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.
Selected award recipients
2023
The 2023 awards were announced on 29 January 2024.- Best Mainstage Production: The Visitors
- Best Independent Production: A Streetcar Named Desire
- Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Shari Sebbens
- Best Direction of an Independent Production: Alexander Berlage
- Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Catherine Văn-Davies
- Best Performance in a Leading Role in an Independent Production: Sheridan Harbridge
- Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Mainstage Production: Andrew McFarlane
- Best Performance in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production: Catherine Văn-Davies
- Best Stage Design of a Mainstage Production: Isabel Hudson
- Best Stage Design of an Independent Production: Nick Fry
- Best Costume Design of a Mainstage Production: Isabel Hudson
- Best Costume Design of an Independent Production: Grace Deacon
- Best Lighting Design of a Mainstage Production: Benjamin Brockman
- Best Lighting Design of an Independent Production: Morgan Moroney
- Best Sound Design of a Mainstage Production: James Brown
- Best Original Score of a Mainstage Production: Grace Ferguson
- Best Sound Design and Composition of an Independent Production: Zara Stanton
- Best New Australian Work: Lewis Treston
- Best Newcomer: Abigail Adriano
- Best Ensemble: The Visitors
- Best Production of a Musical: A Little Night Music
- Best Direction of a Musical: Dean Bryant
- Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical: Ruva Ngwenya
- Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Nancye Hayes
- Best Musical Direction: Zara Stanton
- Best Choreography in a Musical: Vi Lam
- Best Production for Children: Waru
- Best Production for Young People: The Lies We Were Told
- 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
- Best Independent Production: Albion
- Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Kip Williams
- Best Direction of an Independent Production: Lucy Clements
- Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Heather Mitchell
- Best Performance in a Leading Role in an Independent Production: Jane Phegan
- Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Mainstage Production: Peter Carroll
- Best Performance in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production: Merridy Eastman
- Best Stage Design of a Mainstage Production: Mel Page
- Best Stage Design of an Independent Production: Grace Deacon and Kelsey Lee
- Best Costume Design of a Mainstage Production: Romance Was Born and Anna Cordingley
- Best Costume Design of an Independent Production: Esther Zhong
- Best Lighting Design of a Mainstage Production: Nick Schlieper
- Best Lighting Design of an Independent Production: Tyler Fitzpatrick
- Best Sound Design of a Mainstage Production: Michael Toisuta
- Best Original Score of a Mainstage Production: Arjunan Puveendran
- Best Sound Design and Composition of an Independent Production: Christine Pan
- Best New Australian Work: The Jungle and the Sea
- Best Newcomer: Masego Pitso
- Best Ensemble: The Jungle and the Sea
- Best Production of a Musical: Moulin Rouge! The Musical
- Best Direction of a Musical: Cameron Mitchell
- Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical: Stefanie Jones
- Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Simon Burke
- Best Musical Direction: Chris King, Steven Kramer and Nigel Ubrihien
- Best Choreography in a Musical: Cameron Mitchell
- Best Production for Children: Yong
- Best Production for Young People: The Deb
- 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
- Best Independent Production: Symphonie Fantastique
- Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Kip Williams
- Best Direction of an Independent Production: Tasnim Hossain
- Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Eryn Jean Norvill
- Best Performance in a Leading Role in an Independent Production: Shan-Ree Tan
- Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Mainstage Production: Aaron Tsindos
- Best Performance in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production: Alfie Gledhill
- Best Stage Design of a Mainstage Production: Marg Horwell and David Bergman
- Best Stage Design of an Independent Production: Charles Davis
- Best Costume Design of a Mainstage Production: Genevieve Blanchett
- Best Costume Design of an Independent Production: Esther Zhong
- Best Lighting Design of a Mainstage Production: Matt Scott
- Best Lighting Design of an Independent Production: Benjamin Brockman
- Best Sound Design of a Mainstage Production: David Bergman
- Best Sound Design and Composition of an Independent Production: Oliver Shermacher
- Best New Australian Work: The Visitors
- Best Newcomer: Kiana Daniele
- Best Ensemble: Symphonie Fantastique
- Best Production of a Musical: Hamilton
- Best Direction of a Musical: Dean Bryant
- Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical: Lyndon Watts
- Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Marty Alix
- Best Musical Direction: Carmel Dean
- Best Cabaret Production: Is This All Then?
- Best Production for Children: Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge
- Best Production for Young People: I've Been Meaning to Ask You
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Gale Edwards and Tony Sheldon
2019
The 2019 awards were announced on 20 January 2020.- Best Mainstage Production: Counting and Cracking
- Best Independent Production: John
- Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Paige Rattray
- Best Direction of an Independent Production: Dino Dimitriadis
- Best Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Sheridan Harbridge
- Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Meyne Wyatt
- Best Female Actor in a Leading Role in an Independent Production: Janine Watson
- Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in an Independent Production: Justin Amankwah
- Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Mainstage Production: Shari Sebbens
- Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Mainstage Production: Hamish Michael
- Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production: Catherine Văn-Davies
- Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production: Joseph Althouse
- Best Sound Design and Composition of an Independent Production:
- Best Independent Musical: American Psycho
- Best New Australian Work: Counting and Cracking
- Best Production of a Mainstage Musical: Fangirls
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Maggie Blinco
2018
The 2018 awards were announced on 21 January 2019.- Best Mainstage Production: The Harp in the South
- Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Kip Williams
- Best Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Claire Lovering
- Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Hugo Weaving
- Best Independent Production: Stupid Fucking Bird
- Best New Australian Work: The Harp in the South
- Best Production of a Musical: Cry-Baby
- Best Cabaret Production: Since Ali Died
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Robert Love, director, Riverside Theatres Parramatta
2017
The 2017 awards were announced on 22 January 2018.- Best Mainstage Production: Hir
- Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Anthea Williams
- Best Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Kate Mulvany
- Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Mitchell Butel
- Best Independent Production: A View From the Bridge
- Best New Australian Work: Shit
- Best Production of a Mainstream Musical: Muriel’s Wedding The Musical
- Best Production of an Independent Musical: Calamity Jane
- 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
- Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Leticia Caceres
- Best Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Marta Dusseldorp
- Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Colin Friels
- Best Independent Production: Antigone
- Best New Australian Work: Leah Purcell
- Best Production of a Musical: Little Shop of Horrors
- 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
- Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Eamon Flack
- Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Eryn Jean Norvill
- Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Hugo Weaving
- Best Independent Production: Of Mice and Men
- Best New Australian Work: The Bleeding Tree
- Best Production of a Musical: Matilda
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Christine Dunstan
2014
- Best Mainstage Production: Henry V
- Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Damien Ryan
- Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Sarah Peirse
- Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Richard Roxburgh
- Best Independent Production: All's Well That Ends Well
- Best New Australian Work: Switzerland
- Best Production of a Musical: Sweet Charity
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Reg Livermore
2013
- Best Mainstage Production: Waiting for Godot
- Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Sam Strong
- Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Harriet Dyer
- Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Peter Kowitz
- Best Independent Production: Cyrano de Bergerac
- Best New Australian Work: Andrew Bovell
- Best Production of a Musical: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
- Lifetime Achievement Award: John Romeril
2012
- Best Mainstage Production: Medea
- Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Anne-Louise Sarks
- Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Blazey Best
- Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Josh McConville
- Best Independent Production: Punk Rock
- Best New Australian Work: Medea
- 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
- Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Simon Stone
- Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Cate Blanchett
- Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Colin Moody
- Best Independent Production: The Libertine
- Best New Australian Work: The Dark Room
- Best Production of a Musical: Hairspray
- Lifetime Achievement Award: David Williamson