The 50th Annual Robert Finley Award Results
Held on Saturday 17th November 2026 at Joy Shepherd Performing Arts Centre at St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls. - For the performance year of 2025.
Special Awards
THE SHIELA BUCHANAN ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Western Theatrics
THE YVONNE HOUGH NEILSEN AWARD
Grant Malcolm: For continued performance excellence throughout the year and for embodying the spirit of Community theatre.
Schools
School Musicals
TOP FIVE SCHOOL MUSICALS (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
Legally Blonde - Mercedes College
Guys and Dolls - Aquinas College
Made in Dagenham – Presbyterian Ladies College
Anything Goes - Perth College
Footloose the Musical – Sacred Heart College.
BEST PERFORMER IN A SCHOOL MUSICAL
Sofia Bandini, “Erma” in Anything Goes - Perth College
TOP SCHOOL MUSICAL
Legally Blonde – Mercedes College
School Plays
TOP FIVE SCHOOL PLAYS (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
Playing Beattie Bow - Santa Maria College
Alice in Wonderland- Presbyterian Ladies’ College
Radium Girls - Corpus Christi College
Witches!? In Salem?! – St George’s Anglican Grammar School
Bad Auditions for Bad Actors – Presbyterian Ladies’ College.
TOP SCHOOL PLAY
Radium Girls – Corpus Christi College
BEST PERFORMER IN A SCHOOL PLAY
Layla Newman, “Kathryn” in Radium Girls - Corpus Christi College
Youth Productions
TOP FIVE YOUTH PRODUCTIONS (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
Elf Jr. - Western Theatrics
Newsies- Stirling Players
Disney’s Dare to Dream – Western Theatrics
Camp Rock – Playlovers
We Will Rock You , Young @part - Western Theatrics
THE AILSA TRAVERS AWARD FOR BEST YOUTH PRODUCTION
Camp Rock - Playlovers
One Acts
TOP FIVE ONE ACT PRODUCTIONS (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
Before I do – Stirling Players
Flushed - Roxy Lane Theatre
Salad Day - Irish Theatre Players
The Heist - Garrick Theatre Club
What If, If only - Melville Theatre
THE MIKE BINNS AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR OF A ONE ACT
Natalie Burbage – What if, If only – Melville Theatre
THE ROB DE VAACK AWARD FOR MOST INNOVATIVE ONE ACT
What If, If only – Melville Theatre
THE PETER KEMENY ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD | ONE ACT
Audrey Poor - For the writing and direction of Playing for Sheep Stations at Joondalup Encore Theatre Society.
THE JENNY MCNAE ADJUDICATORS AWARD | ONE ACT
The Heist – Garrick Theatre Club
THE BERYL SILVESTER AWARD FOR BEST NEW WRITING IN A ONE ACT
Yvette Wall – Before I Do – Stirling Players
BEST ACTOR IN A ONE ACT
Neale Paterson – “Sean” in Salad Day – Irish Theatre Players
BEST ACTRESS IN A ONE ACT
Lucy Eyre, “Someone” in What If, If Only - Melville Theatre
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A ONE ACT
Catherine Jane, “Meg” in Flushed - Roxy Lane Theatre
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A ONE ACT
James Nailen, “Edgar” in Playing For Sheep Stations - Joondalup Encore Theatre Society
THE PETER MANN AWARD FOR BEST COSTUMES IN A ONE ACT
Adam Giltrow - Sure Thing - Darlington Theatre Players
THE DOROTHY BARBER AWARD FOR BEST ONE ACT
What If, If only - Melville Theatre
Musicals
TOP TEN MUSICALS (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
Assassins – Roleystone Theatre
Xanadu – Art in Motion Theatre Company
Tuck Everlasting- Darlington Theatre Players
Chicago (Teen Edition) - Bel Canto Performing Arts
Tick Tick Boom! - Wanneroo Repertory Club Inc.
Shrek- Koorliny Arts Centre
The Mikado - Gilbert & Sullivan Society of WA
Alice by Heart – Wanneroo Repertory Club Inc.
American Idiot - Art in Motion Theatre Company
Guys and Dolls – Koorliny Arts Centre.
THE MARY WEBB AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
Sophie David – Tuck Everlasting – Darlington Theatre Players
BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Callum Presbury, Zac Skelton, Krispin Maesalu for American Idiot – Art in Motion Theatre Company
BEST CHOREOGRAPHER
Keely Roper for Alice By Heart - Wanneroo Repertory Club Inc.
BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Mark Thompson, “John Wilkes Booth” in Assassins – Roleystone Theatre Company
BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Ciara Taylor, “Fiona” in Shrek - Koorliny Arts Centre
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Jamie Jewell, “Nicely Nicely Johnson” in Guys and Dolls – Koorliny Arts Centre
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Breanna Redhead, “Callipe” in Xanadu – Art in Motion Theatre Company
THE CAROLE DHU AWARD FOR BEST ENSEMBLE IN A MUSICAL
American Idiot – Art in Motion Theatre Company
THE VERONICA OVERTON-LOW AWARD FOR YOUTH IN A MUSICAL
Calum Blakemore, “Amos” in Chicago (Teen Edition) - Bel Canto Performing Arts
THE TERRY MACAULEY AWARD FOR BEST COSTUMES IN A MUSICAL
Costume team, led by Escher Roe: (the late Ardea Murphy), Escher Roe, Natalie Wiles, Natalie Hamblin, Olga Blake-Mckenzie, Rae Saheli, Jasmine Decke, Tatiana Sheverda & Shelley McGinn – Alice by Heart, Wanneroo Repertory Club Inc.
THE KEVAN HOOK AWARD FOR BEST SET IN A MUSICAL
Aaron Lucas – Tuck Everlasting – Darlington Theatre Players
TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT IN A MUSICAL
Tuck Everlasting – Darlington Theatre Players
THE JEFF HANSEN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN LIGHTING DESIGN IN A MUSICAL
Shelly Miller and Ellie Jones – Tuck Everlasting- Darlington Theatre Players
THE ELIZABETH CREWES AWARD FOR FRONT OF HOUSE FOR A MUSICAL
The 12 Days of Christmas – Irish Theatre Players
THE YVONNE LYNCH BREAKTHROUGH AWARD FOR MUSICALS
Ella McCaughey – Alice by Heart – Wanneroo Repertory Club Inc.
THIRD-PLACED MUSICAL
American Idiot – Art In Motion theatre company
SECOND-PLACED MUSICAL
Chicago – Teen Edition -Bel Canto Performing Arts
ROBERT FINLEY AWARD FOR BEST MUSICAL
Tuck Everlasting – Darlington Theatre Players
PLAYS
TOP 10 PLAYS (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
At Sea, Staring up – Hayman Theatre
On a First Name Basis- Kalamunda Amateur dramatic Society
The Lady in the Van – Old Mill Theatre
Hansard - Garrick Theatre club
Red Silk - Koorliny Arts Centre
She Kills Monsters- Darlington Theatre Players
Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall – Garrick Theatre Club
Chalkface – Melville Theatre
Killing Katie, Confessions of a Bookclub – Stirling Players
Looped – Old Mill Theatre.
THE SUSAN HAYWARD AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR OF A PLAY
Geoff Leeder – Red Silk, Melville Theatre Company
BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY
Grant Malcolm – “Robin” in Hansard – Garrick Theatre Club
BEST ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Kylie Isaia – “Tallulah” in Looped – Old Mill Theatre
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Ieuan Wheelan – “Neville” in The Great Emu War – Goldfields Repertory Club
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Madelaine Page – “June” in Shrine - Darlington Theatre Players
THE TERRY HACKETT AWARD FOR BEST ENSEMBLE IN A PLAY
At Sea, Staring up – Hayman Theatre
THE BRIAN MADDOCKS AWARD FOR YOUTH IN A PLAY
Bonnie Creelman – “Vicky” – Lockie Leonard, Human Torpedo - Murray Music and Drama Club
THE BRENDA STANLEY AWARD FOR BEST COSTUMES IN A PLAY
Sarah Boyle - Men at Arms – Roleystone Theatre
THE DAVID CREWES AWARD FOR BEST SET IN A PLAY
Gary Wetherilt – She Kills Monsters - Darlington Theatre Players
THE HYWELL WILLIAMS AWARD FOR TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT IN A PLAY
At Sea, Staring up – Hayman Theatre
THE PAULINE LAWRENCE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN LIGHTING DESIGN IN A PLAY
Shelly Miller – She Kills Monsters – Darlington Theatre Players
THE GWYNE MARSHALL AWARD FOR FRONT OF HOUSE FOR A PLAY
Chalkface – Melville theatre
BREAKTHROUGH AWARD FOR PLAYS
Connie Wetherilt – She Kills Monsters -Darlington Theatre Players
THIRD-PLACED PLAY
Hansard – Garrick theatre Club
SECOND-PLACED PLAY
Red Silk – Koorliny Arts Centre
ROBERT FINLEY AWARD FOR BEST PLAY
Chalkface – Melville Theatre
Adjudicator Certificates
SCHOOLS
For a stand-out performance in a minor role; Raf Donovan as the Cortina Man in Made in Dagenham, performed by Presbyterian Ladies’ College.
Congratulations to Gokul Krishnakogulan in the role of Patty in School of Rock at Wesley College.
Supporting roles and playing live instruments Leticia Ferreira Marques, Matt Durey and Ollie Pink as Freddy, KT and Mason in School of Rock at Wesley College.
Lilian Cacho who took on the roles of Rosalie Mullins in School of Rock and Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls.
Larayne Lim for performing Keys Three in the Little Mermaid at Holy Cross College at such a young age.
For providing such a creative and modern twist on the choreography in Oliver Jr at Wanneroo Secondary College, Aleisha Cheetham Taylor
For brilliant piano playing whilst still playing a character, Daniel Nievelstein Zen Zen Zo’s The Tempest, St Stephens School.
ONE ACTS
Jayden Pope and Kate De Abreu for a wonderfully authentic brother and sister dynamic in “Disharmonies” by Marlequin productions.
For delivering a theatrical renewal of exceptional quality Joondalup Encore Theatre Society.
For a very clever and inventive use of theatre space to Therapy go Round at Garrick Theatre.
For an imaginative and creative stage exit. Darlington Theatre Players - A Sure Thing.
For an outstanding partnership in a one act; Susan Lynch and Neale Paterson for Salad Day at the Irish Theatre Players.
To Jett Newton for an incredible drum solo in Freaky Friday at St Mark’s Anglican School.
To the choreographer and ensemble of Guys and Dolls at Aquinas College for a brilliant tap ensemble.
MUSICALS
Alex Baker and Clodagh Rush for their “Dad Jokes in a Panto” in 12 Days of Christmas by the Irish Theatre Players.
Goldfields Repertory Club for their innovative staging of Guys and Dolls.
Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat – Primadonna Productions, for the camel costumes.
The seagulls from Finding Nemo Jr, at The Production Academy for their excellent synchronicity in the audience
For their detailed Props, goes to Roleystone Theatre's production of Assassins.
The “Jack of all trades” – Tayla Cherie, 9 to 5, Bunbury Musical Comedy Group.
For a perfectly depicted, colourful and entertaining caterpillar in Limelight Theatre's production of Alice by Heart.
Murray Music and Drama Club for “the connections” in Big Fish.
Hallelujah Selepe and Gioji Nawanana for their Interval Entertainment during Koorliny Arts Centre's production of Guys and Dolls
To Western Theatrics for their fantastic Bower Bird and Peacock, costumes and onstage antics in Dot and the Kangaroo.
For his humourous, consistent and believable drunk performance, Charlie Darlington in Guys and Dolls at Koorliny Arts Centre.
To Mark Thompson and Peter Carr; the “show must go on award” for stepping in at Sweeney Todd, Garrick Theatre.
Idrus Wake, for resilience in difficult circumstances - Moana Jr, Primadonna Productions.
Berkley Blizzard from the Production Academy for her backstage work in Finding Nemo Jr.
The “Cinderella Transformation” in Cinderella at The Murray Music and Drama Club.
PLAYS
“The Dragon” in She Kills Monsters – Darlington Theatre Players
For a detailed program with such attention to detail. Congratulations to The Lady in the Van for their programme at the Old Mill Theatre.
For their creative use of space and stage, Frankenstein, at Wanneroo Repertory Club inc.
For ensemble acting within a show, Candice Preston, Verity Lux and Mary Carter, from She Kills Monsters at Darlington Theatre Players.
Wayne Herring for painting a beautiful oil painting for 8 women at the old Mill Theatre for Playlovers.
Melville Theatre Company's Chalkface, for their “Detailed rebuilding of the set every performance”
Lockie Leonard, Human Torpedo, Murray Music and Drama Club, for the choice of incidental music by a young director
Keaton Howe from the Great Emu War, Goldfields Repertory Club for puppetry creation and operation.