Local Theatre Industry Celebrates 46th Annual CONDA Awards
Theatre lovers from across the Hunter region came together to celebrate the 46th annual City of Newcastle Drama Awards (CONDAs) on Saturday, 14 December at Newcastle Town Hall. Presented by the City of Newcastle Drama Association, the CONDAs are Australia’s longest-running theatre awards program and a cornerstone of the local arts community.
Affectionately dubbed “Theatre Christmas,” the evening brought together the region’s finest theatre talent. The CONDA Awards continue to spotlight the outstanding contributions of the Hunter’s vibrant and diverse performing arts scene.
CONDA President Jody Miller shared her thoughts on the event’s significance: “Tonight was all about celebrating the incredible talent and hard work of our theatre community. It’s been a joy to see everyone come together to honour the creativity in our region. The outstanding quality of work produced throughout the region this year resulted in a record 205 nominations”.
The Very Popular Theatre Company emerged as a big winner on the night, with its spectacular production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins sweeping six awards, including Best Musical Production, Excellence by a Choreographer (Rachel Stark), and Excellence by a Director – Musical (Daniel Stoddart).
HER Productions also shone, taking home three awards for Romeo & Juliet: A Reimagining, including Best Dramatic Production (shared), Excellence by a Director – Play (Charlotte De Wit) and Excellence by a Performer in a Supporting Role – Play, awarded to Rachelle Schmidt.Lindsay Street Players also celebrated success with The Laramie Project, earning three awards: Best Dramatic Production (shared), Best Ensemble – Play, and Excellence in Sound Design (Allon Silove)
In the 18 & Under categories, Hunter School of the Performing Arts triumphed with Moana Jr., which was awarded both Best Production and Best Ensemble.
The highest honour of the night, the Outstanding Achievement and Contribution to Theatre award, went to Jacob Harwood from JHProductions for his exceptional impact on Newcastle’s theatre industry.
Legacy Awards were also presented to Val Drury, Monica Skehan, and Rod Bellamy, recognising their enduring contributions to the region’s arts community.
“The awards would not have been possible without the generous support of CONDA’s highly valued sponsors, including Out of the Square, in its tenth year as Major Sponsor, the City of Newcastle’s Civic Theatre as the Presenting Partner and Industry Partner, and JH Productions,” said Miller.
Encouraging Newcastle to "Show Up for Local Theatre”As the CONDAs celebrate 46 years of theatrical excellence, the City of Newcastle Drama. Association is proud to launch its Show Up for Local Theatre Campaign, proudly sponsored by Out of the Square Media. This initiative is designed to encourage Novocastrians to celebrate and support the incredible productions and talent in their community. By attending local performances, audiences play a vital role in ensuring the growth and vibrancy of Newcastle’s arts scene.
Out of the Square Media, a long-time supporter of Newcastle’s creative industries, is passionate about fostering a thriving arts culture. Their sponsorship of this campaign reflects their commitment to seeing Newcastle’s local theatre flourish and inspiring audiences to "Show Up" for our remarkable local talent.
“The awards would not have been possible without the generous support of CONDA’s highly valued sponsors, including Out of the Square, in its tenth year as Major Sponsor, the City of Newcastle’s Civic Theatre as the Presenting Partner and Industry Partner, JH Productions”.
