News

Lachlan Philpott's new role
at Playwriting Australia

Lachlan Philpott has been appointed Artistic Director and CEO of Playwriting Australia.
 
Described by Playwriting Australia Chair, Peter Wilson, as “without a doubt one of Australia’s most courageous and inspiring contemporary theatre artists”, in making the announcement, Peter noted Lachlan’s “vision for the place of playwrights and playwriting in our culture and his deep engagement with our community”. 
 
Lachlan comes to the role after a long and celebrated career as a writer, dramaturg, teacher and mentor with companies and festivals around the world, with recent projects at The American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, La Comedie Francaise in Paris, Outburst in Belfast, Malthouse Theatre, Australian Theatre for Young People, Merrigong Theatre Company and Red Stitch. He was also the Artistic Director/CEO of Tantrum Theatre, Newcastle and led Australian Theatre for Young People’s emerging writers’ program between 2008 and 2011, establishing one of the company’s most successful and enduring programs, the National Studio for emerging writers.

Lachlan’s output as a writer is prodigious, with wide production of his work in Australia and internationally and 15 plays published to-date. This year, Oberon Books will publish two anthologies of Lachlan’s plays. 

Lachlan's play PROMISCUOUS/CITIES was nominated for a 2018 AWGIE Award. He is the winner of three AWGIEs and numerous other awards.

Two world premieres for
​Duncan Graham 

Two highly acclaimed new plays by Duncan Graham premiered within a month of each other. 

​In September, AMPHIBIAN opened at Windmill Theatre Co, an epic and spell-binding story of displacement, loss and adapting to new worlds.

Duncan's adaptation of Strindberg's CREDITORS premiered at State Theatre Company of South Australia in August to critical acclaim. 
 
“Duncan Graham’s outstanding adaptation recalibrates questions of marriage, patriarchy and gender perception in ways that re-energise the play. It’s Strindberg with the black comic patter of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?"
The Australian

Congratulations Duncan!

Sarah Goodes wins Helpmann Award for Best Direction of a Play

Sarah Goodes won the 2018 Helpmann Award for Best Direction of a Play for her brilliant work on Lucy Kirkwood's THE CHILDREN.

THE CHILDREN also won Best Play and Pamela Rabe won Best Female Actor in a Play. Sarah Pierse was nominated for Best Female Actor in a Play.

THE CHILDREN opened at Melbourne Theatre Company and transferred to Sydney Theatre Company.

This year, Sarah directed Lucas Hnath's A DOLL'S HOUSE: PART 2 starring Marta Dusseldorp, and starts rehearsals in September for Albert Beltz' ASTROMAN for Melbourne Theatre Company. 

​For Belvoir Theatre, Sarah directed the acclaimed world premiere of Alana Valentine's THE SUGAR HOUSE.

Congratulations Sarah on this well deserved win.  We are thrilled for you!

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