David Kenny, at back, from Heritage Nanango Community Funding, and adjudicator Paula-Mary Camilleri, left, presented the $1000 Best Play Award to the members of the North Brisbane Theatre Company for their play “All Strings Attached”
September 8, 2026
For the second year in a row, members of the North Brisbane Theatre Company have taken out the $1000 Best Play award at the Heritage NananGO PLAYfest short play competition.
The actors presented “All Strings Attached” last Saturday afternoon at the Nanango Cultural Centre, one of 14 short plays on stage across the annual three-day festival.
The short comedy involves two bumbling detectives, played by Jess and Helen Bradford, who try to solve a murder; Jess and Helen also wrote the play.
“All Strings Attached” also took out the awards for Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best New Australian Script and Best Set Design.
The independent adjudicator, Paula-Mary Camilleri, came from Brisbane to provide feedback about the performances and select the winners (see below).
She said “All Strings Attached” had a new script, an elaborate set and four strong actors who were “bouncing off each other”.
NananGO PLAYfest is always popular with local audiences who get to see top theatre talent in action, as well as theatre companies from across south-east Queensland who come to compete for cash prizes.
PLAYfest is also an excellent opportunity for local actors to show off their skills, with both the Nanango Theatre Company and the junior South Burnett Performing Arts Academy also starring on stage and collecting awards.
Cash prizes, sponsored by Heritage Bank Nanango, ranged from $50 through to $1000 with a total of $3000 on offer.
Compere Jon Fearnley, from the Nanango Theatre Company, with competition judge Paula-Mary Camilleri, from BrisbaneJudge Paula-Mary Camilleri took notes during each performance and shared feedback with the performersNanango councillor Jane Erkens and South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff joined members of the Nanango Theatre Company in presenting awardsScenes from “Chat Tomorrow”, presented by Starlet Creative Industries on Sunday morning, which explored a dystopian world where Artificial Intelligence creates “peace” and “happiness” for humanity by using nuclear weapons and neural implants … just one of the amazing plays presented across the weekend
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Award Presentations
LEFT: Nanango Theatre Company’s Megan Lees presented a Best Youth Supporting Actor award to Kailen Treben (Firebrands – Ipswich Little Theatre) for her role in “Two, Four, Six, Eight, Who Do We Resuscitate” RIGHT: A Best Youth Actor award was presented to Aria Frohloft, from the same playMichael, from the Nanango Theatre Company, presented a Best Youth Supporting Youth Actor award to Addy Hopkins from the South Burnett Performing Arts Academy’s production of “The Claw”A Best Youth Actor award went to Taylah White in “Two, Four, Six, Eight, Who Do We Resuscitate”NTC’s Valerie Mathews, right, presented the Best Actress In A Minor Role award to Megan Lees (Nanango Theatre Company) who was the voice of the cow in “Whoops A Daisy”Best Supporting Actress Jess Bradford, from “All Strings Attached” (North Brisbane Theatre Company)NTC vice president Lachie presented the Best Actor In A Minor Role to Garth Remington in “Daffodil” (Ipswich Little Theatre)Best Supporting Actor Michael Pitman from “All Strings Attached” (North Brisbane Theatre Company) and NTC’s Jenny Morgan, right, with Best Actress Jade Plaistow, from “Even Numbers” (Footlights Theatrical)The winner of the Best Actor award was Mark Phythian in “Tickets Please” (Toowoomba Repertory Theatre) … the award was presented by the NTC’s Rod Morgan and accepted on Mark’s behalf by Beth GeogheganPaula-Mary Camilleri presented an Adjudicator’s Award to Danielle Robert for her role in “Daffodil” (Ipswich Little Theatre)Adjudicator’s Award winner Stephanie Wimpenny, from the South Burnett Performing Arts Academy, with Grace, 4 … Stephanie directed “The Claw”Best New Australian Script and Best Set Design winners Jess and Helen Bradford for “All Strings Attached”Best Director award winners Ollie Gavranovic and Jessica Pitman for “Two, Four, Six, Eight, Who Do We Resuscitate”Cr Jane Erkens, right, presented the Runner-Up Comedy award to “Whoops a Daisy” (Nanango Theatre Company) , written and directed by Annette McKeithThe Runner-Up Drama award went to “Daffodil” (Ipswich Little Theatre)The “Best Play Of A Different Genre To Best Play” award went to “Even Numbers”Mayor Kathy Duff presented the Best Youth Play award to “Two, Four, Six, Eight, Who Do We Resuscitate”“Even Numbers” won the People’s Choice award which was voted on by season ticket holders
