Famous Playwrights from Australia

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List of notable or famous playwrights from Australia, with bios and photos, including the top playwrights born in Australia and even some popular playwrights who immigrated to Australia. If you're trying to find out the names of famous Australian playwrights then this list is the perfect resource for you. These playwrights are among the most prominent in their field, and information about each well-known playwright from Australia is included when available.

The list you're viewing is made up of many different people, like Nick Enright and Patrick White.

This historic playwrights from Australia list can help answer the questions "Who are some Australian playwrights of note?" and "Who are the most famous playwrights from Australia?" These prominent playwrights of Australia may or may not be currently alive, but what they all have in common is that they're all respected Australian playwrights.

Use this list of renowned Australian playwrights to discover some new playwrights that you aren't familiar with. Don't forget to share this list by clicking one of the social media icons at the top or bottom of the page. 
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  • Alec Coppel

    Alec Coppel

    Dec. at 64 (1907-1972)
    • Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
    Alec Coppel was an Australian-born screenwriter, novelist and playwright. He spent the majority of his career in London and Hollywood, specialising in light thrillers, mysteries and sex comedies. He is best known for the films Vertigo, The Captain's Paradise, Mr Denning Drives North and Obsession, and the plays I Killed the Count and The Gazebo.
  • Alex Broun

    Alex Broun

    Age: 58
    • Birthplace: Sydney, Australia
    Alex Broun (born 16 March 1965) is an Australian playwright and screenwriter, who has worked extensively with Short+Sweet, a series of theatre festivals for productions of ten minutes or less. Born in Sydney, Australia, he has been referred to as "the Shakespeare of short plays". Broun has had over 100 ten-minute plays produced in over 1500 productions in more than 40 countries globally, and his plays have been translated into many languages. He has also worked extensively as a Rugby journalist and served as Media Manager for the Springboks (1997-2000), the British & Irish Lions (2001), the Wallabies and the Melbourne Rebels (2007).
  • Alison Croggon
    • Birthplace: Transvaal Province, South Africa
    Alison Croggon (born 1962) is a contemporary Australian poet, playwright, fantasy novelist, and librettist.
  • Andrew Bovell
    • Birthplace: Kalgoorlie, Australia
    Andrew Bovell (born 23 November 1962) is an Australian writer for theatre, film and television.
  • Andrew Upton
    • Birthplace: Australia
    Andrew Upton (born 1 February 1966) is an Australian playwright, screenwriter, and director. He is the husband of actress Cate Blanchett.
  • Beejan Land
    Beejan Land (born 14 February 1989 in Paddington, New South Wales, Australia) is an Australian actor and award-winning playwright. He graduated from Newtown High School of the Performing Arts Beejan trained at the prestigious L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq joining alumni such as Geoffrey Rush, Julie Taymor, Ariane Mnouchkine, Yazmina Reza and Steven Berkoff. Beejan is also a graduate of ACTT's Talented Young Actors' Program, National Institute of Dramatic Art Acting and Playwrighting programs. He also trained at Australian Theatre for Young People.