- The Crisafulli Government has announced the finalists for the prestigious 2026 Queensland Premier's Drama Award.
- Playwrights Melanie Tait, Michelle Law and Alberto Di Troia have reached the final stage for one of Australia's most significant playwright awards.
- The winner will receive a $30,000 cash prize and their play will be included in Queensland Theatre Company's 2027 season.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering the 2026 Queensland Premier's Drama Award, with three Australian playwrights in the running to receive the coveted award.
As one of Australia's long-standing and most significant awards for playwrights, the Queensland Premier's Drama Award will see the winner presented with a $30,000 cash prize.
The winner will also receive a full commission fee to develop their play and a world premiere production in Queensland Theatre Company's 2027 season, including box office royalties.
Australian playwrights Melanie Tait, Michelle Law and Alberto Di Troia have been selected as finalists for this year's Award.
The competitive 2026 Award attracted 269 submissions from across Australia, with finalists' concepts for new plays ranging from epic family dramas to sitcoms.
The three finalists will next take part in a week-long writing residency, and their works will be presented in a public reading prior to the selection and announcement of the winner later this year.
Minister for Education and the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said the initiative would ensure new stories continue to be celebrated locally and nationally.
"The Queensland Premier's Drama Award is one of Australia's most significant prizes for playwrights," Minister Langbroek said.
"The Crisafulli Government's investment in Queensland Theatre Company enables it to commission and present new work, connecting audiences with diverse stories through rich theatre experiences.
"We're proud to deliver a fresh start for the arts by celebrating our storytellers and boosting the State's reputation as a vibrant cultural destination."
Queensland Theatre Company's Artistic Director Daniel Evans, who won the Queensland Premier's Drama Award in 2015 with Oedipus Doesn't Live Here Anymore, said the program holds a special place in his heart.
"This is a transformative opportunity for Australian writers and theatre-makers to create unforgettable pieces of theatre," Mr Evans said.
"For audiences, the Award is a key that unlocks a treasure chest of untold truths, fascinating stories, bold new perspectives, provocative ideas and profound emotions."
The Queensland Premier's Drama Award is supported by the Queensland Theatre Company and Griffith University.
