Words in Motion: New Play Development

About the Program: 

This pilot program enables five emerging and mid-career Western Australian playwrights to develop unproduced plays through a two-week intensive script development process. Playwrights will work closely with established directors, actors and a dramaturg to workshop their plays in a series of “in-room” development days, honing their skills and diving deep into their plays through hands-on, in-depth analysis. The program will culminate in a public showcase of new works at The Blue Room Theatre.  

Things to know and consider about the program: 

• Playwrights must be proposing a full length work (60+ minutes) to undergo development. While there is no need for the full play to be written, the Playwright must have at least 30 pages/one act of written text to work with prior to commencement of the program on the 17 November, 2025.
• This program is a fast-paced in room development for new plays, where you will be working with Directors, Actors and a Dramaturg over two weeks. Playwrights are expected to be available for the full two weeks and play reading on Saturday, 29 November.
• Consider your availability over the period of the program. You will be paid for your time in the development room over the two weeks.
• This is not a “learn to write” program. This is for playwrights who have an existing playwriting practice and experience working with plays and actors on the floor.
• There is a public play reading outcome for this program at the Blue Room Theatre on Saturday 29 November. While the audience will be friendly peers and fellow playwrights, please consider whether you are happy to share your work in progress.
• Please note we do not accept submissions or works that are under commission by a theatre company or licensed. Playwrights should be free to take on feedback from your peers, your director, dramaturg and self-directed in this period.
• We encourage applications from Playwrights based in regional WA.

What to bring to the program:

• A burning idea or play that you want to work on. This could be; the play idea that won’t leave you alone, the play that you need peers to motivate you to push it further, the play that is pushing you in a different direction (form or content) and you want test up on the floor.
• A sense of collaboration, openness and willingness to share your work.
• A sense of collaboration, openness and willingness to support the work of others.
• Respect for different ways of working and willingness to share your process with others.

If you have questions about this program or require help with your application, please contact Creative Producer Sian Murphy: sian@apt.org.au and she will get back to you within 2-3 business days.