Bold. Visionary. New.
The prestigious Griffin Award is one of Australia’s premier playwriting competitions.
Each year hundreds of playwrights enter to vie for the award and join the ranks of award alumni Angus Cerini, Debra Oswald and Suzie Miller whose win set Prima Facie on its remarkable trajectory to the West End and Broadway.
Join us for a Keynote from leading Australian playwright Leah Purcell (Black Chicks Talking, The Drover’s Wife) alongside readings from three exceptional award finalists. The winner of the 28th Griffin Award will receive a full commission thanks to the generosity of the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund.
The Griffin Award is generously supported by the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund.
Date & Time
Wednesday 21 May, 6.30pm – 7.45pm
Venue
Track 12, Carriageworks
Presented in partnership with Sydney Writers’ Festival
2025 Griffin Award Keynote Pricing
| Full | $30 |
| Concession | $20 |
Leah Purcell
Leah Purcell is one of Australia’s most admired and leading creatives. She has starred in some of Australia’s most iconic films, TV and theatre such as Lantana and The Proposition, Police Rescue and Wentworth, Stuff Happens and The Marriage of Figaro. Leah has also starred in, created, written, produced and directed some of our finest works that make up the First Nations Canon such as Box the Pony, Bran Nue Dae, Black Chicks Talking, Don’t Take Your Love to Town, The Story of the Miracles at Cookie’s Table, Is That You Ruthie?, The Drover’s Wife play and The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson film. Her latest drama High Country (Foxtel Sony TV USA/Curio Pictures) recently screened on BBC One in the UK where it won its opening night primetime slot with a 6M plus viewing audience. She was nominated for a 2024 LOGIE Award for “Best Support Lead in a TV Drama” for her outstanding work opposite Sigourney Weaver in The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Amazon Prime/Made Up Stories) and has also been nominated for a 2025 AACTA Award for “Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama” for High Country. She received an Order Of Australia in 2022 for her outstanding work in the Arts, Women and Youth especially in the First Nations space. At present, outside of her acting accolades and in her capacity as a writer/director/producer she is developing and pitching through her company Oombarra Productions premium series, film, and publishing projects such as I am Molly, Koa Kid, Is That You Ruthie? Promised and Moxie Girls. Leah Purcell is a proud Kuwa – Gunggari – Wakka Wakka Murri woman.
The Griffin Award is generously supported by the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund.
@griffintheatre