Suzie Miller premieres AFLW-themed play at Brisbane Festival

Acclaimed Australian playwright Suzie Miller is set to premiere her new play, ‘Strong is the New Pretty’, as a centerpiece of the 2026 Brisbane Festival. The production explores the history and culture of the AFLW, specifically focusing on the inaugural 2017 season and the underdog journey of the Adelaide Crows.

The play features an all-female cast of eight and lightly fictionalizes real-life figures from the league's establishment, including Sam Mostyn and Bec Goddard. Miller, known for hard-hitting works like ‘Prima Facie’, describes this new production as a ‘love letter to Australian women’ that celebrates their efforts to achieve equality in professional sports.

The premiere arrives amidst ongoing scrutiny of the AFL, following police investigations into sexual assault allegations involving the Sydney Swans. The play aims to highlight the successes of the women's league in contrast to ongoing discussions regarding sexism and entitlement in the men's game.