Many new playwrights do not have access to the people and skill resources needed to workshop or perform their plays. The award category New Playwrights Encouragement Award has been introduced to give Australian playwrights, keen to have their work performed and published, a forum in which their one act play scripts can be exposed to theatre groups.

The Festival organisers receive many requests from groups looking for original scripts and we are pleased to be able to bring the authors and the theatre groups together to encourage Australian playwrights in their endeavours.

All scripts submitted for this Award will be assessed by the adjudicator prior to Festival and a selection for the Award made at that time. The winner will be announced at the Festival. Entrants may contact the adjudicator for comments on their scripts after the Festival.

Entries in the New Playwrights Encouragement Award category will not be adjudicated at the Festival and will not be eligible for awards in the other categories.

A copy of scripts submitted for assessment in the New Playwrights Encouragement Award will be retained by the Festival organisers and be available for perusal by theatre groups. If a group selects a play they will then negotiate with the author for approval to perform and payment of performing rights.