From over 200 entries for the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award 2025, Jordan Shea has been announced by Queensland Theatre as the winner for his play Malacañang Made Us. The dramedy, which explores the tension between love and obligation, was chosen from three finalists, which also included David Burton’s The Good Dad and Steve Rodgers’ The Future is History.
Shea’s winning work will benefit from mentorship from renowned theatre makers, a $30,000 cash prize from Griffith University, and a $16,000 development fee ahead of its world premiere in Queensland Theatre’s 2025 Season. This follows similar steps to the winners of previous years, such as Drizzle Boy, which premiered in March 2023 and set for a regional tour in October.
Malacañang Made Us narrates the story of two Filipino brothers, Martin and Ernie, separated in 1986 during Ferdinand Marcos’s dictatorship and their reunion nearly 40 years later in Brisbane.
The judges commended the play for its ambitious and thought-provoking creativity, with the judging panel sharing:
Malacañang Made Us is epic in its theatricality. It reads like a global and historic conversation, but carries themes that will undoubtedly resonate with the world today. Shea has woven together many different stories, elevating under-represented voices, with it all centred around the power of ordinary people creating history and change.
The judges for the 2025 award included Isaac Drandic, Marcel Dorney, Dan Giovannoni, Courtney Stewart, and Lydia Miller. The Queensland Premier’s Drama Award is an initiative of the Queensland Government, delivered in partnership with Queensland Theatre and supported by Griffith University.
As one would expect for a major theatrical award, many statements from the Queensland Government, Queensland Theatre and other stakeholders were shared:
Congratulations to Jordan Shea on his exceptional work, which tells a brave and powerful tale, touching on themes of politics, identity, culture, and resilience. It’s a story inspired by Jordan’s own multicultural journey and one that many Queenslanders will be able to relate to, given the diversity of our community. I look forward to seeing Jordan’s thought-provoking play make its debut on the Queensland Theatre stage and thank everyone who has contributed their diverse storytelling to the Awards.
Steven Miles MP, Premier of Queensland
The Queensland Premier’s Drama Award proudly supports the development and presentation of powerful new works by Australian playwrights, creating compelling and diverse contemporary stories and strengthening Queensland’s position on the national theatrical stage. The Government’s investment in Queensland Theatre enables writers to develop and share their stories, create employment opportunities, and engage audiences delivering on our 10-year Creative Together strategy and its priorities of sharing our stories and celebrating our storytellers. As Queensland prepares to showcase our arts and cultures on the global stage of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, initiatives such as the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award help to grow opportunities and capacity for our creative talent.
Leeanne Enoch MP, Queensland Minister for the Arts
Since the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award launched in 2002, we’ve developed 39 new Australian plays, employing over 245 actors, writers and directors along the way, and gathered more than 52,000 audience members to see these plays on stage. This award magnifies the diverse playwriting talent we have in this country and we couldn’t be more excited to work alongside Jordan Shea to bring his powerful work in Malacañang Made Us to Queensland audiences.
Criena Gehrke, Executive Director of Queensland Theatre
Griffith University is delighted to once again support the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award. From what began with a production sponsorship with Queensland Theatre more than 20 years ago, we’re proud to play a role in seeing so many incredible productions and emerging talent realised, and we recognise that the continuation of live theatre in Queensland is vital.
Professor Scott Harrison,
Griffith University Pro Vice Chancellor (Arts, Education and Law), Assistant Vice
Chancellor (Cultural Curation and Community Partnerships)
