2024 Sydney Theatre Awards Nominations Announced
Nominations have been announced for the 2024 Sydney Theatre Awards, which will be presented at an industry gala ceremony on Monday 20 January 2025 at the York Theatre, Seymour Centre.
Nominations in the 28 categories were spread across 48 different productions, which played on Sydney stages during 2024. Leading the list with eight nominations were The Lewis Trilogy (produced by Griffin Theatre Company) and Stolen (Sydney Theatre Company), while The Inheritance (Shane Anthony, Daniel Cottier Productions, Sugary Rum Productions and Seymour Centre) received seven. Zombie! The Musical (Hayes Theatre Co) received five nominations, and Yentl (Kadimah Yiddish Theatre, Monstrous Theatre, Neil Gooding Productions and Shalom) received six.
The nominees for Best Mainstage Production are August: Osage County (Belvoir), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Belvoir), The Lewis Trilogy (Griffin Theatre Company) and Stolen (Sydney Theatre Company). The nominees for Best Independent Production are The Inheritance (Shane Anthony, Daniel Cottier Productions, Sugary Rum Productions and Seymour Centre), POV (re:group performance collective and 25A), Trophy Boys (Soft Tread, Seymour Centre and The Maybe Pile) and Yentl (Kadimah Yiddish Theatre, Monstrous Theatre, Neil Gooding Productions and Shalom). Vying for Best Production of a Musical are Jesus Christ Superstar (Crossroads Live and Work Light Productions), Ride The Cyclone (Hayes Theatre Co), Titanique (Michael Cassel Group) and Zombie! The Musical (Hayes Theatre Co).
The Sydney Theatre Awards have been presented annually since 2005 by a group of Sydney’s leading theatre critics to celebrate the strength and diversity of Sydney’s theatre artists and productions. Judging panels have been bolstered over the past five years to include prominent industry specialists who see all eligible productions in their area and vote on the nominations.
Panellist, actor and director Kenneth Moraleda said, “In 2024, Australian theatre showcased a wealth of expansive epic stories and compelling narratives, featuring large ensemble casts, prominent female voices and dynamic new Australian writing amongst revisits of contemporary plays, with strong explorations of intergenerational themes and our nation’s complex recent history. We’re witnessing a rise of new artists confidently asserting themselves in the independent scene, alongside the ongoing evolution of our established creatives on the main stages.”
Sydney Morning Herald theatre critic John Shand added, “Theatre has a way of reflecting the present, even though productions are planned well in advance and may be set in the past. So many plays powerfully reflected a year of savage conflict. Among the highs came notable breakthroughs in the depiction of people challenged physically or behaviourally. A potent list of nominations.”
For more information, visit sydneytheatreawards.com
Image credit Sydney Theatre Awards