Max Afford Playwrights' Award

Promoting interest in Australian drama

This award is an initiative of the late Thelma May Afford in memory of her husband, Max Afford. She wanted to provide young writers with the incentive to improve their creative writing as well as to enhance the general public’s appreciation of Australian drama and playwrights.

It’s a biennial award for young writers of either stage, TV or film plays.

Are you eligible?
To be eligible for this award, you should be between the ages of 18 and 40 at the close of entries date.

You must be a resident of Australia for the 4 years preceding the closing date for entries.

The award’s value
As a guide, the recipient of the 2008 Max Afford Playwright’s Award received  $10,000 cash as well as a maximum of $2,500 to attend a reading of his play at the annual National Play Festival. This amount covered registration, accommodation and airline ticket expenses.

How to apply
The 2010 application form is available to download here or by emailing awards@trust.com.au.

Key dates
Closing date for entries is 2 July 2010. 
The winner will be announced late 2010.

Please note all application forms and fees must be submitted to Trust Company no later than 5.30pm on the closing date.

2008 Award
Trust congratulates Jonathan Ari Lander who won the 2008 Award for his script Revolution.  Jonathan will attend the 2009 National Playwriting Festival held in Tasmania for a rehearsed reading of his winning play.  Commenting on his win, Jonathan said, “this is, without a doubt, the biggest honour I have ever received as a playwright and to receive this recognition and the chance to attend the 2009 National Play Festival is an exciting opportunity”.

The Judges highly commended Tess Lunney for Marrickville Stories and Tony O'Donoghue for The Last of the Vanderbilts. You can read the Judges' Report here.

2008 Judges were Brett Adams, Nick Marchand and Francesca Smith.

Previous Winners
Previous winners of the Max Afford Playwright’s Award include:

• 2006  Mary Brown Australian Gothic
  2006 Judges were Tom Healey, Katherine Thompson, and Francesca Smith
• 2004 Vivienne Walshe Birth Nation
  2004 Judges were Andrea James, Christopher Mead, and Katherine Thomson

Further information
Trust is the trustee for the Max Afford Playwright’s Award.