Sue Smith is the new Sydney Theatre Company Patrick White Playwrights’ Fellow, the company announced today, while Kim Ho has won the Patrick White Playwrights’ Award for his play Mirror’s Edge.

Smith, whose Kryptonite was nominated for Best Play at the 2014 Sydney Theatre Awards and whose Machu Picchu appeared in STC’ s 2016 season starring Lisa McCune, will receive the $25,000 Fellowship – awarded annually to an established playwright in recognition of their excellent body of work and achievements. The Fellowship also includes a commission from STC which will be developed during her year-long tenure.

Sue Smith, Kip Williams, Polly Rowe and Kim Ho. Photo © Pedro Greig

“It’s a golden opportunity for a writer,” Smith told Limelight. “It offers a huge learning opportunity. And, for me in particular, having spent the lion’s share of my career as a screenwriter, it means acceptance into and acknowledgement by the biggest theatre company in the country. I’m hugely grateful to the STC.”

In addition to having her plays performed by Griffin Theatre and State Opera of South Australia (her newest play Hydra is under commission with Queensland Theatre) Smith also wrote...