PRIMADONNA Productions took out of swag of accolades at the Independent Theatre Association’s prestigious Finley Awards last weekend.
And Murray Music and Drama Club’s Sian Dhu won the Yvonne Nelson Hough Award, which is given to the person or club that adjudicators believe have made a significant contribution to the diversity, vibrancy and creativity of community theatre.
The award was first presented in 2014 to Douglas Sutherland- Bruce for his Festival of Shakespearean Plays.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWIn 2015, it went to Koorliny Arts Centre for the sustained quality of its musical productions and the following year it was won by local playwright Noel O’Neill.
Last year’s winner was Matthew Manning for his ongoing commitment to various facets of community theatre.
This year, the adjudicators decided to present the award to an actress who they said had come to epitomise the strengths of community theatre in WA – talent, commitment, and more importantly, a clear love of the stage, the people she performed with and the audiences she entertained.
They said Dhu had taken on a range of quintessential roles in the past five years and had never failed to deliver.
Even in smaller and less well known roles she had found a spirit to her characters that engaged, entertained and inspired.
Primadonna Productions took the award for the third best musical for Downtown: the Mod Musical, the Terry Hackett Award for the best ensemble and an appreciation certificate for its commitment to fostering youth and audiences in the performing arts.
Adjudication certificates went to Bella Lambert and Indi Thompson for commitment to their characters and Liam McCormack for the excellent well scene in Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood.