Brisbane’s respected Del Arte Charts have recognised a number of productions and performers for their excellence in theatre across 2019.
Marking their 29th year since establishment, the Del Art Charts announced a long list of favourite theatre recognitions across the independent and professional theatre sectors. Created in 1991, the Del Arte Charts were formed to give thanks to the hours of exciting, new and challenging theatre produced in Brisbane.
Following an extensive process, each finalist is chosen by a judging panel comprised of members of the public, who see shows in Brisbane with a minimum of a three performance season in a given year. The Del Arte Charts aim to acknowledge productions thought to deserve a worthy nod rather than place a label of “the best”.
The recognitions cover several categories, including Favourite Musical or Physical Production, Favourite Direction, Favourite Supporting Male and Female Performance, Favourite Set Designs, and several more. Each category covers many different elements of theatrical production, ensuring a well-rounded reflection of the work and effort that goes into producing quality live entertainment.
For Favourite Play of 2019, 54 productions were eligible. Recognition went to shake & stir theatre company for their production of ‘A Christmas Carol’ and their premiere ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’; Mira Ball Productions and Trent Sellars’ new production of ‘X-Stacy’; Queensland Theatre and Melbourne Theatre Company in association with Dead Puppet Society for their co-production of ‘Storm Boy’; and Short+Sweet’s hilarious talent Calum Johnston and his one-man show ‘Don’t’.
Other productions mentioned throughout the celebrations were ‘You & I’ by Casus Circus and presented by Brisbane Festival and QUT (Queensland University of Technology); ‘Unaipon’ as part of ‘30 Years of Sixty Five Thousand’ by Bangarra Dance Theatre; Brisbane Arts Theatre’s musical ‘Spamalot’; Savoyards Musical Theatres classic ‘Oklahoma!’; and ‘Chicago’, presented by John Frost, Suzanne Jones in association with Barry and Fran Weissler.
The awards were announced intermittently over New Years Day, amplifying the celebratory cheer amongst the Brisbane theatre industry. The list of favourites will be published in a book highlighting all those mentioned.
In 2020, the Del Arte Charts will enter their 30th year, and, with increasing engagement, look to continue their modest acclaim in a milestone year.
A full list of the awards is outlined below.
Del Arte Charts 2019
Favourite Play
(54 eligible)
‘A Christmas Carol’ – shake & stir theatre company and QPAC
‘Fantastic Mr Fox’ – shake & stir theatre company and QPAC
‘X-Stacy’ – Mira Ball Productions and Trent Sellars Creative
‘Storm Boy’ – Queensland Theatre and Melbourne Theatre Company in association with Dead Puppet Society
‘Don’t’ – Calum Johnston and Short+Sweet Queensland
Favourite Musical / Physical Production
(42 eligible)
‘Unaipon’ as part of ’30 Years of Sixty Five Thousand’ – Bangarra Dance Theatre
‘Chicago’ – John Frost, Suzanne Jones in association with Barry & Fran Weissler
‘Jersey Boys – Dodger Theatricals Rodney Rigby TEG Dainty Joseph J. Grano Pelican Group Michael Watt Tommy Mottola in association with Lattitude Link and Anita Waxman
‘Spamalot’ – Brisbane Arts Theatre
‘You & I’ – Casus Circus, Brisbane Festival and QUT (Queensland University of Technology)
Favourite Leading Female Performance
(79 eligible performances)
Chelsea Sales – ‘Heathers: The Musical’, Brisbane Academy of Musical Theatre
Emily Carr – ‘Reagan Kelly’, Metro Arts and Rocket Boy Ensemble
Elodie Boal – ‘X-Stacy’, Mira Ball Productions and Trent Sellars Creative
Judy Hainsworth – ‘#FirstWorldWhiteGirls: Spirit Animal’, WIV Presents
Naomi Price – ‘Sweet Charity’, Understudy Productions
Favourite Leading Male Performance
(75 eligible performances)
Leon Cain – ‘Revolting Rhymes & Dirty Beasts’, shake & stir theatre company and La Boite Theatre Company
Nicholas Skubij – ‘Revolting Rhymes & Dirty Beasts’, shake & stir theatre company and La Boite Theatre Company
Lachlan McAulay – ‘You & I’, Casus Circus, Brisbane Festival and QUT (Queensland University of Technology)
Jesse Scott – ‘You & I’, Casus Circus, Brisbane Festival and QUT (Queensland University of Technology)
Connor Hawkins – ‘X-Stacy’, Mira Ball Productions and Trent Sellars Creative
Conor Lowe – ‘Storm Boy’, Queensland Theatre and Melbourne Theatre Company in association with Dead Puppet Society
Favourite Supporting Female Performance
(152 eligible performances)
Vanessa Wainwright – ‘The Boy From Oz’, Savoyards Musical Theatre
Alison Telfer-McDonald – ‘X-Stacy’, Mira Ball Productions and Trent Sellars Creative
Lizzie Moore – ‘Sweet Charity’, Understudy Productions
Amy Lehpamer – ‘School of Rock’, GWB Entertainment
Hannah Grondin – ‘Women of Woodstock’, Women In Voice
Favourite Supporting Male Performance
(175 performances eligible)
Jackson McGovern – ‘Reagan Kelly’, Metro Arts and Rocket Boy Ensemble
Caleb Monk – ‘Les Misérables’, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University
Jackson Head – ‘Les Misérables’, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University
Adam Bartlett – ‘Next to Normal’, Brisbane Arts Theatre
Jayden Grogan – ‘The Little Green Road to Fairyland’, Queensland Ballet
Favourite Script
(93 eligible works)
‘Love Letters’ by A.R Gurney – first recognised by Del Arte Charts in 1991
‘X-Stacy’ by Margery Forde – first recognised by Del Arte Charts in 1998
‘Spamalot’ with book & lyrics by Eric Idle, from the original screenplay by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin – first recognised in 2014
‘Heathers: The Musical’ with book & lyrics by Kevin Murphy & Laurence O’Keefe, based on the film written by Daniel Waters
Jenny Wynter for her MC Work within ‘Women in Voice 2019’
Favourite Direction
(96 eligible)
Michael Futcher – ‘A Christmas Carol’, shake & stir theatre company and QPAC
Frances Rings – ‘Unaipon’ as part of ’30 Years of Sixty Five Thousand’, Bangarra Dance Theatre
Walter Bobbie and Tânia Nardini – ‘Chicago’, John Frost, Suzanne Jones in association with Barry and Fran Weissler
Elodie Boal – ‘X-Stacy’, Mira Ball Productions and Trent Sellars Creative
Nathan Sibthorpe – ‘TRUTHMACHINE’, Brisbane Festival and QUT (Queensland University of Technology)
Favourite Set Design
(78 eligible)
Josh Mcintosh – ‘A Christmas Carol’, shake & stir theatre company and QPAC
Josh Mcintosh – ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’, shake & stir theatre company and QPAC
Josh Mcintosh – ‘The Little Green Road to Fairyland’, Queensland Ballet
Drew Der Kinderen and Ben Adams – ‘The Tempest’, Zen Zen Zo
Tenille Flower – ‘Oklahoma!’, Savoyards Musical Theatre
Favourite Choreography
(41 eligible pieces)
Jesse Scott – ‘You & I’, Brisbane Festival and QUT (Queensland University of Technology)
Frances Rings – ‘Unaipon’ as part of ’30 Years of Sixty Five Thousand’, Bangarra Dance Theatre
Dan Venz – ‘Sweet Charity’, Understudy Productions
Casey Nicholaw – ‘The Book of Mormon’, Important Musicals
Amy Hollingsworth – ‘Bespoke’; ‘From Within’, Queensland Ballet
Favourite Music / Sound
(89 eligible)
Jamie Clark and Brett Cheney – ‘Women in Voice 2019’, Women In Voice
Jamie Clark and Mark James – ‘Women of Woodstock’, Women In Voice
Heidi Loveland, Steve Thornely and Michel Schönberg – ‘Les Misérables’, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University
David Page – ‘Unaipon’ as part of ’30 Years of Sixty Five Thousand’, Bangarra Dance Theatre
Stephanie McCaw – ‘The Boxties: A Net of Souls’, QPAC
Favourite Lighting and Video Design
(96 eligible)
David Walters – ‘The Boxties: A Net of Souls’, QPAC
Jason Glenwright and Craig Wilkinson – ‘A Christmas Carol’, shake & stir theatre company and QPAC
Jason Glenwright, Craig Wilkinson and Jon Weber – ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’, shake & stir theatre company and QPAC
Nick Schlieper – ‘Unaipon’ as part of ’30 Years of Sixty Five Thousand’, Bangarra Dance Theatre
Peter Rubie – ‘The Empire Strips Back’, Russall Beattie
Favourite Costumes
(95 eligible)
Josh Mcintosh – ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’, shake & stir theatre company and QPAC
Jennifer Irwin -‘Unaipon’ as part of ’30 Years of Sixty Five Thousand’, Bangarra Dance Theatre
William Ivey Long – ‘Chicago’, John Frost, Suzanne Jones in association with Barry and Fran Weissler
Russall Beattie – ‘The Empire Strips Back’, Russall Beattie
Joe Noonan – ‘Sweet Charity’, Understudy Productions
Favourite Venue
Cremorne Theatre, QPAC – ‘Duck’
Lyric Theatre, QPAC – ‘Jersey Boys’
Lyric Theatre, QPAC – ‘Muriel’s Wedding The Musical’
Queensland Maritime Museum – ‘Titanic The Movie The Play’
Playhouse, QPAC – ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’
Ticket stubs from the 2018 Del Arte Charts eligible shows.
Photography Sourced from Del Arte Charts Facebook Page.
