National Play Festival 2016

Overview

Get up close and personal with some of Australia's most exciting playwrights at the National Play Festival this July. Described as a celebration of ambitious new playwriting, the annual event features readings, talks, workshops and masterclasses across four very dramatic days, catering to theatre lovers and aspiring writers alike.

Running from July 27-30 at the Malthouse Theatre, standout events on the NPF lineup include readings by prominent and up-and-coming writers, such as Melissa Reeves, Steve Rodgers, Emily Sheehan and Melodie Reynolds-Diarra. The talks program, meanwhile, will be headlined by a keynote address from living legend Michael Gow, along with a free late-night discussion on gender tropes in theatre titled Write Like a Man.

Anyone wanting to put pen to page themselves can also take part in Playwriting 101, a two-hour workshop that covers the basics of writing for the stage. That event is free too, but bookings are highly recommended.

Image: Stephen Godfrey.