Sydney Theatre Awards 2009 – the winners
SYDNEY theatre’s big night happened this year at the Swans Club in the Cross. It’s a cool and swishy venue, but still comfortably intimate and we liked it a lot. A good night was had by all, as far as one could tell.
The winners on the night came from across the Sydney theatre spectrum and, frankly, how do you make a decision between the finest, the funniest and the most fabulous creative efforts we saw in 2009? Picking “winners” is often a painful process of elimination and nominations are winners in themselves, honestly.
Much humour and wit were on display, as well as some tears and tongue-tied moments. None such for Rodney Fisher who accepted the best cabaret award on behalf of an absent Meow Meow and said he was sure she would have thanked him, as her director. Tom Wright accepted Benedict Andrews’ best direction award because Benno is apparently in a mud bath in Reykjavik (hello?) and Cate Blanchett accepted his award for best mainstage production – both awards for War of the Roses – and said she hoped these would entice him out of the mud and northern hemisphere and back to Sydney, where a tussle for his body would occur between Belvoir and STC.
War of the Roses did rather well, which is a tribute to the astonishing production and to the the clear memories of the critics as it was on in January 2009. Ewen Leslie won best actor for his role in it and Nick Schlieper said he was pleased that his minimal lighting design was recognised, while Robert Cousins’ win for best set design may make him change his mind about quitting theatre design, it’s hoped. Overall, STC was a big winner; as well as Cate’s win for Streetcar, Tim Richards also won for his supporting role in the production and Paul Charlier’s sound design was also recognised.
If there were to be an award for uncommon sense, grace and intelligence in the face of massed flashguns, it would go to the Blessed Cate, who is an ornament to the industry in this city and a generous and decent member of her profession. Thanks Cate.
Anyway, so it went. It was a delicious evening and these are the full list of 2009 winners; and congratulations to everyone.
BEST MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION
The War of the Roses (Sydney Theatre Company and Sydney Festival)
BEST INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION
The Only Child (The Hayloft Project in association with B Sharp)
BEST DIRECTION
Benedict Andrews (The War of the Roses)
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEAD ROLE
Cate Blanchett (A Streetcar Named Desire)
BEST ACTOR IN A LEAD ROLE
Ewen Leslie (The War of the Roses)
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Anita Hegh (The City)
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Tim Richards (A Streetcar Named Desire)
BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK
When the Rain Stops Falling (Andrew Bovell)
BEST NEWCOMER
Josh McConville (The Call and Strange Attractor)
BEST SET DESIGN
Robert Cousins (The War of the Roses)
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Julie Lynch (Travesties)
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Nick Schlieper (The War of the Roses)
BEST SCORE OR SOUND DESIGN
Paul Charlier (A Streetcar Named Desire)
BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
Chicago
JUDITH JOHNSON AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Sharon Millerchip (Chicago)
JUDITH JOHNSON AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Damien Bermingham (Chicago)
BEST CABARET PRODUCTION
Meow to the World: Crisis is Born (Sydney Opera House)
BEST PRODUCTION FOR CHILDREN
The Gruffalo (Christine Dunstan Productions)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Wendy Blacklock – actor, producer, philanthropic entrepreneur and force behind countless Australian productions here and overseas.
Photos here by Lisa Tomasetti for STC: Cate Blanchett in A Streetcar Named Desire
