Award-winning playwright and University of Newcastle drama lecturer Carl Caulfield will attend the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in the United States this week as the invited international speaker.

The Festival is a national theatre program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide.

Mr Caulfield from the University's School of Drama, Fine Art and Music (incorporating the Conservatorium) will leave for the United States tomorrow (Tuesday 3 February 2009).