A two-time winner of Australia’s most prestigious live performance accolade - the MO AWARD, Kirri’s career as a professional singer and singing teacher has taken her all over the world performing on cruise ships and she appeared in London’s West End production of ZORBA. She has sung on all major TV shows and is involved with the Vocal Section of the GC Eisteddfod. Kirri appeared in the Royal Command Performance before Queen Elizabeth II during the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane and entertained troops in Vietnam. She has been seen in FUNNY GIRL IN CONCERT, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, ISN’T IT ROMANTIC?, THE GC LEADING LADIES, CABARET, IN THE MOOD, DUSTY, IN THE MOOD - AGAIN! and LET'S MISBEHAVE - A 1920s Jazz Age Party, HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD & MARY POPPINS and SENSATIONALLY SONDHEIM!. She is a sought-after singing teacher on the Gold Coast.

Gai has been actively involved in Community Theatre for 50 years, commencing with the Regent Theatre Group in Melbourne in 1973. She was trained in voice production under Mr Jack White and contemporary jazz ballet with the Olive Wallace Dance Academy in Melbourne under Ms Jillian Fitzgerald culminating in appearances on Channel Nine’s “New Faces”, leading her down the musical theatre path.
She has played leading and supporting roles in over forty productions and many musicals including “My Fair Lady”, “Hello! Dolly”, “Camelot”, “Peter Pan” and “Toast of the Town” and as choreographer and principal dancer for over 5 years with shows conceived by the wonderful Alan Grant. Gai has devised and directed musical reviews, including “Moonlight Serenade”, “I Remember You”, “Sentimental Journey” (a tribute to Doris Day) and “We Remember Them”, an ANZAC day memorial show. She has also trained as a professional makeup artist, specializing in ageing makeup for theatre.
She has choreographed and costumed productions for many of the Gold Coast Theatre companies and has taught musical theatre and singing to young and adolescent children at the Johnny Young Talent School here on the Gold Coast. For over the last fifteen years, Gai has sat on various executive committees for several theatre companies.
Gai was the recipient of the Gold Palm Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2020 for “Aurelia” and Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 2022 for “Crimes of the Heart”. In her spare time, Gai has appeared on television and feature films including “Mystery Road”, “Silent Predator”, “Mental” and “Young Rock II” and various TVC’s. She was trained in the Meisner method under Tom McSweeney. Her passion is nurturing the upand-coming young talent on the Gold Coast.

Andrew is a director, producer, actor, theatre maker and the Founder/Artistic Director of Technicolour Theatre Company. Directing credits include LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Players Theatre Company, Youth Australia Day Award Nom), SWEENEY TODD (University of New England. Albert Bussell Cultural Award), WIZARD OF OZ (PTC), THE POPULAR MECHANICALS (UNE), COMEDY OF ERRORS (Centre Stage Theatre), A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Inaugural Shakespeare in the Park at the GC Botanic Gardens), JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT and OLIVER (Spotlight), KISS ME KATE! (Winner of 4 Dolphin Awards GCLT) and PETER PAN (Technicolour Theatre Company). Andrew is also an award winning designer and choreographer, has a 'Special President's Award' for services to Gold Coast Theatre in 2019 alongside his curation of the Gold Coast Festival of One Act Plays.

Judy is a Graduate of the University of Queensland and the Queensland Conservatorium, with diplomas in Music and Drama. She has been a Teacher in secondary education in English and Drama for 30 years. She has directed many school musicals and dramas as well as being Director of the Spotlight Orchestra in Dalby for 10 years. She was a Member of the original education team developing the initial curriculum in Theatre Studies for senior students in secondary schools in Australia. After publishing two textbooks on Australian Drama for secondary schools, she led workshops in Drama, and was a keynote speaker for Drama Victoria. More recently, she was involved in sessional work with School of Education & Professional Studies at Griffith University for ten years.

A Bachelor of Education (Primary), with a specialisation in music and her Grade 8 AMEB certificate in Singing, Steffanie is a performer, teacher and vocal director, growing up on the stages of the Gold Coast. Before becoming a judge, she was a 3 time finalist and winner of Gold Palm Award for vocal direction. She is enthusiastic about community theatre and recent appearances have included DOWNTOWN, INTO THE WOODS, BROADWAY BLOCKBUSTER and SENSATIONALLY SONDHEIM!.

Del has been involved in Community theatre on the Gold Coast for over 50 years. She has played lead roles in over 100 productions, drama, comedy and musical theatre. Along with many awards on the drama festival circuit, she has been a multiple finalist for the Gold Palm Awards, and winner of the Best Leading Actress Award for CROWN MATRIMONIAL & Best Supporting Actress for BYE BYE BIRDIE and BLITHE SPIRIT. Working not only on stage, but as stage manager, director and stage crew on many productions has given her a unique understanding and appreciation of the demands and the capabilities of the onstage performers as well as those critical creatives behind the scenes.

Chris is an accomplished actor and film-maker, having begun in 1982 with his films over the last 10 years winning 14 best film categories at national and international short film festivals. Chris began his community theatre career in 2005 with Beaudesert Amateur Musical Society and has played leading roles in SOUTH PACIFIC, THE GAME’S AFOOT, THE KINGFISHER, HELLO DOLLY. Since then he has appeared in over 25 productions with a range of genres from musicals to thrillers. He has performed at the Tweed, Tugun, Javeenbah, GCLT and Murwillumbah theatre companies. and has appeared in TV commercials and TV series REEF DOCTORS, TERRA NOVA, BLUE HEELERS and SEA CHANGE. Chris directed his first stage production in 2020.

Former President of the Friends of the Arts (2 years) and Board Member (7 years), David’s interest in the performing arts started in his youth when his father was appointed a director of Sadlers Wells Theatre in Covent Garden, which led to a life time interest in ballet. Retiring to the Gold Coast on 2004, David and his wife Barbara became enthusiastic supporters of local theatre, and shows both nationally and internationally. David is also a published author and brings many other areas of expertise, as an audience member, to his judging duties.

With teaching experience across all ages, but with particular focus on senior students in the performing arts arena, Tracey's forte is Drama, Music, Dance and Entertainment Studies. She is also an accomplished Director, Choreographer, Musical Director, Choral Director and Musician, and award winning and established Actor, Singer and Dancer. Recent shows directed include OLIVER!, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN and GREASE for the Gold Coast Production Company and she appeared in RUTHLESS - The Musical! for Top Hat Productions. Tracey has staged many major shows at the Arts Centre Gold Coast and directed JULIE ANTHONY, STUART WAGSTAFF and PETER COUSINS in major shows.

Katrina comes from an entertainment family and was The Host for Canberra’s kids TV show “Just for Fun” on Prime (Channel 7). In Canberra she appeared in leading roles in PYJAMA GAME, GREASE, and ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Since relocating to the Gold Coast she directed the inaugural Christmas Show for GCLT and appeared in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, KISS ME KATE (Spotlight), , THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (Javeenbah) FUNNY GIRL and SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (GC Production Co.), and toured Qld with Top Hat Productions’ PICCADILLY OLDE TIME MUSIC HALL Pantos include SLEEPING BEAUTY, SNOW WHITE and PETER PAN, and RUTHLESS, TAKE A CHANCE ON ME, HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD and HELLO, DOLLY! Before becoming a Judge, Katrina was a Gold Palm Award Winner for Best Actress in a Musical, ALL SHOOK UP, in 2012.

Kate is a professional director/producer and performer who runs her own production company. Since re-locating to the Gold Coast in 1997 she has toured four times to major Queensland venues (with the Qld Arts Council and N.A.R.P.A.C.A.), and regularly stages pantomimes, musical revues and other major shows in a variety of theatres. She co-created the Canberra Area Theatre Awards in 1994 to acknowledge the contribution of community theatre groups in the A.C.T. catchment area. Kate’s recent TV/film appearances include THE END (See-Saw Films), DIVE CLUB (Steve Jaggi/Netflix Productions) and JOE EXOTIC (JE Productions/Screen Qld.) In 2009 she was awarded the Gold Coast City Council Australia Day Cultural Achievement Award and was twice a finalist in the Entertainment Division of the Gold Coast Honours Awards. Kate continues to produce and direct mainstage productions of all kinds, and in 2019 was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for Services to Entertainment on the Gold Coast in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Kim has been an integral part of the Gold Coast theatre community since relocating to Queensland in 1991. With extensive experience in directing, choreographing, and designing, she has contributed to productions at Spotlight Theatre, GCLT, Javeenbah, Phoenix Theatre, and BTG. Kim's skills span set, costume, lighting design, and sound operation, making her a versatile force behind the scenes. As the owner of the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) and NAPA Ensemble, Kim has mentored students who have gone on to perform professionally around the world. Her current students and graduates have appeared in national tours of WICKED (Glinda), MATILDA (Matilda), FROZEN (Anna), TINA: The Tina Turner Musical (Young Mae), SIX (Howard), BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Chip), ALADDIN (Jasmine U/S, Iago U/S) and ANNIE (Annie). Passionate about nurturing talent and advancing the arts, Kim is excited to join the Judging Panel for the 2025 Gold Palm Theatre Awards.

Andrew is an experienced entertainment specialist with an extensive history of working and performing internationally within the creative arts, performing arts and entertainment industry. Andrew is skilled in performance management, aesthetics, creative arts, choreography, directing and education. A strong media and communication professional who has a passion for all elements of performance and the arts, holding a focused in dance and drama from the Queensland University of Technology. Throughout Andrew's illustrious career, he has been fortunate enough to tread the boards across the seas with a career highlight performing on the 66th Annual TONY Awards. Andrew is a Gold Coast song and dance man, performing at all major theme parks and a season at Dracula's Cabaret Theatre Restaurant. Working for Royal Caribbean, The Sudden Impact! Entertainment Company and as a Guest Tapper during a season with the Queensland Ballet Company, Andrew’s talents have seen him perform a wide variety of shows and styles. Prior to his return to the Gold Coast, Andrew was the Creative Arts, Entertainment and Aesthetics Manager at Australia’s most iconic harbourside Amusement Park ‘Luna Park Sydney’. Andrew is thrilled to be back home on Gold Coast shores and to once again return to the panel of the Gold Palm Theatre Awards to be able to nurture and encourage the talent of community theatre.

Mark has been involved with the Gold Coast Philharmonic Orchestra as an Oboe player since 1986 and as Conductor since 2000. 2009 saw Mark and The Philharmonic Society being nominated for the Cultural Achievement Award. He was also nominated for Citizen of the Year in the 2009 Australia Day Awards, and was the winner of the 2009 Gold Coast Honours - Entertainment Category. Mark was the Orchestral Conductor of the Gold Coast Arts Centre production of BROADWAY IN CONCERT and conducted performances of the professional production of CAROUSEL at Twelfth Night Theatre, Brisbane.