September 11, 2024
Nanango Theatre Company wrapped up another successful Heritage NananGO PLAYfest at the Nanango Cultural Centre with an enthusiastic awards presentation on September 1.
The third annual festival featured 19 one-act plays put on by theatre groups from across south-east Queensland.
A professional adjudicator, Craig Taylor – a life member of the Ipswich Little Theatre – kept a close eye on the performances on stage over the three days.
Craig has performed in, directed or written more than 250 productions, from one-act plays to musical theatre.
He shared his observations with the players and directors before announcing the winners of the various categories (see below) on the final day of the festival.
The awards were presented by South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff and Cr Jane Erkens.
The overall Best Play Award was presented to “Shoot Your Shot” by the Blackout Collective.
The comedy, which starred Opal Francis and Clara Aleckson, parodied what can happen in Fortitude Valley nightclubs.
It was a back-to-back win for the Blackout Collective, which also took out the top award at last year’s NananGO PLAYfest.
There was a home-grown success, too, with Nanango’s Megan Lees winning the Best Actor (Minor Role Female) Award for her performance in the comedy drama “Poof!”, about a woman reclaiming her life after her abusive husband spontaneously combusts …
Volunteers from the Nanango Theatre Company worked hard across the festival, doing everything from catering to selling tickets and stage setting.
* * *
NananGO PLAYfest Results
YOUTH AWARDS
- Best Supporting Actor (Female) – Sienna Randall (“Living With Lady Macbeth”)
- Best Supporting Actor (Male) – Zaid Seker (“Pinky Promise”)
- Best Actor (Female) – Abbie Gommers (“Living With Lady Macbeth”)
- Best Actor (Male) – Jeremy Hales (“Dust”)
- Best Play – “Living With Lady Macbeth” – Bare Feet Drama
OPEN AWARDS
- Best Actor (Minor Role Female) – Megan Lees (“Poof!”)
- Best Actor (Minor Role Male) – Michael Pitman (“The Magpies”)
- Best Supporting Actor (Female) – Janelle Kerr (“Interviews With Loneliness”)
- Best Supporting Actor (Male) – Scott Fitzpatrick (“Albert”)
- Best Actor (Female) – Opal Francis & Clara Aleckson (“Shoot Your Shot”)
- Best Actor (Male) – Eli Ball (“The Magpies”)
OVERALL AWARDS
- Runner-Up Short Play – “Unknown” – TLC Strike
- Best Short Play – “Woodland Creek” – Bare Feet Drama
- Best Director of the Festival – Paula-Mary Camilleri (“The Magpies”)
- Runner-Up Open Drama – “Friends of the Deceased” – Toowoomba Repertory Theatre
- Runner-Up Open Comedy – “The Magpies” – KSP Inc
- Best Play Open Drama – “Interviews With Loneliness” – KSP Inc
- Overall Best Open Play – “Shoot Your Shot” – Blackout Collective
- People’s Choice Award – “The Magpies”
