Isabella McDermott is a playwright based in Auckland, New Zealand.
She has been nominated for Playmarket’s Playwrights b4 25 Award, was a finalist in the Short+Sweet Theatre Festival, and has twice been shortlisted for Day One Shorts. Her writing is published in 101 Monologues for Youth.
In 2023, her play Champions premiered in a sold-out, extended season on the Main Stage at Tāmaki Makaurau’s Basement Theatre. The following year, it had its international debut at Sydney’s Old Fitz Theatre.
In 2024, Isabella received Creative New Zealand’s Early Career Fund – Toi Tipu Toi Rea – to develop a new theatre work.
Her writing has been described as “crack-up, lyrical, and poignant” (Bad Apple) and “terrifyingly real” (Rat World Magazine).