Sydney news

In a fun-filled ceremony at the Statement Bar beneath the State Theatre last night, the winners of the 2006 Sydney Theatre Awards, presented by a group of leading Sydney theatre critics, were announced.

Winner of Best Mainstream Production was Honour Bound, the ambitious work by Nigel Jamieson, exploring Australia’s engagement in the ‘war on terror’, national security and human rights through dance, film and aerial performances. Honour Bound also won Best New Australian Work and Best Score or Sound Design for Paul Charlier.

Equalling Honour Bound’s three gongs was Sydney Theatre Company’s The Lost Echo, winning Best Director for Barrie Kosky, Best Actor in a Lead Role for John Gaden, and Best Lighting Design for Damien Cooper.

Best Independent Production was awarded to Politely Savage, produced by My Darling Patricia at the Performance Space. Best Production of a Musical was awarded to Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and its lead actor, iOTA, was awarded the inaugural Judith Johnson Award for Best Performance in a Musical.

Best Actress in a Lead Role was awarded to Victoria Longley (The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?), Best Actress in a Supporting Role went to Hayley McElhinney and Best Actor in a Supporting Role went to Colin Moody (both for STC’s Mother Courage and Her Children). Leon Cain was awarded Best Newcomer for Griffin’s Away, and Best Cabaret Production went to Judi Connelli for Matters of the Heart. Ralph Myers was awarded Best Set Design for Reunion/A Kind of Alaska, and Julie Lynch won her second Best Costume Design award in a row, this year for The Bourgeois Gentleman.

The Sydney Theatre Award for Lifetime Achievement went to Artistic and Governing Director of the Ensemble Theatre, Sandra Bates, who notched up 21 years in this role.

The 2006 Sydney Theatre Awards ceremony were attended by a glittering array of Sydney theatre identities, including David Williamson, Zoe Carides, Mark Lee, Caroline O’Connor, Andrew MacFarlane, Ralph Fiennes, Stephen Daldry, Darren Gilshenan, Denise Roberts, Tina Bursill, Priscilla designers Tim Chappell and Lizzy Gardiner, Drew Forsythe, Lucy Durack, Peter Carroll, Pamela Rabe, Meow Meow, Marion Potts, Phil Scott, Saskia Smith, William Zappa, Drayton Morley, David Berthold, Barry Crocker, Katy Manning, John Frost and Henri Szeps.

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Full List of Winners - 2006 Sydney Theatre Awards

Best Mainstage Production
Honour Bound (Sydney Opera House And Malthouse Theatre)

Best Independent Production
Politely Savage (My Darling Patricia)

Best Director
Barrie Kosky (The Lost Echo)

Best Actress In A Lead Role
Victoria Longley (The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia?)

Best Actor In A Lead Role
John Gaden (The Lost Echo)

Best Actress In A Supporting Role
Hayley Mcelhinney (Mother Courage And Her Children)

Best Actor In A Supporting Role
Colin Moody (Mother Courage And Her Children)

Judith Johnson Award For Best Performance In A Musical
Iota (Hedwig And The Angry Inch)

New Australian Work
Honour Bound (Nigel Jamieson)

Best Newcomer
Leon Cain (Away)

Best Set Design
Ralph Myers (Reunion/A Kind Of Alaska)

Best Costume Design
Julie Lynch (The Bourgeois Gentleman)

Best Lighting Design
Damien Cooper (The Lost Echo)

Best Score Or Sound Design
Paul Charlier (Honour Bound)

Best Production Of A Musical
Hedwig And The Angry Inch (Showtune Productions)

Best Cabaret Production
Matters Of The Heart - Judi Connelli (Bar Me)

Lifetime Achievement Award
Sandra Bates