Queer Playwriting Award Showcase

Join us for a unique night at the theatre, and hear new queer writing from our 2025 finalists

Congratulations to the winner of the 2025 Queer Playwriting Award, Danish Sheikh @dansheikhed for his powerful play, Much to do with Law, but more to do with Love. This lecture-performance weaves the story of a queer lawyer’s fight to decriminalise homosexuality in India with personal reflections on growing up as an unapprehended felon. A big congratulations to all finalists for an unforgettable night of queer theatre! Danish’s work embodies the bold, urgent storytelling that continues to shape and amplify LGBTQIA+ voices. We’re excited to see these works grow and look forward to more boundary-pushing theatre!

Our top 4 finalists for the 2025 showcase were:

Norm Things by Jorja Bentley

It’s your first week at the new job, and April is ready to give you the 411 on office gossip, work drinks and the systems that fail us... you know, norm things. But beware - between a morning coffee and a tragedy, you'll be forced to ask - what should normal be? April is ready to tell all, so get ready for your induction.

Much to do with Law, but more to do with Love by Danish Sheikh

"Law". Alienating, incomprehensible, often violent, and for our narrator, the ultimate toxic lover. This lecture-performance intertwines a queer lawyer’s story of growing up as an unapprehended felon in India, with the legal battle to decriminalise homosexuality in the country. Through it all, he attempts to answer the question: What’s the point of trying to love the law, when the law won’t love you back?

White Christmas by Courtney Cavallaro

It’s Christmas Day. But it’s not just the birth and death of Jesus that a Mother and Daughter will front up to today. There’s far more in-house ones to come... White Christmas is a quippy, two hander black comedy that asks us what it means to Mother. To Mother queerly. To Mother a queer child. And was there any hope of doing it with grace, anyway?

Abi Is Missing by Sarah Bell

ABI is fifteen, living in Malabbin and wishing for elsewhere, when one day her parents report her as missing. Malabbin is every town, anywhere in regional Australia. Within minutes, the police have a second missing person case. A seasoned bushy, a man in his prime. Both apparently lost in the same area. Problem is, there are only enough volunteers for one search party. Abi is chosen. This decision has unforeseen and completely unintended consequences.

Abi Is Missing is proudly supported by Regional Arts Victoria.

Abi Is Missing is proudly supported by East Gippsland Shire Council through their Community Small Grants program.

Be the first to experience new work on stage, hear queer issues and voices, engage with new playwriting talent and have your say in the 2025 Award selection.