Australian Plays Transform (APT) is Australia’s national play development and publication organisation. It hosts the world’s largest online showcase and searchable database of the best Australian playwriting. APT seeks new voices for new times, develops plays that change the national story, links them to production, publishes them and promotes them here and around the world.
Australian Plays Transform
APT believes in a world where Australian plays transform those who connect with them – artists, audiences, societies. That’s why we embrace publication and promotion, leading to more productions and study around the world, not only in leading professional theatres but also in community theatres, schools and universities.
The Definitive Online Destination
APT’s catalogue currently contains the work of more than 1,000 Australian playwrights. Featuring the combined catalogues of Australia’s leading theatrical publishers, this definitive online destination for Australian playwriting provides theatres, artists, teachers and students everywhere with a simple access point for exceptional, production-ready Australian plays and the transformative stories they tell.
Our vision
A world made more just, curious and enjoyable by Australian plays.
Our purpose
To support and promote Australian plays and playwriting.
We believe in the power of theatre to reflect and change our world. In a vibrant new-work ecology that respects playwrights as artists and workers.
We provide robust and diverse opportunities to create high-calibre plays that reflect contemporary Australia.
Our values
First Nations First
We respect the ancient sovereignty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and believe that meaningful recognition of this is necessary for a full expression of Australia’s nationhood. We support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural resurgence and self-determination, and believe it is critical that all people have opportunities to engage with First Nations stories as part of shaping our national narrative and as an example to the world.
The Power of Story
Change is the engine of every story; this quality makes stories powerful agents of change. Stories are the best tool for understanding what it feels like to be someone else. They shape how we understand the world and our ability to change it. They make, prop up, and bring down systems. Playwrights tell stories that enable us to have the most difficult conversations safely.
Inclusion
It is the organisation’s responsibility to create environments where people feel safe to bring their authentic and unique selves and talents to all our activities, fostering a sense of belonging. This approach requires an awareness of governance, staffing, and management in the delivery of our programs. If someone feels they belong, they’ll feel supported in speaking the wildest, best idea ever.
Relationships
We want organisations to feel they belong just as much as individuals. We know we’ll achieve more if we partner well, enhancing the agency of organisations with cultural expertise and growing the capacity of organisations with limited resources, especially in the small-to medium and independent sectors.
Adventure
As an organisation, we encourage playwrights to embrace the spirit of adventure by creating bold, courageous, and audacious stories, conversations, and ideas.
Playfulness
We value creativity, imagination, vision, and innovation in the organisation and in delivering our projects and programs. These qualities grow in an environment of playfulness.
Doing the right thing
We act with integrity and honesty. We are transparent and accountable for all outcomes.
Our goals
Seek new voices for new times
We actively seek out, support, and invest in new voices that reflect contemporary Australia. Underrepresented voices need to be identified and elevated.
Develop plays that change the story
We need to develop plays from new and experienced playwrights that interrogate, challenge and question the status quo.
Connect plays with production
We create opportunities for playwrights to see their work produced by theatre companies. A play truly comes to life when it reaches the stage, we work in practical partnership with producing organisations to make that happen.
Promote our plays to the world
We publish and promote Australian plays, tapping into growing professional, community, and educational theatre markets. Our expanding digital catalogue ensures ongoing visibility. Publication is critical to sustaining playwrights’ careers.
Create a sustainable organisation
We continually strengthen our financial and governance capabilities, fostering organisational sustainability. We are committed to embedding environmental sustainability into our operations to meet climate and ecological emergency demands.