Astra Nova

Astra nova can only exist with the wonderful support of the industry professionals who willingly give their time voluntarily to mentor each years emerging playwrighting cohort.

AD ASTRA means ‘to the stars’ in Latin, and our emerging playwrights division is called ASTRA NOVA, which means ‘new star’. This is a program that is in its early stages of development and we hope will become an integral part of all the great work Brisbane theatre companies are doing to foster our local stories and those who write them.

Each mentor chooses a work that resonates with them, and together with the playwright, they get the script ready for a table read with a local director and actors. Feedback is given to the writer from Ad Astra, the mentor and the creatives involved in the tabel read.

The team work together over the year to bring the play closer towards being stage ready so as to give it the best chance of success. The mentor designs the program that they will undertake for this. At the end of the year all four plays are performed without a full set, basic lighting and sound vying for the chance to be one of two plays chosen to open the season in Pluto.

THIS YEARS WINNERS

THIS YEARS WINNERS *

HISTORY AND FUTURE

Astra Nova has, in the past, produced a play most years including Jingle Bells Sucks and Jingle Bells Sucks Baubles and Why Men Run at 2am which have been successful additions the Ad Astra season. Our touring division, Satellite, produced an interactive theatre experience called Baedeker performed at the bar with the same name, written by an Astra Nova champion, to kick off a thriller movie screening.

The new Astra Nova program started with a group of four playwrights and four mentors who were working towards being in the first ever Astra Nova showcase in 2025, but sadly, our beautiful theatre was closed before this could take place. We are excited to announce that they will be opening our 2026 season in Pluto and each year we will be doing the same. Below you will find the mentors who have been so wonderful and the playwrights they have worked with. Ad Astra and the playwrights would also like to thank the directors and actors that also gave their time to help these stories develop. IT is truly inspiring to see so many Queensland creatives support each other to create fabulous works for audiences to enjoy.

If you are an Australian and have a play that you would like to submit to Astra Nova for consideration in its next intake for this year - please email submissions @adastracreativity.com.

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