About the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award
Queensland Theatre Artistic Director Lee Lewis says the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award is an opportunity for Australians to tell their stories and for their voices to be heard above the crowd, elevated to a position to inspire real cultural change.
“In the last few years, there has been a significant growth in the appetite of our audience for stories that reflect Australian character and the people that make up our incredible country. As this appetite grows, it fuels our artists, our industry and a further exploration of the Australian voice and culture,” said Lewis.
“For over two decades, the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award has provided pathways and opportunities for Australian playwrights and their uniquely Australian stories to be heard by a wider audience. As a Company, Queensland Theatre is inspired by the consistent support from the Queensland Government and Griffith University in helping to bring these Australian stories to life.”
Queensland Theatre encourages writers of all backgrounds and lived experiences to enter their unproduced scripts into the 2025 awards.
The deadline for submissions is Sunday, 4 June 2023 with finalists announced in January 2024. The winning entry will be revealed in May 2024.
This award is open to all Australian citizens and permanent residents residing in Australia, who have written a play that has never been professionally produced. Playwrights of all ages, emerging or established, are encouraged to enter.
Please review the Conditions of Entry for further eligibility requirements before you submit your script.
A panel of industry professionals reviews the anonymous entries, leading to a shortlist. The shortlisted artists meet the award judges to discuss their plays. Three finalists are selected to receive paid development with directors, actors and dramaturgs. The development period culminates in a public reading. Following this, a single winner is chosen to receive a full professional production in Queensland Theatre’s next season.
Please visit our FAQs for further details regarding the process.
2023
Mar | Award Launched & Call for Entries Open
Jun | Entries Close, 4 June 2023, 6pm (Queensland local time)
Sep | Entrants notified of their status; shortlisted artists interviewed by judges.
Dec | Three finalists selected.
2024
Jan | Public announcement of QPDA finalists.
Feb | Creative Development, phase 1
Mar | Creative Development, phase 2
Apr | Creative Development Phase 3/ finalist readings
May | Winner selected and announced.
Sep | Season 2025 launched including winning play.
2024-25
Creative development of the winning play continues.
2025
World premiere season of the winning play
