ASPIRE Awards
2023 CONDA Nominations
Best 18 and Under Ensemble
Best Production - 18 and Under
Excellence by a Music or Vocal Director - Jessica Lopez
Excellence by a Choreographer - Lauren Harvey
Excellence in Costume Design - Abbey Cashmere
Excellence in Set and Props Design - Cris Baldwin
Excellence in Lighting Design - Lachlan Thomas
CONDA WINNER 2022
Excellence in Hair, Make-up and Wigs - Alecia Whelan and Lauren Harvey
2022 CONDA Nominations
Excellence by a Performer 18 and Under in a Lead Role - Musical - Patrick Howlett
Excellence in Costume Design - Lauren Harvey
Best 18 and Under Ensemble
Best Production - 18 and Under
Best New Play or Musical Written for a Newcastle Company - Anna Kerrigan
Excellence in Set and Prop Design - Lisa Little
Excellence in Lighting Design - Lyndon Buckley
Excellence in Hair, Make-up and Wigs - Alecia Whelan and Lauren Harvey
CONDA WINNER 2021
Excellence in Costume Design - Lauren Harvey
The costumes for The Pecking Order were vivid, hinting at the character of each bird, without being gaudy. The details were impeccable, adding dimension to this performance and celebrating the colourful side of our natural world.
Excellence in Set and Props Design - Lisa Little
This set design allowed for multiple locations and speedy transitions at stage level, as well as an impressive canopy layer from above. The multi-layered design allowed the action in many scenes to take place simultaneously, while giving the audience a bird's eye perspective.
2021 CONDA nominations
Excellence in Costume Design - Lauren Harvey
Excellence in Set Design - Lisa Little
Excellence in Lighting Design - Lachlan Thomas
Best 18 and Under Ensemble Acting
Best Production by a Youth Theatre Company or School
Best New Play or Musical Written for a Newcastle Company - Anna Kerrigan
Best Special Theatrical Event
Excellence by a Director - Musical - Anna Kerrigan
CONDA WINNER 2020
Best 18 and Under Ensemble Acting : I Hope: Thoughts on a Pandemic
2020 CONDA nominations
Best New Play or Musical Written for a Newcastle Company : I Hope : Thoughts on a Pandemic
Best 18 and Under Ensemble Acting
2019 CONDA nominations
Excellence in Costume Design - Lauren Harvey
Excellence by a Director - Musical - Anna Kerrigan
Excellence Under 18 Ensemble
Excellence by a Choreographer - Lauren Harvey
Excellence in Lighting and Audio Design - Lachlan Thomas
Excellence in Set Design - Lisa Little
CONDA WINNER 2018
Excellence by a Choreographer: ASPIRE Dark Matter - Lauren Wheatley
Lauren's choreography was edgy, challenging, exciting and highly physical. She worked brilliantly with the set and costuming, constantly surprising and engaging with completely original and inspired moves. The choreography in the girls' toilets invoked a feminist strength and determination that enhanced the themes and tone of the script.
The Oztheartics Award for Best Youth Ensemble Acting: ASPIRE - Dark Matter
Every member of this challenging work brought strong commitment and belief to the stage, pushing past stereotypes and delivering real and individual characters with maturity, true emotion and depth. The energy from the entire cast was electric and exciting as they took the audience on a roller coaster ranging from satire and humour through to paths and absolute understanding and empathy.
Best New Play or Musical Written for a Newcastle Company: Anna Kerrigan
Anna's script presents a complex narrative that gives insight into the various characters that inhabit a school setting, exposing the myriad of fears, anxieties and difficulties that many individuals and groups face on a daily basis. It cleverly provides a platform for diverse theatrical techniques and styles as well as keeping the main plot and sub-plots rollicking along.
2018 CONDA nominations
Excellence in Hair, Make-Up and Wigs - Lauren Wheatley
Excellence in Costume Design - Lauren Wheatley
Excellence in Set and Props Design - Lisa Little
Excellence in Lighting and Audio Visual Design - Lachlan Thomas
Excellence by a Choreographer: ASPIRE Dark Matter - Lauren Wheatley
The MTI Australasia Award for Excellence by a Male Actor Under 18 - Oliver Crawford
The MTI Australasia Award for Excellence by a Male Actor Under 18 - Riley Warner
The Oztheartics Award for Best Youth Ensemble Acting: ASPIRE - Dark Matter
Best New Play or Musical Written for a Newcastle Company: Anna Kerrigan
Excellence by a Director - Musical - Anna Kerrigan
2017 CONDA nominations
Excellence by a Female Actor Under 18 - Rose Lancaster
Excellence by a Male Actor Under 18 - Ned Keogh
CONDA WINNER 2016
Best Special Theatrical Event: Aspire – There’s Something Strange about Marvin McRae
A highly imaginative theatrical event giving a large number of young people the opportunity to perform superbly in a range of different styles with acting, singing and dancing. The content of the production was timely and relevant, with a tasteful message about embracing individuality. An encouraging all-rounder production with strengths in performance aspects and production design.
2016 CONDA nominations
Best performance by a male actor under 18 - Ben Doran
Excellence in costume design - Lauren Wheatley
Excellence by a director: musical - Anna Kerrigan
Excellence in lighting design - Lachlan Thomas
Best Special Theatrical Event - ASPIRE: There's Something Strange About Marvin McRae