The Shane and Cathryn Brennan Prize

The Shane and Cathryn Brennan Prize has been developed to discover and celebrate the best new scripts among Australian playwrights.

This hugely generous prize was the brainchild of its benefactors Shane and Cathryn Brennan. With the closure of theatres and an absence of live production opportunities during the worst of the pandemic, this prize was created to give back to playwrights during a particularly tough time. Now that audiences are now able to enjoy live theatre again – we are honoured to give this fantastic prize a second iteration.

The biennial Prize invites playwrights to submit unproduced plays across two categories:

• Stage
• Theatre for Young Audiences

The Prize caters to full and associate members. The most outstanding scripts across both categories will share in $60,000 in prize money, and their scripts will be made eligible for AWG’s prestigious Pathways for Playwrights.

Entries for the Shane and Cathryn Brennan Prize will open in 2026.