In some exciting news from Queensland Theatre, after shortlisting three young playwrights in November 2019, the recipient of the 2020-2021 Queensland Premier’s Drama Award has been announced.
After receiving over 220 entries, it has been confirmed that Brisbane writer Steve Pirie has been confirmed the winner with their piece ‘Return to the Dirt. This is described the Queensland Theatre as “a powerful — and gently humorous — meditation on what it means to die in the 21st century and what a final act of love can do for our healing”. With Pirie’s work confirmed as the recipient, work will be underway to take it into a professional production as part of Queensland Theatre’s 2021 Season. Pirie’s was selected ahead of fellow finalists Anna Loren for Comfort and Maddie Nixon for her work Binnavale.
Return to the Dirt introduces you to Steve, a struggling artist who — after a long stint of unemployment —finds work as a funeral director. The play, using Gen-Y wit and pop-culture homage, takes you through the realms of the dead and behind the closed doors of the Australian funeral industry. Return to the Dirt is a celebration of finding your place in the world, the power of personal redemption and humility at the end of all things.
The Queensland Premier’s Drama Award was first held in 2002, and over the years has had 31 professional productions created from it. Previous winning works include The Holidays by David Megarrity (2018–19), Rice by Michele Lee (2016–17), Oedipus Doesn’t Live Here Anymore by Daniel Evans (2014–15), Trollop by Maxine Mellor (2012–13) and Fractions by Marcel Dorney (2010–11).