The Victorian Drama League 14th Annual Awards Presentation Evening 2010
Last night’s Victorian Drama League 14th Annual Awards Presentation Evening was held at Merrimu Receptions, Dandenong Rd, Murrumbeena. Throughout the year three adjudicators attended twenty-four productions around the state and bestowed awards by category as well as a number of individual adjudicator’s awards.
Following pre-drinks and networking in the foyer, the evening progressed as a relaxed three-course dinner hosted by Master of Ceremonies, Mr Peter Newling. A past adjudicator for the VDL, Newling is to be commended for the time and effort put into researching every interlude and his at-ease, topical comedy ensured a high level of engagement and interest throughout the evening. Highlights included “6 Degrees of the VDL” that must have connected upwards of ten shows from the past year, and the fictional “Peter Kemp Memorial Award for Best Critic.”
In the end Malvern Theatre Company came out on top with eight nominations and the award for Best Drama Production. The real excitement of the night, however, was the tension of the ‘Noises Off stand off.’ Catchment Players of Darebin received four nominations and the award for Best Director for their production, and Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company had six nominations and collected Best Actress in a Comedy Production. The room was buzzing when both companies were named as nominees for Best Comedy Production and the night ended on a tremendous high when Lilydale was declared the winner.
Following the theatre-style seating at the Music Theatre Guild Awards on Saturday night, the dinner setting and more relaxed pace of the VDL Awards was very welcome. Of course it makes sense to stage the Guilds that way – pure logistics considering the number of productions and you wouldn’t expect to see companies performing scenes from their nominated play at the VDL Awards – but the VDL had one very important advantage over the Guilds: a continuously accessible bar. There’s nothing better to stir up a crowd (and please a venue) than a limitless bar tab. And you know what? I think the drama people have got it right.
Overall a pleasant evening that appeared to be enjoyed by all present, especially the Geelong Repertory Theatre Company contingent and the table over my right shoulder (if decibels is anything to go by).
A full list of nominations and award recipients (Silver Award in italics and Gold Award in bold) can be found below. Please note there was one Silver Award tie this year.
Ian Nisbet
Images
Top: Geelong Repertory Theatre Company
Lower: Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company
December 6, 2010.
The Victorian Drama League
14th Annual Awards
Presentation Evening
December 5, 2010
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST SET DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA |
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The Waverley Festival Trophy Donated by The Waverley Festival |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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Loretta Bishop |
Doubt by John Patrick Shanley |
Sherbrooke Theatre Company |
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Nathan Firmin and Rohan Luke |
Noises Off by Michael Frayn |
Catchment Players of Darebin |
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Geoff Hickey and Alistair Johnstone |
The Subject Was Roses by Frank D.Gilroy |
Malvern Theatre Company |
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Jock Macneish |
The Pig Iron People by John Doyle |
Warrandyte Theatre Company |
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John Shelbourn |
Noises Off by Michael Frayn |
Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company |
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George Tranter |
Skylight by David Hare |
Williamstown Little Theatre |
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST LIGHTING DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA |
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The Frank Donahue Perpetual Trophy Donated by The 1812 Theatre |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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Dietmar Brisker |
Doubt by John Patrick Shanley |
Sherbrooke Theatre Company |
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David Earl |
The Subject Was Roses by Frank D.Gilroy |
Malvern Theatre Company |
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Angelo Gianchino |
Chaim's LOVE SONG by Marvin Chernoff |
Mordialloc Theatre Company |
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Colin Mortley |
Noises Off by Michael Frayn |
Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company |
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Barry O’Neill, Neil Absolom and Peter Dalwood |
Mary Stuart by Peter Oswald |
The Basin Theatre Group |
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Craig Pearcey |
Skylight by David Hare |
Williamstown Little Theatre |
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST SOUND DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA |
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The Victorian Drama League Perpetual Trophy Donated by V F Trainor Trophies |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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Barry O’Neill |
Mary Stuart by Peter Oswald |
The Basin Theatre Group |
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Bruce Packard |
The Tempest by William Shakespeare |
The Hartwell Players |
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Bruce Parr |
The Subject Was Roses by Frank D.Gilroy |
Malvern Theatre Company |
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Chris Procter |
Blackbird by David Harrower |
The 1812 Theatre |
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Kris Weber |
Speaking in Tongues by Andrew Bovell |
Strathmore Theatre Arts Group |
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST COSTUME DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA |
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The Russell Johnson Perpetual Trophy Donated by Sonia and Eddy Jager |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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Sylvia Carr and Margaret Bailey |
Noises Off by Michael Frayn |
Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company |
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Stephanie Ives |
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare |
Purely Pensive Productions |
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Bronwyn King |
Doubt by John Patrick Shanley |
Sherbrooke Theatre Company |
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Brenda Overton |
Mary Stuart by Peter Oswald |
The Basin Theatre Group |
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST ACTRESS in a MINOR ROLE in a COMEDY or a DRAMA |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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Philippa Bain as "Rachel" and "Shana Shotsky" |
Chaim's LOVE SONG by Marvin Chernoff |
Mordialloc Theatre Company |
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Annie Bieniek as "Theatre Lady", "Matchmaker", "Flight Attendant", "TV Reporter" and "Raizel Bokash" |
Chaim's LOVE SONG by Marvin Chernoff |
Mordialloc Theatre Company |
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Roberta Reed Stewart as "Mrs. Muller" |
Doubt by John Patrick Shanley |
Sherbrooke Theatre Company |
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Patsy Sanaghan as "Mammy O’Dougal" |
The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh |
Geelong Repertory Theatre Company |
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST ACTOR in a MINOR ROLE in a COMEDY or a DRAMA |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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David Howell as "Kurt" |
The Pig Iron People by John Doyle |
Warrandyte Theatre Company |
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John Jenkins as "Detective Baylen" |
Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet |
Heidelberg Theatre Company |
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Chris Kirby as "Eugene" |
Young Turks by Roy Thompson |
Frankston Theatre Group |
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Robert Lister as "Paul" |
Young Turks by Roy Thompson |
Frankston Theatre Group |
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Jon Pedler as "Dr McSharry" |
The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh |
Geelong Repertory Theatre Company |
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS in a COMEDY |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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Christine Bridge as "Tzawrah Shotsky" |
Chaim's LOVE SONG by Marvin Chernoff |
Mordialloc Theatre Company |
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Catherine Carr as "Stephanie" |
Daylight Saving by Nick Enright |
Encore Theatre |
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Emma Cox as "Gertrude Deuter" |
The Underpants by Carl Sternheim adapted by Steve Martin |
Essendon Theatre Company |
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Christine Davey as "Aunty Kate" |
The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh |
Geelong Repertory Theatre Company |
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Mary Steuten as "Aunty Eileen" |
The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh |
Geelong Repertory Theatre Company |
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS in a DRAMA |
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The Yvonne Manley Perpetual Trophy Donated by Sherbrooke Theatre Company |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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Noelene Cooper as "Rosie" |
The Pig Iron People by John Doyle |
Warrandyte Theatre Company |
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Angela Ellis as "Sister James" |
Doubt by John Patrick Shanley |
Sherbrooke Theatre Company |
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Marianne McLoughlin as "Allison Reynolds" |
The Breakfast Club by John Hughes |
The Mount Players |
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Serah Nathan as "Claire Standish" |
The Breakfast Club by John Hughes |
The Mount Players |
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR in a COMEDY |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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David Dodd as "Oscar Birnbaum" |
Chaim's LOVE SONG by Marvin Chernoff |
Mordialloc Theatre Company |
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Xavier Lee as "Caliban" |
The Tempest by William Shakespeare |
The Hartwell Players |
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Morgan Jenkins as "Bartley McCormick" |
The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh |
Geelong Repertory Theatre Company |
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James Shaw as "Ferdinand" |
The Tempest by William Shakespeare |
The Hartwell Players |
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Joe Dias as "Jason Strutt" |
Daylight Saving by Nick Enright |
Encore Theatre |
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR in a DRAMA |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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Bill Connolly as "Claude" |
The Pig Iron People by John Doyle |
Warrandyte Theatre Company |
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Scott Hasse as "Brian Johnson" |
The Breakfast Club by John Hughes |
The Mount Players |
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Nigel Leslie as "Dudley, Earl of Leicester" |
Mary Stuart by Peter Oswald |
The Basin Theatre Group |
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Lucas Lineham as "John Bender" |
The Breakfast Club by John Hughes |
The Mount Players |
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Ben Starick as "Pete", "Neil" and "John" |
Speaking in Tongues by Andrew Bovell |
Strathmore Theatre Arts Group |
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST ACTRESS in a COMEDY |
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The Victorian Drama League Perpetual Trophy Donated by Waverley Theatre Company |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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Christine Andrew as "Jean Horton" |
Quartet by Ronald Harwood |
Eltham Little Theatre |
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Madelaine Field as "Helen McCormick" |
The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh |
Geelong Repertory Theatre Company |
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Sally Kingsford as "Louise Maske" |
The Underpants by Carl Sternheim adapted by Steve Martin |
Essendon Theatre Company |
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Gabrielle O’Brien as "Dotty Otley" |
Noises Off by Michael Frayn |
Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company |
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST ACTRESS in a DRAMA |
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The Victorian Drama League Perpetual Trophy Donated by Waverley Theatre Company |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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Sharon Courbier as "Elizabeth" |
Mary Stuart by Peter Oswald |
The Basin Theatre Group |
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Stephanie Edgerton as "Evelyn" |
The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute |
Beaumaris Theatre |
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Becky Lee as "Una" |
Blackbird by David Harrower |
The 1812 Theatre |
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Melissa New as "Una" |
Blackbird by David Harrower |
Brighton Theatre Company |
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Anne Pagram as "Nettie Cleary" |
The Subject Was Roses by Frank D.Gilroy |
Malvern Theatre Company |
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST ACTOR in a COMEDY |
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The Max Grant Perpetual Trophy Donated by Mitcham Theatre Group |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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Bob Bramble as "Reginald Paget" |
Quartet by Ronald Harwood |
Eltham Little Theatre |
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Bryan Eaton as "Johnnypateenmike" |
The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh |
Geelong Repertory Theatre Company |
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Chris Gaffney as "Wilfred Bond" |
Quartet by Ronald Harwood |
Eltham Little Theatre |
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Eric Heyes as "Chaim Shotsky" |
Chaim's LOVE SONG by Marvin Chernoff |
Mordialloc Theatre Company |
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Neil McColl as "Tom Finn" |
Daylight Saving by Nick Enright |
Encore Theatre |
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Ashley McPherson as "Garry Lejeune" |
Noises Off by Michael Frayn |
Catchment Players of Darebin |
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST ACTOR in a DRAMA |
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The David Perkins Perpetual Trophy Donated by David Perkins |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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Keith Hutton as "John Cleary" |
The Subject Was Roses by Frank D.Gilroy |
Malvern Theatre Company |
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Barry Lockett as "Tom Sergeant" |
Skylight by David Hare |
Williamstown Little Theatre |
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Keith Hutton as "Ray" |
Blackbird by David Harrower |
The 1812 Theatre |
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Eoin O’Connell as "Timmy Cleary" |
The Subject Was Roses by Frank D.Gilroy |
Malvern Theatre Company |
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Xavier Ryan as "Leon" and "Nick" |
Speaking in Tongues by Andrew Bovell |
Strathmore Theatre Arts Group |
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST DIRECTOR of a DRAMA Production |
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The Edna Chandler Perpetual Trophy Donated by The Basin Theatre Group |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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Loretta Bishop |
Doubt by John Patrick Shanley |
Sherbrooke Theatre Company |
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Kym Davies |
The Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman |
Dandenong Theatre Company |
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Geoff Hickey |
The Subject Was Roses by Frank D.Gilroy |
Malvern Theatre Company |
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Shane Ryan |
The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute |
Beaumaris Theatre |
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Bernadette Wheatley |
Skylight by David Hare |
Williamstown Little Theatre |
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST DIRECTOR of a COMEDY Production |
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The Edna (Jones) Bartlett Perpetual Trophy Donated by Gordon Bartlett |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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Alan Burrows |
Noises Off by Michael Frayn |
Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company |
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Nathan Firmin |
Noises Off by Michael Frayn |
Catchment Players of Darebin |
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Dawn Hinrichsen and John Degabriele |
The Underpants by Carl Sternheim adapted by Steve Martin |
Essendon Theatre Company |
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Jon Pedler and Judy Thomson |
The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh |
Geelong Repertory Theatre Company |
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Kevin Trask |
Daylight Saving by Nick Enright |
Encore Theatre |
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Gareth Wilding-Forbes |
Quartet by Ronald Harwood |
Eltham Little Theatre |
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST DRAMA PRODUCTION |
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The Victorian Drama League Perpetual Trophy Donated by V F Trainor Trophies |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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Sherbrooke Theatre Company |
Doubt by John Patrick Shanley |
Sherbrooke Theatre Company |
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The Basin Theatre Group |
Mary Stuart by Peter Oswald |
The Basin Theatre Group |
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Dandenong Theatre Company |
The Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman |
Dandenong Theatre Company |
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Beaumaris Theatre |
The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute |
Beaumaris Theatre |
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Malvern Theatre Company |
The Subject Was Roses by Frank D.Gilroy |
Malvern Theatre Company |
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The 2010 VDL Award for BEST COMEDY PRODUCTION |
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The Victorian Drama League Perpetual Trophy Donated by Charles 'Bud' Tingwell |
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Nominee |
Play and Author |
Theatre Company |
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Mordialloc Theatre Company |
Chaim's LOVE SONG by Marvin Chernoff |
Mordialloc Theatre Company |
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Encore Theatre |
Daylight Saving by Nick Enright |
Encore Theatre |
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Catchment Players of Darebin |
Noises Off by Michael Frayn |
Catchment Players of Darebin |
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Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company |
Noises Off by Michael Frayn |
Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company |
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Geelong Repertory Theatre Company |
The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh |
Geelong Repertory Theatre Company |
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Eltham Little Theatre |
Quartet by Ronald Harwood |
Eltham Little Theatre |
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