23 Years of Championing Australian Voices
For more than two decades, Griffith University and Queensland Theatre Company have shared a creative mission – to amplify bold Australian voices and bring new stories to the stage. As part of our partnership, together with the Queensland Government, we’ve elevated one of the nation’s most significant opportunities for playwrights: the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award.
Launched in 2002, the Award was founded on a belief that the best theatre begins with brave ideas and the people who dare to tell them. Now entering its 23rd year, the award is continuing to bring new stories to the stage – a testament to what’s possible when education and the arts come together with purpose.
Where New Stories Find Their Stage
Since its inception, the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award has recognised and developed countless playwrights who have gone on to shape Australia’s cultural landscape. But in 2026, the Award enters a bold new chapter.
For the first time, individual artists, independent companies and collectives were invited to submit proposals rather than finished scripts, allowing Queensland Theatre Company to work with them from the kernel of an idea all the way to the premiere.
The 2026 winner will receive $30,000 in prize money, with generous support from Griffith University, a full commission fee to develop their play, and a world premiere production in Queensland Theatre Company’s 2027 Season, including box office royalties.
We tell Queensland stories and stories that relate to Queensland audiences.
– Professor Scott Harrison
A Shared Vision for the Future of Theatre
For Griffith University, one of Australia’s leading institutions, ranked in the top 2% of universities globally, supporting the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award is about more than sponsorship. It’s about shared values: creativity, innovation, and the power of storytelling to drive change.
As we shortlist the QPDA 2026 finalists, we sat down with Professor Scott Harrison, Pro Vice Chancellor (Arts, Education and Law) at Griffith University, to reflect about the importance of this longstanding collaboration.
Professor Harrison says Griffith’s continuing commitment to the Award is grounded in a deep belief in nurturing the arts. “Griffith University is interested in contributing to the arts ecosystem through the education of artists and the celebration of new voices,” he says. “That’s why supporting new stories and artists through the QPDA is so important to us.”
While the Award has evolved significantly since its launch in 2002, Harrison is energised by where it’s heading next. “I love that the QPDA is opening doors for diverse voices, as we have seen in past winners,” he says. “That breadth of perspective is vital to a thriving arts landscape.”
This spirit of possibility also connects closely to Griffith’s mission to empower students and creatives to Make it Matter. For Professor Harrison, the impact of the Award is tangible: “The stories brought to life through the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award do make a difference to the lives of the actors and audiences. We’re so proud to be associated with this endeavour.”
When asked about the broader impact of theatre in Queensland, Professor Harrison’s response is immediate. “Theatre connects with audiences in ways that other forms of communication can’t. The connection is direct and visceral and speaks to the hearts and minds of audiences across our state. We tell Queensland stories, and stories that relate to Queensland audiences.”
And the moment from the Award’s history that has stayed with him? Harrison doesn’t hesitate: Drizzle Boy. “Amazing theatre, beautifully crafted and told,” he reflects.
As Griffith University, Queensland Theatre Company and the Queensland Government continue their shared commitment to amplifying homegrown storytellers, Professor Harrison's insights remind us why the QPDA remains such a vital platform for Australian theatre.
Find out more about the QPDA and 2026 shortlisted playwrights here.
Image: The Honourable John-Paul Langbroek – Minister for Education and the Arts (L) with the 2024/2025 Queensland Premier’s Drama Award Winner Malacañang Made Us writer Jordan Shea, Director Kenneth Moraleda and Professor Scott Harrison Pro Vice Chancellor (Arts, Education and Law) at Griffith University. Image by Josh Woning