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2026 Performing Arts Wa Awards Announce Winners Celebrating Excellence In Live Performance From 2025

23/04/2026 Breaking News🥇

The 2026 Performing Arts WA Awards Ceremony, held on Monday 20 April in the Heath Ledger Theatre, celebrated achievement in Western Australian professional live performance in 2025, covering both mainstage and independent performances. Opera Dead Man Walking by Freeze Frame Opera was the biggest winner for the night, taking home five awards, including Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Lighting Design and Best Production.

Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA’s co-production with Belvoir St Theatre August: Osage County by Tracy Letts and independent theatre show Shadow of Doubt by The Blue Room Theatre & Fine Comb Theatre were also popular productions, picking up four awards each.

After Freeze Frame Opera, Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA was the next most awarded company, taking home a total of five awards. The Blue Room Theatre maintained their reputation as a hub for excellent theatre, with 10 awards for shows at the venue. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to veteran stage manager Jenny Poh, for her tireless work within the industry.

The inaugural Ripple Effect Award winner was James Berlyn. James’ tireless and quiet contribution has had a ripple effect to make change and to impact others. In his acceptance speech, James announced the prize money would fund a new artist residency opportunity at his West Berlyn Studios.

The Ripple Effect Award is a new award, to honour the legacy of the late Georgia Malone. A true champion of the arts, her incredible career has left a lasting legacy for the world. With continued funding and support from DCITS and Arts & Culture Trust, the awards continue to be held at Heath Ledger Theatre at State Theatre Centre. The awards themselves featured live performances from MATRIARX and Pam Boland, and were hosted with comedic wit by performers Luke Joseph Ryan & Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd. With a 20+ year history of recognising professional theatre, the Awards include dance, musicals, opera and cabaret across WA. The Awards celebrate the professional live performing arts in Western Australia. They are hosted each year by Artist Relief Fund WA, a charity which supports arts workers experiencing hardship.

Musical Urinetown by Western Sky Projects received the most nominations, up for fourteen separate awards. After Western Sky Projects, Freeze Frame Opera was the most nominated company with 9 nominations. Other big nominees include Co3 Contemporary Dance & The Australian Chamber Orchestra’s dance work IN THE SHADOW OF TIME with eight nominations; The Blue Room Theatre & Tone Lists’s O,D,E also snared eight nominations.

The event was supported by funders and sponsors: DCITS and Arts & Culture Trust WA, Steamworks Arts, CircuitWest, Architecture of Movement, George Kingsley, Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Moore Creative Artists, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Pigface Books; plus hospitality partners Otherside Brewing and West Cape Howe Wines. More information: www.performingartswaawards.com

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A Chang-Chang, Changity, Chang, Shoo, Bop Musical Melody

19/04/2026 Carmen Jenner🥉

Musical Melody Rating

★★★★★

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For all those Hollywood buffs out there, you may struggle to restrain any uncontrollable toe tapping and humming during the Garrick Theatre’s latest production, the ‘Musical Melody’. Anyone would understand if you burst into song during ‘I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair’ (South Pacific), ‘Le Jazz Hot’ (Victor/Victoria) or ‘We Go Together’ (Grease).

However, there would be plenty of complaints if anyone interrupted Katie Nowland’s operatic performance of ‘Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man’, in a spellbinding rendition of the Show Boat tune. Other highlights include energetic performances of ‘The Tapioca’ (Thoroughly Modern Millie) and ‘Carrying The Banner’ (Newsies).

It was wonderful to see some familiar faces return to the stage, including Carly Ranger and Lily Wakeling from the Garrick’s Sweeney Todd 2025 production, as well as Kody Fellows (Narnia). From ‘Cursed’ returned Steph Hickey, Erin Shay Horrigan, Ethan Dal Molin and Ben Vaughan-Sanders (who will also be performing in the upcoming ‘The Playboy of the Western World’ production).

To debut on the Garrick’s seasoned stage are Kyla Retirado and Priom Bhattacharjee in their first forays into community theatre, alongside Fringe Festival regular James Carduff.

Who can forget to mention host Ian Staunton’s British banter in between acts? No doubt I’m not the only one who hopes to see him return to the Garrick’s well-trodden stage, in a blaze of theatrical glory.

Musical director Juliette Basini and director Tamar Basini also joined the cast with song and dance performances. Under their direction and choreography, the mother-daughter duo brought their love of Hollywood classics to the stage with ‘Kiss Me, Kate’, ‘Meet Me In St. Louis’, ‘My Fair Lady’, ‘The Pajama Game’, ‘Singing in the Rain’ and ‘The Boy Friend’.

Community theatre would never have the opportunity to sparkle without the creativity of those working behind the scenes. So, let’s shine some light on Astro Stewart (Stage Manager), Nera Camponovo (Production Liaison), Mark Nicholson (Lighting), Joe Hoedemaker (Lighting), Declan O’Brien (Sound), Paris Romano Jenner (Props & Photography), Kieran Smith (Photography), Roisin O’Neill (Choreography), Katie Nowland (Vocal warmups), Tamar Basini (Costumes) and Juliette Basini (Photography and Graphic Design). A special mention goes to theatre President Ali McNamara’s help with direction, and Yvonne Star and her front-of-house team.

The Musical Melody takes you on a chang-chang, changity, chang, shoo, bop journey through the ages. With only four shows, it’s no wonder it’s already sold out, featuring an incredibly talented cast whose delightful routines left the audience grinning from ear to ear.

Established in 1932, the Garrick Theatre is Perth’s longest-running community theatre group. Annual memberships are available, and if you’re a cherished member, then you would already know that next on the agenda is The Playboy of the Western World, with performances starting on 4th June 2026.

To book tickets to Musical Melody, please visit https://www.taztix.com.au/event/garricktheatre/.

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From Page to Stage: Percy Jackson Delivers

14/04/2026 Emma Basc 🥉

The Lightning Thief Rating

★★★★★

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Art in Motion Theatre Company are back at the Don Russell Performing Arts Centre with The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical—and as a family who love musical theatre and have devoured everything written by Rick Riordan, we were counting down the days until the show.

We arrived dressed in our finest orange and blue (as you do, IYKYK), and loved seeing so many audience members leaning into the fun—camp colours, hand-painted bead necklaces, the lot. This was an audience coming in with high expectations. Thankfully, this talented cast more than delivered.

The story follows Percy Jackson (Joshua Hollander), who discovers he’s a half-blood—his father is none other than Poseidon. After his life takes a sharp and unexpected turn, Percy finds himself at a camp for children of gods and mortals before heading off on a quest filled with monsters, riddles, and a race against time. Alongside Annabeth Chase (Una Minello) and Grover Underwood (Cosimo Trichelo), Percy must try to prevent a war among the gods.

No pressure.

The show runs for around two hours (plus intermission) and is fantastic value for a community theatre production. A huge congratulations to the cast—these performers can sing. As well as the 3 lead characters, hats off to the other performers who seamlessly transitioned between so many characters. The live band was incredible (and honestly, live music just lifts a show in a way nothing else can), their enthusiasm was contagious. This is Liam Tickner’s directorial debut, and what a strong one it is. The set design by Craig Delbridge is clever and effective, using simple elements to bring scenes to life (the statue garden was a standout). Costume designer Kylie Martin has also done a great job capturing the essence of each character.

I was asked before going, “Isn’t that for kids?”
And look… not no…

The recommendation is 13+, but if your younger kids are okay with some fight scenes, they’ll likely love it. The books are aimed at around 9+, and I’d happily take an 8 or 9-year-old. That said, this absolutely holds its own for adults—I’d have enjoyed it just as much without the kids (although I suspect I would never have been forgiven) and there were lots of adults there of all ages without children.

If you love Percy Jackson, mythology, urban fantasy, or just a good musical, this one is well worth your time. The show is still running from 16–18 April (with two performances on the 18th). You can find more information here: https://www.gosnells.wa.gov.au/news-events/events/lightning-thief

To book tickets to The Lightning Thief, please visit https://drpac.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/160626.

Photographer: Perfectly Picturesque Photography

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Secret Life of Humans

12/04/202612/04/2026 Yannick Benoit

Secret Life of Humans Rating

★★★★★

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Secret Life of Humans is an award-winning play by David Byrne that explores six million years of human history through the lens of a personal family mystery. Directed by Audrey Poor, the Joondalup Encore Theatre Society launched their first show last night to an intimate but captivated audience at the St. Stephens Theatre.

The story follows Jamie Bronowski (played by Jash Kapoor), the grandson of the famous scientist and broadcaster Dr. Jacob Bronowski (Oliver Rogers) known for the Ascent of Man). In the present day, Jamie goes on a Tinder date with Ava (Melissa Humphries), a research scientist who is secretly an expert on his grandfathers work.

Ava introduces the show by speaking directly to the audience, where we sit as students in a lecture room. The plot unfolds as Ava takes us back two weeks-on a Tinder date. She fakes an interest in Jamie, in order to retrieve his grandfather (Dr. Bronowski’s) secret files, hidden in his old family house which Jamie is conveniently staying at. Locked since 1949, they now discover documents revealing Bronowski’s hidden role in World War 2. The shocking revelation exposes Bronowski, as a significant influence in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians due to his work calculating the mathematics behind ‘saturation bombing’ to maximise civilian casualties, the opposite of his public image as a humanistic, progressive scientist.

Oliver was brilliant in capturing the essence Jacob in his younger years, a mid-century mathematician, supported by his colleague, George (Zai Cook) and wife, Rita (Leila Le Map). The trio danced around a subtle side story that moved attention away from the impact of the conflict and more towards possible secrets of his personal life. Due to the turning point of the story it begged to question, which revelation was more threatening for his grandson, Jamie? It poses questions on the morality and ethics of the human condition.

The staging beautifully captures The Secret Life of Humans as a collision between intellect, memory, and lived experience, all cleverly put together by before-mentioned, Audrey Poor.

The set is split into three distinct worlds, all existing at once. Upstage, the raised platform functions as a professor’s study or scientific archive, with a formal desk, globe, bookshelves, and a blackboard-like wall covered in equations and symbols. It suggests the space of the deepest thinking intellectuals, on the cusp of answering life’s great questions, leading the modern day human into the new world.

It contrasts with downstage, representing today, and more familiar territory, a smaller kitchen-style table used for reading, working, drinking coffee. The scattered storage boxes bridging the two levels feel symbolic of memories, generations and stories yet to unpack.

Together, along with the performers standing in different times, create a visual metaphor for the many layers of human existence—the personal, the intellectual, and the social. The wide open central floor becomes a space where these worlds can intersect and eventually does. It’s a thoughtful, atmospheric design that feels perfectly aligned with a show about what it means to be human.

To book tickets to Secret Life of Humans, please visit https://www.taztix.com.au/event/jets/.

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