The Robert Finley Awards Rules
Theatrical Year 2027

Link to the 2026 Rules and Regulations

Section 1: Agreements

1.1 Application of the Rules

1.1.1 These rules are The Robert Finley Award Rules (“Rules”) and apply to The Robert Finley Awards (“Finleys”) unless otherwise expressly stated.

1.1.2 By entering the Finleys, Member Clubs/Schools agree to be bound by the Rules.

1.1.3 It is the responsibility of the Member Club/School to ensure all participants connected to the entered production are notified of these Rules.

1.2 Rule Updates

1.2.1 The Rules will be displayed on the Independent Theatre Association (“ITA”) website.

1.2.2 The ITA reserves the right to cancel or amend the Finleys without notice in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside the ITA’s reasonable control.

1.2.3 Any further changes to the Rules will be notified to Member Clubs/School and be posted on the ITA website.

1.3 Mediation of Rules

1.3.1 In the event of any dispute regarding the Rules, conduct, results and all other matters relating to the Finleys, the decision of the ITA shall be final and no correspondence or discussion will be entered into.

Section 2: Qualifying Entry Conditions

2.1 Entering the Finleys

2.1.1 Only Members Clubs/Schools who have completed their membership form and paid their membership fees can enter the Finleys.

2.1.2 Member Clubs/Schools must have completed the entry forms (see 3.3) and paid the entry fee (see 7) prior to the opening night of their entry.

2.2 Entry Information

2.2.1 By entering the Finleys, the entering Member Club/School hereby warrants that all information submitted is true, current and complete.

2.2.2 The ITA reserves the right to verify the eligibility of all entries.

2.2.3 The contact information provided on the entry form will be used to contact the Member Club/School.

2.2.4 The ITA will not accept responsibility for failure of completion of the entry form by the closing dates, due to any defect or delay in transmission or any technical causes outside the ITA’s control.

Section 3: Conditions of Entry

3.1 Entry Deadlines

3.1.1 Entry forms must be submitted at least eight (8) weeks prior to opening night.

3.1.2 Entry forms submitted less than eight (8) weeks but more than four (4) weeks before opening night can be accepted as a late entry.

3.1.3 Late entries are accepted at the discretion of the ITA.

3.1.4 If a late entry is accepted, it will incur a late fee.

3.1.5 The ITA will confirm whether the late entry is accepted as soon as is practical.

3.2 Schedule

3.2.1 Productions must be performed during that theatrical year, which runs from 1 December to 30 November the following year.

3.2.2 Entries opening during the last week of the eligibility year must have the majority number of performances in the current year; if not, the production must be entered in the following year’s awards.

3.2.3 Productions must run for a season of at least three (3) performances over at least two (2) days.

3.2.4 Performances must be open to the general public in Western Australia unless the audience is restricted by the performance rights.

3.2.5 Any entries with a performance season of less than seven (7) days duration will be subject to adjudicator availability at the time of entry.

3.3 Entry Forms

3.3.1 Entry forms are electronic and can be found on the ITA website.

3.3.2 Entry forms comprise of two components: the Finley Awards Entry Form and the Finley Awards Production Specifics Form.

3.3.3 Any Finley Awards Entry Form submitted must include full details of the production.

3.3.4 Any entry forms missing details will not be accepted.

3.3.5 Any entry without a corresponding Finley Awards Productions Specifics Form may be ineligible for awards at the discretion of the ITA.

3.3.6 If there are any changes required for the Finley Awards Productions Specifics Form, they can be made by contacting the ITA in writing.

3.4 Style

3.4.1 Productions must be ‘theatre’ and not other forms of performance art.

3.4.2 Music, dance and choral productions, talent or variety shows, non-published musical revues, and workshops of a member theatre are not eligible.

3.5 Co-Productions

3.5.1 Co-productions are allowed only if the following conditions are met:

• All the producing theatres are Member Clubs/Schools.

• All co-productions must be submitted under one Member Club/School.

• That Member Club/School will be the point of contact for the production.

• All theatre level awards (eg: Best Production) will be awarded to the Member Club/School that submitted the production.

3.6 Double Cast

3.6.1 In the event that a production is double cast, or a role is double cast, only one cast may be submitted for adjudication, and this cast must be indicated on your entry form.

3.6.2 If a cast is not indicated then no role where a double or dual casting exists will be eligible for nomination as a lead.

3.6.3 If your show is double cast, then the specified cast must be performing enough times to satisfy rules 3.2.3 and 3.2.5.

3.7 Rights

3.7.1 All productions entered into the Finleys must have the authorisation of the relevant rights holders (for example performance rights, music rights).

3.7.2 It is the responsibility of the Member Club/School to obtain permission for the performance and to pay the appropriate royalty fee in advance.

3.7.3 The Member Club/School is required to certify that this has been done.

3.7.4 All alterations to a script must be approved by the author or their representative or estate.

3.7.5 The ITA can request evidence of rights permission at any time.

3.7.6 Any Member Club/School found to not have the required permission to stage a production will not be eligible for any award for that production and entry fees will not be refundable.

Section 4: Remuneration

4.1 Effects of Remuneration

4.1.1 Anyone receiving payment (including honorariums) for their services will not be eligible for a Robert Finley Award.

4.1.2 Any productions that have individuals who have received payment and/or honorariums, may not be considered for the Best Production categories of the Finleys.

4.1.3 The eligibility for awards in these cases will be the decision of the ITA.

4.2 Ineligible Production Types

4.2.1 Professional productions are not eligible for entry into the Finleys.

4.2.2 Profit-share productions, and productions by non-members organisation are not eligible for entry into the Finleys

4.3 Acceptable Remuneration

4.3.1 Individuals may be reimbursed for costs associated with purchasing items for the production and it will not affect their eligibility.

4.3.2 Complimentary tickets may be given to participants as a thank you from the theatre if all participants are given the same consideration.

4.3.3 Where there is a legal requirement for work to be undertaken by a licensed person such as an electrician, rigger, plumber or carpenter who requires payment, this is exempt from any payment conditions imposed by these rules, however payment must still be disclosed.

4.3.4 Where specialist training, directorial or choreographic skills are required to ensure safety of cast and crew such as intimacy directors, fight choreographers, stunt coordinators and dance tutors (who train but don’t choreograph), this is exempt from any payment conditions imposed by these rules, however payment must still be disclosed.

4.3.5 Remuneration of schools are not to be considered in this as School Productions are adjudicated in a separate category and adjudication certificates are to be focused on student-led achievements.

4.3.6 A rehearsal pianist can be paid as long as they are used for rehearsals only and not in performance.

4.3.7 Where costumes have been hired, or bought, the theatre/costume designer is still eligible for an award unless the costumes have been hired as a standard set for that production.

4.4 Other Remuneration Rules

4.4.1 It shall be the duty of the Member Club/School to notify the ITA in advance of the production that any role as listed in section 4.3 is disqualified from the Finleys consideration.

4.4.2 If the ITA determines that a Member Club/School has remunerated someone other than reimbursement without disclosure, the ITA may consider eliminating the person and relevant nominated areas from consideration, or to remove the entire production from consideration altogether, with no refund of entry fees given.

Section 5: Category

5.1 Categories

5.1.1 There are four categories for productions to be entered into:

• Musicals (including Pantomimes)

• Plays

• One Acts

• School Productions

5.1.2 There is one subcategory, Youth Production, which can be entered into as a Play or Musical.

5.1.3 Member Clubs/Schools are responsible for choosing the category in which their production belongs and nominating this when entering.

5.1.4 School Productions are adjudicated separately from Youth Productions and are eligible for different awards.

Section 6: Eligibility

6.1 Plays Eligibility

6.1.1 A production without an interval should not be entered in the One Acts category unless it meets the criteria in 6.3.1 & 6.3.2 and the Member Club wishes is to be considered by adjudicators in that category.

6.1.2 Productions that are considered as Plays with Music or Plays with Songs can be submitted to the Plays category.

6.1.3 For questions on specific productions as it related to 6.1.2 can be directed to the ITA in writing for clarification.

6.2 Musicals Eligibility

6.2.1 A production without an interval should not be entered in the One Acts category unless it meets the criteria in 6.3.1 & 6.3.2 and the Member Club wishes is to be considered by adjudicators in that category.

6.3 One Act Eligibility

6.3.1 Entries in the One Acts category must be no longer than fifty (50) minutes in duration, and no shorter than twenty (20) minutes.

6.3.2 Productions must have at least two (2) cast members.

6.3.3 A production without an interval should not be entered in the One Acts category unless it meets the criteria in 6.3.1 & 6.3.2 and the Member Club wishes is to be considered by adjudicators in that category.

6.4 School Production Eligibility

6.4.1 School Productions are open to primary and secondary schools in Western Australia.

6.4.2 Nominees for individual roles must not have graduated secondary schooling at the time of production.

6.4.3 Schools must list any performers who are not currently enrolled in any primary or secondary college in their production specifics form.

6.5 Youth Eligibility

6.5.1 To be eligible for the Best Youth Production, 100% of the on-stage cast in the production must be 18 years or under as of the opening night of the production.

6.5.2 To be eligible for a Best Youth in a Play or Musical, a cast member must be 18 years or under as at the opening night of the production.

6.6 Individual Eligibility

6.6.1 Non-binary performers will have the option of electing whether their performance is considered in the Actor or Actress category.

6.7 Production Eligibility

6.7.1 Productions must be recognised as a community theatre production.

6.7.2 Any Member Clubs/Schools presenting a show for an encore season will not be eligible for entry in the Finleys.

6.8 Other Eligibility Rules

6.8.1 There is no limit to the number of awards in which a production can receive nominations.

6.8.2 There is no limit to the number of times a Member Club/School or individual can appear in the final nomination list for any category.

6.8.3 The adjudicators may choose not to make nominations in an award if they feel there are insufficient appropriate entries.

6.8.4 Production elements which have been hired from another company’s production and are not significantly altered, will make that role ineligible for adjudication.

6.8.5 In determining in which award category any eligible candidate (person or production) shall be placed, the adjudicators shall use the form submitted by the company and the opening night program as its guide.

6.8.6 The eligibility of any awards is the final determination of the ITA.

6.8.7 The ineligibility of a specific award does not necessarily negate the awarding of other awards to that production.

Section 7: Fees

7.1 Plays, Musicals and School Productions

7.1.1 Perth/Peel entries: $120 per entry, or $100 per entry when entering prior to 31 January.

7.1.2 Regional entries: $190 per entry, or $160 per entry when entering prior to 31 January.

7.2 One Acts

7.2.1 Perth/Peel entries: $40 per entry, capped at $120 where multiple one acts are entered from the same season.

7.2.2 Regional entries: $65 per entry, capped at $190 where multiple one acts are entered from the same season.

7.3 Late Entry

7.3.1 In the event that a late entry is accepted, it will incur a late fee of $50 in addition to the standard entry fees.

7.3.2 A late fee will only be incurred once in the event that the late entry is a season of One Acts.

Section 8: Member Club Requirements

8.1 Tickets

8.1.1 Each Member Club/School will make available to each adjudicator two complimentary tickets (as required).

8.1.2 Adjudicators will communicate with each Member Club/School as noted on the entry form to arrange tickets to attend each production.

8.1.3 If any Member Club/School cannot be contacted via the listed details on the entry form, their entry will be disqualified.

8.1.4 Member Clubs/Schools must keep track of the adjudicators’ reservations and contact the ITA if adjudicators have not made contact to reserve tickets.

8.2 Programs

8.2.1 Each Member Club/School will make available to each adjudicator one complimentary hard copy program per adjudicator upon attendance.

8.2.2 If programs are only provided in a digital format, a digital file must be emailed to the ITA prior to opening night.

8.2.3 Member Clubs/Schools must ensure programs acknowledge the correct cast, crew and creatives.

8.2.4 Any errors in the program may flow through to erroneous nominations.

8.3 Trophies

8.3.1 Member Clubs/Schools are responsible for engraving trophies from the Finley Awards and returning perpetual trophies to the ITA by 31 October in preparation for the following Finleys.

Section 9: Awards

9.1 Play Awards

9.1.1 This is a list of possible awards for shows in the play category:

• The Susan Hayward Award for Best Director of a Play

• Best Actor in a Play

• Best Actress in a Play

• Best Supporting Actor in a Play

• Best Supporting Actress in a Play

• The Terry Hackett Award for Best Ensemble

• The Brian Maddocks Award for Best Youth in a Play

• The Brenda Stanley Award for Best Costumes in a Play

• The David Crewes Award for Best Set in a Play

• The Hywell Williams Award for Technical Achievement

• The Pauline Lawrence Award for Excellence in Lighting Design in a Play

• The Gwyne Marshall Award for Front of House of a Play

• Breakthrough Award for Plays

• Third Placed Play

• Second Placed Play

• The Robert Finley Award for Best Play

9.2 Musical Awards

9.2.1 This is a list of possible awards for shows in the musicals category:

• The Mary Webb Award for Best Director of a Musical

• Best Musical Director

• Best Choreographer

• Best Actor in a Musical

• Best Actress in a Musical

• Best Supporting Actor in a Musical

• Best Supporting Actress in a Musical

• The Carole Dhu Award for Best Ensemble in a Musical

• The Veronica Overton-Low Award for Best Youth in a Musical

• The Terry McAuley Award for Best Costumes in a Musical

• The Kevan Hook Award for Best Set in a Musical

• Technical Achievement in a Musical

• The Jeff Hansen Award for Excellence in Lighting Design for a Musical

• The Elizabeth Crewes Award for Front of House of a Musical

• The Yvonne Lynch Breakthrough Award

• Third Placed Musical

• Second Placed Musical

• The Robert Finley Award for Best Musical

9.3 One Act Awards

9.3.1 This is a list of possible awards for shows in the one act category:

• The Mike Binns Award for Best Director

• The Rob de Vaack Award for Most Innovative Production

• The Peter Kemeny Encouragement Award

• The Jenny McNae Adjudicator's Award

• The Beryl Silvester Award for Best New Writing

• Best Actor

• Best Actress

• Best Supporting Actress

• Best Supporting Actor

• The Peter Mann Award for Best Costumes

• The Dorothy Barber Award for Best Overall Production

9.4 School Awards

9.4.1 This is a list of possible awards for shows in the school category:

• Best Performer in a School Musical

• Best Performer in a School Play

• Top School Musical

• Top School Play

9.5 Other Awards

9.5.1 Any show entered into either the play or musical stream could win the Ailsa Travers Award for Best Youth Production, provided it had been nominated as a youth production on the entry form.

9.5.2 The adjudicators can award in addition the Sheila Buchanan Achievement Award and the Yvonne Hough Neilson Adjudicators’ Award to any show in either the play or musical stream, as well as adjudicator certificates.

9.5.3 This is a list of possible awards given by the ITA committee:

• The Norma Davis Award

• Unsung Hero

• Hall of Fame

• Life Member

• President's Cup

Section 10: Penalties

10.1 Rules breach

10.1.1 The ITA reserves the right to disqualify any Member Club/School if it has grounds to believe the Member Club/School has breached any of the Rules.

10.1.2 Any breach of these Rules, whether deliberate or negligent may result in a disqualification.

10.1.3 Refusing entry to an adjudicator will see that production disqualified from the Finleys and forfeit of the entry fee.

10.1.4 The ITA reserves the right to determine elements or the entirety of a production to be ineligible owing to a breach of the Rules.

10.1.5 In the event that any entry is disqualified, the ITA has the sole discretion to decide whether a replacement entry by that Member Club/School should be allowed to enter the Finleys.

10.1.6 In the event that any entry is disqualified from the Finleys without a suitable replacement, the entry fee may be refunded at the discretion of the ITA.

10.2 Adjudicator Abuse

10.2.1 Adjudicators are volunteering their time to facilitate the Finleys and any abuse - verbal, written or otherwise - will not be tolerated.

10.2.2 The ITA reserves the right to investigate any reported abuse of adjudicators and may take disciplinary action at their discretion, which may include full disqualification of that Member Club’s/School’s entire season for the theatrical year.

Section 11: Withdrawal

11.1 Member Club/School Withdrawal

11.1.1 Entries can be withdrawn by contacting the ITA in writing.

11.1.2 As submissions to the Finleys are made by Member Clubs/Schools, only the relevant Member Club/School can request for the withdrawal of a nomination in an applicable category.

11.1.3 Member Club/Schools acknowledge that fees associated with a production cannot be refunded after a performance has been adjudicated, or if adjudicators are in transit to the performance.

11.1.4 Please notify the ITA in writing immediately if you cancel or change a production that has been entered.