Blank Page
Supporting Western Australian playwrights to write for young audiences
About the Program
After a successful pilot in 2025, Barking Gecko Arts is excited to announce that the Blank Page program will return in 2026 with an even greater capacity to support West Australian Playwrights.
Blank Page is an emerging artist initiative designed to support playwrights who are currently working in or aspiring to enter the Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) space. This program provides both financial assistance and creative mentorship, enabling writers to nurture their ideas from the initial pitch to a first-draft script.
Barking Gecko Arts recognises that writing for young audiences requires a distinct skill set, one that demands dedication, guidance, and time—resources that are often in short supply. The Blank Page Program aims to bridge this gap by offering selected playwrights a small honorarium alongside tailored creative support. Through this initiative, Barking Gecko Arts seeks to foster the development of two Western Australian playwrights, encouraging the creation of new works that have the potential to be produced locally, nationally, and internationally.
Barking Gecko Arts is eager to collaborate with writers who are passionate about creating meaningful, imaginative, and engaging work for young audiences. Ideal candidates will be open to exploring new ways of working and willing to approach the creative process with courage, generosity, and joy.
For the selected playwrights, the honorarium is intended to alleviate some of the financial pressures associated with dedicating time to writing, while also providing structure, motivation, and creative momentum through clearly defined goals and deadlines. Creative support will be offered through meetings and feedback sessions with Barking Gecko Arts’ Artistic Director and Production Team.
At the conclusion of the program, all content created and intellectual property rights will remain with the playwright. Although participation in the program does not guarantee a fully realised staging of the work in Barking Gecko Arts' future artistic programming, Barking Gecko Arts will retain the first right of refusal to produce the play's premiere season.
For any questions about the program, please email Manager, Creative Pathways and Practice, Carla Nirella at creative@barkinggecko.com.au
Program Dates
Applications Open: Monday 25 May 2026
Applications Close: Friday 19 June 2026
Applicants Notified: Friday 3 July 2026
Successful Applicants Announced: Friday 3 July 2026
Program Begins: Monday 6 July
Treatment Due: Monday 3 August 2026
Notification of successful progression to stage 3: Monday 17 August
Dramaturgical Bible & First Draft Script: Monday 12 October 2026
Industry Reading: Mid November 2026 (Exact date TBC)
*All dates will be set to close of business.
Program Stages
Playwrights are invited to submit a one-page pitch outlining their idea, accompanied by a statement explaining their motivation for writing specifically for the Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) space, and their Curriculum Vitae, to Barking Gecko Arts. Two selected pitches will progress to Stage 2.
Your pitch should include:
- Title and 1-2 sentence tagline/logline
- Target audience and age range
- Short synopsis
- Themes and why this idea is relevant/important to young audiences
- Style, tone and theatrical approach
Please note that incomplete or late applications will not be assessed.
The selected playwright will develop a Treatment, which includes a five-page prose summary detailing the story from beginning to end, as well as a one-page justification of theatrical choices and styles used.
- Timeline: 4 weeks
- Support: Up to two note sessions with Barking Gecko Arts’ Artistic Director during development and one note session upon completion.
- Honorarium: $1,000
The playwright will develop a Dramaturgical Bible and a First Draft Script.
The first draft of a full script is to be completed by the end of the 8-week deadline (Monday, 12 October). The playwrights will have support from the Barking Gecko Artistic Director during this time. Whilst a first draft is not expected to be stage-ready (most new scripts need upward of seven drafts), the script should be ready for a read-through with actors.
The Dramaturgical Bible includes several key components to support the development of the play.
The Play Overview outlines the title, synopsis, premise, themes, and target audience. Structure & Narrative Elements provide a breakdown of the story arc, plot structure, genre, style, core conflict, resolution, and key takeaways. The Character Breakdown details character profiles and their developmental arcs. World & Theatrical Considerations explore the setting, time period, imagery,
theatrical devices, and technical requirements. The Artistic Vision Statement articulates the playwright’s intentions, connection to the audience, and key inspirations or influences.
Finally, if applicable, the Research & Context section provides historical or cultural background and explains the work’s relevance to Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA).
- Play Overview – title, synopsis, premise and themes, target audience.
- Structure & Narrative Elements – story arc, plot breakdown, genre and style, conflict, resolution and takeaway.
- Character Breakdown – character profiles and arcs.
- World & Theatrical Considerations – setting and time-period, imagery, theatrical devices, and technical considerations.
- Artistic Vision Statement – playwright’s intentions, connection to the audience and inspirations and influences.
- Research & Context (if applicable) – historical or cultural background and relevance to Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA).
- Timeline: 8 weeks
- Support: Up to three note sessions with Barking Gecko Arts’ Artistic Director, up to two discussions with the production team, and one note session upon completion.
- Honorarium: $4,000
- Industry Reading: will provide an opportunity for participants to engage with the work in a professional setting, offering valuable insights and feedback to support the script's development.
Outcome
At the conclusion of the program, the playwright will have developed a Treatment, Dramaturgical Bible, and a completed First Draft of a new work. Barking Gecko Arts will have the first right of refusal to produce the play; however, participation in the program does not guarantee a production. If Barking Gecko Arts chooses not to produce the work, the playwright will be well-positioned to pitch it to other producers or pursue self-production.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both emerging and established playwrights who are interested in writing for Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) are eligible to apply.
No. The program is only open to Western Australian residents.
Playwrights must submit an idea specifically suited to the Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) space. The target audience is ages 0-18, and works should be designed to engage, inspire, and resonate with young audiences.
No. At this stage, the program only supports individual playwrights.
No. Playwrights may only submit one pitch per application cycle.
- A total Honorarium (If successful for stages 2 &3) of $5,000 ($1,000 for Stage 2 and $4,000 for Stage 3).
- Creative mentorship from Barking Gecko Arts’ Artistic Director and Production and Engagement Teams.
- Structured deadlines to help develop the script from pitch to first draft.
- Industry Reading
Not necessarily. Participation in the program does not guarantee a production. However, Barking Gecko Arts will have first right of refusal to stage the completed work. Successful participants will be notified within two weeks of the industry reading as to any future developments of the work.
The Blank Page Program 2026 will select two playwrights to participate.
Yes. The playwright retains full ownership of their work, including all intellectual property rights.
Applicants will be informed of the selection decision by Friday, 3 July 2026. Due to the anticipated volume of applications, Barking Gecko Arts is unable to provide tailored feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
For any additional questions or to submit your application, please email Manager, Creative Pathways and Practice, Carla Nirella at creative@barkinggecko.com.au