Evolution Theatre Company is accepting submissions of original plays by New Zealand playwrights telling East Coast stories.

 

This year, we are accepting short plays that celebrate Ambitious Tairāwhiti Women.  Your play must:

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• Be completely original

• Authentically take place on the East Coast of the North Island

• Be no less than 15 and no more than 30 minutes long

• Focus on the achievements of women, specific or in general, in the East Coast area of New Zealand. 

 

We were inspired by a book called Ambitious Gisborne Women by Jean Johnston, which focuses largely on the women who lead the charge in voting, civil rights, and health care for women.  However, you are by no means limited to these topics, or these women.       ​​

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Successful authors will be supported with a staged reading of their work by seasoned actors. From the readings, we may choose to select a play to be workshopped and produced as a full-length play at Evolution Theatre Company. 

 

Competition Rules and Conditions:

• All submissions must be in by 11:59pm on July 1st, 2025. 

• Playwrights must be currently living in New Zealand.

• Play may be submitted in either English or Te Reo Māori. If submitted in Te Reo Māori, a full English translation must be provided with your submission.

• Plays must be submitted as PDF files, per the instructions provided.​

• Scripts will be reviewed and recommendations will be made by the Trustees of Evolution Theatre Company, and select members of the East Coast artistic community.

• Script acceptance for production will be at the sole discretion of Evolution Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, Dinna Myers. 

• By submitting a script, the author agrees to allow Evolution Theatre Company Trust full rights to perform any pursuant staged–readings and to the first public performance.

• There is a pool of $500 to be distributed evenly among the playwrights whose works that advance to the staged readings on the ETC stage. 

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Tips for a successful submission:

• Proofread your work carefully. 

• Format your work using a standard playwriting format provided for download.

• Your play is most likely to be successful if it has a clear beginning, rising action, climax, resolution of conflict, and a clear end. However, submissions that do not follow this formula will by no means be dismissed.  A story that is imaginatively told can sometimes be more powerful.