Australian Theatre Festival NYC Reveals 2025 New Play Award Finalists – Congratulations to Abbie-Lee Lewis and her Play ‘Dirty Diamonds’

Congratulations to Abbie-Lee Lewis, whose play has been selected as a finalist for the Australian Theatre Festival 2025 New Play Award.

Inspired by the true events of the Argyle Diamond Heist, Dirty Diamonds is an aboriginal Thelma and Louise meets Quintin Tarantino play that takes place along the Western Australian Landscape.

Two unlikely friends Sam, a young Noongar woman and Emma, a young Kalkadoon woman, stumble across a bag of stolen argyle diamonds whilst on the run from the police. Suspected of murdering Sam's Bikie Boyfriend, they endeavour to prove their innocence by returning to country the one thing that makes them look extremely guilty: the diamonds. Their road trip takes them from Perth to Kununurra. Along the way friendships are made, and secrets are revealed. Sam and Emma, along with Emma's cousin J.R. realise that to survive in this country, they need more than resilience. They need each other.

The winner & runner-up will be announced Monday May 19th 2025 (NYC, EST).