MDo you have a story idea itching to be heard? Consider learning stage writing with Write Sparks 101. This course offers more than just the basics, providing professional development opportunities for performance writers in Far North Queensland and beyond.

JUTE, has been offering writing development courses since 1998. In 2016, we introduced Write Sparks, which has supported over 70 writers  explore their passion projects. Several writers from this program have seen their works produced:

• 2019: Sasi Victoire’s “Alice in The Antipathies” had its first professional production with JUTE, co-produced by JUTE and Masakini Theatre Company of Malaysia.
• 2020: Laurie Trott’s “To Kill A Cassowary,” an entertaining eco-warrior script, went into production and was remounted in March 2021.
• 2022: Two more works from Write Sparks program participants received productions: Sue Chamberlain’s hard-hitting political drama “Queenslander” and the working-class comedy drama “I is Maggie” by Dennis Macintosh and Saengthien Klamkaew.
• 2023: Marilyn Marsh-Booth’s powerful semi-autobiographical work, “Higher Faster Louder,” went into production.
• 2025: Amber Grossmann’s modern take on Hamlet’s girlfriend, ‘O,Ophelia’ premiered in Cairns and tour Queensland.

More new works from the Write Sparks program are under development in 2025 and 2026.

Join us for professional development and unleash your professional performance writing potential!

The 2026 Write Sparks 101 program will be open for submissions early next year. Want to be notified when the program dates are announced? Sign up to receive the JUTE newsletter in your email box!