2026 Essential Theatre Play Festival

Don’t miss the best new plays by Georgia playwrights, featuring a brand-new world premiere production plus readings, showcases, and presentations of Georgia playwrights’ work.
For more than 25 years, Essential Theatre has been bringing new work by Georgia playwrights to the stage, and the 2026 Essential Theatre Festival will continue this long tradition.
Opening the Festival on August 7 will be Helen of the West by Susan Swavely, winner of the 2026 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award.*
The Festival will also include special one-night-only presentations of more new plays by Georgia playwrights plus staged readings of scripts still in development.
*The 2026 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award is sponsored by Joseph and Alisa Alonso.