FOR the first time ever, as they say in showbiz, the annual Canberra Area Theatre Awards have singled out a couple of silver cats among the gold as Cowra theatre stalwarts Lawrance and Robyn Ryan were honoured with the inaugural ACTEWAGL Silver CAT Award for their contribution to the Cowra Musical and Dramatic Society over many years.

Mr Ryan is also well-known in the community as an author and chaired the 70th anniversary of the Cowra Prisoner-of-War Breakout Program.

They joined another luminous couple under the spotlight, Amy and Peter Copeland, who won the ICON Water Gold CAT Award, for their contribution to theatre in Wollongong during 2015 in direction, choreography, puppet direction and set design.

The annual night of nights saw a line-up of theatre tragics from all around the region packing into Llewellyn Hall. Co-hosts, Logie award winner John Wood and “CityNews” music writer Ian McLean, introduced the 44 awardees, excerpts from CATS shows seen last year and a glittering array of presenters including singer Normie Rowe, “Mr Hollywood Gossip” Craig Bennett, actor/entrepreneur Simon Gallaher and musical star Michael Cormick.

NSW Minister for Regional Development and Minister for Skills, John Barilaro, also took the stage among the stars, representing the NSW Government, which is known as a keen sponsor of the CATS. So keen is NSW Minister for the Arts Troy Grant said to be that Mother CAT Coralie Wood was fluttering her eyelashes as she speculated: “Maybe the 22nd year gala can be held in the Opera House – with the auspices of the NSW Government, anything is possible”.

The CATS, Wood pointed out, started 21 years ago with six companies in Canberra and six judges. Now they boast 75 participating companies and 21 judges, who travel from Wollongong to Cooma and many areas in-between.

CAT Awards 2015 winners are:

BEST SET DESIGNER FOR A PLAY, Michael Sparks, “The Crucible”, Canberra Repertory Society; AND Sam Lloyd, “The Wind in the Willows”, Bay Theatre Players, Batemans Bay;

BEST SET DESIGNER FOR A MUSICAL, Amy, Mal and Donna Copeland, “Little Shop of Horrors”, So Popera Productions, Wollongong;

BEST COSTUME DESIGNER FOR A PLAY, Anne Kay, “Casanova”, Canberra Repertory Society;

BEST COSTUME DESIGNER FOR A MUSICAL OR VARIETY SHOW, Fiona Leach, “Mary Poppins”, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra;

BEST COSTUME DESIGNER FOR A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION, Jo Howard, “Alice”, Daramalan Theatre Company, Canberra;

BEST LIGHTING DESIGNER, Adam Loughlin, Peter Copeland, Rosie Goderie and Nadina Zappia, “Alchemy”, Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts; T

ECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT, The SACI (School of Arts, Creativity and Innovation) team, Construction of the elephant, “Barnum”, Canberra Grammar School; AND James McPherson, sound design, “Into the Woods”, Dramatic Productions, Canberra;

JOHN THOMSON MAGIC MOMENT OF THEATRE, Collapse of the pyramid, “Barnum”, Canberra Grammar School; AND Reveal of the Giant in “QE Bed” The BFG, Child Players ACT, Canberra;

BEST ORIGINAL WORK, Cate Clelland and Fraser Findlay, original settings of songs, “Much Ado about Nothing”, Canberra Repertory Society;

BEST ORIGINAL WORK FOR A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION, Chris Richards, Rosie Goderie, Nadina Zappia and Adam Loughlin, original concept and concept development, “Alchemy”, Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts;

BEST ENSEMBLE IN A PLAY, the cast, “Skin”, Canberra Youth Theatre;

BEST ENSEMBLE IN A MUSICAL, Nell Shephard (Crystal), Liberty Thirsk (Chiffon) and Libby Malcolm (Ronnette), the vocal trio, “Little Shop of Horrors”, Pigs Fly Productions, Bowral;

BEST ORCHESTRA FOR A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION, “Hairspray”, Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts;

SARAH BYRNE BEST ORCHESTRA, “Into The Woods”, Dramatic Productions, Canberra;

PATRICIA KELSON ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD, John Truscott, “Dance, The Good, the Bad and the Downright Cute”, Legs Dance, Canberra;

BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY Jack Overton Frederick Fellowes/Philip Brent, “Noises Off”, Lake Tuggeranong College, Canberra;

AMB BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL, Matthew Hajner, Edna Turnblad, “Hairspray”, Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts;

BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY, Annalivia Keaveny, Death as a Beggar-Woman, “Blood Wedding”, Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts;

AMB BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL, Nina Wood, Motormouth Maybelle, “Hairspray”, Hawker College, Canberra;

BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY, Andrew Taylor, Lloyd Fellowes, “Noises Off”, Lake Tuggeranong College, Canberra;

BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY, Glynis Stokes, Lucy Evans, “The Art of Teaching Nothing, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra;

BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL, Jacob Sgouros, Peter Allen, “The Boy From Oz”, Chevalier College, Bowral;

BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL, Isabel Clarke, Judy Garland, “The Boy From Oz”, Chevalier College, Bowral;

BEST VARIETY PERFORMANCE BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR ENSEMBLE, Craig Schofield, Terry Schofield, Dave Bracher and Tony Clarke, In “‘Jersey Boys’, Strictly Musical”, Monaro Committee for Cancer Research, Cooma;

JIM AND HEATHER LEEDMAN BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR ENSEMBLE, Mara Glass, The Candy Man, “The Chocolate Factory”, Classical Ballet Centre, Canberra;

QUEANBEYAN PLAYERS BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY, Jesse Tankard, Ben Hecht, “Moonlight and Magnolias”, Spectrum Theatre Group, Merimbula;

BARLENS HIRE BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL, Jack Martin, Lefou, “Beauty and the Beast”, Griffith Regional Theatre;

BAGS TO GO BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY, Yanina Clifton, Mary Warren, “The Crucible”, Canberra Repertory Society;

LOLA NIXON BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL, Christine Wallace, Winifred Banks, “Mary Poppins”, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra;

NATIONAL CAPITAL MOTORS BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY, Simon Lovatt, David O Selznick, “Moonlight and Magnolias”, Spectrum Theatre Group, Merimbula; AND Tony Turner, Older Casanova, “Casanova”, Canberra Repertory Society;

MARJORY AND PETER KOBOLD BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL, Brent Dolahenty, Emmett, “Legally Blonde”, Wagga Wagga City Council;

MR AND MRS BOB WINNEL BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY, Jo Darby, Shirley Valentine, “Shirley Valentine”, Wagga Wagga School of Arts Inc SOACT;

TEATRO VIVALDI BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL, Meredith Adams, Mary Poppins, “Mary Poppins”, Bidgee Theatre Productions, Wagga Wagga;

RICHARDS CONSULTING BEST CHOREOGRAPHER, Trish Brown, Kym Darmody, Caitlin Shilg and Genevieve Hall, “Cats”, St Clare’s College, Canberra;

BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR FOR A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION, Jarrod Schindler, Buddy, “The Buddy Holly Story”, Marist College, Canberra;

BEST DIRECTOR OF A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PLAY, Emma Wood, “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)”, Narrabundah College, Canberra;

BEST DIRECTOR OF A SCHOOL OR YOUTH MUSICAL, Simon Hughes, “Barnum”, Canberra Grammar School;

SARAH BYRNE BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR, Damien Slingsby, “Into The Woods”, Dramatic Productions, Canberra;

DSP AND STAGE WHISPERS BEST DIRECTOR OF A PLAY, Jarrad West, Casanova, Canberra Repertory Society;

MR AND MRS KEITH CROWE BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL OR VARIETY SHOW, Amy Copeland, “Little Shop of Horrors”, So Popera Productions, Wollongong;

MICHAEL AND JOAN MARY O’BRIEN BEST DANCE PRODUCTION, “Alchemy”, Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts;

BEST PRODUCTION OF A SCHOOL OR YOUTH MUSICAL, “The Boy From Oz”, Chevalier College, Bowral;

BEST PRODUCTION OF A SCHOOL or YOUTH PLAY, “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)”, Narrabundah College, Canberra;

BEST PRODUCTION OF A VARIETY SHOW, “A Taste of Tinseltown”, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra;

BLUMERS LAWYERS BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY, “Tuesdays with Morrie”, Queanbeyan City Council;

NSW GOVERNMENT BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL, “Mary Poppins”, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra;

IN THE SPIRIT OF THE COMMUNITY AWARD, Justin Watson, Ickle Pickle, Canberra, for providing opportunities for young people to be involved in theatre;

ACTEWAGL SILVER CAT AWARD FOR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THEATRE OVER MANY YEARS, Lawrance and Robyn Ryan, for the contribution they have made to the Cowra Musical and Dramatic Society over many years;

ICON WATER GOLD CAT AWARD, Amy and Peter Copeland, For the contribution they made to theatre in Wollongong during 2015 in direction, choreography, puppet direction, set design, production management and technical direction.