2026 Date Announced

THE MAGIC OF LIVE THEATRE, PLUS THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC VOTE!

ABOUT THE MARTIN-LYSICRATES PRIZE

The annual Martin-Lysicrates Prize, first awarded in 2017, celebrates the best new Australian writing in theatre for young people. At the heart of the Martin-Lysicrates Prize are young people and their worldview. Young people are the inspiration and intended audience of this unique commission; as well as key participants in the process of awarding the annual Prize.

The inspiration for the Martin-Lysicrates Prize is the Great Dionysia Ancient Greek theatre festivals where the city of Athens stopped, spirited audiences converged, new plays were watched, and the people effectively chose their annual award-winning playwright. The Martin-Lysicrates Prize honours past tradition and today’s young people by weaving democratic ideals and new cultural experiences together. 

The Martin-Lysicrates Award is a genuine endeavour to inspire new stories and support playwrights to develop original scripts ready for production consideration. Along with a full commission, the winner enters a dramaturgical process, providing a fantastic opportunity for a playwright to work with a dramaturg from Australia’s leading producer of new works for young people. 

THE 2026 PRIZE

You are invited to submit the first 10-12 minutes of a new play for young people aged 12 – 15 years. The play must be able to be performed by no more than 4 actors (actors can perform multiple roles). Actors can include adults and young people.

Following a short-listing process, three scripts are presented to a live and online audience of school students of the relevant age. It is the audience of young people who judge which play is awarded a full commission.

Prizes are awarded as follows:

●       On the day, the most votes from the audience in the theatre plus votes of those watching via live streaming - $3,000 for the winner and $1,000 each for the runners-up.

●       Some weeks later votes are counted from audiences who have watched the recorded performances on our website from all over the world.

●       The combined votes from both 1) and 2) are counted and the overall winner receives a commission worth $12,000 and dramaturgical support to complete the play.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are now open and will close on Wednesday 6th May 2026 at 5pm.

To submit, please email hello@lysicratesfoundation.org.au with the subject line

YOUR NAME: PLAY TITLE (MARTN-LYSICRATES ENTRY) e.g. “MADELAINE NUNN: THE EXPERIMENT (MARTN-LYSICRATES ENTRY)”

We also need the following information:

Please attach 2 PDF’s:

PDF 1: Cover page

-       Cover page with play title and contact details (name, email, phone number, address).

PDF 2: Consolidated PDF

-       A synopsis (max. 300 words);

-       Proposed cast size and character information;

-       The first 10-12 minutes of your play for young people aged 12 – 15 years (approx. 10-12 pages).

Please note that the second PDF must exclude any identifiable contact details.

The shortlisted finalists will be announced by the end of May.

THEATRE FOR ALL

TEACHERS and PRINCIPALS

The 2026 event will be held on Friday 14th August 2026. To register your Expression of Interest for 2026 please email us at: hello@lysicratesfoundation.org.au with your school details and the number of students that will be participating.

Three new short plays specially written for 11 to 14 year olds compete for the kids’ votes. No sets, few costumes, no frills. Just brilliant actors reading from the original scripts, survivors of a tough selection process. Huge demands made on the kids’ imagination.

THE KIDS’ CHOICE!

Kids rule OK!  The Martin-Lysicrates Prize winner is chosen not by a panel of grown-ups, or an adult expert, but by the votes of the kids themselves.

Three finalists – new short Australian plays specially written for 11- to 14- year-olds.  No elaborate sets or costumes.  Just brilliant actors reading from the original scripts.  So kids have to use their imaginations.   They watch the three plays.  They shout, laugh, stamp their feet, wave their arms.  They make up their own minds which play should win the $15,000 Martin-Lysicrates Prize. 

If they’re watching in the theatre, they then file out and cast their first ever democratic vote.

If they’re watching the event in their classroom, the teacher counts the votes and emails them - they are still part of the overall vote.

If they watch the recording , at the end their teachers email their votes and they are still part of the overall vote!

Theatre + democracy + empowerment + fun = Magic!

Then they go off and write their own plays.  Or poems. Or stories.

And there’s a fabulous teacher’s kit to help teachers prepare for the event.

(And it’s all free).