Not in Print: playwrights off script - on inspiration, process and theatre itself

We sat down with multi-award-winning playwright Kate Mulvany to discuss her new play The Shiralee, adapted from the novel by D'Arcy Niland and published by Currency Press in August 2026.

Macauley is a swagman earning his keep by prize-fighting his way across the country. Far away in Sydney’s Kings Cross, his almost ten-year-old daughter Buster lives with her lonely mother Marge, who is struggling to make ends meet. When Macauley returns home one night to find Marge in bed with another man, and Buster drunk on sherry, he throws Buster over his shoulder and takes her into his unforgiving lifestyle as a swagman on the open road.

‘Breathes new life into a classic Australian story. One that has now, surely, become an Australian classic play.’— The Scoop AU

Available now at currency.com.au!

We sat down with playwright Chenturan Aran to discuss the story behind his play Cut Chilli, which is published by Currency Press in 2026.

On the VCE Playlist in 2026, Cut Chilli sears through the messy tangle of adoption fraud, interracial families and belonging with a real kick.

Available now at currency.com.au

Performing at Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre from 12-23 August, 2026.

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More from Chenturan Aran: Comet Boombox at Old Fitz Theatre, 17-22 November, 2026.

Recorded at the Currency Press Festival of Playwrights 2025

SHARING CULTURE VIA THE STAGE: Following on from Jordan Shea's Keynote asking 'What is an Australian play?', this panel examines what it means to share culture on stage. How generous should we be when it comes to sharing our culture, particularly when it's not just our own stories at stake, but our community's? What are the considerations and responsibilities when we represent our community on the stage? And why do we do it?

FEATURING: Chenturan Aran, Joanne Kee, and Tracey Rigney

CHAIR: Courtney Stewart

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currency.com.au

Recorded at the Currency Press Festival of Playwrights 2025

PLAYWRIGHT CRUSH 2: Jules Orcullo and Michelle Law

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currency.com.au

Recorded at the Currency Press Festival of Playwrights 2025

WRITERS VS AI: What is the point of having a humanities degree if AI can do the job? But what about creatives with budget restrictions who are using AI to support their work? The rise of AI and how it affects our work and lives is an urgent conversation. This panel explores the ethical and legal challenges of AI. 

FEATURING: Lucy Hayward, Matthew Ngamurarri Heffernan, and Claire Pullen

CHAIR: Alana Valentine

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currency.com.au