Sydney Theatre Awards

The Sydney Theatre Awards are annual awards to recognise the strength, quality and diversity of professional theatre in Sydney, Australia. They were established in 2005 by a group of major Sydney theatre critics. The awards recognise mainstage and independent plays and musicals.

2023
The 2023 awards were announced on 29 January 2024.


 * Best Mainstage Production: The Visitors (Sydney Theatre Company and Moogahlin Performing Arts)
 * Best Independent Production: A Streetcar Named Desire (Red Line Productions)
 * Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Shari Sebbens (Fences)
 * Best Direction of an Independent Production: Alexander Berlage (A Streetcar Named Desire)
 * Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Catherine Văn-Davies (Constellations)
 * Best Performance in a Leading Role in an Independent Production: Sheridan Harbridge (A Streetcar Named Desire)
 * Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Mainstage Production: Andrew McFarlane (Hubris & Humiliation)
 * Best Performance in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production: Catherine Văn-Davies (A Streetcar Named Desire)
 * Best Stage Design of a Mainstage Production: Isabel Hudson (Constellations)
 * Best Stage Design of an Independent Production: Nick Fry (Metropolis)
 * Best Costume Design of a Mainstage Production: Isabel Hudson (Hubris & Humiliation)
 * Best Costume Design of an Independent Production: Grace Deacon (An ox stand on my tongue)
 * Best Lighting Design of a Mainstage Production: Benjamin Brockman (Constellations)
 * Best Lighting Design of an Independent Production: Morgan Moroney (Collapsible)
 * Best Sound Design of a Mainstage Production: James Brown (Constellations)
 * Best Original Score of a Mainstage Production: Grace Ferguson (On the Beach)
 * Best Sound Design and Composition of an Independent Production: Zara Stanton (Metropolis)
 * Best New Australian Work: Lewis Treston (Hubris & Humiliation)
 * Best Newcomer: Abigail Adriano (Miss Saigon)
 * Best Ensemble: The Visitors (Sydney Theatre Company and Moogahlin Performing Arts)
 * Best Production of a Musical: A Little Night Music (Hayes Theatre Co)
 * Best Direction of a Musical: Dean Bryant (A Little Night Music)
 * Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical: Ruva Ngwenya (Tina The Tina Turner Musical)
 * Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Nancye Hayes (A Little Night Music)
 * Best Musical Direction: Zara Stanton (Metropolis)
 * Best Choreography in a Musical: Vi Lam (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
 * Best Production for Children: Waru (Bangarra Dance Theatre and Sydney Festival)
 * Best Production for Young People: The Lies We Were Told (Shopfront Arts and Monkey Baa)
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: Jane Seldon and Terence Clarke

2022
The 2022 awards were announced on 23 January 2023.


 * Best Mainstage Production: The Jungle and the Sea (Belvoir)
 * Best Independent Production: Albion (Secret House, New Ghosts Theatre Company and Seymour Centre)
 * Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Kip Williams (Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde)
 * Best Direction of an Independent Production: Lucy Clements (Albion)
 * Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Heather Mitchell (RBG: Of Many, One)
 * Best Performance in a Leading Role in an Independent Production: Jane Phegan (The End of Winter)
 * Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Mainstage Production: Peter Carroll (The Tempest)
 * Best Performance in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production: Merridy Eastman (Hand of God)
 * Best Stage Design of a Mainstage Production: Mel Page (A Raisin in the Sun)
 * Best Stage Design of an Independent Production: Grace Deacon and Kelsey Lee (Destroy, She Said)
 * Best Costume Design of a Mainstage Production: Romance Was Born and Anna Cordingley (Amadeus)
 * Best Costume Design of an Independent Production: Esther Zhong (Moon Rabbit Rising)
 * Best Lighting Design of a Mainstage Production: Nick Schlieper (Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde)
 * Best Lighting Design of an Independent Production: Tyler Fitzpatrick (Moon Rabbit Rising)
 * Best Sound Design of a Mainstage Production: Michael Toisuta (Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde)
 * Best Original Score of a Mainstage Production: Arjunan Puveendran (The Jungle and the Sea)
 * Best Sound Design and Composition of an Independent Production: Christine Pan (Moon Rabbit Rising)
 * Best New Australian Work: The Jungle and the Sea (S. Shakthidharan and Eamon Flack)
 * Best Newcomer: Masego Pitso (Chewing Gum Dreams)
 * Best Ensemble: The Jungle and the Sea (Belvoir)
 * Best Production of a Musical: Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Global Creatures)
 * Best Direction of a Musical: Cameron Mitchell (Nice Work If You Can Get It)
 * Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical: Stefanie Jones (Mary Poppins)
 * Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Simon Burke (Moulin Rouge! The Musical)
 * Best Musical Direction: Chris King, Steven Kramer and Nigel Ubrihien (Jekyll and Hyde)
 * Best Choreography in a Musical: Cameron Mitchell (Nice Work If You Can Get It)
 * Best Production for Children: Yong (Monkey Baa Theatre)
 * Best Production for Young People: The Deb (ATYP)
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: John Robertson and William Yang

2021
The 2021 awards were announced on 31 January 2022.


 * Best Mainstage Production: The Picture of Dorian Gray (Sydney Theatre Company)
 * Best Independent Production: Symphonie Fantastique (Little Eggs Collective in association with KXT)
 * Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Kip Williams (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
 * Best Direction of an Independent Production: Tasnim Hossain (Yellow Face)
 * Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Eryn Jean Norvill (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
 * Best Performance in a Leading Role in an Independent Production: Shan-Ree Tan (Yellow Face)
 * Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Mainstage Production: Aaron Tsindos (No Pay? No Way!)
 * Best Performance in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production: Alfie Gledhill (The Removalists)
 * Best Stage Design of a Mainstage Production: Marg Horwell and David Bergman (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
 * Best Stage Design of an Independent Production: Charles Davis (Happy Days)
 * Best Costume Design of a Mainstage Production: Genevieve Blanchett (Home, I’m Darling)
 * Best Costume Design of an Independent Production: Esther Zhong (Three Fat Virgins Unassembled)
 * Best Lighting Design of a Mainstage Production: Matt Scott (Fun Home)
 * Best Lighting Design of an Independent Production: Benjamin Brockman (Symphonie Fantastique)
 * Best Sound Design of a Mainstage Production: David Bergman (Green Park)
 * Best Sound Design and Composition of an Independent Production: Oliver Shermacher (Symphonie Fantastique)
 * Best New Australian Work: The Visitors (Jane Harrison)
 * Best Newcomer: Kiana Daniele (SIX)
 * Best Ensemble: Symphonie Fantastique
 * Best Production of a Musical: Hamilton (Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman, The Public Theater and Michael Cassel)
 * Best Direction of a Musical: Dean Bryant (Fun Home)
 * Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical: Lyndon Watts (Hamilton)
 * Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Marty Alix (Hamilton)
 * Best Musical Direction: Carmel Dean (Fun Home)
 * Best Cabaret Production: Is This All Then? (Philip Quast)
 * Best Production for Children: Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge (Sydney Opera House and Australian Chamber Orchestra)
 * Best Production for Young People: I've Been Meaning to Ask You (The Good Room, Critical Stages Touring, ATYP and Riverside Theatres)
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: Gale Edwards and Tony Sheldon

2019
The 2019 awards were announced on 20 January 2020.


 * Best Mainstage Production: Counting and Cracking (Belvoir and Co-Curious)
 * Best Independent Production: John (Outhouse Theatre Co and Seymour Centre)
 * Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Paige Rattray (The Beauty Queen of Leenane)
 * Best Direction of an Independent Production: Dino Dimitriadis (Angels in America)
 * Best Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Sheridan Harbridge (Prima Facie)
 * Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Meyne Wyatt (City of Gold)
 * Best Female Actor in a Leading Role in an Independent Production: Janine Watson (The Happy Prince)
 * Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in an Independent Production: Justin Amankwah (Good Dog)
 * Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Mainstage Production: Shari Sebbens (City of Gold)
 * Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Mainstage Production: Hamish Michael (The Beauty Queen of Leenane)
 * Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production: Catherine Văn-Davies (Angels in America)
 * Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production: Joseph Althouse (Angels in America)
 * Best Sound Design and Composition of an Independent Production:
 * Best Independent Musical: American Psycho (BB Arts Entertainment and Two Doors Productions)
 * Best New Australian Work: Counting and Cracking (S. Shakthidharan)
 * Best Production of a Mainstage Musical: Fangirls (Belvoir, Queensland Theatre and Brisbane Festival in association with ATYP)
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: Maggie Blinco

2018
The 2018 awards were announced on 21 January 2019.
 * Best Mainstage Production: The Harp in the South (Sydney Theatre Company)
 * Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Kip Williams (The Harp in the South)
 * Best Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Claire Lovering (The Feather in the Web)
 * Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Hugo Weaving (The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui)
 * Best Independent Production: Stupid Fucking Bird (New Theatre)
 * Best New Australian Work: The Harp in the South (Kate Mulvany)
 * Best Production of a Musical: Cry-Baby (LPD in association with Hayes Theatre Co)
 * Best Cabaret Production: Since Ali Died (Omar Musa)
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: Robert Love, director, Riverside Theatres Parramatta

2017
The 2017 awards were announced on 22 January 2018.
 * Best Mainstage Production: Hir (Belvoir)
 * Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Anthea Williams (Hir)
 * Best Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Kate Mulvany (Richard 3)
 * Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Mitchell Butel (The Merchant of Venice)
 * Best Independent Production: A View From the Bridge (Red Line Productions)
 * Best New Australian Work: Shit (Patricia Cornelius)
 * Best Production of a Mainstream Musical: Muriel’s Wedding The Musical (Sydney Theatre Company and Global Creatures)
 * Best Production of an Independent Musical: Calamity Jane (One Eyed Man Productions in association with Neglected Musicals and Hayes Theatre Co)
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: Brian Thomson

2016
The 2016 awards were announced at the Seymour Centre on 23 January 2017. Recipients included:
 * Best Mainstage Production: The Drover’s Wife (Belvoir)
 * Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Leticia Caceres (The Drover’s Wife)
 * Best Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Marta Dusseldorp (Gloria)
 * Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Colin Friels (Faith Healer)
 * Best Independent Production: Antigone (Sport for Jove)
 * Best New Australian Work: Leah Purcell (The Drover’s Wife)
 * Best Production of a Musical: Little Shop of Horrors (Luckiest Productions and Tinderbox Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co)
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: Judi Farr

2015
The 2015 awards were announced at the Paddington RSL on 18 January 2016. Recipients included:
 * Best Mainstage Production: Ivanov (Belvoir)
 * Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Eamon Flack (Ivanov)
 * Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Eryn Jean Norvill (Suddenly Last Summer)
 * Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Hugo Weaving (Endgame)
 * Best Independent Production: Of Mice and Men (Sport for Jove and Seymour Centre)
 * Best New Australian Work: The Bleeding Tree (Angus Cerini)
 * Best Production of a Musical: Matilda (The Royal Shakespeare Company, Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt)
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: Christine Dunstan

2014

 * Best Mainstage Production: Henry V (Bell Shakespeare)
 * Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Damien Ryan (Henry V)
 * Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Sarah Peirse (Switzerland)
 * Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Richard Roxburgh (Cyrano de Bergerac)
 * Best Independent Production: All's Well That Ends Well (Sport for Jove)
 * Best New Australian Work: Switzerland (Joanna Murray-Smith)
 * Best Production of a Musical: Sweet Charity (Luckiest Productions and Gooding Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co)
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: Reg Livermore

2013

 * Best Mainstage Production: Waiting for Godot (Sydney Theatre Company)
 * Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Sam Strong (The Floating World)
 * Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Harriet Dyer (Machinal)
 * Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Peter Kowitz (The Floating World)
 * Best Independent Production: Cyrano de Bergerac (Sport for Jove)
 * Best New Australian Work: Andrew Bovell (The Secret River)
 * Best Production of a Musical: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: John Romeril

2012

 * Best Mainstage Production: Medea (Belvoir in association with Australian Theatre for Young People)
 * Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Anne-Louise Sarks (Medea)
 * Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Blazey Best (Medea)
 * Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Josh McConville (The Boys)
 * Best Independent Production: Punk Rock (pantsguys Productions with atyp Under The Wharf)
 * Best New Australian Work: Medea (Kate Mulvany and Anne-Louise Sarks after Euripides)
 * Best Production of a Musical: South Pacific
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: Barry Humphries

2011
The 2011 Sydney Theatre Awards were announced in Paddington, NSW on 15 January 2012.
 * Best Mainstage Production: The Wild Duck (Belvoir)
 * Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Simon Stone (The Wild Duck)
 * Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Cate Blanchett (Gross und Klein)
 * Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Colin Moody (Julius Caesar)
 * Best Independent Production: The Libertine (Sport for Jove Theatre with Darlinghurst Theatre Company)
 * Best New Australian Work: The Dark Room (Angela Betzien)
 * Best Production of a Musical: Hairspray
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: David Williamson