2011 Finley Awards

The night of nights for Western Australian amateur theatre, the 37th Annual Robert Finley Awards, took place on Saturday 21st January 2012. The event took place at the beautiful Judith Cottier Theatre at Perth College and was a wonderful celebration of the year that was. The Independent Theatre Aossociation of WA manages the awards and their adjudicators saw over 55 productions in the 2011 year.

Almost all clubs were represented on the night, which featured performers for a number of productions from throughout the year. The ITA also named a patron to assist with their representation of community theatre in WA. Mr Bevan Lee, better known as the creator of Packed to the Rafters, Winners and Losers and other award winning shows has agreed to take up this challenge.

ITA President Ryan Taaffe said, "Apart from the heat it was a fantastic night. It was an extremely positive night and the talent of WA was on show. Whilst there can be only one winner, all nominees were of a high level and should be proud of their shows and themselves."

Image: Co-winners of the award for Musical Theatre Performer - Female - Breeahn Jones and Claire Taylor in Side Show at Playlovers

Full List of Winners

The Robert Finley Award for Best Musical

Winner: Funny Business, Blak Yak, directed by Lorna Mackie

Runner-Up: Boy from Oz, Playlovers

Third Place: Side Show, Playlovers


The Robert Finley Award for Best Play

Winner: Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Garrick Theatre, directed by Andrew Warwick

Runner-Up: The Miracle Worker, Stirling Players

Third Place: Hamlet, Old Mill Theatre


Youth Production

E, St Norbert College

The Mary Webb Award for Director of a Musical

Tyler Jones, Side Show, Playlovers

The Susan Hayward Award for Director of a Play

John Milson, Hamlet, Old Mill

Musical Director

Kate McIntosh, Boy from Oz, Playlovers

Choreographer

Hillary Readings, Boy from Oz, Playlovers

Actor in a Play

Izaak Lim, Hamlet, Old Mill

Actress in a Play

Kaitlynn Shawcross, The Miracle Worker, Stirling

Musical Theatre Performer – Female

TIE
- Claire Taylor, Side Show, Playlovers and 
Breeahn Jones, Side Show, Playlovers

Musical Theatre Performer – Male

Ryan Taaffe, Boy from Oz, Playlovers

Other than Lead Male in a Play

Ray Condy, Influence, Roleystone

Other than Lead Female in a Play

Olivia Darby, Charley’s Aunt, Garrick

Other than Lead Male in a Musical

Paul Taylor-Byrne, Boy from Oz, Playlovers

Other than Lead Female in a Musical

Emma Davis, Little Women, Roleystone

The Veronica Overton-Low Award for Youth in a Musical

Emily Gelineau, Children’s Letters to God, Darlington Theatre Players

The Brian Maddox Award for Youth in a Play

Richard Kalukal, E, St Norbert College

The Yvonne Lynch Breakthrough Award

Rachael Maher, The Miracle Worker, Stirling

Set (Musical)

Return to the Forbidden Planet, Stirling

The David Crewes Award for Set (Play)

The Miracle Worker, Stirling

The Brenda Stanley Award for Costumes (Play)

All My Sons, GRADS

Costumes (Musical)

Side Show, Playlovers

Elizabeth Crewes Front of House Award

Murray Music & Drama

Hall of Fame

Kerri Hilton…Adjudicator with ITA for many years.

John Milson…Former Head of Music Theatre at WAAPA.

The Inaugural “Norma” Award- Norma Davis

Awards listed by Production

The 39 Steps, Stage Left Theatre Troupe - Adjudicators’ Certificate – Excellent use of shadow puppetry and screen work.

Alice in Wonderland, Phoenix Theatre
Adjudicators’ Certificate – Overall Alice theme, front of house.

All My Sons, GRADS - Top Ten Play, The Brenda Stanley Award for Costumes (Play)

Amadeus,Old Mill - Top Ten Play

Blood Brothers, Wanneroo Repertory - Adjudicators’ Certificate, Ian Cross – Outstanding Perth debut performance.

Boy from Oz, Playlovers
- Runner-Up Musical,
Musical Director - Kate McIntosh,
Choreographer - Hillary Readings,
Musical Theatre Performer – Male - Ryan Taaffe,
Other than Lead Male in a Musical – Paul Taylor-Byrne,
Adjudicators’ Certificate – Mahalia Bowles – Stage Presence.

Charley’s Aunt, Garrick Theatre - 
Other than Lead Female in a Play - Olivia Darby,
Adjudicators’ Certificate– Intelligent and creative set design for small stage space.

Children’s Letters to God, Darlington Theatre Players
- The Veronica Overton-Low Award for Youth in a Musical - Emily Gelineau,
Adjudicators’ Certificate – Creative design for the band’s costumes and integration with performance.

Crimes of the Heart, Melville Theatre
- Top Ten Play.

Daisy Pulls It Off, Old Mill Theatre
- Top Ten Play,
Adjudicators’ Certificate - Susan Lynch – Encouraging new talent.

E, St Norbert
- Youth Production,
The Brian Maddox Award for Youth in a Play - Richard Kalukal,
Adjudicators’ Certificate – Technical expertise and wizardry in creation of the E pad.

Five Blue-Haired Ladies Sitting on a Green Park Bench,Darlington Theatre Players - 
Adjudicators’ Certificate – Excellent use of gobo lighting.

Funny Business, Blak Yak - 
The Robert Finley Award for Best Musical, Adjudicators’ Certificate – Ensemble acting, seamless and outstanding performance by the whole cast.

Hamlet, Old Mill Theatre
-Third Place Play,
The Susan Hayward Award for Director of a Play - John Milson,
Actor in a Play - Izaak Lim,
Adjudicators’ Certificate – Excellence in sound and lighting for creation of the storm.

Influence, Roleystone
- Top Ten Play,
Other than Lead Male in a Play - Ray Condy.

Jack and the Beanstalk, Darlington Theatre Players - Adjudicators’ Certificate – effectiveness of the Giant’s machine.

The Kid, Kwinana Theatre Workshop - Adjudicator’s Certificate – Ensemble work.

More reading - Community Theatre Seasons 2012.

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