MS KIRRI ADAMS
(Foundation Judge)
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 major TV shows and is involved with the Vocal Section of the GC Eisteddfod. Recently 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. She is a sought-after singing teacher on the Gold Coast.



MS GAI BYRNE
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.


MRS JUDY GADALOFF
B.A., B.Ed.St., A.MusA., A.S.D.A., L.S.D.A.
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.


MS STEFFANIE GOWLAND
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. She is a three-time finalist and winner of the Gold Palm Award for Vocal Direction. She is enthusiastic about community theatre and is very honoured and excited to join the panel of esteemed judges for the Gold Palm Awards. Recent appearances have included DOWNTOWN, INTO THE WOODS and BROADWAY BLOCKBUSTER.



MS DEL HALPIN
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 a triple winner of the best actress award. 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.


MR CHRIS HAWKINS
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, SEA CHANGE). Chris will direct his first stage production in 2020.


MR DAVID HUDDY
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.



MS TRACEY KRIZ
Dip T (Primary), Grad Dip Mus Ed, AMusA.
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.



MS KATRINA LARDNER
Katrina’s career began in Canberra with winning her school talent quest singing “Bosum Buddies” with her mum, then being cast In GREASE, PAJAMA GAME and ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Moving to the Coast in 2005 to be closer to her parents, her career now includes a Queensland Tour with THE PICCADILLY OLDE TIME MUSIC HALL, KISS ME KATE, FUNNY GIRL IN CONCERT, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, RUTHLESS - THE MUSICAL, LET'S MISBEHAVE, ALL SHOOK UP (Gold Palm Award 2012 as Best Supporting Actress in a Musical) and Spotlight's TAKE A CHANCE ON ME. Katrina’s panto roles include SLEEPING BEAUTY, SNOW WHITE & PETER PAN. She has performed most recently in HELLO, DOLLY!, OLDE TIME MUSIC HALL and WELCOME BACK, BROADWAY!



MRS KATE PETERS, OAM
(Awards Convenor/Creator; Foundation Judge)
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 also runs the Showbiz Celebrity Luncheon Club, Top Hat Theatre Parties, writes a weekly showbiz column for the Gold Coast Bulletin (Dressing Roomers) and has a weekly Showbiz slot on Radio 4CRB. 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 was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for Services to Entertainment on the Gold Coast in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2019.


ANDREW ROSS-GRAHAM
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 Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) 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.



MR MARK TURPIN
Dip Teach. Mus, B. Ed and I.B.D.P.
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.