2026 Performing Arts WA Awards Winners

The Performing Arts WA Awards this year were held again Heath Ledger Theatre and were a huge night of celebration

The 2026 Performing Arts WA Awards Ceremony, held on Monday 20 April in the Heath Ledger Theatre, celebrated achievement in Western Australian professional live performance in 2025, covering both mainstage and independent performances.

Opera Dead Man Walking by Freeze Frame Opera was the biggest winner for the night, taking home five awards, including Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Lighting Design and Best Production.

Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA’s co-production with Belvoir St Theatre August: Osage County by Tracy Letts and independent theatre show Shadow of Doubt by The Blue Room Theatre & Fine Comb Theatre were also popular productions, picking up four awards each.
After Freeze Frame Opera, Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA was the next most awarded company, taking home a total of five awards. The Blue Room Theatre maintained their reputation as a hub for excellent theatre, with 10 awards for shows at the venue.

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to veteran stage manager Jenny Poh, for her tireless work within the industry.

The inaugural Ripple Effect Award winner was James Berlyn. James’ tireless and quiet contribution has had a ripple effect to make change and to impact others. In his acceptance speech, James announced the prize money would fund a new artist residency opportunity at his West Berlyn Studios.
The Ripple Effect Award is a new award, to honour the legacy of the late Georgia Malone. A true champion of the arts, her incredible career has left a lasting legacy for the world.

With continued funding and support from DCITS and Arts & Culture Trust, the awards continue to be held at Heath Ledger Theatre at State Theatre Centre. The awards themselves featured live performances from MATRIARX and Pam Boland, and were hosted with comedic wit by performers Luke Joseph Ryan & Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd. With a 20+ year history of recognising professional theatre, the Awards include dance, musicals, opera and cabaret across WA.

The Awards celebrate the professional live performing arts in Western Australia. They are hosted each year by Artist Relief Fund WA, a charity which supports arts workers experiencing hardship.

Musical Urinetown by Western Sky Projects received the most nominations, up for fourteen separate awards. After Western Sky Projects, Freeze Frame Opera was the most nominated company with 9 nominations. Other big nominees include Co3 Contemporary Dance & The Australian Chamber Orchestra’s dance work IN THE SHADOW OF TIME with eight nominations; The Blue Room Theatre & Tone Lists’s O,D,E also snared eight nominations.

The event was supported by funders and sponsors: DCITS and Arts & Culture Trust WA, Steamworks Arts, CircuitWest, Architecture of Movement, George Kingsley, Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Moore Creative Artists, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Pigface Books; plus hospitality partners Otherside Brewing and West Cape Howe Wines.

More information: www.performingartswaawards.com

Full list of winners:

Winner	Production	Company	Award	Category
Lachlan Higgins	Dead Man Walking	Freeze Frame Opera	Outstanding Newcomer	Special Awards
Tomas Clifford	Tomas Clifford Got Stood Up	General Mischief Production Company	Outstanding New Work or Adaptation	Special Awards
The Production	Manifest, Perth Moves	STRUT Dance in association with Perth Festival	Outstanding New Work or Adaptation	Special Awards
Otto Pye	Manifest, Perth Moves	STRUT Dance in association with Perth Festival	Outstanding Newcomer	Special Awards
Rachel McMurray	Shadow of Doubt	The Blue Room Theatre & Fine Comb Theatre	Outstanding New Work or Adaptation	Special Awards
Alexandria Henderson	Arthur Haynes and the Smoking Gun	THEATRE 180	Outstanding Newcomer	Special Awards
Jenny Poh			Outstanding Lifetime Achievement	Special Awards
James Berlyn			The Ripple Effect Award	Special Awards
Raewyn Hill	IN THE SHADOW OF TIME	Co3 Contemporary Dance & The Australian Chamber Orchestra	Outstanding Choreography	Dance
The Ensemble	Manifest, Perth Moves	STRUT Dance in association with Perth Festival	Outstanding Ensemble	Dance
The Production	two thread	The Blue Room Theatre & Karlia & Danni Cook & STRUT Dance	Best Independent Production	Dance
Karlia Cook & Danni Cook	two thread	The Blue Room Theatre & Karlia & Danni Cook & STRUT Dance	Outstanding Duet	Dance
Luther Wilson	The Scramble	The Blue Room Theatre & Shaun Johnston with STRUT Dance	Outstanding Performer	Dance
Jon Buswell	Butterfly Effect	West Australian Ballet	Outstanding Achievement by an Interstate Artist	Dance
The Production	Cinderella	West Australian Ballet	Best Mainstage Production	Dance
Pamela Barnes	Cinderella	West Australian Ballet	Outstanding Performer	Dance
The Production	Dead Man Walking	Freeze Frame Opera	Best Production	Musicals, Opera & Cabaret
Adam Mitchell	Dead Man Walking	Freeze Frame Opera	Outstanding Direction, Movement Direction or Choreography	Musicals, Opera & Cabaret
The Ensemble	"O,D,E"	The Blue Room Theatre & Tone List	Outstanding Ensemble	Musicals, Opera & Cabaret
Charis Postmus	"O,D,E"	The Blue Room Theatre & Tone List	Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role	Musicals, Opera & Cabaret
Christopher van Tuinen	The Pirates of Penzance	West Australian Opera	Outstanding Musical Direction or Conducting	Musicals, Opera & Cabaret
Penny Shaw	The Pirates of Penzance	West Australian Opera	Outstanding Performer in a Supporting Role	Musicals, Opera & Cabaret
Stuart Maunder	The Pirates of Penzance	West Australian Opera	Outstanding Achievement by an Interstate Artist	Musicals, Opera & Cabaret
Nick Maclaine	Urinetown the Musical	Western Sky Projects	Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role	Musicals, Opera & Cabaret
Sharon Kiely	Urinetown the Musical	Western Sky Projects	Outstanding Performer in a Supporting Role	Musicals, Opera & Cabaret
Tamara Creasey	Reasons to Stay Inside	Barking Gecko Arts	Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role	Theatre
The Ensemble	Never Have I Ever	Black Swan State Theatre Company	Outstanding Ensemble	Theatre
The Production	August: Osage County by Tracy Letts	Black Swan State Theatre Company & Belvoir St Theatre	Best Mainstage Production	Theatre
Amy Matthews	August: Osage County by Tracy Letts	Black Swan State Theatre Company & Belvoir St Theatre	Outstanding Performer in a Supporting Role	Theatre
Will O’Mahony	August: Osage County by Tracy Letts	Black Swan State Theatre Company & Belvoir St Theatre	Outstanding Performer in a Supporting Role	Theatre
Pamela Rabe	August: Osage County by Tracy Letts	Black Swan State Theatre Company & Belvoir St Theatre	Outstanding Achievement by an Interstate Artist	Theatre
The Production	Shadow of Doubt	The Blue Room Theatre & Fine Comb Theatre	Best Independent Production	Theatre
Rachel McMurray	Shadow of Doubt	The Blue Room Theatre & Fine Comb Theatre	Outstanding Direction	Theatre
Lainey O'Sullivan	Shadow of Doubt	The Blue Room Theatre & Fine Comb Theatre	Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role	Theatre
Gina Williams-Ghouse & Guy Ghouse	Aliwah Bardinar!	Breaksea	Outstanding Composition	Overall Awards
Tommaso Pollio	Dead Man Walking	Freeze Frame Opera	Outstanding Arranging	Overall Awards
Jerry Reinhardt	Dead Man Walking	Freeze Frame Opera	Outstanding Lighting Design	Overall Awards
Nicole Marrington	LEGENDS (of the Golden Arches)	Joe Paradise Lui & Merlynn Tong presented with Perth Festival, produced by Performing Lines WA	Outstanding Costume Design	Overall Awards
Cherish Marrington	LEGENDS (of the Golden Arches)	Joe Paradise Lui & Merlynn Tong presented with Perth Festival, produced by Performing Lines WA	Outstanding Stage Design	Overall Awards
The Production	"O,D,E"	The Blue Room Theatre & Tone List	Outstanding Contemporary or Experimental Performance	Overall Awards
Rebecca Riggs-Bennett	The 7 Stages of Grieving	Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company	Outstanding Sound Design	Overall Awards

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.