Kia ora/ Hello ADSA  members and friends,

Nominations are now open for the following three prizes:

• The Marlis Thiersch Prize recognises research excellence in English-language articles or book chapters in drama, theatre, and performance studies.
•  The Philip Parsons Prize recognising excellence in practice/performance-as-research by a senior (honours or postgraduate) student. 
• The Joanne Tompkins Prize for Excellence in Editing an important accolade celebrating outstanding contributions to journal or book editing in theatre, drama, and performance studies

Entries close on 1 October 2025, and will be announced at the ADSA conference in December. 

Please email ADSA Assistant Secretary Daniel Johnston (prizes@adsa.edu.au) if you have any questions regarding eligibility for, or administration of, ADS’s prizes.

Details about the prizes, including eligibility, judging criteria and the judging panels can be found below.




The Marlis Thiersch Prize recognises research excellence in English-language articles or book chapters in drama, theatre, and performance studies.
Why apply?

• Celebrate your outstanding scholarship across the fields of drama, theatre and performance studies
• Prize value: $500
• Open to self-nominations, journal editors, and peers (with a digital copy of the work)

Eligibility

• Nominees must be financial ADSA members at publication and at award (for co-authored work, at least one author must be a member).
• One article or chapter per nominee for this round.
• Past winners must wait three years before re-entering.
• The article or book chapter must have been published in the 2024 calendar year.

What to submit

• Include the application cover sheet from the prize page
• Full reference for the article/chapter
• A short justification addressing significance, methodology, use of evidence, and contribution to the field
• A digital copy (PDF) of the article/chapter
• Email the package to prizes@adsa.edu.au.

Criteria

• Significance of the research question
• Clarity and rigour of methodology
• Use of evidence
• Quality of writing and expression
• Scope and contribution to the field

👉 Apply now: https://www.adsa.edu.au/dbpage.php?pg=thiersch adsa.edu.au
Please share this with colleagues who may be eligible.




The Philip Parsons Prize recognises excellence in practice/performance-as-research by a senior (honours or postgraduate) student. Entries close on 1 October 2025.
Why apply?

• Celebrate your outstanding practice research in drama, theatre and performance studies
• Prize value: $500 and announcement at the ADSA conference (with winner profiled on the ADSA website)

Eligibility

• A postgraduate candidate who has completed a practice research project, enrolled at a tertiary institution in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South-East Asia or the Pacific.
• Nominees must be financial ADSA members at the time of application

What to submit

• Include the application cover sheet from the prize page
• Supporting documents addressing the criteria (as outlined on the prize page/form)
• Email the package to prizes@adsa.edu.au.

Criteria

• Originality
• Evidence of quality of practice research
• Method / approach
• Significance

👉 Apply now: https://www.adsa.edu.au/dbpage.php?pg=parsons ADSA
Please circulate to eligible students and recent graduates in your networks. We’re excited to recognise the depth and innovation of your practice research.



The Joanne Tompkins Prize for Excellence in Editing, an important accolade celebrating outstanding contributions to journal or book editing in theatre, drama, and performance studies. This prize is awarded every four years, and this current round closes on 1 October 2025.

Why apply?
Editors play a vital role in shaping the discourse of our field—through journals, special issues, or edited collections. The Joanne Tompkins Prize honours these behind-the-scenes visionaries who advance scholarship with dedication, insight, and innovation.

Eligibility

• The nomination may focus on long-term journal editing, special journal issues, or edited collections.
• The work must have been published in 2021, 2022, 2023 or 2024.
• Editors must have been ADSA financial members in the year of publication and in the award year.
• In cases of co-edited works, as long as at least one editor is a member, the nomination is eligible, and any prize awarded will go to the member editor.
• Editors are not eligible to win consecutively.

What to submit

• Include the application cover sheet from the prize page
• The name of the journal, special issue, or edited collection
• A statement on:
  • Longevity of contribution or sustained editorial work.
  • Innovation in editing that advances the field.
  • Impact, such as how the editorial project shaped scholarly conversations.
• A digital copy of the work accessible to prize judges
• Email the package to prizes@adsa.edu.au.

Criteria

• Quality of editing
• Significance
• Innovation
• Impact and influence

👉 Apply now: https://www.adsa.edu.au/dbpage.php?pg=tompkins
Please share this widely - especially with those who have recently overseen special issues, edited volumes, or served as journal editors. Let’s recognise and celebrate the editorial leadership that enriches our field.

We look forward to celebrating your work.