news: 2026
Winter 2026: ‘Rest, Stop.’ | Semi-finalist for the Blue Ink Award
news: 2025
Winter 2025: Winter 2025: ‘Rest, Stop.’ | Semi-finalist for Local Theatre Company Local Lab 15
Summer 2025: Received the Tennessee Williams Scholarship at Sewanee Writers' Conference
Summer 2025: Finalist for New Roots Queer Artist Residency at Walhalla Farm
Spring 2025: ‘Rest, Stop.’ | Reading at Houghton Hall Arts Community
news: 2024
Summer 2024: Received the Chesley/Bumbalo Grant for Writers of Gay & Lesbian Theatre with the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation
Spring 2024: MFA Playwriting @ Yale School of Drama
Winter 2024: 'for the fish ' | In residence at the cell theatre
Winter 2024: 'for the fish' | Finalist for Live Arts WATERWORKS Festival
Winter 2024: 'for the fish' | Semi-finalist for Local Theater Company Local Lab 13
news: 2023
Fall 2023: 'for the fish' | Finalist for Seattle Public Theater Distillery Festival
Fall 2023: Finalist for Company One Volt Lab
Fall 2023: 'for the fish' | Finalist for the cell theatre Artist-in-Residency Program
Summer 2023: Writing for Fresh Ink Theatre 8th Annual Mad Dash
Summer 2023: 'for the fish' | In residence at Great Plains Theatre Commons New Play Conference
Spring 2023: 'THE DEAD DADZ CLUB' | Reading at TC Squared New Play Festival
Spring 2023: 'for the fish' | Reading at The Depot for New Play Readings
kind words about my work
“What a gift this play is to queer theatre and what a master class in how to create rich, nuanced characters. Susanna perfectly encapsulates the pre-teen/teenage struggle of who we are and who we are supposed to become, and Uncle serves as an incredibly honest parental figure who is trying their best to figure it all out. Lots of humor, empathy, and connection bleed through this text. A must read and must produce!”
New Play Exchange Review: for the fish
“Surrey Houlker’s play snapshots the daily indignities, large and small, being suffered behind every coffee counter and fast food register, and asks how—and why—we’re meant to put our souls and sanity on the line for a cup of coffee and a meager hourly wage. Houlker once again centers queer characters of different generations whose imperfect alliance is a rickety life-raft on unfriendly seas...”
New Play Exchange Review: Linda’s Donuts
“…The play’s power builds from the accumulation of small consolations: cigarettes, dancing, new shoes. Ultimately for the fish revels in brave acts of love and hope in an age of reaction. Very highly recommended.”
New Play Exchange Review: for the fish

