The 48th Annual Robert Finley Award Results
Held on 13th January 2024 at Marist Auditorium at Newman College. For the performance year of December 2022 to November 2023.
Featuring performances from Wickie on the Wind — Darlington Theatre Players, Catch Me If You Can — Koorliny Arts Centre, By the Bog of Cats — Irish Theatre Players, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee — Murray Music and Drama Club
Where nominees are listed, the winners are marked in bold.
Special Awards
ITA Committee
Life Member
Bronwyn Hammond
Liam Gobbert
Hall of Fame
Gordon ‘The Optom’ Johnston
Neroli Sweetman
Unsung Hero
Yvonne Starr
Adjudicators
The Shiela Buchanan Achievement Award
Art In Motion Theatre Company
The Yvonne Hough Neilsen Award
This award tonight is recognising a particular company. This company was newly established in 2023. Through dramaturgy and insightfulness, they have educated today’s audience of a particular time in history. The cast and creative team delivered a sensitive performance and should be proud of their overall dramatic meaning of the performance, The Final Line. This award goes to the The Great Indian Theatre Company.
The Yvonne Lynch Breakthrough Award
Joshua Hollander for Musical Directing Trail To Oregon — Art In Motion Theatre Company
Christopher Alvaro for Director Lovers: Winners — PAANDA
Sophie David for Director The Wind in the Willows — Darlington Theatre Players
Micheal Carroll for Director Trail To Oregon — Art In Motion Theatre Company
Rp van der Westhuizen for Director The Matchmaker — The Murray Music and Drama Club
The Hywell Williams Award for Technical Achievement
Quiz — Melville Theatre Company
Be More Chill — Art In Motion Theatre Company
Aladdin Jr — Aquinas College
When the Rain Stops Falling — Hayman Theatre Company
By the Bog of Cats — Irish Theatre Players
The Elizabeth Crewes Award for Front of House
Nuncrackers — Goldfields Repertory Club
Snow White (The Off-White Version) — Irish Theatre Players
Behind Closed Doors — The Murray Music and Drama Club
Little Women — Stage Left Theatre Troupe
Jugular Vain — Bunbury Repertory Club
Youth Productions
Top Five Youth productions (In No Particular Order)
13 the Musical — Colourblind Theatre Company
Anything Goes: Youth Edition — Bel Canto Performing Arts
School of Rock — Aquinas College
Lion King Junior — Primadonna Productions
Disney Frozen Jr — Kalamunda Senior High School
The Ailsa Travers Award for Best Youth Production
Anything Goes: Youth Edition — Bel Canto Performing Arts
One Acts
Top Five One Act Productions (In No Particular Order)
One Lane Bridge — Darlington Theatre Players
Zoo Story — Irish Theatre Players
Wickie On The Wind — Darlington Theatre Players
Too Many Daughters — Darlington Theatre Players
Two Birds With One Stone — Irish Theatre Players
The Mike Binns Award for Best Director of a One Act
Adam Giltrow and Ellien Warden for One Lane Bridge — Darlington Theatre Players
Michael McCall for Zoo Story — Irish Theatre Players
Taneal Thompson for Too Many Daughters — Darlington Theatre Players
The Rob De Vaack Award for Most Innovative One Act
One Lane Bridge — Darlington Theatre Players
Wickie on the Wind — Darlington Theatre Players
Say That Again — BobbleHead Nanna And The Unsteady Hand Mob
The Peter Kemeny Encouragement Award in a One Act
Zavier Wileman
The Jenny McNae Adjudicators Award in a One Act
Say That Again — BobbleHead Nanna and the Unsteady Hand Mob
The Beryl Silvester Award for Best New Writing in a One Act
Chris McRae for Wickie on the Wind — Darlington Theatre Players
Siobhan Wright for Ring Ring — Roxy Lane Theatre
Noel O’Neill for Two Birds With One Stone — Irish Theatre Players
The Peter Mann Award for Best Costumes in a One Act
Marjorie DeCaux for Too Many Daughters — Darlington Theatre Players
Heather Marshall and Siobhan Wright for Maggie And the Magic Lamp — Roxy Lane Theatre
Marjorie DeCaux and Chris McRae for Wickie on the Wind — Darlington Theatre Players
Best Actor in a One Act
Grant Malcolm as Peter in Zoo Story — Irish Theatre Players
Patrick Downes as Jerry in Zoo Story — Irish Theatre Players
Keaton Humphreys as Eli in One Lane Bridge — Darlington Theatre Players
Best Actress in a One Act
Prakriti Rayamajhi as Jane in Ring Ring — Roxy Lane Theatre
Amanda Walker as Maggie in Maggie and the Magic Lamp — Roxy Lane Theatre
Jessica Wilkins as Samantha in One Lane Bridge — Darlington Theatre Players
Best Supporting Actor in a One Act
William O’Brien as Greg in Oprah Made Me Do It — Beverley Amateur Dramatics
Gavin Crane as Alistair Blackwood in Too Many Daughters — Darlington Theatre Players
Kieran Ridgway as Cecil Thornburn in Too Many Daughters — Darlington Theatre Players
Best Supporting Actress in a One Act
Heather Marshall as Mary Jo in Maggie and the Magic Lamp — Roxy Lane Theatre
Sophie David as Gwendolyn Blackwood in Too Many Daughters — Darlington Theatre Players
Candice Preston as Lady Thornburn in Too Many Daughters — Darlington Theatre Players
The Dorothy Barber Award for Best One Act Production
One Lane Bridge — Darlington Theatre Players
Musicals
Top Five Musicals (In No Particular Order)
Trail To Oregon — Art In Theatre Motion Theatre Company
Catch Me If You Can — Koorliny Arts Centre
Anything Goes: Youth Edition — Bel Canto Performing Arts
Once Upon A Mattress — Art In Theatre Motion Theatre Company
The 25th Putnam Spelling Bee — Murray Music and Drama Club
The Mary Webb Award for Best Director of a Musical
Katherine Freind for Catch Me If You Can — Koorliny Arts Centre
Rachel Vonk for Once Upon A Mattress — Art in Motion Theatre Company
Micheal Carroll for Trail To Oregon — Art in Motion Theatre Company
Blake Jenkins for Anything Goes: Youth Edition — Bel Canto Performing Arts
Lori Anders for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee — The Murray Music and Drama Club
Best Musical Director
James Turner and Roger Hey for Mamma Mia! — Albany Light Opera and Theatre Company
Donna Markovic & Cathy Rainey for Grease — Albany Light Opera and Theatre Company
Joshua Hollander for Trail to Oregon — Art in Motion Theatre Company
Tara Oorjitham for Once Upon A Mattress — Art in Motion Theatre Company
Taui Pinker for Company — Wanneroo Repertory Club
Best Choreographer
Kate Leeder for Catch Me If You Can — Koorliny Arts Centre
Kelly Seaton & Lachy McLean for Grease — Albany Light Opera & Theatre Company
Christina Treg for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee — The Murray Music and Drama Club
Matilda Jenkins for Anything Goes: Youth Edition — Bel Canto Performing Arts
Keri-Rose Baker for Once Upon A Mattress — Art in Motion Theatre Company
Best Actor in a Musical
Joshua Firman as Frank Abagnale Jr in Catch Me If You Can — Koorliny Arts Centre
Chris Gerrish as Carl Hanratty in Catch Me If You Can — Koorliny Arts Centre
Elliot Peacock as Jeremy in Be More Chill — Art in Motion Theatre Company
Lachy McGregor as Danny in Grease — Albany Light Opera and Theatre Company
Riley Merigan as Everyone else in Trail To Oregon — Art in Motion Theatre Company
Best Actress in a Musical
Verity Lux as Son in Trail To Oregon — Art In Motion Theatre Company
Arianne Westcott-King as Lady Larkin in Once Upon a Mattress — Art in Motion Theatre Company
Isabella Bourgault as Esther in Seven Little Australians — Stirling Theatre
Escher Roe as Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee — The Murray Music and Drama Club
Brittany Isaia as Daughter in Trail To Oregon — Art in Motion Theatre Company
Best Supporting Actor in a Musical
Marshall Brown as Squip in Be More Chill — Art In Motion Theatre Company
Mark Thompson as Thenardier in Les Miserables — Laughing Horse Productions
Kailem Mollard as Rich in Be More Chill — Art In Motion Theatre Company
Christian Dichiera as Vittorio Vidalt in Sweet Charity — Roleystone Theatre
Matthew Clarke as Doody in Grease — Albany Light Opera and Theatre Company
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical
Belinda Butler as Mad Margaret in Ruddigore — The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of WA
Carmen Fasolo as Tanya in Mamma Mia — Albany Light Opera and Theatre Company
Charlotte Louise as Marta in Company — Wanneroo Repertory Club
Cortni Cooper as Nickie in Sweet Charity — Roleystone Theatre
Clara Lee as Brooke in Be More Chill — Art in Motion Theatre Company
The Carole Dhu Award for Best Ensemble in a Musical
Catch Me If You Can — Koorliny Arts Centre
Anything Goes: Youth Edition — Bel Canto Performing Arts
Frozen Jr — Kalamunda Senior High School
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee — The Murray Music and Drama Club
Trail to Oregon — Art in Motion Theatre Company
The Veronica Overton-Low Award for Youth in a Musical
Holly Creelman as Rafiki in Lion King Junior — Primadonna Productions
Hallelujah Selepe as Patrice in 13 the Musical — Colourblind Theatre Company
Brodie Christie as Reno in Anything Goes: Youth Edition — Bel Canto Performing Arts
Matt Ballantine as Billy in Anything Goes: Youth Edition — Bel Canto Performing Arts
Jack Churchman as Moonface in Anything Goes: Youth Edition — Bel Canto Performing Arts
The Terry McAuley Award for Best Costumes in a Musical
Melissa Kelly for Anything Goes: Youth Edition — Bel Canto Performing Arts
Carole Dhu, Jacky Creelman, Ruth Creelman & Tammy Peckover for Lion King Jr — Primadonna Productions
Lyn Leeder for Catch Me If You Can — Koorliny Arts Centre
Kate Nightingale for The SpongeBob Musical — Presbyterian Ladies’ College
Veronica Hudson and Gail Reading for Ruddigore — The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of WA
The Kevan Hook Award for Best Set in a Musical
Findlay MacNish for Grease — Albany Light Opera and Theatre Company
Barry Boyd for HMS Pinafore — The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of WA
Blake Jenkins for Anything Goes: Youth Edition — Bel Canto Performing Arts
Craig Griffen for Little Shop of Horrors — Melville Theatre Company
Lori Anders for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee — The Murray Music and Drama Club
The Jeff Hansen Award for Excellence in Lighting Design in a Musical
John Woolrych for Seven Little Australians — Stirling Theatre
Stephen Carr for Sweet Charity — Roleystone Theatre
Kate Lloyd for Catch Me If You Can — Koorliny Arts Centre
Chloe Palliser for Peter Pan — Koorliny Arts Centre
Craig Griffen for Little Shop of Horrors — Melville Theatre
Third-placed Musical
Anything Goes: Youth Edition — Bel Canto Performing Arts
Second-placed Musical
Once Upon A Mattress — Art In Theatre Motion Theatre Company
Robert Finley Award for Best Musical
Catch Me If You Can — Koorliny Arts Centre
PLAYS
Top Ten Plays (In No Particular Order)
Private Lives — Old Mill Theatre
Much Ado About Nothing — Darlington Theatre Players
Richard III — GRADS
Banging Denmark — Harbour Theatre
No Exit — KADS
The Man From Earth — Old Mill Theatre
The Final Line — The Great Indian Theatre Company
The Normal Heart — GRADS
By The Bog Of Cats — Irish Theatre Players
The Wind In The Willows — Darlington Theatre Players
The Susan Hayward Award for Best Director of a Play
Virginia Moore-Price for No Exit — Kalamunda Dramatic Society
Siobhan Vincent for Much Ado About Nothing — Darlington Theatre Players
Lucy Eyre for By The Bog of Cats — Irish Theatre Players
Barry Park for Private Lives — Old Mill Theatre
Virginia Moore-Price for The Man From Earth — Old Mill Theatre
Best Actor in a Play
Jacob Lane as John in The Man From Earth — Old Mill Theatre
Alex Comstock as Richard III in Richard III — GRADS Theatre Company
Peter Neaves as Garcin in No Exit — Kalamunda Dramatic Society
Andrew Govey as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing — Darlington Theatre Players
Zane Alexander as Ned in The Normal Heart — GRADS Theatre Company
Best Actress in a Play
Suzannah Churchman as Inez in No Exit — Kalamunda Dramatic Society
Grace Edwards as Ishtar in Banging Denmark — Harbour Theatre
Solonje Burns as Hester Swane in By the Bog of Cats — Irish Theatre Players
Jenny Howard as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing — Darlington Theatre Players
Kirstie Francis as Lydia Martin in The Actress — Kalamunda Dramatic Society
Best Supporting Actor in a Play
Tony Petani as Clarence and Lord Mayor in Richard III — GRADS
Murray Jackson as Chris, Jim, Des and Leslie in Quiz — Melville Theatre Company
Brian O’Donovan as Paul Smith and Paddy Spooner in Quiz — Melville Theatre Company
Andreas Petalas as Ghost Fancier and Ghost of Joseph in By the Bog of Cats — Irish Theatre Players
Steven Hounsome as Felix in The Normal Heart — GRADS Theatre Company
Best Supporting Actress in a Play
Susan Lynch as Mrs Kilbride in By The Bog Of Cats — Irish Theatre Players
Madelaine Page as York and Catesby in Richard III — GRADS Theatre Company
Suzannah Churchman as Catwoman in By the Bog of Cats — Irish Theatre Players
Katherine De Vere as Queen Margaret in Richard III — GRADS Theatre Company
Anna Head as Dr Emma Brookner in The Normal Heart — GRADS Theatre Company
The Terry Hackett Award for Best Ensemble in a Play
Through These Lines — Darlington Theatre Players
By The Bog of Cats — Irish Theatre Players
Curtain Up! — Primadonna Productions
The Normal Heart — GRADS Theatre Company
The Final Line — The Great Indian Theatre Company
The Brian Maddocks Award for Youth in a Play
Skye Wiltshire as Josie Killbride in By The Bog Of Cats — Irish Theatre Players
Ethan Lucas as Mole The Wind in the Willows — Darlington Theatre Players
Jack Churchman as The Shadow in No Exit — Kalamunda Dramatic Society
Keaton Humphreys as Jack in The York Realist — Garrick Theatre
Travis Wildsmith as Harold Beecham in My Brilliant Career — Garrick Theatre
The Brenda Stanley Award for Best Costumes in a Play
Kathryn Wackett and Marjorie DeCaux for Much Ado About Nothing — Darlington Theatre Players
Kathryn Wackett for Through These Lines — Darlington Theatre Players
Merri Ford for Pride and Prejudice — Old Mill Theatre
Marjorie DeCaux for The Wind in the Willows — Darlington Theatre Players
Tammy Peckover for The Matchmaker — The Murray Music and Drama Club
The David Crewes Award for Best Set in a Play
Jake Newby for Much Ado About Nothing — Darlington Theatre Players
Ellien Warden for The Wind in the Willows — Darlington Theatre Players
George Boyd for Private Lives — Old Mill Theatre
Lucy Eyre and Claire Wynne for By the Bog of Cats — Irish Theatre Players
Virginia Moore-Price for The Man From Earth — Old Mill Theatre
The Pauline Lawrence Award for Excellence in Lighting Design in a Play
Virginia Moore-Price for The Man From Earth — Old Mill Theatre
Virginia Moore-Price for No Exit — Kalamunda Dramatic Society
Katharina Brieden for When the Rain Stops Falling — Hayman Theatre Company
Fiona Reid for By the Bog of Cats — Irish Theatre Players
Sreekanth Gopalakrishnan for The Final Line — The Great Indian Theatre Company
Third-placed Play
The Man From Earth — Old Mill Theatre
Second-placed Play
By The Bog Of Cats — Irish Theatre Players
The Robert Finley Award for Best Play
No Exit — Kalamunda Dramatic Society
Adjudicator Certificates
For holding strong and true to his harmonies, Lucas Johnson in Seussical Junior — Aquinas College
For a most prissy and rat-like performance, Chloe Wiggers in The Wind in the Willows — Darlington Theatre Players
For the most joyful conducting, Kieran Ridgway for Be More Chill — Art In Motion Theatre Company
For a very clever butterfly effect of stationary flying from a cupboard giving a great visual for the audience, Setare Mogharebin for Dead Man’s Cell Phone — Hayman Theatre Company
For the double Dewey award, for excellent characterisation from both actors in the role of Dewey, Jack Zaninovich and Jake Zito in School of Rock — Aquinas College
For maintaining front of house professionalism and care for the audience despite the difficulties currently presented as the building awaits new management — Harbour Theatre
For the next level group dynamics, filled with fun and animal energy, the ferret and weasel crew, Suzy June Wakeling, Tashlin Church, Aaron Lucas, Sully Lawrence. William Swadling, Harrison Ricci, Harley Miletic, Myles Curran-West in Wind In The Willows — Darlington Theatre Players
For bringing passion and vigour, as well as complete and utter commitment to the instrument of the maraca, Sebastian Robinson-Cook in The Western Jukebox — Playlovers
For giving an electrical shock performance, Paul Anderson in Absurd Person Singular — Stirling Players
For providing believability to the recreation of the park scene whilst remaining completely professional and not scene stealing, Hudson the Dog in Sweet Charity — Roleystone Theatre
For the Spanish brothers, with their characters delivering a comical performance, Titouan Lesourd and Nathan Bonham in The Odd Couple — Roleystone Theatre
For reviving the spirit, energy and devotion towards the spirit of cooking in the guise of Julia Child, Owen Hinton in Nuncrackers — Goldfields Repertory Club
For her colourful panel design, Beth Grant for Man From Earth — Old Mill Theatre
For the sensitive direction of a grief filled story, whilst also performing main roles, Christopher Hill and Erin Hegarty in Rabbit Hole — Old Mill Theatre
For being convincing non-player characters, Charlie Darlington and Chloe Smith in Be More Chill — Art In Motion Theatre Company
For creative and talented sound design playing percussion, Alison Mak in The Persians — Hayman Theatre Company
For being super-efficient, well skilled and organised with the many props and costumes pieces required throughout their whole performance as The Cat In The Hat, Ollie Baumwol in Seussical Jr — Aquinas College
For his composition of music throughout the whole performance, Myles Wright for The Normal Heart — GRADS Theatre Company
For being an amazing young performer with solo dance routine, Mila Rose Campbell in Seven Little Australians — Stirling Players
For bringing to the theatre, a great initiative, having Auslan sign language at a performance, — Melville Theatre Company
Adjudicators’ Certificate for Best School Production
School of Rock — Aquinas College
Mamma Mia — Ashdale Secondary College
Frozen Jr — Kalamunda Senior High School
The SpongeBob Musical — Presbyterian Ladies College
Aladdin Jr — Aquinas College