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 2006 Max Afford Playwright’s Award received  $7,500.

The 2008 winner will receive $10,000 cash as well as a maximum of $2,500 to attend a reading of their play at the annual National Play Festival. This amount is to cover registration, accommodation and airline ticket expenses.

How to apply
You can download the 2008 application form here.

Close of entries for the 2008 award is 4 July 2008.  The winner will be announced late 2008.

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

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.