Standing Strong – our theme for the Drama NSW 2026 State Conference highlights our collective and collaborative power as Drama educators and practitioners. In times of change, we take this opportunity as a professional association to highlight our capacity to work together and rely on each other to hold our ground, and advocate for our subject, our students, and each other. 

Our 2026 conference will be a chance to highlight and celebrate the depth of knowledge we hold about our shared practice, and highlight that practice within our own community. We are excited for all presenters and industry partners to use this conference as an opportunity to share something new and responsive to the current zeitgeist – with a focus on helping our members and conference attendees to stand strong.

Drama NSW 2026 Conference highlights include:

Jonathan Ware
Keynote Speaker – Saturday 23rd May

Jonathan Ware is Literary Manager at Sydney Theatre Company, where he drives the development of an expansive slate of works for the stage. Recent projects include The Shiralee by Kate Mulvany, The Talented Mr. Ripley by Joanna Murray-Smith, Into the Shimmering World by Angus Cerini (shortlisted for NSW and Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards), and projects for Season 2026 including Strong is the New Pretty by Suzie Miller and Bennelong in London by Jane Harrison.
Dramaturg credits include FANGIRLS by Yve Blake (2019 premiere, 2021 and 2022 Australian tours, 2024 London); Dubbo Championship Wrestling by Daniel and James Cullen (2022 Hayes Theatre Co). He trained as a Stage Manager (VCA) and then worked in London for Sonia Friedman Productions, Sadler’s Wells and DigitalTheatre.com.
Following further study at Melbourne Law School (Juris Doctor) and VCA (Masters of Dramaturgy), he first joined STC in 2017 as Executive Assistant to Kip Williams. Positions: Sydney Theatre Awards Independent Panel, Hayes Theatre Co Creative Advisory Panel (2024/25). Awards: 2021 NSW Music Theatre Fellow (Create NSW/Hayes Theatre Co), for FANGIRLS includes AWGIE, Sydney Theatre, Green Room, and Matilda Awards, also ARIA nomination.

Danielle Hradsky
Keynote Speaker – Saturday 23rd May

Dr Danielle Hradsky is a non-Indigenous educator and researcher, living on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. Danielle’s research interests lie in the power of drama to support learners to engage with supercomplex ideas and wicked problems, such as (re)conciliation, de/colonising education, and sustainability. Danielle is a Research Fellow at Deakin University, and currently teaches at Deakin University, the University of Melbourne, and the National Gallery of Victoria. She is Co-Lead Program Developer and Facilitator for ‘Ngarnga Djilbruk: Respectful Learning Through Contemporary Indigenous Theatre’ at Bunjil Place Arts Centre. Until recently, Danielle was the Secretary for Drama Victoria, where she has been a Committee of Management Member since 2020, and the Director of the Australian Drama Education Magazine (Associate Editor since 2021) for Drama Australia. Danielle gave birth to her first child in March 2026, and is delighted to be participating in the Drama NSW State Conference as a very new mum!

THE APOLOGY by Shock Therapy Arts
Performance – Friday 22nd May

After a stand-out performance at our 2025 conference, Shock Therapy Arts are coming back to share more of their amazing craft!

Shock Therapy is a not-for-profit social enterprise that has established an impeccable reputation for creating and delivering high-quality, original, contemporary Australian Theatre. Shock Therapy Arts’ vision is to create Transformative Arts Experiences by telling stories that explore what it is to be human – provocative, challenging, uplifting, impactful. Their school performances promote student engagement in the arts, and they pride ourselves on creating powerful issue-based theatre that truly resonates with young people. This enables students to examine socially and personally relevant issues in a safe environment.

The full Drama NSW 2026 Conference Program can be viewed here

Note: workshop registration will be organised once tickets are purchased.

Tickets:

Member 1 day (Early Bird): $299
Member 1 Day: $349
Regional Member 1 Day: $200
Presenter / Life Member 1 Day: $100
Non-Member 1 Day: $449

Member 2 day (Early Bird): $399
Member 2 Day: $490
Regional Member 2 Days: $400
Presenter / Life Member 2 Day: $200
Non-Member 2 Day: $590

Life Member / Regional Member Breakfast (Saturday 7:30am) – $30

Presenters – note, your tickets are available without logging in to your account