Speech in the ACT Legislative Assembly
23 February 2010
On Saturday night I was very pleased to be able to attend this year’s ActewAGL Canberra Area Theatre Awards.
Mary Porter and I were proud to be a part of welcoming the biggest crowd ever to a CAT Awards Night. I note that my Liberal colleagues Steve Doszpot MLA and Vicki Dunne MLA were there and are keen supporters of the CATs.
I would like to pay special tribute to the board and judges for their continued excellent work, and in particular, Coralie Wood OAM for her dedication to theatre in our region.
I will reiterate the sentiments I said in this Chamber on 17 November last year: I hope the CAT Awards is given full consideration for possible ACT Government funding. If we’re going to have programs to support the arts, it amazes me that the CAT Awards which motivates so many people, harnesses so much talent, engages tens if not hundreds of thousands of people through the audiences of the shows, fails to be supported. We can’t take the CAT Awards for granted.
This year, the recipients of the awards were as follows:
1. Ryleho Home Solutions – Best Set Designer for a Play
Russell Brown, Canberra Repertory, It Runs In The Family
and
Bill Deveril, Spectrum Theatre Group, The Club
2. Ryleho Home Solutions – Best Set Designer for a Musical
David Todd, Livid Productions, Jesus Christ Superstar
3. Best Lighting Designer
Adam Boon, Livid Productions, Jesus Christ Superstar
4. John Thomson – Magic Moment of Theatre
Lyneham High School, for Aida
and
Kinross Wolaroi Preparatory School, Strictly Zorro!
5. Community Theatre Award
SFP Productions, for raising money for a number of charities
6. Technical Achievement
James Mcpherson, For Sound Design in Miss Saigon
7. Canberra Repertory Society – Best Costume Designer for a Play
Rebekah Cartwright, University Theatre Ensemble, Gormenghast
8. Best Costume Designer for a Musical
Candy Burgess, Bay Theatre Players, Seussical the Musical
and
Coty Farquhar, SHYAC, The Wizard of Oz
9. University of Canberra – Best Original Work
Joshua McHugh, ANU School of Music, Grimm and the Blue Crown Owl
10. University of Canberra – Best Original Work for a School or Youth Production
Drama Students, Canberra Girls’ Grammar School, Generation Y
11. Best Ensemble in a Play
The Cast, University Theatre Ensemble, Gormenghast
12. Best Actor in a Featured Role in a School or Youth Play
Ben Kindon, Canberra Grammar School, The Truth
13. Best Actress in a Featured Role in a School or Youth Play
Jessica White, Canberra Girls’ Grammar School, Dinkum Assorted
14. UC Co-Op Bookshop – Best Actor in a Featured Role in a School or Youth Musical
Blake Appelqvist, Marist College, Jesus Christ Superstar
15. UC Co-Op Bookshop – Best Actress in a Featured Role in a School or Youth Musical
Lucy Ridge, Lyneham High School, Aida
16. Queanbeyan Players Best Actor in a Leading Role in a School or Youth Play
Roscoe Walker, Canberra Grammar School, Charley’s Aunt
17. Queanbeyan Players Best Actress in a Leading Role in a School or Youth Play
Joanna Richards, Canberra Girls’ Grammar School, Dinkum Assorted
18. Blumers Lawyers Best Actor in a Leading Role in a School or Youth Musical
Bill Bourchier, Marist College, Jesus Christ Superstar
19. Blumers Lawyers Best Actress in a Leading Role in a School or Youth Musical
Caitlin Dickson, James Sheahan Catholic High School, Seussical the Musical
20. Taps Dancewear – Best Production of a School or Youth Play
Canberra Grammar School, Charley’s Aunt
21. OC Dance Studio – Best Production of a School or Youth Musical
Marist College, Jesus Christ Superstar
22. ACT Government – Best Contribution On or Off Stage By An ACT Senior
Oliver Baudert for various productions
23. Patricia Kelson Encouragement Award
Sarah Wall, Cooma Little Theatre, Stepping Out
24. Radio 2CC Best Variety Performance By An Individual or Ensemble
Dick Goldberg and Ian Croker, Canberra Repertory Society, Jazz Garters
25. Radio 2CC Best Ensemble in a Musical
The Cast, Don Hillam Entertainment, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
26. Radio 2CC Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Ian Hart, Canberra Repertory Society, It Runs in the Family
27. Radio 2CC Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Allyn Smith, The Dubbo Theatre Company, Spamalot
28. LJ Hooker Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Kiki Skountzos, Free Rain Theatre Company, Charlotte’s Web
29. LJ Hooker Finance Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Christine Forbes, Queabeyan City Council, Chess
30. Niltac Enterprises Best Musical Director for a School or Youth Production
William Moxey, Kinross Wolaroi School, Les Miserables
31. Teatro Vivaldi Restaurant Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Duncan Driver, Everyman Theatre, Latin! or Tobacco and Boys
and
Tony Falla, Canberra Repertory Society, Runs in the Family
32. Teatro Vivaldi Restaurant Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Bill Jayet, Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society, Oliver
33. Teatro Vivaldi Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Naone Carrel, Canberra Repertory Society, Amy’s View
34. Teatro Vivaldi Restaurant Best Actress in a Leading role in a Musical
Jacinta Le from Miss Saigon by Supa Productions and Phoenix Players
and
Meredith Adams from The Last 5 Years by MMM Productions
35. DSP Productions Best Director of a Play
Brandon Martignago, Child Players ACT, Hating Alison Ashley
36. Stage Whispers Best Director of a Musical or Variety Show
Mark Grentell, Don Hillam Entertainment, The 25th Annual Putney County Spelling Bee
37. Channel Vision Best Musical Director
Lucy Bermingham, Queanbeyan City Council, Chess
38. Richards Consulting Best Choreographer
Lisa Buckley, Canberra Repertory Society, Jazz Garters
39. Best Production of a Play
Canberra Repertory Society, It Runs in the Family
40. Best Production of a Variety Show
The Milton Ulladulla Entertainers, You Can’t Stop the Music
41. Best Production of a Musical
Don Hillam Entertainment, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
42. The ActewAGL Gold Cat Award
Lyn Townsend, Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society
I thank the board, judges, sponsors, performers, technicians, organisers, families and audiences who make theatre in our region as strong as it is.
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