VDL Awards Awardees 2023

BEST SET DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Gold award 2023: The Neil Barnett and Chris Churchward Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Beaumaris Theatre Company

Robert Wallace

Awarded To: Robert Wallace

Theatre Company: The Mount Players

Play: Buried Child

Author: Sam Shepard

Director: Robert Wallace

Agent: By Arrangement with Music Theatre International Australasia Pty Ltd

Silver award 2023

Zina Carman with Presenter Deborah Fabbro

Awarded To: Zina Carman

Theatre Company: Torquay Theatre Troupe Inc.

Play: Tartuffe

Author: Moliere

Director: Zina Carman

Agent: Origin Theatrical

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Gold award 2023: The Frank Donahue Perpetual Trophy
Donated by The 1812 Theatre

Accepted by Claire Abagia

Awarded To: Michael Rowe

Theatre Company: Mordialloc Theatre Co. Inc.

Play: The Effect

Author: Lucy Prebble

Director: Claire Abagia

Silver award 2023: The Alan Crispin Perpeptual Trophy
Donated by Beaumaris Theatre Company

Awarded To: Roger Farley and William Shaddock

Theatre Company: The Mount Players

Play: Buried Child

Author: Sam Shepard

Director: Robert Wallace

Agent: By Arrangement with Music Theatre International Australasia Pty Ltd

BEST SOUND DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Gold award 2023: The Victorian Drama League Perpetual Trophy
Donated by V F Trainor Trophies

Accepted by Claire Abagia

Awarded To: Chris Collins

Theatre Company: Mordialloc Theatre Co. Inc.

Play: The Effect

Author: Lucy Prebble

Director: Claire Abagia

Silver award 2023

(2 tied silver awardees)

Blake Stringer

Awarded To: Blake Stringer

Theatre Company: Brighton Theatre Co.

Play: The Revlon Girl

Author: Neil Anthony Docking

Director: Natasha Boyd

Agent: Origin Theatrical Pty Ltd

Accepted by Liana Emmerson

Awarded To: Charlie Hughes

Theatre Company: Ballarat National Theatre Inc.

Play: Terry Pratchett's: Wyrd Sisters

Author: Stephen Briggs

Director: Liana Emmerson

BEST COSTUME DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Gold award 2023: The Russell Johnson Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Sonja and Eddy Jager

Silver award 2023: The Bonnie Rothwell Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Eltham Little Theatre

Liana Emmerson with Presenter Keith Hutton

Awarded To: Liana Emmerson

Theatre Company: Ballarat National Theatre Inc.

Play: Terry Pratchett's: Wyrd Sisters

Author: Stephen Briggs

Director: Liana Emmerson

BEST PROPERTIES DESIGN in a COMEDY or a DRAMA

Gold award 2023: The Victorian Drama League Perpetual Trophy
Donated by V F Trainor Trophies

Claire Abagia & Geoff Arnold with Presenter Keith Hutton

Awarded To: Geoff Arnold, Claire Abagia

Theatre Company: Mordialloc Theatre Co. Inc.

Play: The Effect

Author: Lucy Prebble

Director: Claire Abagia

Silver award 2023

Robert Wallace with Presenter Keith Hutton

Awarded To: Robert Wallace

Theatre Company: The Mount Players

Play: Buried Child

Author: Sam Shepard

Director: Robert Wallace

Agent: By Arrangement with Music Theatre International Australasia Pty Ltd

BEST ACTRESS IN A MINOR ROLE IN A COMEDY

Gold award 2023

Marti Ibrahim with MC Blake Stringer

Awarded To: Marti Ibrahim as Saba Nazari

Theatre Company: Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Co. Inc.

Play: FAMILY VALUES

Author: David Williamson

Director: Ian Frost

Agent: Cameron's Management

BEST ACTRESS IN A MINOR ROLE IN A DRAMA

Gold award 2023

Accepted by Susan Rundle

Awarded To: Juliet Hayday as Mary

Theatre Company: Malvern Theatre Co. Inc.

Play: The Third Act

Author: Emma Wood

Director: Susan Rundle

Agent: Stagescripts Ltd

BEST ACTOR IN A MINOR ROLE IN A COMEDY

Gold award 2023

Accepted by Liana Emmerson

Awarded To: Barry Kay as Vitoller & Death

Theatre Company: Ballarat National Theatre Inc.

Play: Terry Pratchett's: Wyrd Sisters

Author: Stephen Briggs

Director: Liana Emmerson

BEST ACTOR IN A MINOR ROLE IN A DRAMA

Gold award 2023

Duncan McGauchie with MC Blake Stringer

Awarded To: Duncan McGauchie as Father Dewis

Theatre Company: The Mount Players

Play: Buried Child

Author: Sam Shepard

Director: Robert Wallace

Agent: By Arrangement with Music Theatre International Australasia Pty Ltd

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS in a COMEDY

Gold award 2023: The Eileen Bentley Perpeptual Trophy
Donated by Essendon Theatre Company

Samantha Congdon with Presenter Deborah Fabbro

Awarded To: Samantha Congdon as Yvette

Theatre Company: Synchronicity

Play: Clue: On stage

Author: JONATHAN LYNN, HUNTER FOSTER, ERIC PRICE, & SANDY RUSTIN

Director: Saari Frochet-Chauhan & Evalina Woodward

Agent: ORiGiN™ Theatrical on behalf of Broadway Licensing

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS in a DRAMA

Gold award 2023: The Yvonne Manley Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Sherbrooke Theatre Company

Accepted by Claire Abagia

Awarded To: Lindy Yeates as Dr Lorna James

Theatre Company: Mordialloc Theatre Co. Inc.

Play: The Effect

Author: Lucy Prebble

Director: Claire Abagia

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR in a COMEDY

Gold award 2023: The Victorian Drama League Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Eltham Little Theatre

Joe Dias

Awarded To: Joe Dias as Bottom

Theatre Company: Encore Theatre Inc.

Play: The Popular Mechanicals

Author: Keith Robinson, Tony Taylor and William Shakespeare

Director: Andrew Ferguson

Agent: Sue Barnett & Associates Pty Ltd

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR in a DRAMA

Gold award 2023: The Margaret and Annesly Keown Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Richard Keown

Blake Stringer

Awarded To: Blake Stringer as Felix Turner

Theatre Company: Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group Inc.

Play: The Normal Heart

Author: Larry Kramer

Director: George Benca

Agent: Origin Theatricals Pty Ltd

BEST ACTRESS in a COMEDY

Gold award 2023: The Victorian Drama League Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Waverley Theatre Company

Katie Hall with Presenter Zina Carman

Awarded To: Katie Hall as Dorine

Theatre Company: Torquay Theatre Troupe Inc.

Play: Tartuffe

Author: Moliere

Director: Zina Carman

Agent: Origin Theatrical

BEST ACTRESS in a DRAMA

Gold award 2023: The Victorian Drama League Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Waverley Theatre Company

Accepted by Zina Carman

Awarded To: Meredith Newman as Shirley Valentine

Theatre Company: Mansfield Musical & Dramatic Society (MMUDS)

Play: Shirley Valentine

Author: Willy Russel

Director: Karen Pirie

Agent: Origin

BEST ACTOR in a COMEDY

Gold award 2023: The Max Grant Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Mitcham Theatre Group

Steven Georgiadis with Presenter Zina Carman

Awarded To: Steven Georgiadis as Tartuffe

Theatre Company: Torquay Theatre Troupe Inc.

Play: Tartuffe

Author: Moliere

Director: Zina Carman

Agent: Origin Theatrical

BEST ACTOR in a DRAMA

Gold award 2023: The David Perkins Perpetual Trophy
Donated by David Perkins

Accepted by Craig Lenaine-Smith, TMP President with Presenter Zina Carman

Awarded To: Ron Kofler as Dodge

Theatre Company: The Mount Players

Play: Buried Child

Author: Sam Shepard

Director: Robert Wallace

Agent: By Arrangement with Music Theatre International Australasia Pty Ltd

BEST DIRECTOR of a COMEDY Production

Gold award 2023: The Edna (Jones) Bartlett Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Gordon Bartlett

Liana Emmerson with Patron John Wood

Awarded To: Liana Emmerson

Theatre Company: Ballarat National Theatre Inc.

Play: Terry Pratchett's: Wyrd Sisters

Author: Stephen Briggs

Director: Liana Emmerson

BEST DIRECTOR of a DRAMA Production

Gold award 2023: The Edna Chandler Perpetual Trophy
Donated by The Basin Theatre Group

Natasha Boyd with Patron John Wood

Awarded To: Natasha Boyd

Theatre Company: Brighton Theatre Co.

Play: The Revlon Girl

Author: Neil Anthony Docking

Director: Natasha Boyd

Agent: Origin Theatrical Pty Ltd

BEST COMEDY PRODUCTION

Gold award 2023: The Victorian Drama League Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Charles 'Bud' Tingwell

(2 tied gold awardees)

Zina Carman with Patron John Wood

Theatre Company: Torquay Theatre Troupe Inc.

Play: Tartuffe

Author: Moliere

Director: Zina Carman

Agent: Origin Theatrical

Liana Emmerson with Patron John Wood

Theatre Company: Ballarat National Theatre Inc.

Play: Terry Pratchett's: Wyrd Sisters

Author: Stephen Briggs

Director: Liana Emmerson

BEST DRAMA PRODUCTION

Gold award 2023: The Nicky McFarlane Perpetual Trophy
Donated by Nicky McFarlane

Natasha Boyd with Patron John Wood and cast

Theatre Company: Brighton Theatre Co.

Play: The Revlon Girl

Author: Neil Anthony Docking

Director: Natasha Boyd

Agent: Origin Theatrical Pty Ltd