These are the ones that I loved the most.
And I still missed too many. (When all the 'best of' lists are put together at the end of the year, remember that great shows might have not been seen.)
Along with writing, there's been judging, mentoring, editing and teaching this year – and I'm mostly looking forward to doing more teaching and mentoring next year because we need more arts writers, thinker, arguers and advocates.
Outstanding Artists 2014
WRITING
Jesse Cox for Wael Zuaiter: Unknown, Creative Nonfiction and Theatre Works at Next Wave.
Jesss Cox in Wael Zuaiter: Unknown. Photo by Sarah Walker |
Tim Wothersooon for The Safe House, 3rd Room Theatrical at The Owl and the Pussycat.
Fleur Kilpatrick for The City They Burned, Attic Erratic at Melbourne FringeMelbourne
DESIGN
Dale Ferguson (set) for Night on Bald Mountain, Malthouse
Paul Jackson (lighting) for Night on Bald Mountain, Malthouse
Night on Bald Mountain |
Harriet Oxley (costume) for Into the Woods, Victoria Opera
Chloe Greaves (costume) for The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant, Dirty Pretty Theatre and Theatre Works
PERFORMANCE
Kate Cole for Grounded, Red Stitch
Kate Cole in Grounded |
Angus Cerini for Resplendence, MTC NEON
Special mentions
Maria Mercedes for Masterclass, fortyfivedownstairs
Aliro Zavarce for The Book of Loco, Malthouse
Kate Cole, Brett Cousins and Emily Milledge for Out of the Water, Red Stitch
DIRECTION
Declan Greene for Calpurnia Descending, Sisters Grimm Malthouse
Calpurnia Descending |
Special mentions
Danny Delahunty for The City They Burned, Attic Erratic at Melbourne Fringe
Daniel Lammin for Masterclass, fortyfivedownstairs
Outstanding Productions 2014
CABARET
The Von Muiznieks Family Hoedown for Melbourne Cabaret Festival at The Butterfly Club
The Von Muiznieks Family Hoedown |
Special mention
Sunglasses at night: The 80s apocalypse sing along cabaret, Geraldine Quinn for Melbourne Cabaret Festival at Chapel off Chapel
COMMERCIAL SHOW
Once, Melbourne Theatre Company & John Frost, Barbara Broccoli, John N Hart Jr, Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo
MUSICAL
Into the Woods, Victoria Opera
Into the Woods |
COMEDY
Dr Professor Neal Portenza Performs his Own Autopsy Live on Stage. One Night Only. (Obviously). Josh Ladgrove at Melbourne International Comedy Festival at Tuxedo Cat
Dr Professor Neal Portenza Performs his Own Autopsy Live on Stage. One Night Only. (Obviously). |
More Tape, The Boy With Tape On His Face at Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Special mentions
Single White Slut, Tim Key at Melbourne International Comedy Festival
After Ever After, Rama Nicholas at Melbourne Fringe
OPERA
The Riders, Victorian Opera & Malthouse Theatre
The Riders. Photo by Jeff Busby |
CIRCUS
S, Circa for Darebin Arts Speakeasy
Special mentions
The Long Pigs, fortyfivedownstairs
Carrousel Des Moutons, D'irque & Fen, Explosive Media at Melbourne Festival
LIVE ART
A moment in yarn, Sayraphim Lothian at Craft Victoria's Craft Cubed festival
Very special mention
Sayraphim and Rob's wedding at The Village
A wedding. Photo by Sarah Walker |
BEST OF THE BEST
The Worst of Scottee, Theatre Works at Midsumma
Sex Idiot, Bryony Kimmings, Theatre Works at Melbourne International Comedy Festival
The City They Burned, Attic Erratic at Melbourne Fringe
The City They Burned. Photo by Sarah Walker |
The Bookbinder, Trick of the Light Theatre at Melbourne Fringe
Have I No Mouth, Brokentalkers at Melbourne Festival
Have I No Moith |
MY FAVOURITE SHOW OF 2014
Credible Likeable Superstar Role Model, Bryony Kimmings, Theatre Works
Bryony and Taylor in Credible Likeable Superstar Role Model |