VDL Awards Awardees 2022

EntriesNominationsAdjudicators

BEST SET DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Gold award 2022: The Neil Barnett and Chris Churchward Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Beaumaris Theatre Company
Presenter Paula McDonald with Andrew McMillan

Awarded To: Andrew McMillan

Theatre Company: Malvern Theatre Co. Inc.

Play: The Lady in the Van

Author: Alan Bennett

Director: Nick Opolski

Agent: Origin Theatrical Pty Ltd

Silver award 2022

(2 tied silver awardees)

Sharon Maine, presenter Paula McDonald

Awarded To: Josè Hernandez Machado and Gaz Bott

Theatre Company: The Basin Theatre Group Inc.

Play: Photograph 51

Author: Anna Ziegler

Director: Sharon Maine

Agent: Music Theatre International (Australasia) on behalf of Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

accepted by Paula McDonald, John Gilbert

Awarded To: George Tranter

Theatre Company: Heidelberg Theatre Co.

Play: PRESENT LAUGHTER

Author: Noel Coward

Director: Karen Wakeham

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Gold award 2022: The Frank Donahue Perpetual Trophy
Donated by The 1812 Theatre
Presenter Paula McDonald, accepted by Amy Anselmi

Awarded To: Shane Podolski

Theatre Company: Smart Artz Theatre Inc.

Play: The Laramie Project

Author: Moises Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theatre Project

Director: Amy Anselmi

Agent: Dramatists Play Service Inc.

Silver award 2022: The Alan Crispin Perpeptual Trophy
Donated by Beaumaris Theatre Company
Presenter Paula McDonald, accepted by Nicholas Opolski

Awarded To: Andrew Davies

Theatre Company: Malvern Theatre Co. Inc.

Play: The Lady in the Van

Author: Alan Bennett

Director: Nick Opolski

Agent: Origin Theatrical Pty Ltd

BEST SOUND DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Gold award 2022: The Victorian Drama League Perpetual Trophy
Donated by V F Trainor Trophies
Presenter Paula McDonald, Xavier McGettingan

Awarded To: Sound & Video Design - Xavier McGettigan; Animation - Mitchell Turek

Theatre Company: Geelong Repertory Theatre Co. Inc.

Play: Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency

Author: James Goss By Arvind Ethan David Based on the novel by Douglas Adams

Director: Xavier McGettigan

Agent: By Arrangement with ORiGiN™ Theatrical On Behalf of Samuel French A Concord Theatricals Company

Silver award 2022

(3 tied silver awardees)

Presenter Paula McDonald, Amy Anselmi

Awarded To: Amy Anselmi

Theatre Company: Smart Artz Theatre Inc.

Play: The Laramie Project

Author: Moises Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theatre Project

Director: Amy Anselmi

Agent: Dramatists Play Service Inc.

Presenter Paula McDonald, Simon Carroll

Awarded To: Simon Carroll/Ryan Tracey

Theatre Company: Skin Of Our Teeth Productions

Play: My Brilliant Career

Author: Christine Davey

Director: Christine Davey

Agent: Christine Davey

Presenter Paula McDonald, accepted by Gay Bell

Awarded To: Ethan Cook

Theatre Company: Torquay Theatre Troupe Inc.

Play: Harp On The Willow

Author: John Misto

Director: Gay Bell

Agent: Origin Theatrical

BEST COSTUME DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Gold award 2022: The Russell Johnson Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Sonja and Eddy Jager
Presenter Paula McDonald, Wendy Drowley

Awarded To: Wendy Drowley

Theatre Company: Heidelberg Theatre Co.

Play: PRESENT LAUGHTER

Author: Noel Coward

Director: Karen Wakeham

Silver award 2022: The Bonnie Rothwell Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Eltham Little Theatre
Presenter Paula McDonald, accepted by Christine Davey

Awarded To: Emma Watson

Theatre Company: Skin Of Our Teeth Productions

Play: My Brilliant Career

Author: Christine Davey

Director: Christine Davey

Agent: Christine Davey

BEST PROPERTIES DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Gold award 2022: The Victorian Drama League Perpetual Trophy
Donated by V F Trainor Trophies
Presenter Paula McDonald, Janet Francis

Awarded To: Janet Francis and Gaz Bott

Theatre Company: The Basin Theatre Group Inc.

Play: Photograph 51

Author: Anna Ziegler

Director: Sharon Maine

Agent: Music Theatre International (Australasia) on behalf of Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

Silver award 2022
Presenter Paula McDonald, accepted by Gabby Llewellyn

Awarded To: Barbara Hughes

Theatre Company: Williamstown Little Theatre Inc.

Play: The River

Author: Jez Butterworth

Director: Terese Maurici

Agent: Nick Hern Books

BEST ACTRESS IN A MINOR ROLE IN A COMEDY

Gold award 2022

(2 tied gold awardees)

Sue Rawkins, Annie Laurenson, Presenter Peter Newling

Awarded To: Annie Laurenson as Madam Arcarti

Theatre Company: Frankston Theatre Group Inc.

Play: Blithe Spirit

Author: Noel Coward

Director: Lachlan Casey-Roleff

Agent: Origin on behalf of Samuel French ltd

Sue Rawkins, Annie Laurenson, Presenter Peter Newling

Awarded To: Sue Rawkins as Waitress, Gordon's Housekeeper

Theatre Company: Geelong Repertory Theatre Co. Inc.

Play: Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency

Author: James Goss By Arvind Ethan David Based on the novel by Douglas Adams

Director: Xavier McGettigan

Agent: By Arrangement with ORiGiN™ Theatrical On Behalf of Samuel French A Concord Theatricals Company

BEST ACTRESS IN A MINOR ROLE IN A DRAMA

Gold award 2022
Janine Evans, Presenter David Runnalls

Awarded To: Janine Evans as Juror 11

Theatre Company: Windmill Theatre Company

Play: 12 Angry Men

Author: Reginald Rose

Director: Ben Dowthwaite

Agent: By Arrangement with Origin Theatrical on behalf of Samuel French a Concord Theatricals Company

BEST ACTOR IN A MINOR ROLE IN A COMEDY

Gold award 2022
accepted by Megan Reidl, Presenter Peter Newling

Awarded To: Shannon Nicholls as Mr Benedict Collins

Theatre Company: Ballarat National Theatre Inc.

Play: Mr. Bennet's Bride

Author: Emma Wood

Director: Megan J Riedl

BEST ACTOR IN A MINOR ROLE IN A DRAMA

Gold award 2022
accepted by Angela Glennie, Presenter David Runnalls

Awarded To: Lachlan Glennie as Philip Welch

Theatre Company: Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Co.Inc.

Play: The Deep Blue Sea

Author: Terence Rattigan

Director: Alan Burrows

Agent: Origin Theatrical on behalf of Samuel French Inc.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS in a COMEDY

Gold award 2022: The Eileen Bentley Perpeptual Trophy
Donated by Essendon Theatre Company
Cat Jardine, Presenter David Runnalls

Awarded To: Cat Jardine as Monica Reed

Theatre Company: Heidelberg Theatre Co.

Play: PRESENT LAUGHTER

Author: Noel Coward

Director: Karen Wakeham

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS in a DRAMA

Gold award 2022: The Yvonne Manley Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Sherbrooke Theatre Company
Elva Ryan, Presenter Peter Newling

Awarded To: Elva Ryan as ensemble/mother/aunt gussie

Theatre Company: Skin Of Our Teeth Productions

Play: My Brilliant Career

Author: Christine Davey

Director: Christine Davey

Agent: Christine Davey

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR in a COMEDY

Gold award 2022: The Victorian Drama League Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Eltham Little Theatre
accepted by John Riddell, Presenter David Runnalls

Awarded To: Rowan Francis as de Histangua

Theatre Company: The 1812 Theatre Ltd.

Play: A Flea In Her Ear

Author: Adapted by Andrew Upton

Director: Malcolm Sussman

Agent: By Arrangement with RGM Artists Pty Ltd

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR in a DRAMA

Gold award 2022: The Margaret and Annesly Keown Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Richard Keown
accepted by Amy Anselmi, Presenter Peter Newling

Awarded To: Adam Roche as Doc O'Connor and others

Theatre Company: Smart Artz Theatre Inc.

Play: The Laramie Project

Author: Moises Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theatre Project

Director: Amy Anselmi

Agent: Dramatists Play Service Inc.

BEST ACTRESS in a COMEDY

Gold award 2022: The Victorian Drama League Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Waverley Theatre Company

(2 tied gold awardees)

Claire Benne, Presenter John Gilbert, Amy Moss

Awarded To: Claire Benne as Liz Essendine

Theatre Company: Heidelberg Theatre Co.

Play: PRESENT LAUGHTER

Author: Noel Coward

Director: Karen Wakeham

Claire Benne, Presenter John Gilbert, Amy Moss

Awarded To: Amy Moss as Cherry

Theatre Company: Off The Leash Theatre Inc

Play: Cosi

Author: Louis Nowra

Director: Tracey Rabl & Kellie Bray

Agent: HLA Management PL

BEST ACTRESS in a DRAMA

Gold award 2022: The Victorian Drama League Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Waverley Theatre Company

(2 tied gold awardees)

accepted by Christine Davey, Presenter John Gilbert

Awarded To: Molly England as Sybylla Melvyn

Theatre Company: Skin Of Our Teeth Productions

Play: My Brilliant Career

Author: Christine Davey

Director: Christine Davey

Agent: Christine Davey

Presenter John Gilbert, Angela Glennie

Awarded To: Angela Glennie as Hester Collyer

Theatre Company: Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Co.Inc.

Play: The Deep Blue Sea

Author: Terence Rattigan

Director: Alan Burrows

Agent: Origin Theatrical on behalf of Samuel French Inc.

BEST ACTOR in a COMEDY

Gold award 2022: The Max Grant Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Mitcham Theatre Group
Presenter John Gilbert, Ian McGregor

Awarded To: Ian McGregor as Gary Essendine

Theatre Company: Heidelberg Theatre Co.

Play: PRESENT LAUGHTER

Author: Noel Coward

Director: Karen Wakeham

BEST ACTOR in a DRAMA

Gold award 2022: The David Perkins Perpetual Trophy
Donated by David Perkins
Blake Stringer, Presenter John Gilbert

Awarded To: Blake Stringer as Arnold

Theatre Company: Brighton Theatre Co.

Play: Torch Song

Author: Harvey Fierstein

Director: Annie Blood

Agent: Origin Theatrical on behalf of Samuel French Inc

BEST DIRECTOR of a COMEDY Production

Gold award 2022: The Edna (Jones) Bartlett Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Gordon Bartlett

(2 tied gold awardees)

John Gilbert accepting for Karen Wakeham, Presenter Susan Rundle, Xavier McGettigan

Awarded To: Karen Wakeham

Theatre Company: Heidelberg Theatre Co.

Play: PRESENT LAUGHTER

Author: Noel Coward

Director: Karen Wakeham

John Gilbert accepting for Karen Wakeham, Presenter Susan Rundle, Xavier McGettigan

Awarded To: Xavier McGettigan

Theatre Company: Geelong Repertory Theatre Co. Inc.

Play: Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency

Author: James Goss By Arvind Ethan David Based on the novel by Douglas Adams

Director: Xavier McGettigan

Agent: By Arrangement with ORiGiN™ Theatrical On Behalf of Samuel French A Concord Theatricals Company

BEST DIRECTOR of a DRAMA Production

Gold award 2022: The Edna Chandler Perpetual Trophy
Donated by The Basin Theatre Group
Amy Anselmi, Presenter Susan Rundle

Awarded To: Amy Anselmi

Theatre Company: Smart Artz Theatre Inc.

Play: The Laramie Project

Author: Moises Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theatre Project

Director: Amy Anselmi

Agent: Dramatists Play Service Inc.

BEST COMEDY PRODUCTION

Gold award 2022: The Victorian Drama League Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Charles 'Bud' Tingwell

(2 tied gold awardees)

Xavier McGettingan

Theatre Company: Geelong Repertory Theatre Co. Inc.

Play: Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency

Author: James Goss By Arvind Ethan David Based on the novel by Douglas Adams

Director: Xavier McGettigan

Agent: By Arrangement with ORiGiN™ Theatrical On Behalf of Samuel French A Concord Theatricals Company

Tracey Rabl and Kellie Bray

Theatre Company: Off The Leash Theatre Inc

Play: Cosi

Author: Louis Nowra

Director: Tracey Rabl & Kellie Bray

Agent: HLA Management PL

BEST DRAMA PRODUCTION

Gold award 2022: The Nicky McFarlane Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Nicky McFarlane
Amy Anselmi

Theatre Company: Smart Artz Theatre Inc.

Play: The Laramie Project

Author: Moises Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theatre Project

Director: Amy Anselmi

Agent: Dramatists Play Service Inc.