The top award, Best Play of the 2023 Heritage NananGO PLAYfest, was presented by the Nanango Theatre Company’s Louise and David Kenny, centre, to writers / directors Clara Aleckson and Opal Francis, from the Blackout Collective, for “Love Me [Not]”September 7, 2023
Nanango Theatre Company wrapped up its latest feast of drama, comedy and social commentary last Sunday morning with more than $3000 worth of prizes handed out.
The second annual NananGO PLAYfest featured five sessions over three days staged at the Nanango Cultural Centre.
Theatre groups from across south-east Queensland were invited to bring along their best one-act plays to wow audiences and compete for cash prizes.
Fifteen plays, from both youth troupes and more experienced theatre societies, were presented.
They were judged by Mark and Shirley Lucas, from Excalibur Theatre at Caboolture, who also judged the first PLAYfest in 2022.
The top award, Best Play, was presented to the Blackout Collective for “Love Me [Not]”, a confronting drama exploring the consequences of domestic violence.
The People’s Choice award, voted on by season ticket holders, was “Do It For The Boyz” presented by students from St Benedict’s College at Moreton Bay which challenged the ideas of masculinity in contemporary Australia.
Nanango Theatre Company president Rod Morgan thanked the adjudicators, the audience and the sponsors, especially Heritage Community Branch, Nanango, for their support.
He also praised Jon Fearnley whose vision over many years had led to the creation of the one-act play festival in Nanango.
“It’s been a great festival. We’ve all enjoyed it,” Rod said.
Nanango Theatre Company has been presenting live theatre in the region for 43 years.
Their next event is a theatre restaurant production of their award-winning, (see below), comedy “Last Tango In Little Grimley” which will be staged at the Kumbia Memorial Hall from 6:30pm on Friday, September 22.
Tickets cost $55 which includes a two-course meal.
Co-adjudicator Mark Lucas explained the judging process to the audience on Sunday morning
Nanango Theatre Company’s Marietta Wetzig won a bottle of wine from the People’s Choice voting draw
Peter Ainslie went home with a barbecue, thanks to a winning raffle ticket which was bought in his name
Nanango Cultural Centre’s auditorium on Sunday morning … NTC president Rod Morgan said it was close to full for each of the sessions across the three-day festival
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Competition Winners
Co-adjudicator Shirley Lucas with “Hoods” director Clara Aleckson who accepted the Best Supporting Youth Actor (Female) award on behalf of Tamika McCoy; the Best Youth Actor (Female) award on behalf of Tasha Duthie; Best Youth Play for “Hoods” (performed by Strike TLC); and Best Set Design for “Hoods”“Do It For The Boyz” and “Netty’s Night Out” director Paula-Mary Camilleri accepted the Best Youth Supporting Actor (Male) award on behalf of Theo Hunt, the Best Supporting Actor (Male) award on behalf of Jack Cummings and the Best Actor (Male) award on behalf of Michael Pitman“Murder At Rosemere” director Sarah Hummerston accepted the award for Best Youth Actor (Male) on behalf of Reilly Keegan and the award for Best Costume Design for “Murder At Rosemere”“The Man In The Bowler Hat” director Anne Davoren accepted the Best Actor In A Minor Role (Male) award on behalf of Ben Richardson, and the Best Actor In A Minor Role (Female) award on behalf of Alex AlifrangisThe Best Supporting Actor (Female) award was accepted by Joy Marshall for her role in “Deep”The Best Actor (Female) award was accepted by Ali Lambole for her role in “Deep”Alex Gilmore presented the Best Lighting & Sound and Best Set Design awards to “Hoods” director Clara AlecksonThe “Magic Moment” award was presented to Beth Geoghegan and Marianne Buchanan for “The Donahue Sisters”Co-adjudicator Mark Lucas presented the Best New Australian Script award to Simon Denver for “Deep”Dorian Latter and Eli Ball, from St Benedict’s College, accepted the award for Runner-Up Short Play for “Do It For The Boyz”Co-director Opal Francis accepted the award for Best Short Play for “Anonymous”NTC president Rod Morgan presented the award for Best Director to Clara Aleckson and Opal Francis for “Love Me [Not]”The “People’s Choice Award” was presented to Dorian Latter, Eli Ball and Paula-Mary Camilleri for “Do It For The Boyz”Cr Jane Erkens presented the Runner-Up Comedy award to Jenny Morgan for “Last Tango In Little Grimley” … the Nanango Theatre Company will be presenting this as a theatre restaurant at Kumbia Memorial Hall on September 22The Runner-Up Drama was awarded to “Deep” by the Suncoast Repertory TheatreActor Max Phythian and director Paula-Mary Camilleri accepted the Best Play Of A Different Genre award for “Netty’s Night Out”
