Award Categories 2024

STREAM DEFINITIONS Community Theatre Stream: A production (play or musical or musical revue) staged by a community theatre group.

Youth Stream: A production (play or musical or musical revue) staged by a school, an acting school or a community theatre group with a major part of the cast being under 18 years, or where the target market is children - i.e. a pantomime or children's show).

(Participants are required to indicate for which of the streams each production is eligible on their Registration Forms.)

CATEGORIES FOR AWARDS 1 – BEST SET DESIGN
Open only to Community Theatre Groups - judged on appropriateness and relevance of set to production, practicality and originality.
2 – BEST COSTUMES
Open only to Community Theatre Groups - judged on appropriateness and relevance of costumes to production, practicality and originality.
3 – BEST LIGHTING DESIGN / OPERATION
Open only to Community Theatre Groups - judged on appropriateness to production, practicality and originality.
4 – BEST SOUND DESIGN / OPERATION
Open only to Community Theatre Groups - judged on balance of music to voice, quality of sound and handling of any problems during production.
5 - BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT OR EFFECT
(excluding Lighting and Sound)
Open only to Community Theatre Groups - judged on any sound or lighting or other effects utilised within the production.
6 – BEST PROGRAM
Open to Both Streams of the Awards - judged on layout, information given, creativity and originality. Programs without a Synopsis of the show will be ineligible for nomination.
7 – THE JOCK AND BEVERLY MCILWAIN SPECIAL ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD & $2000.00 BURSARY
(Sponsored by The Friends of the Arts Foundation)
Open to All Participants in the Awards up to the age of 18 years - awarded to a young person who has potential to develop into a professional performer.
8 – MAGIC MOMENT OF THEATRE
Open to All Participants in the Awards - awarded to any performer or production or company for a particular "moment" on stage - funny or memorable in some way.
9 – BEST VOCAL OR MUSICAL DIRECTOR IN A YOUTH PRODUCTION
Open only to Youth Program participants - awarded for either vocal performances when the musical has used professional backing CDs instead of a live orchestra (Vocal Director), OR where the music has been provided by a live orchestra (M.D.).
10 – BEST CHOREOGRAPHER IN A YOUTH PRODUCTION
Open only to Youth Program participants - judged on choreography in either a Play or a Musical or a Musical Revue.
11 – BEST CHOREOGRAPHER IN A COMMUNITY THEATRE PLAY OR MUSICAL OR MUSICAL REVUE
Open only to Community Theatre Groups - judged on choreography in either a Play or a Musical or a Musical Revue.
12 – BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A COMMUNITY THEATRE PLAY
Open only to Community Theatre Groups - awarded for a role other than the lead; a minor principal role; for commitment and consistency in characterisation.
13 – BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A COMMUNITY THEATRE PLAY
Open only to Community Theatre Groups - awarded for a role other than the lead; a minor principal role; for commitment and consistency in characterisation.
14 – BEST ACTOR OR ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A YOUTH PRODUCTION
Open only to Youth Program participants - awarded for a role other than the lead; a minor principal role; for commitment and consistency in characterisation.
15 – BEST ENSEMBLE IN A PLAY OR MUSICAL
Open only to Community Theatre Groups
16 - BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A COMMUNITY THEATRE PLAY
Open only to Community Theatre Groups - awarded for outstanding onstage presence and vocal delivery.
17 – BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A COMMUNITY THEATRE PLAY
Open only to Community Theatre Groups – awarded for outstanding onstage presence and vocal delivery.
18 – BEST ACTOR OR ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A YOUTH PRODUCTION
Open only to Youth Program participants – awarded for consistency in characterisation and bringing something special to the role.
19 – BEST VOCAL DIRECTOR IN A COMMUNITY THEATRE MUSICAL OR MUSICAL REVUE
Open only to Community Theatre Groups - judged on the vocal performances when the musical has used professional backing CDs instead of a live orchestra, OR where the vocal Director operates separately from the Musical Director.
20 – BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR OF A COMMUNITY THEATRE MUSICAL
Open only to Community Theatre Groups - awarded for outstanding musical co-ordination, both of orchestra/band and cast members, vocal excellence and overall vocal quality of production.
21 – BEST DIRECTOR OF A YOUTH PRODUCTION (PLAY OR MUSICAL)
Open only to Youth Program participants
22 – BEST YOUTH PRODUCTION (PLAY OR MUSICAL)
Open only to Youth Program participants – awarded for excellence in the overall delivery of a production. Awarded to the company presenting the piece.
23 – BEST DIRECTOR OF A COMMUNITY THEATRE PLAY
Open only to Community Theatre Groups – awarded for excellence in the overall delivery of a production, including casting, vocal delivery and originality in presenting the piece.
24 – BEST DIRECTOR OF A COMMUNITY THEATRE MUSICAL OR MUSICAL REVUE
Open only to Community Theatre Groups - awarded for excellence in the overall delivery of a production, including casting, vocal delivery and originality in presenting the piece.
25 – BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A COMMUNITY THEATRE MUSICAL OR MUSICAL REVUE
Open only to Community Theatre Groups - awarded for commitment to the role, consistency in characterisation.
26 – BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A COMMUNITY THEATRE MUSICAL OR MUSICAL REVUE
Open only to Community Theatre Groups - awarded for commitment to the role, consistency in characterisation.
27 – BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A COMMUNITY THEATRE MUSICAL
Open only to Community Theatre Groups - awarded for outstanding talent in acting / singing / dancing, and onstage presence.
28 – BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A COMMUNITY THEATRE MUSICAL OR MUSICAL REVUE
Open only to Community Theatre Groups - awarded for outstanding talent in acting / singing / dancing, and onstage presence.
29 – GOLD PALM AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY THEATRE PLAY
Open only to Community Theatre Groups – awarded for a play which in the judges’ opinion was the highlight of the year. Awarded to the company presenting the piece.
30 – GOLD PALM AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY THEATRE MUSICAL
Open to both Streams – awarded for a musical which in the judges’ opinion was the highlight of the year. Awarded to the company presenting the piece.

JUDGES DISCRETIONARY AWARD
(Awarded at the judges’ discretion – not a regular category)

Platinum Palm Award
There will be no nominations announced for this Award, which will be presented on the night to the individual or company deemed to have presented / supplied / staged or appeared in a production, or given a service to the theatrical community which is considered outstanding.