Award and Nomination History

Select a decade to jump to awards from that time period.

2024

Dancing at Lughnasa

Directed by Mary-Rose McLaren

2024 Victorian Drama League Awards

Adjudicators Award

Representing the epitome of teamwork in theatre

Ruby Abbott
Nominated

BEST COSTUME DESIGN in a COMEDY or DRAMA

Janette Wotherspoon
Silver Awardee

BEST SET DESIGN in a COMEDY or DRAMA

Mary-Rose McLaren
Silver Awardee

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN in a COMEDY or DRAMA

Matthew Heenan and Tayla Harbour
Nominated

BEST ACTRESS in SUPPORTING ROLE in a DRAMA

Maggie Mundy: Played by Liana Emmerson

BNT Community Awards

Presented at the 2024 AGM

Members who have made outstanding contributions throughout 2023, who have gone above the average in their volunteer role

Contributions to Production
Shell Pryor
Ruby Penhall
Jack Brown
Rhonda Huckel
Jess Hillman
Alexandra Meerbach
Michelle Bosher
Charlie Hughes

Contributions to Performance
Clementine Sawyer
Lyka Fox
Matt Peavey
Lei Reid
Olivia French
Joe Appleton

read about the 2024 community awards

2023

Terry Pratchett's: Wyrd Sisters

Directed by Liana Emmerson

2023 Victorian Drama League Awards

Gold Awardee

BEST COMEDY PRODUCTION
Gold Awardee

BEST DIRECTOR of a COMEDY Production

Liana Emmerson
Gold Awardee

BEST ACTOR IN A MINOR ROLE IN A COMEDY

Vitoller & Death: Played by Barry Kay
Nominated

BEST ACTOR IN A MINOR ROLE IN A COMEDY

Tomjon: Played by James Wait
Nominated

BEST ACTOR IN A MINOR ROLE IN A COMEDY

Sergeant: Played by Jack Brown
Nominated

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS in a COMEDY

Magrat Garlick: Played by Ruby Penhall
Nominated

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR in a COMEDY

The Duchess: Played by Reuben Morgan
Nominated

BEST ACTOR in a COMEDY

The Fool: Played by Joe Appleton
Nominated

BEST SET DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Liana Emmerson
Nominated

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Matthew Heenan and Tayla Harbour
Silver Awardee

BEST SOUND DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Charlie Hughes
Silver Awardee

BEST COSTUME DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Liana Emmerson
Nominated

BEST PROPERTIES DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Shell Pryor

read about the 2023 VDL awards

2022

Mr Bennet's Bride

Directed by Megan J Riedl

2022 Victorian Drama League Awards

Gold Awardee

BEST ACTOR IN A MINOR ROLE IN A COMEDY

Mr Benedict Collins: Played by Shannon Nicholls
Nominated

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS in a COMEDY

Mrs Sarah Gardiner/Mrs Graves: Played by Lynette Plenderlieth

read about the 2022 VDL awards

2021

Pride & Prejudice Podcast

Directed by Liana Emmerson

25th Annual Webby Awards

Webby Award Honoree

(Limited Series Podcast - Scripted Fiction)

Pride and Prejudice Podcast

more about this production

2019

Speaking in Tongues

Directed by Dan West

2019 Victorian Drama League Awards

Nominated

BEST DIRECTOR of a DRAMA Production

Dan West
Nominated

BEST SOUND DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Dan West
Nominated

BEST SET DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Katrina Hill and Dan West
Silver Awardee

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Matt Henderson

more about this production

2018

Mr Bailey’s Minder

Directed by Linda Davey

2018 Victorian Drama League Awards

Gold Awardee

BEST SET DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Doug Bennett
Nominated

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Liam Mudge
Nominated

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS in a DRAMA

Tahanyth Webster-Otto as 'Margo Bailey'
Nominated

BEST ACTOR in a DRAMA

Michael Croome as 'Leo Bailey'

more about this production

1952

The Late Edwina Black

Directed by Jenny Strickland

Second Place - 1952 Royal South Street Society Play Contest

Second Place

Play Contest

The Lake Edwina Black - Ballarat National Theatre

more about this production

1954

At Dusk

Directed by Brenda Dowling

1954 Camperdown Play Festival

Winner

Best Play

At dusk

more about this production

1949

Therese Raquin

Directed by Jenny Strickland

Winner - 1949 National Theatre Movement Drama Competition

Winner

Best Play

Therese Raquin - Ballarat National Theatre
Winner

Best Male Player

Peter James as Laurent Dutour

more about this production

1946

Rebecca

Directed by Thelma Morton

Winner - 1946 National Theatre Drama Festival

Winner

Best Play

Rebecca
Winner

Best individual acting

Norah Nixon

more about this production

Plenty more to come...

Ballarat National Theatre has been around since 1938 so we have decades of award history information still to be uploaded to the website. The National Theatre movement originally included multiple National Theatres across the state that competed against each other in one-act play festivals in the 1940s. The company also participated in the Royal South Street Society's theatre competitions, including one-act and three act plays. As we get information, we'll be adding it to this page.