The Canberra Area Theatre (CAT) Awards were delivered in a re-imagined setting for the second year in a row on 18 December. Canberra and Queanbeyan productions nabbed over two dozen recognition awards for their contributions to live theatre.
This year, the award ceremony, ACT and Southern NSW’s premiere theatrical awards show, became the Best in Show.
“Last year, we had ‘CATS Interrupted’, this year it’s ‘Best In Show’,” said CATS founder Coralie Wood.
After another long year in the live entertainment industry, which is still clawing its way back from the pandemic, the judges decided to spread the love out a bit more this year, awarding excellence wherever it was seen, both on and behind the stage, rather than an individual winner for each category.
The Queanbeyan and Canberra productions and individuals to receive recognition awards include, by category:
INDIVIDUALS
Jake Keen as principal dancer in Beauty and the Beast, ‘Legs’ Performing Arts, Canberra
Michael Cooper as Jason/Tyrone in Hand to God, Everyman Theatre, Canberra
Liz St Clair Long as Sandra in The Boys, Alchemy Artistic, Canberra
Nick Dyball as Troy Moynihan in Hotel Sorrento, Canberra Repertory Society
Jarrad West as Bernadette in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra
Katrina Wiseman as Josephine in HMS Pinafore, Queanbeyan Players
Veronica Thwaites-Brown as Buttercup in HMS Pinafore, Queanbeyan Players
Andrew Finegan as Alexander Downer in Keating—the Musical, Queanbeyan Players
Connor Moloney as Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors, St Edmund’s College, Canberra
Daniel Isherwood as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, St Edmund’s College, Canberra
ENSEMBLES
Karina Hudson and Annabelle Segler as Elinor and Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility, Canberra Repertory Society
Lainie Hart, Josh Wiseman and Arran McKenna as Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and The Player in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Canberra Repertory Society
The Players troupe for ensemble performance in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Canberra Repertory Society
DIRECTORS
Karen Vickery and the ensemble for directing and portraying a range of characters across multiple roles in Our Country’s Good, Canberra Repertory Society
Jarrad West for directing Hand to God, Everyman Theatre, Canberra
SONGS
Heavens, Mr Evans featuring Alissa Pearson as Cheryl Kernot and Zyl Hovenga-Wauchope as Gareth Evans 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
Steph Maclaine for singing off-stage and entrance of the opera singer in 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 & Amy Kowalczuk, Daramalan Theatre Company, Canberra
School of Rock for excellence in all aspects of production, Dramatic Productions, Canberra
The Commendations included a number of Canberrans:
The Dream Team for their performances in Beauty and the Beast, ‘Legs’ Performing Arts, Canberra
Harper Ward as Captain of the Guard, Papa Ogre, and Bishop in Shrek the Musical Jr, Daramalan Theatre Company, Canberra
Daramalan Theatre Company for raising awareness of systemic violence against women, highlighting that women today are still living like The Trojan Women
Dramatic Productions for always donating 10 per cent of ticket sales to community charities in Canberra
Nigel Palfreman in recognition of his many years of work encouraging student performance at St Edmunds College, Canberra
The team is optimistic that the CAT Awards will be back in full swing after a thrilling theatre season in our region next year.
“Hopefully in 2023 we’ll be back to a more traditional awards ceremony,” Ms Wood said. “Fingers crossed!”
For more information on the Canberra Area Theatre Awards: cat-awards.com.au
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