Now in its fifth year, the Australian Theatre Festival NYC 2024 New Play Award will celebrate two new plays or musicals with distinct Australian voices. This year we have doubled both the winner and runner up’s cash prize with the winner receiving $15,000 USD and the runner-up receiving $5,000 USD.
The award now offers a total cash prize of $20,000 USD for two unproduced, full-length plays or musicals written by Australian writers, over the age of 18.
Along with the cash prize, the winning play or musical will be developed with ATF Co-Artistic Director Mark Barford and presented as an elevated staged reading in New York City as part of the 2024 Australian Theatre Festival NYC.
In last year’s festival, we showcased our 2023 winner, ‘Wavelength’ written by Sally Alrich-Smythe. Sally said, “Winning The New Play Award meant so much more than the prize money and accolades attached (though that’s unreal too!). From the first zoom call, I was struck by how much the team at Australian Theatre Festival cared about my show. They wanted the best for it, and threw everything they had at giving it a platform. And the efforts of everyone paid off: seeing my play read out by a group of exceptional actors, supported by awesome design and direction, on a stage on 42nd st in New York City? Something I’ll never forget. I’d recommend the experience to any playwright.”
To be eligible, plays or musicals must-
Be written by a writer or writing team who are all Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia. For Musicals, all members of the writing team (Composer, Lyricist, Librettist) must be Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia.
Be at least 60 minutes in length.
Not have been previously submitted to the Australian Theatre Festival NYC New Play Award.
Not have been previously published, including self-published.
Not have been previously produced at a production level in any context (previous readings, fellowships and workshops are acceptable).
Not be encumbered by agreements or contracts for future production/s.
At the time of submissions close date (Monday March 4th, 2024), not have won, been a runner-up, or a finalist in another Australian or International writing award (short-listed is permissible).
Terms and Conditions-
Due to the large volume of entries, The Australian Theatre Festival NYC is unable to give feedback.
Plays submitted may be original ideas or adaptations from other forms providing that permission to adapt the material has been obtained from the copyright holder. The rights for all material in the work must be secured by the writer prior to entry, including any songs, poems or quotes.
The Australian Theatre Festival NYC has worldwide first right of refusal to produce the winning play for a period of 12 months following the announcement date of the winner.
A limit of one entry per writer/writing team.
If submitting as a writing team, a single cash prize will be awarded to the writing team. It is the responsibility of the writing team to decide how to divide this between themselves.
