l-r: Judi Crane as Janette, Sam Hannan-Morrow (seated) as Nick, Helen McFarlane (seated)) as April, Wayne Shepherd (seated) as Claude, Trish Kelly (standiing) as Rosie, Graham Robertson (standing) as Jack in The Pig Iron People. Photo: Cliff Spong
Canberra Repertory Society and Canberra Grammar School were the biggest winners at the 17th Canberra Area Theatre Awards, held at Llewellyn Hall in the ANU School of Music last night.
The host for the evening was Mark Grentell, who won 2006 CAT Awards for directing and designing the set of a Wagga Wagga production of Beauty and the Beast. CAT Awards producer Coralie Wood said these wins had inspired him to pursue a professional theatre career.
''He's been assistant director on Rock of Ages and Doctor Zhivago.''
Rep received 27 nominations and seven awards, four of which went to its production of The Pig Iron People: best production of a play, best set design of a play, best featured actor in a play (Graham Robertson) and best featured actress in a play (Judi Crane).
''It was a fantastic show,'' CATs producer Coralie Wood said of the Canberra premiere of John Doyle's play.
Fifty-five companies from the capital region took part and had produced ''a diverse range of shows'', Wood said.
Already impressed by the breadth and depth of talent in schools and colleges displayed in recent years, she added that ''The schools topped themselves again this year.'' Canberra Grammar received 19 nominations and six awards, five of which went to its original production Le School.
Queanbeyan City Council's production of the musical Blood Brothers won for best actor in a leading role in a musical (Ben Kindon), best actress in a leading role in a musical (Christine Forbes), musical direction and lighting design while Supa Productions' Avenue Q won for best production of a musical and best featured actor in a musical (Will Huang). The latter category produced a double award with Blake Appelqvist in Phoenix Players' The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee also winning.
The Gold CAT for outstanding achievement simultaneously in many categories was awarded to Canberra actor, dancer, choreographer and dance teacher Jordan Kelly.
■For the full list of winners go to catawards.com.au
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