Seven Australian playwrights will share $60,000 in prize money following the announcement of the Shane & Cathryn Brennan Prize for Playwriting by the Australian Writers’ Guild.
Two plays were celebrated as joint winners in the Stage category, with Kathryn Marquet’s Aurochs sharing the prize with Steve Rodgers’ The Future is History.
The judging panel described Aurochs, an examination of the way we treat animals and the way we treat each other, as “a carefully crafted, complex, nuanced work that bears angry witness to the ugliest elements of our evolution.”
“I’m so honoured to be shortlisted for the Shane and Cathryn Brennan Prize for Playwriting and grateful that the work is being seen,” said Marquet. “Aurochs is the story of a once-god, reduced to a commodity of human industries.”
“It examines how we can look each other in the eyes and still cause immense cruelty; how we’ve forgotten our deep connection to the earth and its creatures; and warns that what we do to others, we also end up doing to ourselves.”
“These important awards help playwrights get their work onto the stage and provide financial support for writing. I can’t thank the AWG enough,” said Marquet.
On The Future Is History, the judges praised the compelling drama as a reflection of the inequalities of our time, saying “This prize-winning play offers richly drawn characters our judges genuinely connected with. A well-crafted and moving play with an ending that packs an emotional punch.”
“You always write a play with the hope it’ll be produced, knowing the likelihood of achieving that goal is rare. For the work to be recognised by the Shane and Cathryn Brennan Prize, an award advanced by the Writers’ Guild I proudly belong to, is an honour. That it might further expose the play towards a stage gives renewed belief, that this story matters,” said Rodgers.
In the Theatre For Young Audience category, Brendan Hogan’s The Incomplete Works of Willow Baker was celebrated by the judges as “A beautifully crafted exploration of grief, love, memory, and the transformative power of making art. This work is full of real characters that will resonate with audiences.”
“Being recognised by a prestigious award like the Shane and Cathryn Brennan Playwriting Prize is a tremendous honour,” said Hogan. “It helps to validate my creative voice as a regionally-based playwright and opens doors for greater visibility and opportunities.
“For an artist writing for young people, this recognition amplifies the impact of my work, allowing me to reach broader audiences and collaborate with new partners, ultimately enhancing both my career and the stories I want to bring to life.”
Playwrights Donna Hughes, Dylan Van Den Berg, Keziah Warner and Kit Brookman were shortlisted across the two categories and will share in the prize pool money. All seven projects will be available to be viewed on AWG’s prestigious Pathways for Playwrights portal.
The Shane & Cathryn Brennan Prize was launched in 2021 to celebrate and reward outstanding achievements in new Australian playwriting. It is made possible by the generous and ongoing philanthropy of Shane and Cathryn Brennan.
For more information about the Australian Writers’ Guild, visit: www.awg.com.au for details.
Image: Brendan Hogan, Kathryn Marquet and Steve Rodgers (sourced)