Play entry frequently asked questions

• The One Act Play Festival is open to all to apply, including independent theatre artists, writers, directors, school, TAFE or University students and theatre groups both locally and nationally.
• Entrants can be of established or amateur status.
• Entrants who are over 12 years but under the age of 18 years must be registered by their parent or guardian or accompanied by their school.
• Employees of Lake Macquarie City Council, the judges, and members of their immediate families are not eligible to enter the Prize.

• All play or monologue entries must be complete, ready to perform, One Act Plays
• Plays must be at least 10 minutes in length and no longer than 20 minutes
• Monologues should be between five minutes and 10 minutes
• The play or monologue script must be a new, original work of the playwright and not adaptations of other plays
• The script must not have been published or publicly available for purchase or performance prior to submission
• The playwrights name or any identifying marks must not appear anywhere on the manuscript to ensure anonymous adjudication
• While there are no restrictions on subject matter, theme or style, plays must be suitable for performance in a community theatre to our local Lake Macquarie audience. Please carefully consider your use of profanity, slander, swearing or any language/comments that could be deemed inappropriate, offensive or defamatory within your script. Council may require revisions (in consultation) to ensure the performance is suitable for the audience
• The play or monologue performance needs to be suitable for the venue and work within the limitations set out below for sound, lighting, sets and props 
• All plays or monologue entries must have sourced actors (or the ability to source actors) with the availability to rehearse prior to, attend the dress rehearsal on Friday 5 April 2024 and perform the play on Saturday 6 April 2024
• All successful plays and monologues must be able to be performed (cast and crew) on Saturday 6 April 2024.

Refer to the One Act Play Festival Entry Terms and Conditions(PDF, 172KB) for further details.

• The entry into the Festival is free
• Entries must meet the 2024 One Act Play Terms and Conditions
• Submissions of play are open until 14 October 2023
• Entries are to be submitted online using the official entry form
• Entrants requiring support to complete the entry form or have any questions about the Festival can contact Council staff by emailing theatres@lakemac.nsw.gov.au.

The Dress Rehearsal will be held at Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba on Friday 5 April 2024. Time TBC.

The One Act Play Festival performance is on Saturday 6 April 2024.  

The One Act Play Festival is held in a competition format, with the following prizes on offer. a prize pool of $1900 will be awarded to the following categories:

Plays will be performed in front of a live audience and a panel of judges will assess the performances based on a series of criteria. Winners will be announced at the conclusion of the final performance on Saturday 6 April.

For any submission enquiries contact Council staff by phone or email theatres@lakemac.nsw.gov.au by 12noon AEST, 14 October 2023.