The Louis Esson Prize for Drama: Judges 2006

Hugh Colman is a production designer and theatre maker with over three decades of experience, having worked for most of the theatre, opera and dance companies in Australia, as well as undertaken commissions in Hong Kong and Singapore. He is a graduate of the University of Melbourne, with a BA Hons in Fine Arts and English Literature, and has edited novels, short stories and plays for various authors.

Bruce Myles is one of Australia's most experienced actor/directors. His theatre credits include productions for the Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre Company, Playbox Melbourne and HIT Productions. He has premiered new writing by many of Australia's leading playwrights. He received Green Room Awards in 1983, 1992, 1994 and 1996. He was Associate Director of the Melbourne Theatre Company 1989 to 1994 and has been on the Theatre Fund of the Australia Council and the Board of Directors of the Melbourne Theatre Company.

Thuy On is a freelance writer who reviews books for a number of publications, including The Age, The Australian Book Review and The Big Issue. She is also the Melbourne theatre critic for The Australian.

Ailsa Piper is best known as an actor, having worked in theatre and television all around  Australia. She has written journalism, as well as scripts for ABC radio and the theatre. Her play Small Mercies was joint winner of the inaugural Patrick White Playwright’s Award. She is also a director, and her production of Hellbent, adapted from Webster's The Duchess of Malfi, can be seen from November 15 2006 at Red Stitch Actors Theatre. Ailsa is currently directing Controlled Crying, a new play by Ron Elisha. She also teaches and mentors widely.