you send your script to Playlab, PlayWriting Australia or the AWG for assessment. Once your script has been assessed you are invited to forward the assessment to La Boite.
Here is a comprehensive list of script assessment, prizes, awards, and opportunities for playwrights. You can find a list of support bodies and opportunities for theatre artists of all kinds, including funding programs, here.
Script Assessment, Prizes and Awards for Playwrights
- PlayWriting Australia
- National Play Festival
- AWG Script Assessment Service
- Playlab
- Peter Matheson
- QTC Young Playwrights Program
- The Queensland Premier's Drama Award
- The Richard Burton Award for New Plays
- Max Afford Playwright's Award
- St Martins 2010 National Playwriting Competition
- The Griffin Award
- The Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award
- The Patrick White Playwrights' Award
- Edward Albee Script Competition
- The NSW Premier's Literary Awards
- The Victorian Premier's Literary Awards
- Queensland Premier's Literary Awards
- The AWGIES
PlayWriting Australia
The national peak body for playwriting with a mission to support the development and promotion of great new Australian writing for performance. Works to discover creative artists, improve and enhance playwrights' skills and boost national networks in order to see more Australian work on stage and in print. Wide range of activities. >>more info
National Play Festival
The centrepiece of the National Play Festival is the Showcase season of readings of new Australian plays. Showcase plays are selected by competitive entry by PlayWriting Australia. The Showcase season is attended by key producers and presenters from across Australia to preview the selected works and join in the debate about where theatre writing is going. Closing Date for 2011 Festival: 10 September 2010. >>more info
AWG Script Assessment Service
Available to both AWG members and non-members and designed to provide evaluation of draft scripts. Provides a number of choices to suit experience level and the stage of the script's development. The assessment team includes over 40 of Australia's leading assessors, ensuring a high quality of assessment and fast turnaround. >>more info
Playlab
The peak service organisation for playwrights and theatre makers in Queensland. Provides professional and creative development programs and services, advocacy and representation, access to information and networks, and opportunities for production and publication. Offers a script assessment service for individuals, companies and organisations. >>more info
Peter Matheson
A freelance dramaturg who offers script assessment and dramaturgical services. >>more info
QTC Young Playwrights Program
Suitable for those aged 15-30 years. Provides up to four writers with the opportunity to develop a new piece of writing over several months at Queensland Theatre Company with support through dramaturgy sessions, workshops and writing master classes. Applications close on Friday 25 June 2010. >>more info
The Queensland Premier's Drama Award
This award develops, over a period of two years, a theatrical performance reflective of Queensland, culminating in a professional production. The material may be submitted in a variety of formats - for example DVD, CD, written - and may take a variety of forms - for example political sketches, play, songs, cabaret elements, multimedia or first full draft of a script. It must be original material. The winner's work will be presented by QTC in the Company's 2011 mainstage season. Entries postmarked no later than 30 June 2010. >>more info
The Richard Burton Award for New Plays
A new, annual national competition for plays that have not yet had a production. The play must have been written in the 12 months leading up to the closing date. Entrants must be 21 years of age or over by 2 July 2010. Black Swan State Theatre Company in Perth will stage a reading of the successful work. Entries must be received at Black Swan by 2 July 2010. Prize pool: $30,000. >>more info
Max Afford Playwright's Award
A biennial award for writers of either stage, TV or film plays and aged between 18 and 40. The award's value: as a guide, the recipient of the 2008 Max Afford Playwright's Award received $10,000 cash as well as a maximum of $2,500 to attend a reading of his play at the annual National Play Festival. Closing date for entries is 2 July 2010. >>more info
St Martins 2010 National Playwriting Competition
Open to 13 to 30 year old playwrights across Australia. Winning entries receive public readings and dramaturgical assistance. Entries close, August 13. >>more info
The Griffin Award
Annual national prize offered by Griffin Theatre Company for an outstanding new Australian play or performance text. Entry for the 2010 Griffin Award is now closed. The winner will be announced at the SBW Stables Theatre on 17 August. Prize: $10,000. >>more info
The Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award
Annual award for the development of a play or other performing arts project. The Award is intended for those needing income and support during the writing or development of a project or to assist with costs of production, workshops, restaging, publishing or touring. It is not intended as a prize for a finished work. A recipient may be working alone or jointly with others. The Award aims to encourage the development of projects "emphasising positive values". Prize: $20,000. Closing date: Tuesday 5 October, 2010. >>more info
The Patrick White Playwrights' Award
A joint initiative of Sydney Theatre Company and The Sydney Morning Herald. This national award is for a full-length unproduced play of any genre written by an Australian playwright 20 years of age or over. Prize: $20,000. >>more info
Edward Albee Script Competition
The Australian Writers' Guild in partnership with Inscription offers an opportunity for one AWG member to participate in a ten-day master class and workshop with acclaimed playwright Edward Albee. The workshop will be held 4 - 15 October 2010 in Sydney. Entries close 3 September 2010. >>For more information, entry form and guidelines
The NSW Premier's Literary Awards
Open to all Australian writers. The Play Award is worth $30,000. Applications for the 2011 NSW Premier's Literary Awards close 18 October 2010. >>more info
The Victorian Premier's Literary Awards
Open to all Austarlian writers. The Louis Esson Prize for Drama is worth $15,000 and is offered for scripts written for theatre or radio. Theatre scripts must first produced in Australia by a professional theatre company for an audience during the period of 1 May 2009 to 31 May 2010. Workshopping or a reading is not deemed to constitute professional performance. The Prize for Best Music Theatre Script is worth $15,000 and is offered for music theatre scripts produced in Australia and first performed during the eligible period. Entries close Friday 18 June. >>more info
Queensland Premier's Literary Awards
Open to all Australian writers. Drama Script (Stage) Award is worth $15,000. Entries for the 2010 Queensland Premier's Literary Awards have now closed. The shortlisted entries will be announced in August. Winning entries will be announced at the awards ceremony on Tuesday 31 August 2010. >>more info
The AWGIES
These awards of the Australian Writers Guild are unique in the industry in that they are the only writers' awards judged solely by writers, and the judging is based on the written script - the writer's intention rather than the finished product. Entries are open to financial members in February each year. >>more info
