We recognise the value of the Sydney Theatre Awards to our industry and thank the organisers for their efforts as volunteers to run the Awards each year.
As stated on the Awards website, the event was originally created because ‘the lack of public recognition in Sydney for the city’s theatre practitioners was wrong and had to be addressed.’
As producers and presenters of theatre for children and young people, we are concerned that the public recognition of our practice will suffer due to those awards not being included in the 2020 Sydney Theatre Awards. This is wrong and must be addressed.
Prior to 2019, separate awards were presented each year for Best Production for Children and Best Production for Young People. In 2019 these were combined into a single award, Best Production for Children and Young People. In the 2020 nominations, the category does not exist at all.
We are calling for the Sydney Theatre Awards to recognise the quality of productions created and presented in Sydney for Children and Young People by reinstating both awards for the 2020 presentation.
The quality of theatre produced in Sydney for children and young people is recognised nationally and internationally. It is unacceptable that it not be recognised by our own colleagues in our own city.
To assist the Sydney Theatre Award organisers, we have prepared a list of productions from 2019 that would be eligible for the awards. This list demonstrates the breadth and quality of potential nominations and we are confident there are additional entries not included here.
The Sydney Theatre Awards is a prestigious award and we rely on the recognition that it brings to promote our work and our sector. We hope that this oversight can be addressed for the 2020 presentation and welcome the opportunity to assist the organisers in any way that we can.
Signed,
Australian Theatre for Young People
CDP Theatre Producers
Monkey Baa Theatre Company
PYT Fairfield
Q Theatre
Riverside Theatres
Sydney Opera House
Theatre Network NSW
Preliminary list of works eligible for nomination:
Sydney venues are listed for each production. Several productions also toured extensively outside of Sydney.
The 91-Storey Treehouse, CDP Theatre Producers
Presented at: Sydney Opera House, The Joan Penrith
April Aadvark, Australian Theatre for Young People
Presented at: SBW Stables Theatre
Bathory Begins, Australian Theatre for Young People & Q Theatre
Presented at: The Joan Penrith
Billionaire Boy, CDP Theatre Producers
Presented at: Riverside Theatres, The Concourse, Seymour Centre
The Box Show, Junkyard Beats
Presented at: WOW Festival, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
Fangirls, Queensland Theatre, Belvoir and Brisbane Festival in association with ATYP
Presented at: Belvoir Theatre
Follow Me Home, Australian Theatre for Young People
Presented at: Riverside Theatres
The Gruffalo’s Child, CDP Theatre Producers
Presented at: Riverside Theatres, The Concourse, Seymour Centre
Hitler’s Daughter, Monkey Baa Theatre Company
Presented at: ARA Darling Quarter Theatre, Riverside Theatres, Glen St Theatre, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, The Joan Penrith
Intersection 2019: Arrival, Australian Theatre for Young People
Presented at: SBW Stables Theatre
Meeting Mozart, CDP Theatre Producers
Presented at: Sydney Opera House
Playlist, PYT Fairfield
Presented at: Sydney Opera House, Sydney Festival, PYT Fairfield
Possum Magic, Monkey Baa Theatre Company
Presented at: ARA Darling Quarter Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Riverside Theatres, Glen St Theatre, The Joan Penrith, Sutherland Entertainment Centre, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
The Red Tree, Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta
Presented at: Sydney Opera House
Room on the Broom, CDP Theatre Producers
Presented at: Riverside Theatres, The Concourse, Seymour Centre
Spot, CDP Theatre Producers
Presented at: Sydney Opera House, The Joan Penrith, Riverside Theatres Parramatta,
Take 2: A Comedy of Errors, Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta
Presented at: Riverside Theatres
There’s a Sea in My Bedroom, Australian Chamber Orchestra
Presented at: Sydney Opera House
To Be Honest, Outloud (formerly Bankstown Youth Development Service)
Presented at: Riverside Theatres
The Ugliest Duckling, The Q Theatre
Presented at: The Joan Penrith, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
