Canberra, South Coast and Riverina thespians invited to take a bow

The best actors and production crews in Canberra, the NSW South Coast and Riverina were honoured with certificates of excellence at what would have been the 28th annual Canberra Area Theatre (CAT) awards.

With local theatre facing yet another challenging year, thanks to the pandemic, what would normally have been the gala awards night turned into ‘Best in Show’.

“Last year we had ‘CATS Interrupted’, this year it’s Best in Show,” CATS founder Coralie Wood said.

“Instead of single winners in set categories, the CAT awards judges decided to honour excellence wherever they found it,” she said. “Hopefully in 2023 we’ll be back to a more traditional awards ceremony.”

The CAT awards have been part of the local theatre, dance and music scene since 1994 and provide recognition of the contribution made by the region’s non-professional groups to performing arts in the region.

More than 60 recipients, representing theatre companies from the ACT and southern NSW were honoured at the event held at Canberra’s Repertory’s Theatre 3 in December.

Certificates of Excellence were presented to:

INDIVIDUALS

• Jake Keen in Beauty and the Beast, “Legs” Performing Arts, Canberra
• Michael Cooper in Hand to God, Everyman Theatre, Canberra
• Liz St Clair Long in The Boys, Alchemy Artistic, Canberra
• Nick Dyball in Hotel Sorrento, Canberra Repertory Society
• Jarrad West in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra
• Katrina Wiseman in HMS Pinafore, Queanbeyan Players
• Veronica Thwaites-Brown in HMS Pinafore, Queanbeyan Players
• Andrew Finegan in Keating—the Musical, Queanbeyan Players
• Connor Moloney in Little Shop of Horrors, St Edmund’s College, Canberra
• Daniel Isherwood in Little Shop of Horrors, St Edmund’s College, Canberra and,
• Katie Leigh-Riley in Mrs Warren’s Profession, Wagga Wagga School of Arts Inc.

ENSEMBLES

• Karina Hudson and Annabelle Segler in Sense and Sensibility, Canberra Repertory Society
• Lainie Hart, Josh Wiseman and Arran McKenna in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Canberra Repertory Society and,
• The Player’s troupe for ensemble performance in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Canberra Repertory Society.

DIRECTORS

• Karen Vickery and the ensemble for Our Country’s Good, Canberra Repertory Society
• Jarrad West for Hand to God, Everyman Theatre, Canberra
• Candy Burgess for Calendar Girls, Bay Theatre Players, Batemans Bay

SONGS

• Heavens, Mr Evans featuring Alissa Pearson and Zyl Hovenga-Wauchope in Keating—the Musical, Queanbeyan Players
• Get me to the church on time featuring Isaac Gordon and the cast in My Fair Lady, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

MAGICAL MOMENTS

• Bay Theatre Players for Calendar Girls
• Steph Maclaine for Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

PRODUCTIONS

• The Boys for the high-quality production and direction by Amy Kowalczuk, Alchemy Artistic, Canberra
• Soul Trading directed by Jena Prince, Canberra Youth Theatre
• Shrek the Musical Jr directed by Lucy Cronan and Amy Kowalczuk, Daramalan Theatre Company, Canberra
• School of Rock for excellence in all aspects of production, Dramatic Productions, Canberra

Commendations:

• The Dream Team for Beauty and the Beast, “Legs” Performing Arts, Canberra
• Harper Ward for Shrek the Musical Jr, Daramalan Theatre Company, Canberra
• Daramalan Theatre Company for raising awareness of systemic violence against women
• Hannah Rumbachs for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Riverina Anglican College, Wagga Wagga
• Dramatic Productions for donating 10 per cent of ticket sales to Canberra charities
• Nigel Palfreman in recognition of his many years of work encouraging student performance at St Edmunds College, Canberra
• Carter Cummins for A Midnight Dream, Wagga Wagga School of Arts Inc
• James Gillet for services to theatre and community in Agatha Crusty and The Village Hall Murders, Moruya Red Door Theatre Company and,
• Milton Ulladullla Entertainers for their variety show.