Brisbane Arts Theatre Drama Festival Results

Well, that was a big weekend! I adjudicated the Brisbane Arts Theatre’s 24th Annual Drama Festival. You will see the results below and, when I have a moment and I’ve posted last week’s reviews for my intrepid reviewers, Meredith and Michelle, I’ll post my comments, which I talked through before presenting the awards last night. Apparently this is slightly unusual? I thought it was important to provide some specific feedback for each group and, as a performer myself, I know the value of contextualising the feedback another company receives. We all slip into the same bad habits sometimes and it’s a great reminder – especially when everybody has enjoyed all of the plays – to talk through each production. Companies will, of course, also receive electronic copies of the comments that apply specifically to their production. I saw lots of nodding heads and smiling faces as I was going through my notes but even so, I reminded the players that my opinion is only one opinion and, as we well know, I have my critics too!

I’m super impressed with the overall standard at this year’s Brisbane Arts Theatre Drama Festival and I look forward to the next opportunity that I have to see so much theatre in the one place, over just one weekend (17th – 19th August at Buderim Memorial Hall), at the Sunshine Coast Theatre Festival. If you’re up for it, come for the weekend (a Festival Pass will set you back just $35). If you’re around for the following Saturday (25th August at Lind Lane Theatre) come and support our Youth Theatre Festival. Keep an eye out soon for our upcoming TVC on local Channel 7.

We’re absolutely delighted to welcome our Sunshine Coast adjudicator for this year, Kate Foy.

There are other festivals happening in the meantime (Beenleigh? Sandgate?). Check out the Facebook group (thank you, John McMahon, for your kind words over there!), or the host theatre company websites for details.

Congratulations to everybody involved in the wonderful productions at Brisbane Arts! Next up for Brisbane Arts Theatre is an improvised show, created by one of our winners, Natalie Bochenski and Impro Mafia, Critical Hit, an off-the-cuff fantasy comedy, in which the audience makes up the rules!

To the team at Brisbane Arts Theatre, congratulations on a successful, enjoyable festival and thanks again for having me!

P.S. Girls, I wore leggings and a drape top from blackmilkclothing.com and my amazing array of teas included Coconut Chai, Rose with French Vanilla and Italian Almond!

Youth Awards:

Best Actor
Daniel Taylor (Gossip)

Best Supporting Actor
Myles van Ryan (Mack in Gossip)

Best Actress
Aleisha Deryk (Jill in Humpty)

Best Supporting Actress
Tegan MacDonald (Mary Mary & Old Mother Hubbard in Humpty)

BestDirector
Amy Ingram and Natalie Trust (Gossip)

Best Play
Gossip

Second best play
Whatever Happened to Humpty

Third best play
The Pirate Game

Best Backstage Conduct

Fractal Theatre Company (The Pirate Game)

Adjudicator’s Awards
1. Dominic Stevenson (Captain Blackheart in The Pirate Game)
2. Kai Stevenson (Short John in The Pirate Game)
3. Archie Horneman-Wren (the Guard in The Pirate Game)
4. Finn Riodan (Old King Cole in Whatever happened to Humpty?)
5. Isobel Rose (Phoebe in Gossip)

YouthLeadershipAward
Fractal Theatre Company

 

Open Awards

Best Actor – Drama
Ben Dyson (Who the Fuck is Erica Price)

Best Actor – Comedy
Reagan Warner (Level 12)

Best Supporting Actor
Mark Lucas

Best Actress – Drama
Susan O’Toole

Best Actress – Comedy
Anna McMahon

Best Supporting Actress
Kate Cullen

Best Director
Shirley Lucas

Best Play
Narcissistica

Second Best Play
Who the Fuck is Erica Price?

Third Best Play
Downsize

Best Australian Script
Who the Fuck is Erica Price?

by Sarah Brill

Most Creative Set Design
Level 12

Best Backstage Conduct

Golden Glove Productions (Level 12)

Adjudicator’s Awards
1. Elodie Boal (Writer, Performer: Crush)
2. Sarah McMahon (Writer, Performer: I’m a Pisces, He’s an Asshole)
3. Karen Peart (Performer: All For the Nation)
4. Alison Kerr (Dir: Who the Fuck is Erica Price?)
5. Natalie Bochenski (Writer, Director & Performer: Downsize)

Special mentions to:

Kirsty, Shirley and Michelle (Narcissistica)

David Breen (Freedom)

Sue Sewell (Still Life)

Downstage Theatre Company (Cut!)

 

Congratulations to the cast and crew of Level 12 which performed at Brisbane Arts this weekend. Reagan Warner won Best Actor in a Comedy and the team won Best Backstage Conduct- nice work Reagan and team! And a very special award went to Nick Beck for his set creation of the elevator in Level 12, winning Most Creative Set Design! We asked Nick if he could design an elevator frame that could beset up in 10min., striked in 5min., fit onto 9 different stages and be collapsable enough to be packed into a Toyota Yaris. We asked, and he created! Well done Nick! Nick and Bronte Salmond also added some extra supports to the set this year to make it even more safe and sturdy than it already was. Thank you for your creativity, generosity and design work. And just to make this award even more special, this is the Jo Peirce Memorial Shield, our beloved friend and mentor who we are sure was watching us from her seat all weekend. We said the show was for you Jo xx 

– Kate Beck Golden Glove Productions