39th Annual Green Room Awards - Nominees & Recipients

The Green Room Awards Association is proud to announce...

Nominations & Recipients for the 39th Annual Green Room Awards.

The Green Room Awards Association conducted its 39th Annual Green Room Awards from 7pm on the 11th of July, 2022 at the Capitol Theatre, Melbourne CBD.

Launched in 1983, the Green Room Awards are wholly peer-presented Performing Arts Industry Awards, supporting outstanding achievements from artists, creatives, and companies across Cabaret, Contemporary and Experimental Performance, Dance, Independent Theatre, Musical Theatre, Opera, and Theatre Companies.

Every year the GRAA present four special awards at the ceremony to individuals whose careers have been hugely significant for the sector. This year we honour the following people whose dedication and work have shaped the landscape of the local industry, and beyond. The Kristian Frederikson Scholarshipi for Design in the Performing Arts was presented to Paula Levis (Vic) and Isabel Hudson (NSW), Technical Achievement Award to Emma Valente and Kate Davis, the Geoffrey Milne Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Independent Theatre went to Jason Cavanagh and Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon were the joint recipients of the 2022 GRA Lifetime Achievement Award.

View the 39th Green Room Awards Event program.

Check out the full list of nominees and winners below!

Thank you to our sponsors and supporters who enabled the event to take place:

City of Melbourne, RMIT Capitol Theatre, Melbourne Fringe, Australian Digital Concert Hall, Auspicious Arts, Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, Ron and Margaret Dobell Foundation, Arts in Sync, Theatre Network Australia, Queen Victorian Women's Centre, the Mahony Group, Loom Arts and Management, and the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) Workshop.

#GRA2020 #GreenRoomAwards #GRAOnline

39th Annual Green Room Awards

NOMINATIONS & RECIPIENTS (in bold)

CABARET

BEST PRODUCTION

Reuben Kaye: The Butch is Back presented by Pietagogetter as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival
A Fight For Survival presented by The Northlands Collective Mob as part of Yirramboi Festival
Durkh a Modne Gloz presented by Kadimah Yiddish Theatre in association with Kadimah Jewish Cultural Centre
Tonight Live with Noel by Janelle Da Silva as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Open For Business by Hot Department as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Average Bear by Michelle Brasier presented by Century as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

BEST WRITING

Ash Flanders for Ash Flanders is Nothing presented by Ash Flanders in association with Brunswick Ballroom
Mel O’Brien and Samantha Andrew for No Hat, No Play! The Cabaret presented Mel and Sam as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Lou Wall for That One Time I Joined The Illuminati presented by Lou Wall and Natasha Phillips as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival (live) and Melbourne Fringe Festival (digital)
Honor Wolff and Patrick Durnan Silva for Open for Business by Hot Department as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Michelle Brasier for Average Bear by Michelle Brasier presented by Century as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Reuben Kaye for Reuben Kaye: The Butch is Back presented by Pietagogetter as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival

BEST VARIETY SHOW

Take Back! Directed by Candy Bowers and presented by Darebin FUSE Festival and Multicultural Arts Victoria
F*ck Fabulous presented by Fat Fruit Projects and Arts Centre Melbourne as part of Midsumma Festival
Church Highway Robbery Productions as part of Midsumma Festival
Yummy: How to Make a Western Yummy Productions as part of Melbourne Fringe Festival

INNOVATION

A Fight For Survival The Northlands Collective Mob as part of Yirramboi Festival.
That One Time I Joined The Illuminati by Lou Wall presented by Lou Wall and Natasha Phillips as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Melbourne Fringe Festival
Durkh a Modne Gloz Kadimah Yiddish Theatre in association with Kadimah Jewish Cultural Centre
Tonight Live with Noel by Janelle Da Silva as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Yummy: How to Make a Western presented by Yummy Productions as part of Melbourne Fringe Festival
Take Back! presented by Darebin FUSE Festival and Multicultural Arts Victoria.

BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION

Josh Abrahams for Durkh a Modne Gloz presented by Kadimah Yiddish Theatre in association with Kadimah Jewish Cultural Centre
Shanon Whitelock for Reuben Kaye: The Butch is Back presented by Pietagogetter as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Janelle da Silva and Larna Cleary for Tonight Live with Noel as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Alice Tovey for Doggo presented by The Butterfly Club and produced by Hot Mess Productions as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Michelle Brasier, Tim Lancaster and Gilian Cosgriff for Average Bear presented by Century as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Bec Matthews for F*ck Fabulous presented by Fat Fruit Projects and Arts Centre Melbourne as part of Midsumma Festival

ARTISTE

Reuben Kaye for Reuben Kaye: The Butch is Back presented by Pietagogetter as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Lou Wall for That One Time I Joined The Illuminati presented by Lou Wall and Natasha Phillips as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival (live)and Melbourne Fringe Festival (digital)
Galit Klas for Durkh a Modne Gloz presented by Kadimah Yiddish Theatre, in association with Kadimah Jewish Cultural Centre
Honor Wolff and Patrick Durnan Silva for Open For Business by Hot Department as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Michelle Brasier for Average Bear by Michelle Brasier, presented by Century as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

CONTEMPORARY & EXPERIMENTAL PERFORMANCE

CURATORIAL AND ARTISTIC DIRECTION

Let’s Take Over 2021 Darebin Arts Speakeasy
The Big Local Arts and Climate Expo Tenfingerz x City of Yarra Melbourne Fringe

PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE

Joel Bray Considerable Sexual License Darebin Arts Speakeasy
Na Djinang Arterial Circus Yirramboi

PARTICIPATORY

The Ball Room The Ball Room Projects Chapel Off Chapel
Not a Drop to Drink Keg de Souza Arts House, Refuge 2021

EXPERIMENTAL PRACTICE

Alter Edith Holly Durant fortyfivedownstairs
psyche404error Margot Tanjutco Melbourne Fringe

SOUND SCULPTURE

PENDULUM Lucy Guerin Inc & Matthias Schack-Arnott Rising & NGV International
SYSTEM_ERROR Chamber Made Arts House

DANCE

BEST PERFORMER

Amber McCartney Project F. Prue Lang in association with Abbotsford Convent as part of the Keir Choreographic Award Public Program
Jana Castillo Project F. Prue Lang in association with Abbotsford Convent as part of the Keir Choreographic Award Public Program
Geoffrey Watson Reference Material. Alisdair Macindoe in association with Darebin Arts Speakeasy
Deanne Butterworth Slow Calm Drama. Deanne Butterworth in association with Dancehouse
Raina Paterson Drishti. Karma Dance Inc. as part of Melbourne Fringe

BEST DUET/ENSEMBLE

Project F. Prue Lang in association with Abbotsford Convent as part of the Keir Choreographic Award Public Program
Colour-Fool. Yumi Umiumare and ButohOUT! Ensemble in association with Dancehouse
Reference Material. Alisdair Macindoe in association with Darebin Arts Speakeasy
Birrpai. Ngioka Bunda-Heath co-commissioned by Next Wave and Chunky Move as part of Yirramboi Festival
Odd Hours. ButohOUT! Ensemble 2021, Emma Bathgate, Helen Smith, Yumi Umiumare in association with Abbotsford Convent

BEST LIGHTING

Paul Lim & Bosco Shaw Metal. Lucy Guerin in association with Arts Centre Melbourne as part of Asia TOPA
Govin Ruben Slow Calm Drama. Deanne Butterworth in association with Dancehouse
Thomas Roach Reference Material .Alisdair Macindoe in association with Darebin Arts Speakeasy
Niklas Pajanti Red. Dancenorth Australia, commissioned by Rising, Brisbane Festival, Darwin Festival, and Ten Days on the Island, as part of Rising.

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Project F. Prue Lang in association with Abbotsford Convent as part of the Keir Choreographic Award Public Program
Bodylex. Rhys Ryan in association with Dancehouse
Slow Calm Drama. Deanne Butterworth in association with Dancehouse
Colour-Fool. Yumi Umiumare and ButohOUT! Ensemble in association with Dancehouse
What Happened in Shanghai. Victoria Chiu in association with Abbotsford Convent as part of Asia TOPA
Metal. Lucy Guerin in association with Arts Centre Melbourne as part of Asia TOPA
Glass. Marc Brew and Rawcus Ensemble in association with Darebin Arts Speakeasy

BEST PRODUCTION

Metal. Lucy Guerin in association with Arts Centre Melbourne as part of Asia TOPA
Glass. Marc Brew and Rawcus Ensemble in association with Darebin Arts Speakeasy
Birrpai. Ngioka Bunda-Heath co-commissioned by Next Wave and Chunky Move as part of Yirramboi Festival
Red. Dancenorth Australia, commissioned by Rising, Brisbane Festival, Darwin Festival, and Ten Days on the Island, as part of Rising.
I am Maggie. Jonathan Homsey as part of as part of Arts Centre Melbourne Take Over for Melbourne Fringe 2020

BEST SOUND

Nick Roux and Ensemble Tikoro Metal. Lucy Guerin in association with Arts Centre Melbourne as part of Asia TOPA
Jethro Woodward Glass. Marc Brew and Rawcus Ensemble in association with Darebin Arts Speakeasy
Alisdair Macindoe Reference Material Alisdair Macindoe in association with Darebin Arts Speakeasy
Jonathan Homsey I am Maggie. Jonathan Homsey as part of as part of Arts Centre Melbourne Take Over for Melbourne Fringe 2020

BEST VISUAL DESIGN

Sour Sweet. Victoria Chiu and RDYSTDY
Jonathan Homsey I am Maggie. As part of as part of Arts Centre Melbourne Take Over for Melbourne Fringe 2020
Odd Hours. Jacqui Stockdale and ButohOUT! Ensemble 2021 in association with Abbotsford Convent

BEST DIGITAL WORK

Sour Sweet. Victoria Chiu and RDYSTDY
Drishti. Raina Peterson Karma Dance Inc. as part of Melbourne Fringe

INDEPENDENT THEATRE

BEST NEW WRITING

Benjamin Nichol Kerosene Jack Dixon-Gunn in association with Theatre Works
Rachel Perks Hydra Double Water Sign in association with Darebin Arts Speakeasy
Oliver Bailey Memoir of a Tired Carer Oliver Bailey Productions as part of Melbourne Fringe
Telia Nevile Little Monster Telia Nevile as part of Melbourne Fringe
Olivia Satchell with Chanella Macri, Belinda McClory and Emily Tomlins let bleeding girls lie The Voice In My Hands in association with La Mama

BEST DIRECTION

Benjamin Nichol and Izabella Yena Kerosene Jack Dixon-Gunn in association with Theatre Works
Marcel Dorney Enlightenment Elbow Room in association with Darebin Arts Speakeasy and FUSE Festival
Kitan Petkovski The Gospel According to Jesus Queen of Heaven Ben Anderson Presents in association with Theatre Works
Bridget Balodis Hydra Double Water Sign in association with Darebin Arts Speakeasy
Olivia Satchell let bleeding girls lie The Voice In My Hands in association with La Mama

BEST PERFORMER

Izabella Yena Kerosene Jack Dixon-Gunn in association with Theatre Works
Fabio Motta Spot Fabio Motta in association with Theatre Works
Carolyn Bock Katyń Jim Daly in association with La Mama
Merlynn Tong Enlightenment Elbow Room in association with Darebin Arts Speakeasy and FUSE Festival)
Patrick Collins Patrick Collins: I Am Not A Mime The Butterfly Club as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival

BEST ENSEMBLE

Enlightenment Elbow Room in association with Darebin Arts Speakeasy and FUSE Festival
Breeders Sarah Houbolt in association with La Mama
This Is Our Show Clare Rankine Productions in association with The Butterfly Club
Poona Roshelle Fong and Keziah Warner in association with Museum of Chinese History and Next Wave
let bleeding girls lie The Voice In My Hands in association with La Mama

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN

Harrie Hogan Kerosene Jack Dixon-Gunn in association with Theatre Works
Jenny Hector RUNT Dee & Cornelius & Wilks in association with fortyfivedownstairs
Clare Springett Mara KORPER Citizen Theatre in association with Theatre Works
Rachel Burke The Mermaid Cassandra Fumi in association with La Mama
Jason Crick let bleeding girls lie The Voice In My Hands in association with La Mama

BEST SET AND/OR COSTUME DESIGN

Romanie Harper (Set and Costume Design) RUNT Dee & Cornelius & Wilks in association with fortyfivedownstairs
Cherish Marrington (Production Design) Enlightenment Elbow Room in association with Darebin Arts Speakeasy and FUSE Festival
Aislinn Naughton (Costume Design) Mara KORPER Citizen Theatre in association with Theatre Works
Dann Barber (Set and Costume Design) The Mermaid Cassandra Fumi in association with La Mama
Alex Hines (Production Design) Juniper Wilde: Wilde Night In The Social Validation Club as part of Melbourne Fringe

BEST SOUND DESIGN AND COMPOSITION

Joe Paradise Lui Enlightenment Elbow Room in association with Darebin Arts Speakeasy and FUSE Festival
Rachel Lewindon The Gospel According to Jesus Queen of Heaven Ben Anderson Presents in association with Theatre Works
Kelly Ryall RUNT Dee & Cornelius & Wilks in association with fortyfivedownstairs
Daniella Esposito Hydra Double Water Sign in association with Darebin Arts Speakeasy
Robert Downie Alternative Futures Theatre Works

BEST PRODUCTION (IN-PERSON) [JOINT RECIPIENTS]

Kerosene Jack Dixon-Gunn in association with Theatre Works
Enlightenment Elbow Room in association with Darebin Arts Speakeasy and FUSE Festival
Breeders Sarah Houbolt in association with La Mama
The Gospel According to Jesus Queen of Heaven Ben Anderson Presents in association with Theatre Works
let bleeding girls lie The Voice In My Hands in association with La Mama

BEST PRODUCTION (DIGITAL)

Memoir of a Tired Carer Oliver Bailey Productions as part of Melbourne Fringe
Little Monster Telia Nevile as part of Melbourne Fringe
Juniper Wilde: Wilde Night In The Social Validation Club as part of Melbourne Fringe

MUSIC THEATRE

ARTISTS – LEADING

Karis Oka Fangirls Arts Centre Melbourne with Belvoir, Queensland Theatre, and Brisbane Festival in association with Australian Theatre for Young People
Cherine Peck Into The Woods Watch This
James Millar Into The Woods Watch This

ARTISTS – SUPPORTING

John O'May Into The Woods Watch This
Nadia Komazec The Wedding Singer David Venn Enterprises
Danielle Barnes Fangirls Arts Centre Melbourne with Belvoir, Queensland Theatre, and Brisbane Festival in association with Australian Theatre for Young People
Nick Simpson-Deeks Into The Woods Watch This
Helen Begley, Kylie Morrigan, Penelope Swales Voyage The Good Girl Song Project
Ava Madon Into The Woods Watch This
Chika Ikogwe Fangirls Arts Centre Melbourne with Belvoir, Queensland Theatre, and Brisbane Festival in association with Australian Theatre for Young People
Kirby Burgess The Wedding Singer David Venn Enterprises

THE BETTY POUNDER AWARD FOR ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY

(in Celebration of 100 years since Miss Pounder’s birth.)

Michael Ralph - The Wedding Singer David Venn Enterprises

DESIGN

Davis Fleischer: Costume – Fangirls Arts Centre Melbourne with Belvoir, Queensland Theatre, and Brisbane Festival in association with Australian Theatre for Young People
Kim Bishop: Costume – The Wedding Singer David Venn Enterprises
Declan O'Neill: Lighting – The Wedding Singer David Venn Enterprises
Nathan Weyers: Set - The Wedding Singer David Venn Enterprises

DIRECTION – MUSIC

Zara Stanton Fangirls Arts Centre Melbourne with Belvoir, Queensland Theatre, and Brisbane Festival in association with Australian Theatre for Young People
Daniel Puckey The Wedding Singer David Venn Enterprises
Helen Begley, Kylie Morrigan, Penelope Swales Voyage The Good Girl Song Project
Stephen Gray The Music Of The Night Spears Entertainment

DIRECTION – STAGE

Paige Rattray Fangirls Arts Centre Melbourne with Belvoir, Queensland Theatre, and Brisbane Festival in association with Australian Theatre for Young People
Alister Smith The Wedding Singer David Venn Enterprises

NEW AUSTRALIAN WRITING FOR MUSIC THEATRE

Yve Blake Fangirls Arts Centre Melbourne with Belvoir, Queensland Theatre, and Brisbane Festival in association with Australian Theatre for Young People

PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR

The Wedding Singer David Venn Enterprises
Into The Woods Watch This
Voyage The Good Girl Song Project
Fangirls Arts Centre Melbourne with Belvoir, Queensland Theatre, and Brisbane Festival in association with Australian Theatre for Young People

OPERA

OUTSTANDING PERFORMER IN A LEADING ROLE

Vida Miknevičiūtė Salome Victorian Opera (2020)
Ian Storey Salome Victorian Opera (2020)
Alexander Vinogradov Ernani, Opera Australia
Leah Crocetto Aida Opera Australia
Diego Torre Ernani Opera Australia
Vladimir Stoyanov Ernani Opera Australia
Simon Meadows Das Rheingold Melbourne Opera
James Egglestone Das Rheingold Melbourne Opera
Kathryn Radcliffe Echo and Narcissus Victorian Opera
Nathan Lay Echo and Narcissus Victorian Opera

OUTSTANDING PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Rebecca Rashleigh Fidelio Melbourne Opera (2020)
Alexander Vinogradov Aida Opera Australia
Adrian Tamburini Macbeth Melbourne Opera
Adrian Tamburini Das Rheingold Melbourne Opera
Eleanor Greenwood Macbeth Melbourne Opera

NEW AUSTRALIA OPERA

Cassandra Simon Bruckard (Composer) Constantine Costi (Libretto)
Echo and Narcissus Kevin March (Composer) Jane Montgomery Griffiths (Libretto) Victorian Opera
Parrwang Deborah Cheetham Victorian Opera

OUTSTANDING DESIGN

Christina Smith (Set) Gavan Swift (Lighting) Salome Victorian Opera (2020)
Andrew Bailey (Set) Das Rheingold Melbourne Opera
Julian Crouch (Set) Ernani Opera Australia
Rob Sowinski (Lighting) Macbeth Melbourne Opera

BEST DIRECTION

Jane Magão Cosi Fan Tutte iOpera
Cameron Menzies Salome Victorian Opera (2020)
Sven-Eric Bechtolf Ernani Opera Australia

BEST PRODUCTION

Salome Victorian Opera (2020)
Das Rheingold Melbourne Opera
Ernani Opera Australia
Cosi Fan Tutte iOpera

THEATRE COMPANIES

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE

Andrea Swifte Single Ladies Red Stitch
Dan Spielman Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes Melbourne Theatre Company
Grace Cummings Berlin Melbourne Theatre Company
Nadine Garner The Lifespan of a Fact Melbourne Theatre Company
Izabella Yena Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes Melbourne Theatre Company
Karl Richmond The Lifespan of a Fact Melbourne Theatre Company
Jessica Clarke Iphigenia In Splott Red Stitch
Shivantha Wijesinha As You Like It Melbourne Theatre Company
Bert LaBonté The Truth Melbourne Theatre Company
Natalie Gamsu S.S. Metaphor Malthouse Theatre

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN

Dale Ferguson, Marg Horwell, Matilda Woodroofe Because The Night Malthouse Theatre
Christina Smith Berlin Melbourne Theatre Company
Jacob Battista & Sophie Woodward Iphigenia In Splott Red Stitch

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN

Christina Smith Berlin Melbourne Theatre Company
Kat Chan The Lifespan of a Fact Melbourne Theatre Company
Jacob Battista & Sophie Woodward Iphigenia In Splott Red Stitch

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN

Amelia Lever-Davidson Because The Night Malthouse Theatre
Niklas Pajanti Berlin Melbourne Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN/COMPOSITION

J. David Franzke Because The Night Malthouse Theatre

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION

Petra Kalive Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes Melbourne Theatre Company
Iain Sinclair Berlin Melbourne Theatre Company
Gary Abrahams Iphigenia In Splott Red Stitch

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION

Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes Melbourne Theatre Company
Berlin Melbourne Theatre Company
Iphigenia In Splott Red Stitch
Because The Night Malthouse Theatre

SPECIAL CATEGORY RECIPIENTS

The Kristian Frederikson Scholarship for Design in the Performing Arts

Paula Levis from Victoria and
Isabel Hudson from NSW

Lifetime Achievement Award

Graeme Murphy & Janet Vernon (recipients)

Technical Achievement Award

Emma Valente & Kate Davis - The Rabble (recipients)

Geoffrey Milne Award

Jason Cavanagh