One of the best things about the Australian community in New York is that it's not just business visas and finance jobs. There's a thriving creative scene of Australian actors, writers, directors, and producers doing incredible work on stages across the city — and the Australian Theatre Festival NYC has been championing that work for years.
The festival just announced the winner of its 2026 New Play Award, and it's a big one. Danny Ball takes home the prize for La Malattia, a play about an Italian-Australian family in rural Australia dealing with violence, exile, and the weight of choices made a generation earlier. The runner-up is Grace Wilson's BOGQUEEN, set in drought-stricken Cunnamulla and centering on a woman determined to become the town's first drag king. Both are distinctly, unapologetically Australian stories — and both are getting a platform in New York because of it.
The New Play Award is now in its seventh year and has become an incredibly important pipeline for Australian playwrights trying to get their work seen internationally. Past winners have gone on to full productions at Sydney Theatre Company and won major Australian literary awards. The prize itself is substantial: $15,000 USD, development support, a staged reading in New York, and a publishing commitment. It's the kind of opportunity that can change a career trajectory.
For anyone in New York who wants to support Australian creatives doing work outside the usual expat circles, the Australian Theatre Festival NYC is worth knowing about. Here's the full announcement.
The following is a press release from the Australian Theatre Festival NYC.
Australian Theatre Festival NYC announces Danny Ball as the Winner of the 2026 New Play Award for ‘La Malattia’. Grace Wilson named Runner-Up for ‘BOGQUEEN’.
Winner receives $15,000 USD, New York staged reading, development support and a publishing opportunity.
Co-Artistic & Executive Directors Mark Barford & Connor Delves announce Danny Ball as the winner of the 2026 New Play Award for ‘La Malattia’.
Grace Wilson named runner-up for ‘BOGQUEEN’, in what is the 7th edition of the award.
The award is generously sponsored by Shane & Cathryn Brennan.
‘La Malattia’ by Danny Ball – WINNER
As Winner, Danny Ball will receive a cash prize of $15,000 USD, development work with Co-Artistic Director Mark Barford, a publishing commitment from Playlab Theatre, and be presented as a staged reading as part of the Australian Theatre Festival NYC (conditional upon ability to appropriately cast NY based Australian actors).
An Italian family in rural Australia is torn apart when their son Aurelio forms a relationship with a troubled boy, leading to violence and exile. Years later, Aurelio is missing, the land is failing, and the family are forced to confront the past and the cost of their choices.
Danny Ball is an actor, playwright, screenwriter and acting coach. A NIDA Acting graduate (2016), his theatre credits include work with Malthouse Theatre, Belvoir St Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Bell Shakespeare, Queensland Theatre, The Old Fitz and La Mama. His debut play The Italians premiered at Belvoir 25a to a sold-out, critically acclaimed season. His play Scab won the ATYP Foundation Commission, and he is currently developing La Malattia through Sydney Theatre Company’s Watershed: Writers program.
‘BOGQUEEN’ by Grace Wilson – RUNNER-UP
As Runner-Up, Grace Wilson will receive $5,000 USD.
As Cunnamulla experiences its worst drought, Moddi knows she must act to save her new home. She wants to be Cunnamulla’s first drag king, BOGQUEEN, and fundraise for water and supplies. But changing tradition isn’t so easy. A community outrages, a drought worsens but nothing will stop the fire inside.
Grace Wilson is an emerging playwright living between Yidinji and Gadigal country. She was the winner of the 2022 Young Playwrights Award, and has been a finalist for the Patrick White Playwrights’ Award, Griffin Award, Queensland Premier’s Drama Award, QWC’s Stageable, shortlisted for the Martin-Lyscirates Prize, Young Playwrights Award 2021, and longlisted for the Griffin Award 2024, ATYP Foundation Commission and Queensland Premier’s Drama Award 2026. She is currently completing her MFA in Dramatic Writing at NIDA.
“We are thrilled to celebrate these two exceptional Australian plays as our 2026 Winner and Runner-up. Danny Ball’s ‘La Malattia’ is a haunting and deeply affecting work. Theatrical and Australian. A worthy winner that delivers a powerful punch.
Grace Wilson’s ‘BOGQUEEN’ is a bold and fiercely original play. Set against the harsh realities of drought-stricken rural Australia, it champions identity, resilience and community with hilarious Australian humour throughout.
We are proud to recognise Danny and Grace for their outstanding work, and extend our sincere thanks to Shane & Cathryn Brennan for their continued support of the New Play Award.” – Mark Barford & Connor Delves, Co-Artistic & Executive Directors
New Play Award alumni include 2025 Winner ‘The Flood’ by Dylan Van Den Berg, 2021 winner Lewis Treston’s ‘Hubris & Humiliation’, which has since received a production at the Sydney Theatre Company, receiving stellar reviews and lauded as ‘startlingly good’ (The Guardian, 5 stars) and 2022 winner Melissa-Kelly Franklin’s ‘Paradise Lost’ which also won the 2024 Jill Blewett Playwright's Award (South Australian Literary Awards).
About the Australian Theatre Festival NYC:
The Australian Theatre Festival NYC is a non-profit organization committed to showcasing the diverse and compelling narratives of Australian playwrights, performers, and creatives to New York City audiences. Through its annual festival and ongoing initiatives, the organization fosters cultural exchange and provides a platform for Australian talent on an international stage.
Contact: [email protected]
For more information visit australiantheatrefestival.com/2026newplayaward
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