Colorful banner with the word "INCEPTION" and the tagline "SOWING IDEAS. GROWING VOICES." against an orange background with abstract blue shapes and small gradient circles.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD.

Backbone is partnering with Playlab Theatre to empower young people to tell the stories only they can tell.

Inception introduces ten school-aged artists to the craft and processes of professional playwriting, whilst allowing them to explore their creativity and ideas in a nurturing environment. Across four months, young artists will work with experienced facilitators Dirk Hoult (Playlab Theatre) and Stephen Quinn (Backbone Youth Arts), as well as a variety of leading industry mentors, to write and develop two contrasting five-minute monologues. These works will be publicly performed by members of the Backbone Ensemble at the end of the program to industry leaders, and subsequently published by Playlab Theatre (and distributed nationally and internationally).

Through a range of activities designed to cultivate unique voices, Inception participants are mentored through intensive workshops, structured writing time, creative development, and one-on-one dramaturgy.

Inception is a FREE program, supported by the Brisbane City Council.

MEET THE INCEPTION COMPANY 2026

PROGRAM DETAILS

INCEPTION will run from the 7th March until the 6th of June. The dates and times below are subject to change.

LOCATION

**Backbone Youth Arts – HUB

28 Tallowwood St, SEVEN HILS, QLD 4170

**Please note, punctual transport to and from the BBYA Hub will be the responsibility of each participant.

FAQ’s

KEY DATES

MARCH
Sat 7 – 10am to 4pm – Weekend Intensive
Sun 8 – 10am to 4pm – Weekend Intensive
Tues 17 – 4pm-6pm
Tues 24 – 4pm-6pm
Tues 31 – 4pm-6pm

APRIL
Wed 08 – 10am to 4pm – Holiday Intensive
Thur 09 – 10am to 4pm – Holiday Intensive
Fri 10 – 10am to 4pm – Holiday Intensive
Tues 21- 4pm-6pm
Tues 28 – 4pm-6pm

MAY
Tues 05 – 4pm-6pm
Tues 12 – 4pm-6pm
Tues 19 – 4pm-6pm
Tues 26 – 4pm-6pm

JUNE
Tues 02 – 4pm-6pm
Sat 06 – 10am to 4pm – Weekend Intensive & Showing

To apply you must be aged between 16 and 18 and have a love for theatre and writing. You must live in Meanjin/Brisbane.
Click on ‘apply now’ at the top of this page.
● Share a three-page sample of creative writing (it can be a script, a story, poetry etc).
● Answer the following questions:
● Tell us about yourself and your relationship to theatre/writing [150 words].
● If YOU could change one thing about the world, what would it be? [200 words].
No. In fact, we’d rather you didn’t. Our intensive workshops are designed to be creative idea generators that get new stories flowing!
● Attendance at all workshops in person at Backbone Youth Arts in Seven Hills .
● Attendance at development and staged reading at Backbone youth Arts.
● Engagement with the publication process and requested edits.
● Expected work outside of workshop hours, with written submission deadlines (1st monologue – Draft 1 and 2 AND 2nd Monologue: Draft 1 and 2)