Two behind-the-scenes champions of Canberra’s theatre scene took top honours at the fourth annual Ovations Awards, at the Hellenic Club on Friday night.

The Encore Award for Lifetime Achievement went to Canberra Repertory Society stalwart Andrew Kay, while the Standing Ovation Award was presented to backstage whiz Lucy van Dooren.

Kay has been a member of the venerable society for more than 50 years. During that time, he has appeared on stage, played piano for 33 years of Rep’s Old Time Music Hall, designed more than 40 sets, and worked extensively on construction crews and as a scenic painter.

Van Dooren has worked backstage with several local companies on more than 20 productions, contributing as stage and production manager, stage crew member and microphone technician.

The Standing Ovation honours an often unsung hero, usually backstage,  who makes a strong contribution to the Canberra and Queanbeyan performing arts communities, while the Encore Award recognises a lifetime of outstanding positive contribution to the region’s performing arts.

The Ovations were formed by working  members of the theatre community several years ago when it was  felt that the reach of the parallel CAT Awards ( see ) stretched so far into the NSW regions that local talent was getting lost, thus turning the spotlight specifically on to Canberra and Queanbeyan.

Special Judges’ Awards were presented to Lachlan Ruffy for movement and fight choreography for Greek Theatre Now’s Antigone and NUTS’ The Squirrels; to Nick Griffin for solo piano playing in Musical of Musicals (The Musical) by Everyman Theatre; and to Bronwyn Potter for violin playing in Come From Away, for Dramatic Productions.

Here is the full list of award winners:

THEATRE

Outstanding Set
Tom Berger — A Doll’s House, Part 2, Canberra Repertory Society

Outstanding Lighting Design
Lachlan Houen — A Doll’s House, Part 2, Canberra Repertory Society

Outstanding Sound Design
Crystal Mahon, Neville Pye, Patrick Dixon — Equus, Free-Rain Theatre Company

Outstanding Costume Design
Helen Drum — A Doll’s House, Part 2, Canberra Repertory Society

Outstanding Featured Performance
Sam Thomson — Equus, Free-Rain Theatre Company

Outstanding Youth Performance (18 and under)
Anna Lorenz — A Doll’s House, Part 2, Canberra Repertory Society

Outstanding Supporting Performance – Drama (2 awards)
Steph Roberts — The Almighty Sometimes, Off the Ledge Theatre
Yanina Clifton — Julius Caesar, Chaika Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Performance – Comedy (2 awards)
Amy Kowalczuk — Hand to God, Everyman Theatre
Christina Falsone — Lend Me a Tenor, Free-Rain Theatre Company

Outstanding Lead Performance – Drama (2 awards)
Jack Shanahan — Equus, Free-Rain Theatre Company
Winsome Ogilvy — The Almighty Sometimes, Off the Ledge Theatre

Outstanding Lead Performance – Comedy (2 awards)
Jarrad West — Present Laughter, ACT Hub
Michael Cooper — Hand to God, Everyman Theatre

Outstanding Direction
Ed Wightman — Baby Jane, Canberra Repertory Society

MUSICAL THEATRE

Outstanding Set
Chris Zuber — Sweet Charity, Free-Rain Theatre Company

Outstanding Lighting Design
Alexander Clifford — Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Canberra Philharmonic Society

Outstanding Sound Design
James McPherson — Come From Away, Dramatic Productions

Outstanding Costume Design
Fiona Leach — Musical of Musicals (The Musical), Everyman Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Performance (2 awards)
Joe Dinn — Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Canberra Philharmonic Society
Vanessa Valois — Sweet Charity, Free-Rain Theatre Company

Outstanding Featured Performance (2 awards)
Cast — Musical of Musicals (The Musical), Everyman Theatre
Cast — Come From Away, Dramatic Productions

Outstanding Lead Performance (2 awards)
Leah Peel Griffiths — The Addams Family, Canberra Philharmonic Society
Taylor Paliaga — Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Canberra Philharmonic Society

Outstanding Youth Performance (18 and under)
Edward Murphy — High School Musical 2 JR., Pied Piper Productions
The Sharpettes — High School Musical 2 JR., Pied Piper Productions

Outstanding Orchestra
Come From Away — Dramatic Productions

Outstanding Musical Director
Caleb Campbell — Come From Away, Dramatic Productions

Outstanding Choreographer
Nathan Rutups — Come From Away, Dramatic Productions

Outstanding Direction
Kelly Roberts — Come From Away, Dramatic Productions

MAJOR AWARDS

Judges’ Award – Theatre
Lachlan Ruffy — Antigone (Greek Theatre Now); The Squirrels (NUTS)

Judges’ Award – Musical Theatre
Nick Griffin — Musical of Musicals (The Musical), Everyman Theatre
Bronwyn Potter — Come From Away, Dramatic Productions

Behind the Scenes – Theatre
Amy Campbell — Equus, Free-Rain Theatre Company

Behind the Scenes – Musical Theatre
India Cornwell — The Addams Family, Canberra Philharmonic Society
Joanne Golack, Aron Gadd, Chris Zuber — Come From Away, Dramatic Productions

Outstanding Original Work or Adaptation – Theatre
Rylee de Salis — When He Cries, Green Oak Theatre

Outstanding Production – Play (Community)
A Doll’s House, Part 2 — Canberra Repertory Society

Outstanding Production – Play (Independent)
Hand to God — Everyman Theatre

Outstanding Musical (2 awards)
Come From Away — Dramatic Productions
Musical of Musicals (The Musical) — Everyman Theatre

Standing Ovation
Lucy van Dooren

Encore! Award — Lifetime Achievement
Dr Andrew Kay