Sydney’s Griffin Theatre Company has named playwright and screenwriter Melanie Tait as the recipient of the 2026 Suzie Miller Award, awarding her a $30,000 commission and a two-year residency with the company.

Tait, whose stage works include The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race and The Queen’s Nanny, will develop a new play exploring medical ethics in brain cancer science. As part of the residency, she will also mentor emerging writers through Griffin Studio, serve as a judge for the Griffin Award and contribute to the company’s programming decisions.

Melanie Tait. Portrait © Sally Flegg

The award was established in 2024 by acclaimed playwright Suzie Miller in partnership with Griffin Theatre Company to support mid-career writers. Miller, whose works include Prima Facie, said Tait’s winning project stood out in a highly competitive field for its ambition and engagement with contemporary themes.

Said Miller: “Melanie’s play shows her taking exciting risks, ambitiously exploring contemporary themes and looking to forge a big career where she can work at her highest level. Being connected to the Griffin Theatre throughout the process I know will offer her world-class dramaturgy and development support. I look forward to working with her and supporting her work going forward.”

Tait described the award as a “huge honour”, citing Miller’s influence on her own practice and Griffin’s reputation as “the shining light of new writing in Australia”. She said she looked forward to challenging herself and creating a work that would resonate with audiences.

Griffin’s artistic director Declan Greene said the initiative addressed a gap in industry recognition for mid-career playwrights, praising Miller’s commitment to “risky, world-class Australian storytelling”.

In addition to the main award, playwright Vanessa Bates has received a one-off $17,700 commission to develop a new work examining the life and political impact of Junie Morosi.

The inaugural 2024 recipient, Mary Rachel Brown, is currently developing her work The Swap with Griffin.