Blank Page returns this year, supporting two Western Australian playwrights as they develop new ideas from pitch to first draft.
We received 19 applications, most of which were exceptional, making the selection process highly competitive. We are pleased to announce that Oliver Hughes and Sophie Minissale will join us for Blank Page 2026. In the coming months, they will each develop a treatment, a dramaturgical bible, and a first-draft script, working with our Artistic Director and production team.
Oliver is developing The Stranger, a play about a family who discovers a ghoulish, humanoid stranger living in their backyard treehouse. What begins as an inconvenience escalates as the stranger expands the treehouse, plays loud music at night, and takes their food. The family must ultimately decide whether to leave their home, coexist with their new neighbour, or stand their ground. Written for ages 7 to 12, The Stranger addresses colonisation, land rights, and perseverance in an accessible way for young audiences.
Oliver is an award-winning Noongar actor, writer, and performance maker. He trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in the Aboriginal Performance course and completed a Bachelor of Performance Making. His experience includes work with Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, and WA Youth Theatre Company (WAYTCo). His other credits include Out for the Count, Turder She Wrote, ASK, and Salted Pretzels. On joining the program, Oliver says, “I'm really excited to have the chance to develop this idea that I'm really passionate about, and to be guided along the journey is such a gift. There aren't many opportunities to work on developing full-length works, so this is a really exciting opportunity!”
Sophie is developing Band Practice. When their beloved all-ages venue, The Den, faces demolition, a dedicated group of teenage bandmates risks everything to save it. Some places are worth making a noise about. Band Practice is written for ages 13 and up.
Sophie is an award-winning producer, artist, playwright, and workshop facilitator. Her work has been performed at The Blue Room Theatre, The State Theatre Centre of WA, and several regional venues. She is a current member of FORGE, Black Swan State Theatre Company's writers' development group. Sophie served as Creative Coordinator for KickstART, the 2023 state-wide youth arts and culture festival run by Propel Youth Arts WA and facilitates playwriting and zine-making workshops for schools and arts organisations. She is also known as a photographer, RTRFM radio host, journal editor, and youth community development practitioner. Sophie says, “As a writer who has not been through a formal playwriting or theatre-making education, Blank Page provides me a direct opportunity for growth, industry recognition, and the chance to push my artistic boundaries. I understand my practice in arts and culture as a public service, and writing in the Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) space is a chance to honour the dignity and lives of young people who can experience barriers to participation in public life. This is a chance to celebrate those stories alongside an organisation committed to excellence in that endeavour."
Over the next few months, Oliver and Sophie will develop their scripts, culminating in an industry reading in November. We look forward to seeing the results of their work.
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