Do you have an original and inventive play written to inspire and excite young audiences? Whether you are a young person or a senior writer, the age of the audience is what counts. Your play might be written for adults to perform to children, or for young actors to perform themselves. It might be created specifically for the classroom by a teacher, or by students themselves.

There are three categories, and a winner will be awarded in each category.

These are:

3–8 years,

8–12 years,

or written for teenagers.

We strongly recommend that when playwrights are including stories or characters in their plays that are not of the playwright’s own culture (e.g. te ao Māori or Pasifika), that they consult with the relevant community at the earliest possible stage of writing. Submissions can only be entered into this competition once and you may enter a maximum of three scripts. Plays entered under this competition may have been previously produced.

All submissions are read blind by the judges.

The judges’ decisions are final. Submit here. Submissions close annually on 1 August.