Thursday, 11 August 2022

Congratulations to the following WAAPA alumni, staff and students who were the recipients of 2022 Performing Arts WA Awards, announced at a ceremony at the State Theatre Centre on Monday 8 August:

Theatre Awards

Amberly Cull (2010 Music Theatre), Melanie Robinson (2002 Music), Carmel Dean (1999 Music)– Outstanding New Work for The One Who Planted Trees, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre.

Ian Michael (2008 Aboriginal Theatre) – Outstanding Direction of an Independent Production for The Bleeding Tree, Blue Room Theatre and Ian Michael.

Rachael Dease (2007 Composition and Music Technology, Honours) – Best Sound Design for The Bleeding Tree, Blue Room Theatre and Ian Michael.

The Bleeding Tree also took out awards for Best Independent Production and Outstanding Ensemble, with WAAPA grads Chloe Ogilvie (2015 Lighting), Tyler Hill (2016 Design), Karla Hart (2005 Aboriginal Performance), Abbie-Lee Lewis (2008 Aboriginal Performance, 2012 Acting), Ebony McGuire (2013 Aboriginal Performance), Sophia Morgan (2020 Stage Management).

Alison van Reeken (1996 Acting) – Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role for Nocturna by Ian Sinclair, The Kabuki Drop.

Tobias Muhafidin (2017 Acting) – Outstanding Newcomer and Outstanding Performer in a Supporting Role for Minneapolis, Performing Lines WA.

Arielle Gray (2005 BPA) and Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd (2004, Theatre Arts) – Outstanding Direction of a Mainstage Production for Whistleblower, The Last Great Hunt for Perth Festival.

Dance Awards

Dance graduates Mitchell Aldridge, Claudia Alessi, Mitch Harvey, Storm Helmore, Alex Kay, Yilin Kong, Matthew Morris, Jo Omodei, Russell Thorpe, current student Otto Pye and WAAPA secondees Campbell Gateley, Anna Milburn, Jessica Pettitt, Nadia Priolo, Macon Riley, Aisha Samat, Sami Jane Smith, Luther Wilson, Zachary Wilson – Outstanding Ensemble for Archives of Humanity, Co3 Contemporary Dance for Perth Festival. Archives of Humanity also won Best Mainstage Production.

Francesca Fenton (2021 Dance Honours) – Outstanding Newcomer for Slow Burn, Together, Performing Lines WA for Perth Festival.

Natalie Allen (2008 Dance) – Outstanding Performer for Julia, Steamworks Arts with Feisty Dame Productions. Julia, which Allen co-created with director Sally Richardson, also won Best Independent Dance Production.

Carina Roberts (2014 Dance) – Outstanding Performer for Coppélia, West Australian Ballet.

Ella-Rose Trew (2009 Dance) – Outstanding Performer for Slow Burn, Together, Performing Lines WA for Perth Festival.

Musical & Opera Awards

Tyler Jacob Jones (2006 Music Theatre) – Outstanding New Work for The Summer of Our Lives, The Blue Room Theatre & Western Sky Projects.

Amber Scates (2021 Music Theatre) – Outstanding Newcomer, Cinderella, Zealous Productions.

Nick Maclaine (2012 Music) – Outstanding Performer in a Supporting Role for The Summer of Our Lives, The Blue Room Theatre & Western Sky Projects.

Harriet Marshall (2008 Classical Voice) – Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role for Angels & Devils, Freeze Frame Opera, which also won Best Production.

Paul O'Neill (2004 Classical Voice) – Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role for Cav & Pag, West Australian Opera.

Rachel McDonald (staff) – Outstanding Direction, Movement Direction or Choreography for Angels & Devils, Freeze Frame Opera.

Joe Louis Robinson (staff) – Outstanding Musical Direction or Conducting for The Summer of Our Lives, The Blue Room Theatre & Western Sky Projects.

Louis Frere-Harvey (2010 Music) – Outstanding Composition or Arranging for Structural Dependency, Brooke Leeder & Dancers for Perth Festival.

Joe Paradise Lui (staff) – Outstanding Lighting Design for Unheimlich, Performing Lines WA.

Matt McVeigh (2008 Design) – Outstanding Costume Design for Koolbardi wer Wardong, West Australian Opera.

Also announced on the night were the 2022 recipients of The Artist Relief Fund’s Student Endowments, generously supported by the Minderoo Foundation. These endowments are presented annually to six promising 2nd Year students from each of WAAPA’s performance disciplines. Congratulations to Lucy Arnall (Aboriginal Performance), Ruby Henaway (Acting), Tegan Carter (Dance), Mia Guglielmi (Music Theatre), Harrison Lorenz-Daniel (Performing Arts) and Elouise Greenwell (Production & Design).