Stories Begin Here.
2025 Presented by Encounter.
In 2025, Encounter Theatre is excited to launch Stories Begin Here, an innovative program designed to inspire, educate, and support playwrights and dramaturgs from diverse cultural backgrounds across Western Australia.
This initiative offers five distinct streams tailored to writers at various stages of their careers, fostering a vibrant community of storytellers.
Collaborating with esteemed partners—including Black Swan State Theatre Company, The Blue Room Theatre, and Centre for Stories—Stories Begin Here brings together leading artists and communities to cultivate a dynamic culture of storytelling.
Stories Begin Here aims to build a vibrant, long-lasting culture of new writing in WA where diverse voices are not just heard, but celebrated. Through collaboration, mentorship, and community, we’re making space for powerful stories to emerge.
In partnership with Black Swan State Theatre Company, this stream supports four mid-career playwrights with seed commissions to explore bold new ideas. Writers will receive seed-funding to focus on their craft, with mentorship and artistic guidance throughout the development process.
Run in collaboration with The Blue Room Theatre, this workshop series welcomes emerging storytellers ready to explore the world of playwriting. If you identify as First Nations, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) or a person of colour (POC) and have a passion for storytelling — this is your moment.
Presented with the Centre for Stories, this gentle, inclusive space is open to anyone curious about writing. With weekly sessions designed to be flexible and supportive, participants can build confidence and creative skills at their own pace.
Play Reading is a community-based group that invites people to engage deeply with dramatic literature. Through shared reading and discussion, participants explore diverse voices and reflect on storytelling that resonates with lived experience.
Encounter Theatre will host a series of dynamic workshops and keynotes led by respected dramaturgs from across Australia and beyond. Sessions will be available online to ensure broad access and inclusive learning opportunities for storytellers and theatre makers, including those in regional areas.
Stories Begin Here is presented by Encounter with assistance from the Department of Local Government Sports and Cultural Industries.