Melbourne Writers Theatre

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Melbourne Writers Theatre

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The Melbourne Writers’ Theatre was founded in October 1982 by a group of writers including Jack Hibberd, Jack Opie, Merle Thornton and others.

Established in 1982, Melbourne Writers' Theatre (MWT) is an arts charity that exists to support Victorian playwrights in the creation of their new stage plays and the development of their skills and careers. Its vision was to develop Australian plays and playwrights, with the goal of maintaining an Australian repertoire. In 1987, through the kind auspices of the Victorian Government, under the management of the Department of Conservation and the Environment’s Historic Buildings Council, the MWT was allowed the use of the former Carlton Courthouse, an attractive neo-gothic building adjacent to the site of the old Pram Factory in Drummond Street, Carlton. This building was converted into a small but versatile 80-seat theatre space. MWT lost their Government funding in 1995, at which time La Mama took over the management of the Courthouse as a theatre. Now, by arrangement with La Mama’s Liz Jones, we have a six-week season each year and use the space once a month for our script readings and workshops. MWT thanks La Mama for its ongoing support. Courtesy of melbournewriterstheatre.org.au/about/

07/11/2026

This is MWT playwright RON IRWIN. On Sunday 15th November from 11am - 1pm we'll be reading Ron's new play GRASPING in 'The Stage Door Readings' at Theatre Works. Describing his inspiration for this fresh new work, Ron says:

"I wrote ‘Grasping’ to explore the dynamics of male to male, inter-generational relationships. It is the story of MARK who is dreaming of the 1970’s and those days of freedom and excitement. He wants his youth back. He recruits his mate LEE to help him with the project ..."

Tickets for 'The Stage Door Readings' are $10, and you can buy yours online today or at the door on the day. See you there!
https://www.theatreworks.org.au/2026/stage-door-readings

04/11/2026

This is MWT playwright ALISON CAMPBELL RATE. On Saturday 14th November from 2pm - 4pm we'll be reading Alison's new play INSIDE STORIES in 'The Stage Door Readings' at Theatre Works. In describing this intricately woven story, a legacy to the playwright's great uncles Bert and Art who fought in WW1, Alison says: 'I wanted to tap into the idea that what we describe as 'my story' may have a genesis beyond us. It may rest upon someone else's story, or owe something to someone else's memories.'

Tickets for 'The Stage Door Readings' are $10, and you can buy yours online today or at the door on the day. See you there! https://www.theatreworks.org.au/2026/stage-door-readings

29/10/2026

This is MWT playwright FIONA CORKE. On Saturday 14th November from 11am - 1pm we'll be reading Fiona's first-ever full-length play as part of 'The Stage Door Readings' at Theatre Works. It's a striking and important new play called NET ZERO, and we'd love you to join us for its unveiling.

Tickets for 'The Stage Door Readings' are $10, and you can buy yours online today or at the door on the day. See you there!
https://www.theatreworks.org.au/2026/stage-door-readings

21/10/2026

Do you have a project that will be presented at a City of Melbourne venue in 2027? Until 29th October you can apply for a Quick Response Arts Grant of $5000. Receive the $ support you need to bring your new play or production to life! Find out more and apply today.

Assistance of $5000 for projects with a short turnaround time. These grants are available for individual artists and small to medium arts organisations.

14/10/2026

Tickets for THE STAGE DOOR READINGS are now on sale! Join us as the four plays written in this year's 'Page to Stage' program are unveiled at Theatreworks. Watch one reading, or be in the audience for all four to see:

Sat 14th Nov
11am 'Net Zero' by Fiona Corke
2pm 'Inside Stories' by Alison Campbell Rate

Sun 15th Nov
11am 'Grasping' by Ron Irwin
2pm 'Crab Love is Real' by Wren Wolfshorter

Tickets can also be purchased at the door on arrival. Tix $10. Everyone is welcome, and we'd love to see you there.

From Melbourne Writers’ Theatre comes this showcase of four brand new plays.

11/10/2026

From12th - 18th October, don't miss MWT writer, actor and comedienne extraordinaire Katrina Mathers in her 2026 Comedy Festival hit 'Anything but the Dyson and other Excellent Monologues'. It starts tomorrow!

Fresh from this year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Katrina Mathers brings her Golden Gibbo-nominated solo show about midlife mayhem back for a return season at the Melbourne Fringe. For one week only, Katrina brings her highly personal, part stand-up, part character performance series o...

09/10/2026

We are excited to welcome AKSANA HAIKO (pictured) as our 2026 international Playwright-in-Residence. Originally from Belarus, Aksana now lives in Kutaisi, Georgia. An accoladed director, actor and playwright, Aksana will be sharing both her theatrical knowledge and culture with us in three online workshops held on Monday 9th, 23rd and 30th November @ 6pm. To find out more, please visit the MWT EVENTS page. https://melbournewriterstheatre.org.au/events/

*** About AKSANA HAIKO ***

Aksana Haiko is an independent writer, playwright, and theatre director from Belarus, currently based in Georgia. For over two decades, she operated as the foundational director and scriptwriter of the independent Kryly Khalopa Theatre. Known for her pioneering work at the intersection of historical research, art, and technology, she was awarded the prestigious ICOMOS Prize in 2018 for cultural heritage projects.

As a multidisciplinary creator, Aksana specializes in documentary theatre, memory work, and the transformation of sensitive oral histories into raw, non-linear dramatic texts. Her current creative focus spans documentary poetry, travel reportages, essays, and autobiographical playwriting focusing on family history and mental illness. Following the forced closure of her theatre under state repressions, she relocated her creative practice to Georgia, where she continues to write and provide international educational workshops, opening up fresh creative pathways for transnational storytelling across borders.

01/10/2026

THANK YOU! to everyone who donated to 'Plays on Stage Day 2026' and a massive Thank You to our featured writers LEISA WHYTE, JENNIFER BEASLEY, KAT ADAMS & LOUISE HOPEWELL. We loved hearing your voices, thoughts and wisdom on the craft of monologue-writing.

I would also like to say Thank You to Sian Fernandez for creating and editing the writers' reels, and Sherridyn Monro for keeping them posted and rolling on Insta.

https://melbournewriterstheatre.org.au/plays-on-stage-day-2026/

30/09/2026

TODAY is Plays on Stage Day! Donations close at 8PM TONIGHT, and we'd love to receive yours. https://melbournewriterstheatre.org.au/plays-on-stage-day-2026/ Here playwright LEISA WHYTE talks about her process for writing a monologue.

With Plays on Stage Day we are raising funds for MWT's 3rd season of 'Metropolis Monologues', to be presented at Meat Market Stables from 19th - 24th March 2027. Your donation is tax-deductible, and will be used to pay our talented Actors at the industry rates they deserve! If you'd like to support the project, please DONATE TODAY via https://melbournewriterstheatre.org.au/plays-on-stage-day-2026/
OR email your $ pledge to [email protected]

1 OCTOBER | PLAYS ON STAGE DAY
Melbourne Writers' Theatre

Address

North Melbourne
Melbourne, VIC
3051

Website

http://melbournewriterstheatre.org.au/

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