ADAM NZ PLAY AWARD
Posted: Tuesday Feb 20, 2024
Submissions close 1 December 2024
Formerly called the Playmarket New New Zealand Play Award, this annual award has been offered since 2008. It is the only one of its kind for new play writing. Writers are encouraged to banish self-censoring, worries about what theatres want, what is affordable, or what they think audiences want to see.
We are grateful for the generosity of the Adam Foundation who enable us to offer a total of $8,000 in prizes.
Prizes may include: Best Play, Best Play by a Māori Playwright, Best Play by a Pasifika Playwright, Best Play by a Woman Playwright or any identification determined by the judges.
To be eligible, plays must not have had a professional production before 1 December of the year of submission. Plays that have had readings, workshops and community productions are eligible.
Each script may only be submitted to this competition once. There are no limits on length, style, theme or cast size. You may submit a maximum of three scripts.
We strongly recommend that when playwrights are including stories or characters in their plays that are not of the playwright's own culture (e.g. te ao Māori or Pasifika), that they consult with the relevant community at the earliest possible stage of writing.
Submissions will be read blind by a panel of industry professionals. The judges' decisions are final.
The Dean Parker Adaptation or Non-fiction award
This award, in the memory of playwright Dean Parker, will be offered to a play adapted from a work of fiction, or a docudrama or verbatim work when there is an appropriate entry. The award has a prize of $1,000.
McNaughton South Island Play Award
Alongside the Adam NZ Play Award, submissions from South Island residents may also be considered for the McNaughton South Island Play Award, which has a prize of $2,000.
To be eligible, playwrights must have been residing in the South Island for at least 5 years at the time of submitting. Playwrights who were born in the South Island but are no longer residents, or who have been residents in the South Island over 5 years ago, will not be eligible.