The Southern Highlands has again proved there is plenty of theatrical talent in the region.
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It was another successful year for the Highlands at the recent 2016 Canberra Area Theatre (CAT) Awards.
The Highlands finished with four awards and a commendation on the night.
Chevalier College finished with three awards for its production of Thirty-Nine Steps.
Theatre company On 4 Young and Old also picked up an award and Pigs Fly Productions received a commendation.
The Best Production of a School or Youth Play was won by Chevalier College for Thirty-Nine Steps.
Director of Thirty-Nine Steps Kate Price said it was a great reward for everyone involved to finish with three awards.
“We were excited to be nominated for four awards for our 2016 play Thirty-Nine Steps. To win three on the night was quite thrilling for all of us there,” she said.
“Patrick Holman and Brodie Ackroyd were both outstanding in their roles as Richard Hannay and Pamela and they were supported by a strong cast including a small band. The plays cast comprised of students from Years 9-12.”
Brodie Ackroyd won Best Youth Actress in Featured Role in a musical for her role as Pamela in Thirty-Nine Steps.
This was her second leading role after Brodie also secured a leading role in Chevalier’s 2015 production of The Boy from Oz.
“I was incredibly surprised and really excited,” she said.
Brodie finished Year 12 in 2016 and said she had been involved with drama and performing arts at Chevalier since she started in Year 7.
“Chev has such a good drama department. It was a big part of my schooling,” she said.
Now on a gap year. Brodie said she would consider applying for acting schools for 2018.
Best Youth Actor in a Leading Role in a play went to Chevalier’s Patrick Holman for his part as Richard Hannay, also in Thirty-Nine Steps.
While he was unable to attend the ceremony, Patrick said he was happy to have received the award.
“I enjoyed doing the play so it’s nice to still have an affect months later,” he said.
‘It’s nice for everyone involved to get recognition. I’d like to thank Ms Price for her mentoring, believing in me and giving me a chance.”
Patrick was also involved in The Boy from Oz but worked backstage on lighting, design and operation.
He has been taking part in the Actor’s Studio course held at NIDA and said he would consider applying full time there.
In 2016. Chevalier also won three CAT awards for Best Musical, Best Youth Actor and Best Female in a Supporting Role.
Alex Rapp was the co-winner of Best Actress in a Leading Role in a play for her role as Rita in Educating Rita.
Educating Rita was staged by On 4 Young and Old.
‘I was surprised, shocked and excited,” Ms Rapp said.
“It is really humbling just to be nominated and it’s nice to have your hard work acknowledged by your peers. It was such a great tole that I loved playing.”
She has been in two previous productions with the theatre company.
On 4 Young and Old’s next production will be a stage adaptation of the television show Blackadder in August 2017.
Calendar Girls by Pigs Ply Productions received a commendation for raising money to help the CanAssist charity.
