EFFORTS to keep performing arts alive without crowds will receive their curtain call at the City of Newcastle Drama Awards (CONDA) after a season in which the global pandemic took centre stage.
Since March theatre companies around the region had closed down, with few able to present shows until September. Even then, they faced restricted audiences and seating rules.
New categories emerged this year to recognise the efforts to keep the performing arts thriving through streams and other means, with four of the 20 live performance categories in 2020 recognising online events.
The new categories include Best Online Series, Best Online Special Event, Best Online Live Event, and Best Online Educational Event or Series.
Acting categories have also become sexless, a move CONDA Inc said was due to performers of other genders often playing characters that were initially written as specifically male or female.
Despite the changes, the award's span from November 1 last year to the end of October meant most of the performances took the stage before the end of March.
The 77 nominations span 14 companies and teams. The best dramatic production award nominees included Dali: Hallucinogenic Toreador (Stray Dogs Theatre Company), Daughters of Heaven (Newcastle Theatre Company), The Fix (Black Jack Theatre), Miss Bennett's Christmas at Pemberley (Newcastle Theatre Company), Picnic at Hanging Rock (Young People's Theatre), and The 39 Steps (Metropolitan Players).
Four nominees were written and staged by Hunter talent, earning them a place in the category aimed at recognising new plays and musicals by the region's companies. They include Dali: Hallucinogenic Toreador, by Carl Caulfield(Stray Dogs Theatre Company), I Hope: Thoughts on a Pandemic(ASPIRE, the Maitland/Newcastle Catholic Schools Office creative and performing arts program), I'll Be Home For Christmas, by Theo Rule (The Grainery Theatre), and This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things, by Grahame Cooper(Footlice Theatre Company).
The award ceremony will be held at the Civic Theatre on December 5.
The nominees
Best Dramatic Production
Dali: Hallucinogenic Toreador, Stray Dogs Theatre Company
Daughters of Heaven, Newcastle Theatre Company
The Fix, Black Jack Theatre
Miss Bennetts Christmas at Pemberley, Newcastle Theatre Company
Picnic at Hanging Rock, Young Peoples Theatre
The 39 Steps, Metropolitan Players.
Best Musical Production
Ill Be Home For Christmas, The Grainery Theatre
She Loves Me, Opera Hunter
Best Special Theatrical Event
21 Chump St, Chookas Entertainment
Love, Life & Musicals/ Cavalleria Rusticana, Opera Hunter
Nick, Jess & Simons Lip Sync Battle, Southern Cross Austereo
Best New Play or Musical Written for a Newcastle Company
Dali: Hallucinogenic Toreador, by Carl Caulfield, Stray Dogs Theatre Company
I Hope: Thoughts on a Pandemic, Aspire
Ill Be Home For Christmas, by Theo Rule,The Grainery Theatre
And This Is Why We Cant Have Nice Things, by Grahame Cooper, Footlice Theatre Company
Excellence by a Performer in a Leading Role in a Play - Drama
Timothy Blundell, The Fix, Black Jack Theatre
Georgia Burston, Daughters of heaven, Newcastle Theatre Company
Lindsay Carr, Art, Black Jack Theatre
Carl Caulfield, Dali: Hallucinogenic Toreador, Stray Dogs Theatre Company
Janet Gillam, Art, Black Jack Theatre
Jan Hunt, Mosquitoes, Theatre On Brunker
Yasmin Ling, Daughters of Heaven, Newcastle Theatre Company
Phil McGrath, Art, Blackjack Theatre
Excellence by a Performer in a Leading Role in a Play - Comedy
Sandy Aldred, Chapter Two, Theatre On Brunker
Grahame Cooper, And This Is Why We Cant Have Nice Things, Footlice Theatre Company
Brooke Cowley, Miss Bennetts Christmas at Pemberley, Newcastle Theatre Company
Carl Gregory, Miss Bennetts Christmas at Pemberley, Newcastle Theatre Company
Carl Gregory, The 39 Steps, Metropolitan Players
Excellence by a Performer in a Leading Role in a Musical
Hannah Buck, Ill Be Home For Christmas, The Grainery Theatre
Jared Mainey, Ill Be Home For Christmas, The Grainery Theatre
Harold Phipps, She Loves Me, Opera Hunter
Zoe Walker, She Loves Me, Opera Hunter
Excellence by a Performer in a Supporting Role in a Play
Phil McGrath, The 39 Steps, Metropolitan Players
Dez Robertson, The 39 Steps, Metropolitan Players
Excellence by a Performer in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Hannah King, Ill Be Home For Christmas, The Grainery Theatre
Jerre Succar, Ill Be Home For Christmas, The Grainery Theatre
Excellence by a performer 18 & under in a Play - Drama or Comedy
Oskar Brill, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Young Peoples Theatre
Ruby Page, As I Lay Dreaming, Hunter School Of Performing Arts
Mea Walsh, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Young Peoples Theatre
Excellence by a performer 18 & under in a Musical
Bridget Ponman, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr, Young Peoples Theatre
Zaya Saltoun, Shrek The Musical Jr, Hunter School of Performing Arts
Scarlett Turnbull, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr, Young Peoples Theatre
Best Ensemble Acting
Daughters Of Heaven, Newcastle Theatre Company
Picnic at Hanging Rock, Young Peoples Theatre
She Loves Me, Opera Hunter
Best 18 & Under Ensemble Acting
I Hope: Thoughts on a Pandemic, Aspire
Seussical Kids, High Street Productions
Excellence by a Director (Drama or Comedy)
Julie Black, The 39 Steps, Metropolitan Players
Fran Hodgson, Miss Bennetts Christmas at Pemberley, Newcastle Theatre Company
Angela McKeown, The Fix, Black Sheep Theatre
Riley Mclean and Riley ORourke, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Young Peoples Theatre
Daniel Stoddart, Dali: Hallucinogenic Toreador, Stray Dogs Theatre Company
Excellence by a Director (Musical)
Natalie Baker, Phoebe Bayliss & Michael Cooper, Seussical KIDS, High Street Productions
Zac Smith, She Loves Me, Opera Hunter
Excellence by a Musical Director or Vocal Director
Stuart Brown & Okke Klassen, Ill Be Home For Christmas, The Grainery Theatre
Mercia Buck,Love, Life & Musicals/ Cavalleria Rusticana, Opera Hunter
Mat Gallimore, She Loves Me, Opera Hunter
Excellence in Costume Design
Kelly Brien, Shoba Alexander, Leilani Boughton, Glenda Price, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr, Young Peoples Theatre
Diane Garred, Seussical Kids, High Street Productons
Fran Hodgson, Miss Bennetts Christmas at Pemberley, Newcastle Theatre Company
Coralie Lewis & Amber Lewis, She Loves Me, Opera Hunter
Rory Worthington & Jodi Phipps, Picnic At Hanging Rock, Young Peoples Theatre
Excellence in Sets and Props Design
Larissa Barwell & Siobhan Wisener, As I Lay Dreaming, Hunter School Of Performing Arts
Chris Bird, Chapter Two, Theatre On Brunker
Graeme Black, The 39 Steps, Metropolitan Plays
Marion Giles & Geoff Overmeyer, Dali: Hallucinogenic Toreador, Stray Dogs Theatre Company
Fran Hodgson, Miss Bennetts Christmas at Pemberley, Newcastle Theatre Company
Zac Smith & Drew Holmes, She Loves Me, Opera Hunter
Brett Sorby & Tony Urquhart, Ill Be Home For Christmas, The Grainery Theatre
The Fix, Black Sheep Theatre
Excellence in Lighting and Audio-Visual Design
Shoba Alexander, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr, Young Peoples Theatre
Michael Cooper & Damon Herington, Seussical Kids, High Street Productons
Connor Crowe & Logan Crawford, As I Lay Dreaming, Hunter School Of Performing Arts
Jacob Harwood, Dali: Hallucinogenic Toreador, Stray Dogs Theatre Company
Jacob Harwood, The Fix, Black Sheep Theatre
Larissa Barwell & Ben Barnett, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Young Peoples Theatre
Excellence in Sound Design
Riley McLean & Matthew Hudson, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Young Peoples Theatre
