Edge Events
THE 2026 PROGRAM
ONLINE WORKSHOPS
Edge Performance Writers have created a series of outstanding online workshops for our 2026 Program and are delighted this year to open these sessions to anyone who is keen to advance their playwriting or storytelling skills.
You’re welcome to attend one, some, or all of the workshops and join us in developing your playwriting skills. They are a rare opportunity to learn from these highly experienced theatre artists.
There are limited tickets available for the public so get in early to secure yours. If you miss out, you can join the waitlist.
Ticket prices and booking link are listed with each workshop. Prices have been kept low to make the workshop as accessible as possible to all writers.
Creating a Solo Show
CAROLINE HORTON
Sunday 22 MaRCH, 5:30pm-8.30pm (AWST), Online.
Caroline will share the techniques that have informed her extensive playwriting career and created her solo theatre shows. This workshop includes exercises to develop your writing, characters, design ideas, form and structure as you think about the world of your solo theatre performance. There will also be a chance to ask questions.
Caroline Horton is an Olivier Award nominated theatre maker, and is a past Creative Fellow at Birmingham University’s Shakespeare Institute. She was BBC Birmingham’s first Writer in Residence, working across radio and TV dramas produced in that city, has written for multiple BBC series, and regularly mentors emerging theatre makers and companies. Her work has been performed in the UK and internationally, touring to studio theatres, festivals, conferences, schools and village halls including: The Traverse, Edinburgh; Battersea Arts Centre, The Yard & The Bush in London; Push Festival, Vancouver and the Adelaide Fringe.
She has adapted this inspiring session specifically for Edge Performance Writers, and will teach us from her home in the UK.
“Comes perilously close to genius and announces Horton as a major, major talent.” Time Out
Tickets are $60 General Admission, $40 Unwaged (+ booking fees) from TryBooking.
There are limited tickets available for the public so get in early to secure yours. If you miss out, you can join the waitlist.
IMAGE: Ed Collier
Turning Talk Into Drama
ALANA VALENTINE
Sunday 17 May, 10.00am-12.15pm (AWST), Online.
Verbatim theatre uses the words of real life participants as the dialogue of performed work. How do writers and devisers choose what material to use?
Join award-winning playwright, screenwriter, librettist, and director Alana Valentine as she unravels the initiating and dramatic premises of verbatim plays, and demonstrates that archival dialogues contain many compelling themes that dramatists can explore.
Alana is widely known for Letters to Lindy, performed in 2025 by Melville Theatre Company. Among her numerous awards are the Helpmann Award for Best Musical and Best Original Score, an AWGIE Award for her narrative poem Notre Dame, as well as numerous Green Room Awards in a prolific career that includes writing and directing for stage, screen and radio. She currently has three plays on the NSW HSC Syllabus.
Alana has adapted this workshop specifically for Edge Performance Writers and will be providing an opportunity to ask questions.
Tickets are $60 General Admission, $40 Unwaged (+ booking fees) from TryBooking.
There are limited tickets available for the public so get in early to secure yours. If you miss out, you can join the waitlist.
In Conversation With
CIELLA WILLIAMS
Sunday 12 July, 1:00pm-3:00pm (AWST), Online.
In this two-hour interactive discussion, award-winning theatre-maker Ciella Williams will speak about her development and motivations as a professional playwright, director, and dramaturg, and explain how the collaborations between theatre creatives evolve when mounting a production. Ciella will also introduce some writing exercises, and answer questions on any aspect of her presentation.
Ciella is a playwright, dramaturg, performer and director based in Darwin. She is a commissioned and performed playwright published online by Playlab. She ran the ATYP Fresh Ink program for young NT playwrights for three years and is currently the dramaturg for COLLIDE, a new physical theatre work by Tania Lieman. She has performed for all major Top End performing arts companies, and has recently directed Highway of Lost Hearts by Mary Anne Butler for Brown’s Mart Theatre.
This is an excellent opportunity for emerging playwrights to appreciate what it takes to get their work off the page and onto a professional stage, and to understand how other creative personnel (directors, designers, costumiers, AV techs) can engage with and elevate the possibilities of a script.
Tickets are $40 General Admission, $30 Unwaged (+ booking fees) from TryBooking.
There are limited tickets available for the public so get in early to secure yours. If you miss out, you can join the waitlist.
A fourth workshop
We’re currently discussing one more 2026 Program workshop with an experienced theatre artist. If you’d like to hear more about that once it’s finalised, let us know here.
Huge Edgie thanks to:
All our actors and directors
Stirling Players for their generosity in the use of their theatre for the night
Barry Fitzgerald, Mike Misak, Lydia Hart and Liz Flanigan for a delightful supper
Nannup Ridge Wines for their scrumptious wine
Kerry Quake and Barry Fitzgerald for superb front of house
Julia Jarel and Fiona Blakely for their expert directing and Julia’s fabulous last-minute sound effects
Liz Flanigan and Margaret Fitzgerald for their beautiful scripts and direction and for producing this event
SPRING SHORTS PLAY READINGS, 2025
Collaboration with Stirling Players
An evening of rehearsed readings of brand new plays by two Edge playwrights.
Thank you to all the wonderful cast, crew and audience who took part. Four original WA plays were read with great enthusiasm and skill by 21 actors from 13 to 80 years old, directed by Edge members. With just one rehearsal and a run-through on stage, they hit the boards and did us proud.
It Takes a Village, written by Margaret Fitzgerald and directed by Julia Jarel.
Cast: Zari Dennison, Christine Nichols, Zavier Wileman.
Merry Crisismas, written by Margaret Fitzgerald and directed by Fiona Blakely. Cast: Lily Williams, Lyra Telfer, Lis Hoffman and Andrew Hart
Louisa, The Dawn and The Vote, written and directed by Margaret Fitzgerald. Cast: Rosemarie Helmerand, Jane Sherwood, Cathy Parr, John Shrimpton, and Tarun Dangwal.
Snapshots, written and directed by Liz Flanigan.
Cast: Eden Jeong, Janet Brandwood, Emilia Lawonski, Leila Le Map, Alex Williams, Nita Teoh, Sara Susanne Jacks, Gerard F Rosman, Enzo Cola.
Edgies Fiona Blakely, Liz Flanigan,
Margaret Fitzgerald and Julia Jarel.
NANNUP PLAYWRITING RETREAT, 2025
Edge members thank Margaret and Barry Fitzgerald for their warm and generous hospitality in providing the magnificent venue and program for our Playwriting Retreat in Nannup where members developed their current scripts.
Seen here are Edge members James Forte, Michael Bresnahan, Ian Rotheram, Margaret Fitzgerald, Tammie Reid and Fiona Blakely who worked on their current plays at writing and directing workshops over two days - while soaking in the sunshine and glorious scenery for added inspiration.
We're looking forward to hearing their next drafts and seeing them all come to the stage.
Edgies at the Nannup Playwriting Retreat
Edgies on their way to a session in the writing studio.
Edgies hard at work at the first workshop.
EDGE SHORTS, 2021-2022
This program of online and in-person workshops and readings was an initiative of Edge Performance Writers and Short+Sweet Perth to create opportunities for WA playwrights to develop their skills and have their work performed.
The full program was designed to develop ten-minute scripts for Short+Sweet 2022 ready for it to be offered to directors. Participants enjoyed a rare opportunity to learn from these highly experienced theatre artists.
After the workshops we held two script readings: the first for anyone developing a Short+Sweet script, the second for Edge Performance Writers members to receive a second reading and feedback on their Short+Sweet script and to offer it to our invited directors to perform at Short+Sweet Perth 2022.
THE PROGRAM
WORKSHOPS
1. TEN-MINUTE PLAY WORKSHOP with Alex Broun,online
Inspire participants to write a ten-minute play, by acknowledging and embracing their own inherent stories and natural creativity, and then inform them with the basic techniques and tools to write the play. By the end of the workshop all participants will hopefully have a number of ideas for a ten-minute play and then using this information, including handouts, they will then have the tools required to write the play.
2. FUSION PLAYWRITING WORKSHOP with Hellie Turner,online
It is the mindful fusion of a number of elements that produces dynamic well-made stories for theatre.
In her 3-hour workshop Hellie will impart her particular take on the essential/critical elements of playwriting ... especially for new and emerging writers.
This workshop will focus on further development of your playwriting skills and includes exercises for the participants. It's recommended that you bring your ten-minute play idea or draft script if you're currently working on one. This workshop is also suitable for those at an early stage of their writing.
3. An Authentic Voice PLAYWRITING WORKSHOP with Vivienne Garrett
online
This workshop will focus on the craft of storytelling, character development, themes, finding the character’s unique voice, writing in the present tense, and plot development and twists.
SCRIPT READINGS
4. PLAY READING,ONLINE
The Spook by Melissa Reeves is the set text for the An Authentic Voice workshop on Sunday 12th September.
5. DRAFT SCRIPT READINGS,ONLINE
Readings of plays being developed for submission to Short+Sweet Perth 2022 by participants of one or more of the Edge Shorts workshops are invited to bring their draft script for feedback from the participants.
6. FINAL SCRIPT READINGS, with invited directors
IN PERSON, full day, SUBIACO ARTS CENTRE.
Readings of performance-ready scripts of the plays developed for submission to Short+Sweet Perth 2022. Participants are invited to bring their final script for reading to directors intending to select a play for the Short+Sweet Perth 2022 festival. This session is only for participants of at least one Edge Shorts session.
THE PRESENTERS
ALEX BROUN
Often referred to as the ‘Shakespeare of short plays’, Alex is one of the world’s most-produced 10-minute playwrights, with over 150 different 10-minute plays produced in over 2,000 productions in over 40 countries. His play 10,000 cigarettes has been performed over 300 times. His plays have also been translated into many languages, including Arabic, and published around the world. His website, www.alexbroun.com, has had over 35 million hits and has reached #2 in a Google search for ‘ten-minute plays’.
A former winner of the Sydney Theatre Company’s Young Playwrights’ Scheme, an Inscription Script Award winner, and AWGIE nominee, playwright and screenwriter Alex Broun is a graduate of both the NIDA Playwrights Studio and the Australian Film Television and Radio School. As a screenwriter, Alex has twice received funding from Screen Australia as well as having numerous short screenplays filmed.
Alex has also worked extensively with Short+Sweet, including as Festival Director in Sydney and Melbourne and Artistic Director of the inaugural Short+Sweet Singapore. He launched Short+Sweet festivals in Brisbane, Auckland, Delhi, Rockhampton, Bangalore, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. He currently serves as the Literary Manager for Short+Sweet International.
HELLIE TURNER
Hellie is a prolific, veteran, West Australian playwright and director. She has written for all sectors of theatre. She was resident playwright/director for independent ‘kompany M’ theatre ensemble 2005-2010, where her work attracted a number of tours and artist-in-residence at Black Swan State Theatre Co during 2015 and 2016.
She teaches playwriting craft and mentors young theatre makers. Along with a range of independent productions, her freelance work has involved various commissions and/or productions with Perth’s major theatre companies.
Her awards include winning the WA Premier’s Book Award twice, winning the inaugural Maj Monologues, inclusion in the National Playwrights Festival, an AWGIE nomination, runner-up for the Richard Burton Award, her work was showcased in New York then shortlisted for Theatre 503 in London and also showcased at the International Playwrights Festival in London. Her adaptation The Lighthouse Girl, first performed in Albany, received an extended sell-out season with Black Swan State Theatre Company.
VIVIENNE GARRETT
Vivienne is a sought-after theatre, film and television actress, voice artist, theatre director, acting and voice coach who has won numerous stage and screen acting awards. She has worked with most of the major theatre companies in Australia including Black Swan State Theatre Company, studied Voice and Shakespearean text at Simon Fraser University in Canada, and has taught Stage and Screen Acting, Voice and Theatre studies at the Australian Film and Television Academy, Fremantle Television Institute, NIDA’s open program, and at WAAPA, ECU and Notre Dame universities.
A NIDA graduate with a BA in Dramatic Arts and Post Graduate studies in Voice, she has won WA’s Award for Best Female Actor, was nominated three times, and has won Best Female Supporting Actor. Her TV career spans four decades, including as a company member of the celebrated Rex Cramphorns Performance Syndicate working with internationally acclaimed Jerzy Grotowski and his company.
Vivienne has performed in many Australian plays, as well as starring in and producing two one-woman shows. Her directing credentials include several plays and over 20 short stories for ABC Radio national.
Edge collaborated with local artists and venues
to create micro theatre performances of our plays.
SELL US A STORY, BUSSELTON FRINGE 2021
March 2021
Short stories by WA writers about an object with little or no apparent value were read by local actors then auctioned along with their object to a Busselton Fringe audience. The idea was to see how creating a story can add value to something. In spirited bidding, not only was every story sold, but we also raised enough money for five youth theatre scholarships in Busselton.
SOUTH-WEST SHORTS 2020
August 2020
The first theatrical performance at the Margaret River HEART theatre after Covid-19 restrictions lifted was the sell-out South-West Shorts 2020 event. The six finalists’ plays were also broadcast live online across Australia and into the UK.
The 2020 theme was ‘Look on the Funny Side’.
SOUTH-WEST SHORTS 2019
July 2019
The six finalists from the 2019 South-West Shorts event were performed to a sell-out audience at the new HEART black box theatre in Margaret River on Saturday 18th May and published in the South-West Shorts 2019 anthology.
The 2019 theme was ‘Changing Landscapes’.
THE CIRCUIT, BUSSELTON FRINGE 2019
February 2019
The Circuit took audiences on a journey around the ArtGeo Complex in Busselton to four different locations where Edge writers’ original short plays were performed. Each ten-minute story depicted a tale of life in the region.
The first play was staged in the original 1860 Courthouse, the second was filmed and shown in a pop-up cinema outside the old Fodder Room, the third was performed on the steps of the Stables, and the fourth performed after a short walk through the historic buildings to the lawns where champagne was served for the final performance.
A hit of the 2019 Busselton Fringe, The Circuit was a sell-out event.
TALL TALES STORYTELLING WORKSHOP
January 2019
Presented by Ocean Edge Performance Writers, participants to this inaugural summer school workshop brought a five-minute story or concept to the first session, where they were taught the physicality of telling a story before an audience and the basics of live storytelling to help them shape a story that resonates with their audience. They had one week to develop their piece before performing it for a live audience who were invited to share this experience with the performers through their witness of this first performance and by providing feedback to each writer.
BUSSELTON REPERTORY COMPANY SOIREE
November 2019
Busselton Repertory Company invited Ocean Edge writers to join them for a Friday evening soiree so we could meet their actors and directors and know more about who’s who in the club. Several readings of Ocean Edge writers’ short plays were performed on stage at the The Weld after a relaxed glass of wine and a mingle. New relationships were formed along with some of the outstanding talent in this club.
SOUTH-WEST SHORTS 2018
March 2018
Writers were once again invited by Western Edge to create a short play about life in WA’s south-west. The 2018 theme for the competition was “Stranger in a strange land”.
The six finalists’ plays were performed by actors from the Busselton Repertory Club and the Margaret River Theatre Group at a rehearsed reading at Caves House in Yallingup on Sunday 25th March 2018 and published in the South-West Shorts 2018 anthology.
SOUTH-WEST SHORTS 2017
March 2017
Writers from the City of Busselton, the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, and the City of Bunbury were invited by Western Edge in Perth to join them in writing a short, original monologue or duologue about life in WA's south-west.
Six finalists - three from the south-west and three from Perth - were chosen. The six winning authors workshopped their scripts with the director before having their play performed at a rehearsed reading at Rivendell Winery in Yallingup on Sunday 26th March 2017, where the audience voted for the People’s Choice Award and the Judges Award was also presented.
The competition gives West Australian playwrights an opportunity to develop their work with other local writers, to broaden their network within the industry, to have their work performed by a live audience and to be published. This is a valuable asset to a playwright’s career, particularly for an emerging writer.
All six plays are published in the South-West Shorts 2017 anthology. Copies have been distributed to the National Library in Canberra, The State and Battye libraries in Perth and to local bookshops and writers events.