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 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 4 April 2025 and perform the play on Saturday 5 April 2025
• All successful plays and monologues must be able to be performed (cast and crew) on Saturday 5 April 2025.

Refer to the One Act Play Festival Entry Terms and Conditions(PDF, 479KB)  for further details.

• Submission of plays will be open from 8 October to 13 November 2024.
• The entry into the Festival is free.
• Entries will be accepted only if submitted online using the official entry form.
• All submissions are to be received online, using the Smarty Grants application form.
• A copy of the script (single-sided) must be uploaded prior to submission the entry form. All pages are to be numbered.
• No entries will be accepted if delivered by hand, email or post. Entrants requiring support to complete the entry form must contact Council staff by phone or email [email protected] by 12 noon AEST, 13 November 2024.
• Extension of the closing date or acceptance of late entries for the One Act Play Festival will be only at the Event sponsors discretion.

The Dress Rehearsal will be held at Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba on Friday 4 April 2025. Time TBC.

The One Act Play Festival performance is on Saturday 5 April 2025.  

The One Act Play Festival is held in a competition format, with a total prize pool of $1900 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 5 April 2025.

For any submission enquiries contact Council staff by phone or email [email protected] by 12noon AEST, 13 November 2024.