The award was established in 1995, named in honour of Philip Parsons AM (1926–1993), who was a co-founder of the performing arts publishing company Currency Press, and "an influential teacher and mentor to many of the students, scholars, actors, directors and playwrights who created the new wave of Australian theatre in the 1970s".
[1][2] Hilary Bell won the inaugural award with her play Wolf Lullaby in 1995.
[3] In 2010 Caleb Lewis turned down the award in protest against the lack of gender diversity in the company's 2010 season.
[5][6] In 2019 (for 2020), the Fellowship evolved into the NSW Philip Parsons Early-Career Playwrights' Lab, whereby Belvoir would take on four new writers (or teams) along with one story developer or dramaturgical/ directorial participant.
[8] The fellowship is presented as part of the Philip Parsons Memorial Lecture, given annually at the Belvoir St Theatre.