Griffin Lookout

What we’re looking for: 

• Text-based and full-length theatre pieces 
• Original Australian stories that advance social conversations and celebrate diversity 
• Teams of early-career artists (early-career is defined as being in the first eight years of creative practice or having less than two mainstage productions)
• Projects from teams based in Sydney
• An exciting idea, script, production that has an urgency to be told
• Projects that have an independent producer connected to the work

What we’re not looking for:  

• Live art or image-based work 
• Works with large casts and/or creative teams—No more than 15 personnel total working on the show
• Adaptations of non-Australian canonical work 
• Stories from outside the writer’s lived experience 

What Griffin Lookout offers: 

• Inclusion in Griffin Theatre Company’s 2026 Season 
• A stipend for production costs of $7,500 
• A Box Office split of 70/30 in the artist’s favour 
• Artistic and producing support
• Marketing support
• Box office support

Expressions of interest for Griffin Lookout 2026 are now closed.

What happens after I submit my EOI?
Your EOI will be assessed, then the shortlisted applications will be asked for more information and interviewed either in person or on Zoom.

Do I need a project budget or plan? 
This is a multi-stage application process but at the Expression of Interest phase we don’t require a budget from teams at this stage. If you progress past the interview stage you will be required to submit a draft budget.

Can I apply with ideas I’ve discussed previously with Griffin through the Griffin Award or Griffin Studio? 
Definitely! We love when our creative programs intersect and seeing how projects change and grow.   

Will I need to handle the marketing or box office requirements for the show? 
Griffin supports the Lookout producer through creative guidance and umbrella producing support for the Lookout producer. Marketing advice is provided by Griffin but expected to be managed by the Lookout producer. Publicity support is provided by our PR team, Kabuku PR, but managed by the Lookout producer. Griffin supports the Lookout producer in creation of a hero image for the season. Griffin manages the box office administration and sales.

Am I expected to fund the show off the stipend alone? 
We encourage producers to leverage the programming to confirm additional production funding. Griffin is committed to providing suggestions for appropriate grants for the project and offer letters of support. 

With the SBW Stables Theatre being renovated, where will the show take place? 
Griffin’s production venue for next year is still under wraps, but rest assured that intimacy will always be at the core of the Griffin experience, so the venue capacity will be reflective of this. 

Do I need a producer attached?
We strongly recommend that a producer is attached to a project before applying. If you think you have a very good idea but do not yet have a producer, please reach out to us before you apply and we can discuss further.