PLAYWRIGHTING AND CREATIVE WRITING.
We are passionate about playwrighting.
At Play on Stage, we are big believers in giving young people the opportunity to tell the stories they want to tell. Our Brisbane playwrighting classes and programs have been crafted to provide the space and support for children and teen participants to let their imaginations soar!
Facilitated by experienced, published playwrights, we guide participants to create scripts that speak to their interests and are performance ready.
Regardless of a participant’s writing ability or experience, we believe that playwrighting and storytelling belongs to everyone and is a wonderful avenue for creative and personal expression.
Playwrighting Project
Play on Stage’s Playwrighting Project is the ideal opportunity for Brisbane children and teens to learn more about the craft of putting their ideas on paper and ready for performance.
This fortnightly program sees participants work with a professional playwright on the full creative process of building a script. From the initial conceptual phase through to drafting, editing, revising, and finally, performing, the Playwrighting Project is a comprehensive and engaging course designed for young writers.
The Playwrighting Project will return soon in 2025.
Our Youth Creative Writing Class
We are currently seeking expressions of interest for our creative writing class for upper primary-aged children and teens!
This exciting new class will provide an engaging and dynamic creative space for young people from Brisbane to put to pen to paper and see where their imaginations take them. It will also allow children and teen participants to learn about the art of writing across a variety of styles—including short stories, poetry, creative non-fiction, and so much more!
Let us know if your young person would be interested!
Send your your expression of interest.
Register your young person now
MEET OUR FACILITATING TEAM.
VIRAG DOMBAY - FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF PLAY ON STAGE
Hi, I’m Virag and I’m the Founder and Artistic Director of Play on Stage. One of my teaching philosophies is that the arts provide children with the tools for lifelong learning as well as a mean of expressing themselves in a way that can’t be achieved through traditional means of education. In my artistry, I strive to create works for both young people and mainhouse audiences that spark connections and reveal something new about the human experience.
My roles in arts education have included being the Director of Room to Play Kids (2021-April 2025), the Youth Performing Arts Workshops Coordinator for Brisbane Arts Theatre (2018-2021), as well as being a teaching artist for theatre companies such as Queensland Theatre and Grin and Tonic. I am also a drama and dance specialist teacher for Oakleigh State School and Rainworth State School.
Before founding Play on Stage, I operated under my my sole trader name ‘Virag Dombay Productions’ and have performed original works with young people in venues including the Brisbane Powerhouse, Metro Arts, Arcana and PIP Theatre. I’ve toured works with young people across South-East Queensland with the support of Brisbane City Council and frequently activate council spaces with youth voices.
My publications outside of Play on Stage, include ‘Dear Adults…’ (Playlab Theatre, 2023) which I co-wrote with Harry Fritsch and ‘Seasons of Love: A Collection of Short Stories’ (InHouse Publishing, 2021) which was a Finalist in the Next Generation Indie and Independent Publishing Awards in America.
At Play on Stage, I design each lesson plan with a plethora of opportunities for children to have the agency to express themselves about the world around them and to speak their truths as well as having a safe space to explore.
Qualifications: Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drama) with Distinctions and a Masters of Teaching from QUT.
JACK BARRETT - FACILITATOR
Hey hey! I’m Jack and I’m thrilled to be joining the Play on Stage team as a facilitator this year. I’m incredibly passionate about bringing drama to kids and though this is my first year teaching I am no stranger to bringing theatre to kids, having been the head of my school’s drama club in school and being heavily involved with many junior workshops in my post-school life with companies like LVBA and, of course, Room To Play Kids.
I recently graduated this past year from LVBA where I studied Musical Theatre 4 days a week, graduating while studying a Diploma of Musical Theatre. I have been working within community theatre groups while studying for the past 3 years since graduating Highschool having worked with many groups as a performer. Alongside my journey as a performer I’ve also gotten to tread the boards on the creative team as an assistant director with Play on Stage, working set and props and even writing scripts.
My ultimate favorite drama game is definitely Ninja! It just fuels that competitive spirit in me and I also think it’s the perfect balance of energy and focus that you need for a perfect drama game.
Qualifications:
BETHANY MOORE- FACILITATOR AND MARKETING MANAGER
Hi there! My name is Beth and I am so excited to be one of the facilitators for all year levels at Play on Stage.
I graduated from a 'Fine Arts: Film, Screen and New Media' Bachelors degree from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in 2022 and have since honed my craft and love for education through award recognised short films and music videos as well as working in tutoring and teaching positions. I love working with kids and teens alike and I am using my skills as a theatre loving film buff to bring a new flavour to the education programs. I grew up as a theatre kid and have lived through brilliant facilitators and hope to live up to their impact.
My favourite drama game is Bus Stop. It is a brilliant improvisational game that requires witt, cleverness and overall leads to so many laughs!
Qualifications: Bachelor Fine Arts: Film, Screen and New Media’ from QUT
YEMAYA NELSON - FACILITATOR
Hello! I’m Yemaya and I facilitate early and upper primary at Play on Stage.
I have a Bachelor of Arts majoring in music from UQ, and over five years of experience tutoring young people in various artistic fields, including music and creative writing. I love working with young people in the arts and getting to share my knowledge as well as create new knowledge with them. I believe that drama is a fantastic way to make friends and connect through collaboration, building community and creating fun!
My favourite drama game is Greetings because of the creativity and spontaneity it prompts, encouraging the participants to play off each other.
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts, majoring in music from UQ