The Max Afford Playwrights' Award is a biennial award dedicated to supporting young playwrights aged between 18 and 40.

An initiative of the late Thelma May Afford in memory of her husband, playwright and novelist Max Afford the award was established to:

• Help and give incentive to young playwrights
• Provide funds to enable young playwrights to further their education in the field of drama;
• Improve creative writing
• Improve the general publics appreciation of Australian drama and playwrights

Administered by Australian Plays Transform, and managed by Perpetual Limited as Trustee, the award invites playwrights to submit a full length, unproduced play to be considered. The play judged to have the highest merit is awarded a cash prize and supported play development, produced by APT.

In 2026, the biennial Award will be worth $33,000, split between a $15,500 cash prize for the winning playwright and a creative development in 2026, produced by APT.

Each applicant must fulfil the following conditions and requirements: 

• An applicant must be :
  • an individual between the ages of 18 and 40, at the close of entries date; and 
  • a resident of Australia during the four (4) years prior to the closing date for entries.
  • Based in Australia and available to undertake a development with APT before the end of 2026
• Submitted scripts must be:
  • of an original nature; 
  • a full length play of not less than one (1) hour duration; 
  • written in the last three (3) years
  • unperformed, not have been previously produced or have had workshop development, or a pubic reading. This rule will apply up to the time of the national script workshop.
  • not be scheduled for publication, development or production before December 2026

• Email: hello@apt.org.au