The Australian Drama Studies Association was established in 1977 by Philip Parsons AM (1926–1993), an academic in drama based at the University of New South Wales,[1][2][3] known also for being a co-founder of the performing arts publishing company Currency Press.
[5] ADSA publishes a peer-reviewed journal, Australian Drama Studies, established in 1982.
[6] ADSA awards a number of prizes, as well as life memberships.
Notable life members include Lisa Warrington, Katharine Brisbane, Gareth Griffiths, and David O’Donnell.
[7] Awards include: The Philip Parsons Prize for Performance as Research is "an annual Philip Parsons Prize for a senior student (honours or postgraduate) undertaking a Performance As Research (PAR) project".