The prestigious “Best Play” award (with $1000 prize money and a trophy) went to North Brisbane Theatre Company’s production of the comedy drama “Establishing Relations” … the play also won the “People’s Choice” award
September 18, 2025
The recent Heritage NananGO PLAYfest attracted some of the best amateur performers from across south-east Queensland to the Nanango Cultural Centre.
Fifteen short plays were presented across the three days with hard-working adjudicator, Aaron Evans, judging the performances as well as the sets, directing and scripts.
He admitted it had been a difficult task as all the short plays had been “simple and effective”.
Cash prizes, sponsored by Heritage Bank Nanango, ranged from $50 through to $1000 for the “Best Play” award.
Although a visiting troupe from the North Brisbane Theatre Company took home the major prize, local entries also held their own.
The Nanango Theatre Company’s “Gnomes”, “The Monkey’s Paw” and “Refuge” were also recognised, as were the plays presented by the young stars from the South Burnett Performing Arts Academy.
Aaron thanked the Nanango Theatre Company for putting on another “amazing festival”.
“Hats off to all of you and congratulations,” he said.
South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff also praised the festival, saying she had been “blown away” by the plays she had watched.
Stephanie Wimpenny, from South Burnett Performing Arts Academy, with adjudicator Aaron Evans … Stephanie accepted an Adjudicator’s Award for directing “CONsumed” and “Stone Soup”
Theo Hunt, from Shine Performing Arts Academy, received an Adjudicator’s Award for “Community Guidelines”
Marianne Buchanan, from Starlet Creative Industries, received an Adjudicator’s Award for “Chat”
Nanango Theatre Company’s Sheree and Kiall Rowberry and director Jon Fearnley received an Adjudicator’s Award for “Gnomes”Jo Purtil, from Toowoomba Repertory Theatre, received an Adjudicator’s Award for a very moving performance in “Mrs Thally F’Stephanie Wimpenny accepted an Adjudicator’s Award on behalf of the cast of “Stone Soup”
Wendy Shead, from North Brisbane Theatre Company, received an Adjudicator’s Award for directing “Establishing Relations”
Neil Melville accepted an Adjudicator’s Award on behalf of Nanango Theatre Company’s Kelsey Anderson for “The Monkey’s Paw”
South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff presented the “Best Supporting Youth Actress” award to Cassie White, from Strike TLC, for her role in “Fractured”The “Best Supporting Youth Actor” award was presented to Jeremy Hales, from Shine Performing Arts Academy, for his role in “Institute Of Absurd Enquiry”The “Best Youth Actress” award was presented to Tasha Duthie, from Strike TLC, for her role in “Fractured”The award for “Best Youth Play” went to Strike TLC’s “Fractured” … director Opal Francis with actress Tasha DuthieThe award for “Best Actress In A Minor Role” went to Jessica Bradford, from North Brisbane Theatre Company, for her role in “Establishing Relations”Cr Jane Erkens helped to present the “Best Actor In A Minor Role” to local actor Stewart Gray, from Nanango Theatre Company, for his role in “The Monkey’s Paw”The award for “Best Supporting Actress” was presented to Beth Geoghegan, from Nanango Theatre Company, for her role in “Refuge”The award for “Best Supporting Actor” was presented to Neil Melville, from Nanango Theatre Company, for his role in “Refuge”The “Best Actress” award was presented to Martie Blanchett, from Ipswich Little Theatre, for her role in “Watch Your Head”The “Best Actor” award was presented to Michael Pitman, from North Brisbane Theatre Company, for his role in “Establishing Relations”Tasha Duthie accepted the “Runner-Up Short Play” award on behalf of Strike TLC’s “Not Another Bloody Final Girl”The cast of “Weekend Escape”, from Starlet Creative Industries, received the award for “Best Short Play”Jon Fearnley, from Nanango Theatre Company, accepted the “Best Set Design” award for “Gnomes”The award for “Best New Australian Script”, which was judged before its presentation on stage, was awarded to “Community Guidelines” which explored the chaos and comedy of online community groupsJim Orr, from Ipswich Little Theatre, received the “Best Director” award for “Watch Your Head”Shine Performing Arts Academy’s “Community Guidelines” received the “Runner-Up Comedy” awardIpswich Little Theatre’s “Watch Your Head” received the “Runner-Up Drama” awardNanango Theatre Company’s “Refuge” received the ‘Best Play In A Different Genre” awardAlex Chintock, right, presented thank you gifts to adjudicator Aaron Evans and his wife Brittany, from Ipswich
