Flanked by showgirls from Legs Dance Academy and fellow singers Kaitlin Nihill and Dave Collins, Gold CAT winner at Saturday’s glittery 30^th CAT Awards held at The Q, Dave Smith, treated the audience to a bit of “razzle-dazzle” from the musical Chicago.

Smith had just been honoured for his performance in Next to Normal and direction of Nice Work if You Can Get It
for Queanbeyan Players.

A well-known musical theatre performer and former professional opera singer who juggles his day job in the public service with his great love of theatre and raising three small kids, his avowed theatrical philosophy is, “sometimes we just need entertainment”.

On a more melancholy note, the Silver CAT Award went posthumously to Annette Challis, the co-founder Revolution Theatre Productions in in Albury Wodonga, for a lifetime of support to theatre and the community.

It was not the only melancholy touch to an otherwise joyous afternoon, as tributes were paid to two late CATS stalwarts, musician Norma Robertson and stage director/performer Stephen Pike, in both of whose names awards have now been established.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Collins, accompanied by Leisa Keen at the piano, sang one of Pike’s most famous numbers, Bring Him Home, from Les Miserables, before the curtain went down on Act I.

During the afternoon of awards covering amateur shows in 2024, a packed audience of punters from around the region – you could tell where people came from by the cheers – applauded awards in theatre and dance.

While on the local front Queanbeyan Players and Canberra Rep were bathed in glory, it was by no means a local night only, as the honours were spread out across the southern region of NSW.

This provided evidence of the strength and passion for theatre in companies, schools, academies and even the NSW Department of Education. The smiles on the faces were enough to show you just how people felt.

The announcements were interspersed with showbiz dance and musical hits and even a monologue from a play, all performed under the director of Keen, with affable MC Andy Bell at the mike.

The presentations included special CAT commendations to Anna Butler for stage managing 3000+ schoolchildren in Southern Stars, to Neville Pye for sound design, to Dave Tricks for his dedication as mic technician, to Oxley College, Bowral for supporting performing arts, to See Me Hear Me Theatre, Tumut, for inclusivity and to a team of “Dragon Mothers” – Sarea Nicholas, Jessica Coates, Karen Malam, Tam Connor, Mel McDonald and Vicki Young – for set, costumes and puppetry work in Canberra.

At the end of the proceedings, chair of the CATS board, Ian Mclean, traced the recent history of the CATS, which had been founded by Coralie Wood and Kate Peters in 1995 and which had now, happily, been rescued by sponsorship from Blumer’s Lawyers.

McLean paid tribute to lawyer Mark Blumer’s “personal affinity” with theatre, saying it meant that the CATS could “joyfully celebrate 30 years thanks to Blumer’s.”

He also noted the contribution of now retired judge Oliver Raymond, who had over his 30 years of service, attended and judged no fewer than 934 shows for the CATS.

McLean introduced a new history of the CATS from 1994-2024, put together for the 30^th birthday by CATs board member David Whitbread, now available at all good bookstores.

Naturally, Wood was on hand after the show to sign copies.

The full list of CAT winners for 2024

BEST SET DESIGN FOR A PLAY

Jon Benn

The Importance of Being Earnest, Bay Theatre Players, Batemans Bay

BEST SET DESIGN FOR A MUSICAL, VARIETY OR DANCE PRODUCTION

Oli Gait and Julie Fraser, Albatross Musical Theatre Company, Nowra

BEST COSTUME DESIGN FOR A PLAY

Samantha Haslam and Deborah Franco, Bay Theatre Players, Batemans Bay

BEST COSTUME DESIGN FOR A MUSICAL, VARIETY OR DANCE PRODUCTION

Lola Lochrin, Kristy Lochrin, Belle Lochrin, Albatross Musical Theatre Company, Nowra

BEST COSTUME DESIGN FOR A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION

Julia Armstrong and Dee Skinner, JAM Junior Albatross MTC, Nowra

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN

Justin Pham, Campbelltown Theatre Group

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

Trent Houssenloge, Chris Curran, Bonnie Neate, Suzy Piani and Alex Clifford, The Training Ground, Canberra

JOHN THOMSON THEATRE MAGIC

Griffith & Regional Association for the Performing Arts (GRAPA)

BEST ORIGINAL WORK

Lusi Austin,  Lemon Tea Theatre, Cowra

Best Original Work for a School or Youth Production

BJ Anyos, Georgia Pike-Rowney and Katie Lee Cavanagh, Child Players ACT, Canberra

BEST ENSEMBLE IN A PLAY

Arran McKenna, Stuart Roberts, Glen Brighenti, Antonia Kitzel, Steph Roberts, Holly Ross, Bloody Murder, Canberra Repertory Society

BEST ENSEMBLE IN A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION

The backup singers

Southern Stars the Arena Spectacular: Magnifica, Wollongong

BEST ENSEMBLE IN A MUSICAL, DANCE OR VARIETY PRODUCTION

The chorus, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Queanbeyan Players

PATRICIA KELSON ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD

Serena Ruscica, So Popera Productions, Wollongong

BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

Banjo Campbell,  Oxley College, Bowral

BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Owen Hooper,  Scots All Saints College, Bathurst

BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

Gloria Waters, Oxley College, Bowral

BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Ella Saxon,  Mater Dei Catholic College, Wagga Wagga

AND

Kristin Mitchell, Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts

BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

Harrison Kirsch, Oxley College, Bowral

AND

Nicholas Doan,  Narrabundah College, Canberra

BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

Emma Piva, Canberra Girls Grammar School

BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Lachlan Nicholls,  St Edmund’s College, Canberra

BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Emily Saeki,  Mater Dei Catholic College, Wagga Wagga

BEST VARIETY PERFORMANCE BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR ENSEMBLE

Jayda Ciocci,  Stars the Arena Spectacular: Magnifica, NSW Department of Education, Wollongong

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MONOLOGUE OR ONE-ACT PLAY

Bruce Hardie,  Canberra Repertory Society

BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR ENSEMBLE

Katy Hinch-Parr, “Legs” Dance, Canberra

BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

Jimmy Roe, Bay Theatre Players, Batemans Bay

BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Brad Roe,  Rehearsal Room, Campbelltown

BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

Felicity Burke,  Campbelltown Theatre Group

AND

Nicki James,  Campbelltown Theatre Group

BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Anna Tully,  Queanbeyan Players

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

Joshua Paterson,  Campbelltown Theatre Group

AND

Keelan Judge,  Campbelltown Theatre Group

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Luke Ferdinands,  Queanbeyan Players

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

Liz St Clair Long, Canberra Repertory Society

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Sarah Hull,  Queanbeyan Players

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Bonnie Neate and Suzy Piani,  The Training Ground, Canberra

AND

Laura Pearce, Charlotte Gearside and Annaleisha Cologna, St Clare’s College, Canberra

BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION FOR A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION

David Saxon and Rebecca Saxon, Mater Dei Catholic College, Wagga Wagga

BEST DIRECTOR OF A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PLAY

Rachel Pengilly, Narrabundah College, Canberra

BEST DIRECTOR OF A SCHOOL OR YOUTH MUSICAL

Helen McLean,  The Illawarra Grammar School, Mangerton

BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION

Jen Hinton

Next to Normal, Queanbeyan Players

BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY

Josh Wiseman,  Canberra Repertory Society

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL OR VARIETY SHOW

Dave Smith,  Queanbeyan Players

BEST DANCE PRODUCTION

“Legs” Dance, Canberra

BEST PRODUCTION OF A SCHOOL OR YOUTH MUSICAL

Mater Dei Catholic College, Wagga Wagga

BEST PRODUCTION OF A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PLAY

Narrabundah College, Canberra

BEST PRODUCTION OF A VARIETY SHOW

Southern Stars NSW Department of Education, Wollongong

BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY

Canberra Repertory Society

BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL

Queanbeyan Players, Nice Work if You Can Get it.