In the wake of the global success of Prima Facie, Griffin is excited to announce the Suzie Miller Award.
The Suzie Miller Award supports mid-career playwrights in the writing and development of daring and innovative new work.
Through the awarding of a full commission and residency at Griffin, as well as mentorship from Suzie Miller herself, the Award provides pathways towards production both within Australia and overseas. It also provides the opportunity to contribute to Griffin’s Artistic programs such as Griffin Studio and the Griffin Award.
The Suzie Miller Award is open to writers with an established practice, who have both industry recognition and a body of professionally-produced work that speaks to ‘now’—asking knotty, contemporary questions of Australia’s audiences.
Griffin is thrilled to announce that Mary Rachel Brown is the inaugural winner of the Suzie Miller Award. Congratulations to Mary—you can learn more about her work in the drawer below.
Griffin Theatre Company is delighted to announce that Mary Rachel Brown is the inaugural winner of the Suzie Miller Award.
Mary is the recipient of the following playwriting awards—The Lysicrates Prize, the Rodney Seaborn Award, the Max Afford Award, and the Griffin Award. Her most recent works are Rosievillie (Canberra Youth Theatre), contributing writer for Betty Blokk Buster Reimagined (Redline)and Dead Cat Bounce (Griffin). Her play The Dapto Chaser premiered at Griffin, had a national tour, a cinematic release and was broadcast on ABC TV. When she is not writing, Mary script assesses for The Australian Writers’ Guild and teaches writing at NIDA.
“This award truly understands what a writer needs—a commission with in-built development support. I am thrilled to be embedded in Griffin at this point in time when writers are holding leadership roles in the company. I cannot wait to contribute to and lean on this amazing resource. I am incredibly grateful to Suzie Miller for her vision and focus on mid-career writers. The beautiful contradiction here is the safety of this award will allow me to take risks. This is a great opportunity; I look forward to galloping with it.” Mary Rachel Brown
The Suzie Miller Award is open to writers with an established practice. A suitable candidate will:
- Have a body of professionally-produced work and industry recognition.
- Demonstrate a track record of work which speaks to ‘now’ and asks knotty questions of Australia’s audiences.
- Stand to benefit from the financial and creative support provided by the residency.
- Is a resident in Greater Sydney or NSW and is available to attend regular events and meetings.
I’m not sure if I’m considered ‘mid-career’. Help!
We understand! Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] and we can have a yak about your eligibility for the Award.
Do I need to reside in NSW to apply for the Suzie Miller Award?
Yes. The two-year program requires regular attendance at programming meetings with Griffin’s Artistic team, along with mentoring sessions with Griffin Studio Artists, making interstate participation difficult to accommodate.
I’ve sent in my EOI! What happens next?
Great question! Expressions of Interest will be reviewed by Griffin’s Literary team and shortlisted writers will be invited to an interview to discuss their writing practice and their potential to benefit from the program a little further.
Eligible? Read the Frequently Asked Questions? You’re ready to apply! Applications for the Suzie Miller Award close at 5pm on Wednesday 15 November.
Suzie Miller
Suzie Miller is a contemporary international playwright and screenwriter drawn to complex personal stories often exploring injustice. Her plays have been produced in 40 productions around the world and won multiple prestigious awards. She has been commissioned by, or been in residence at theatres including London’s National Theatre, the National Theatre of Scotland, Griffin Theatre Company, Theatre Gargantua Canada and La Boite Theatre. In 2019, her drama Prima Facie premiered at Griffin Theatre Company. The play won the 2020 AWGIE Award for Drama, the 2020 David Williamson Award for Outstanding Theatre Writing and the prestigious Major AWGIE across all categories of theatre, film and television. Prima Facie enjoyed extraordinary acclaim in 2022, marking Suzie’s West End debut produced by Empire Street Productions and starring Jodie Comer before transferring to Broadway in 2023. In 2023, the production had three Tony nominations and won the Tony Award for Best Actress (Jodie Comer); it had four Olivier nominations and won the Olivier Award for Best New Play (Suzie Miller) and Best Actress (Jodie Comer), and won the What’sOnStage Award London for Best New Play. Prima Facie has been translated into 20 languages. Other theatre credits include: for Sydney Theatre Company: RBG: Of Many, One; for Griffin: Caress/Ache; for Griffin Independent: Sunset Strip; for Black Swan State Theatre Company: DUST; for La Boite: The Mathematics of Longing, Medea; for Performing Lines WA: Overexposed; for Perth International Arts Festival: Driving Into Walls, OneFiveZeroSeven; for Queensland Opera: Snow White; for Ransom Theatre Northern Ireland & Seymour Centre/Riverside Theatres: Transparency. Other international credits include: for Assembly Rooms for Theatre 503 (UK): SOLD; for the Cherry Tree Theatre (USA): Reasonable Doubt; for the National Theatre of Scotland: Velvet Evening Séance; and for Theatre Gargantua (Canada): The Sacrifice Zone. Among other awards, Suzie has been awarded the Kit Denton Award for Writing with Courage in 2009, the 2018 Griffin Award, the NY Fringe Festival Overall Excellence Award for Outstanding Playwriting, the AWGIE for Radio Playwriting, Inscription (and a mentorship with Edward Albee in 2006 and 2009) and more. Most recently, Suzie has written a feature film adaptation of Prima Facie for Bunya Productions and Participant Media in the US, with Cynthia Erivo to star in and serve as Executive Producer.
