The Shane & Cathryn Brennan Prize for Playwriting has been developed to discover and celebrate the best new scripts among Australian playwrights.
When the pandemic led to the closure of theatres and an absence of opportunities for theatre professionals, Shane and Cathryn Brennan, the generous benefactors of this prize found a way to give back to hardworking playwrights. Even though audiences are now able to enjoy live theatre again – we are honoured to continue offering this opportunity to outstanding playwrights and their very best unproduced scripts!
The Prize invites playwrights to submit unproduced plays across two categories:
- Stage
- Theatre for Young Audiences.
The Prize is open to Full and Associate members of the Australian Writers’ Guild. Up to $60,000 will be awarded across both categories—$10,000 for each winning entry and $40,000 to be shared evenly among shortlisted entries.
The winning and shortlisted scripts will be made eligible for AWG’s prestigious Pathways for Playwrights.
The Shane & Cathryn Brennan Prize is now closed. Shortlisted and winning entries will be announced in November.
Stage Category Winners
2024 – Aurochs by Katherine Marquet
2024 – The Future is History by Steve Rodgers
2022 – Wittenoom by Mary Anne Butler
Theatre for Young Audiences Category Winners
2024 – The Incomplete Works of Willow Baker by Brendan Hogan
2022 – Ali in Zombieland by John Armstrong
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