UMSU Theatre Awards

Our annual UMSU Theatre Awards applaud all the great work presented by the student theatre community at the University of Melbourne. 

Check out the 2025 award winners and nominees below. 
 

🤹‍♀️ The Skillful Show Juggler 
Felicity Bayne for Little Hall’s Work But This Time Like You Mean It, and Above Sea Level’s Endpapered 
Stuti Ghosh for Cipta’s Exit The Boy, Above Sea Level’s Far Away and UMMTA’s Sitzprobe 
Nishka Varghese for UMMTA’s Sitzprobe and Into The Woods, and MUSC’s Othello and A Midsummer Night’s Dream 

WINNER: Stuti Ghosh for Cipta’s Exit The Boy, Above Sea Level’s Far Away and UMMTA’s Sitzprobe 


🐾 Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone
Meron Samson for Above Sea Level’s Endpapered 
Zani Micallef for Four Letter Word’s Medusa and MUSC’s Othello 
Ensemble of Ourselves for MUDfest’s First Light 

WINNER: Zani Micallef for Four Letter Word’s Medusa and MUSC’s Othello 


🐣 Emerging Artist
Gina Ramsay for UMMTA’s Into the Woods and MUSC’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream 
Little Hall Arts Society for Work But This Time Like You Mean It 
Alana Collins for Above Sea Level’s Endpapered and MUSC’s A Midsummer Night's Dream 
Blue Jordan for Cipta’s Exit The Boy 

WINNER: Gina Ramsay for UMMTA’s Into the Woods and MUSC’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream 

 
📲 Marketing Genius
Andy Junqi Liu for Element Theatre Co’s The Banquet Guide and Bonne Nuit, Lilian 
Dempsey Doyle for ICAC’s Urinetown 
Joshua Drake for MUSC’s Othello and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and UMMTA’s Sitzprobe and Into The Woods 
Matt Chan for Cipta’s Exit The Boy 

WINNER: Joshua Drake for MUSC’s Othello and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and UMMTA’s Sitzprobe and Into The Woods 
 

♠️ Outstanding Backstage Crew 
Nishka Varghese for MUSC’s Othello and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and UMMTA’s Sitzprobe and Into The Woods 
Ying Liu for Element Theatre Co’s The Banquet Guide 
Tom Diggle for ICAC’s Urinetown, Eleven Eleven’s Everyday and Flare Dance Ensemble’s Night at the Gallery 
Frankie Murray-White for Cipta’s Exit The Boy 
Gavishi Sampatha Waduge for MULSASA’s Veils and Vendettas 

WINNER: Tom Diggle for ICAC’s Urinetown, Eleven Eleven’s Everyday and Flare Dance Ensemble’s Night at the Gallery 
 

🪑 Outstanding Set Design 
Charlene Yong for Four Letter Word’s Medusa, MUSC’s Othello, and UMMTA’s Into The Woods 
Leo Gorrion for Little Hall’s Work But This Time Like You Mean It 
Xavier Duffy for Ormond College’s Chicago 
Alyssa McDonald Smith for Queen’s College’s Mamma Mia! 

WINNER: Charlene Yong for Four Letter Word’s Medusa, MUSC’s Othello, and UMMTA’s Into The Woods 
 

🎼 Outstanding Sound Design 
Heidi Gray-Block for St. Hildas College’s Anything Goes 
Vincent Deguzman for Eleven Eleven’s Ismenia 
Jason Sridher for Little Hall’s Work But This Time Like You Mean It 
Agnes Yahui Xiong for Element Theatre Co’s Bonne Nuit, Lillian 
Ollie Sexton for ICAC’s Urinetown and Four Letter Word’s Last Impressions 

WINNER: Vincent Deguzman for Eleven Eleven’s Ismenia 

 
📽️ Outstanding Audio-Visual Design
Emma Parfitt for Eleven Eleven’s Everyday 
Penelope Toong for MUSC’s Othello 
Ami Salinas for Eleven Eleven’s Ismenia 

WINNER: Emma Parfitt for Eleven Eleven’s Everyday 
 

💡Outstanding Lighting Design 
Allira Smith for Four Letter Word’s Medusa and Ormond College’s Chicago 
Iris Donaldson for MUSC’s Othello 
Connor Maher Lemaitre for Queen’s College’s Mamma Mia 
India Haldane for St. Hildas College’s Anything Goes 
Kenway Sheridan for Little Hall’s Work But This Time Like You Mean It 

WINNERS: Allira Smith for Four Letter Word’s Medusa and Ormond College’s Chicago 
Connor Maher Lemaitre for Queen’s College’s Mamma Mia
 
 

💄 Outstanding Costume/ Hair & Make-up
Ella Barrett for MUSC’s Othello and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and UMMTA’s Into The Woods 
Jessamy Bennett for Queen’s College’s Mamma Mia 
Charlotte Henderson for Above Sea Level’s Endpapered and Four Letter Word’s Last Impressions  
Yue Li (Gloria) for Element Theatre Co’s Bonne Nuit, Lillian 
Kai Losey for Flare Dance Ensemble’s Night at the Gallery 

WINNER: Ella Barrett for MUSC’s Othello and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and UMMTA’s Into The Woods 
 

👯‍♂️ Best Ensemble 
ICAC’s Urinetown 
Eleven Eleven’s Ismenia 
Newman College’s Highschool Musical 2 
Sri Lankan Students Association’s Veils and Vendettas 

WINNER: ICAC’s Urinetown 
 

🎬 Outstanding Direction 
Anna Ryley for ICAC’s Urinetown 
Avi Walsh-Davis for Eleven Eleven’s Everyday 
Blue Jordan for Cipta’s Exit The Boy 
Bronte Lemaire for Four Letter Word’s Medusa 
Felicity Bayne and Saskia Powles for Above Sea Level’s Endpapered 
Saskia Powles and Campbell Jordan​ for Above Sea Level’s Faraway 

WINNER: Bronte Lemaire for Four Letter Word’s Medusa 
 

💃 Outstanding Dance & Choreography 
Francesca Carthew for Queen’s College’s Mamma Mia 
Julie Tran for Dance Democracy’s Another one of those nights 
Zara Sadhai for ICAC’s Urinetown 
Kai Losey for Flare Dance Ensemble’s Night at the Gallery 
Annabel Shaw for Flare Dance Ensemble’s Night at the Gallery 

WINNER: Kai Losey for Flare Dance Ensemble’s Night at the Gallery 
 

👶 Outstanding New Works 
Avi Walsh-Davis for Eleven Eleven’s Everyday 
Bronte Lemaire for Four Letter Word’s Medusa 
Julie Tran for MUDfest’s First Light 
Emmaline Vagg and Gryff Connah for Eleven Eleven’s Ismenia 
Saskia Powles and Felicity Bayne for Above Sea Level’s Endpapered  

WINNER: Saskia Powles and Felicity Bayne for Above Sea Level’s Endpapered  

 

🎭 Outstanding Performance 
Harper Raverty for St. Hildas College’s Anything Goes 
Ruby Grinter for Four Letter Word’s Medusa 
Chenkai Tian for Chinese Theatre Group’s Green Snake and Mr. Donkey 
Juliet Bland for Eleven Eleven’s Everyday 
Vivienne Mackenzie for Queen’s College’s Mamma Mia 
Kai Losey for Flare Dance Ensemble’s Night at the Gallery 
Claire Steel for ICAC's Urinetown and Four Letter Word’s Last Impressions 

WINNERS: Harper Raverty for St. Hildas College’s Anything Goes 
Ruby Grinter for Four Letter Word’s Medusa 
 

What about the UMSU Theatre Partner Awards?

Terrific question! We have partner awards with the University of Melbourne, UMAC, MPavilion Parkville, Melbourne Theatre Company, Dancehouse and La Mama, as well University Trust Awards — see the 2025 winners below. 
 

The Robert McDonald Award 
For a student director, writer or theatre-maker producer who has demonstrated outstanding ability and commitment through their involvement in student theatre at Melbourne University. 
The Award offers the opportunity to observe the production process at a large, professional theatre company, attend Melbourne Theatre Company performances and meet staff in the Artistic team. It also includes a $1,000 bursary and 2026 season subscription.

WINNER: Narii Hamill Salmon
 

Hannah Barry Memorial Award 2025
Assist the recipient in the development of a creative work based in the performing arts with a $1,000 prize.

WINNER: Gryff Connah
 

2025 MPavilion Parkville Participatory Arts Award
This award recognises an emerging artist from any discipline within the University of Melbourne UMSU student theatre community and encourages development of their participatory or public arts practice. It offers a $2,000 award, access to MPavilion Parkville and mentoring sessions for creative career.

WINNERS: Sarah Ceraso, Flynn Dakis, Jesper Harrison and Toni Stathopoulos
 

2025 Dancehouse Award for a Dance Maker and Lover
Dancehouse is Australia’s only presenting and producing house dedicated solely to the year-round presentation of dance by and with independent dance artists and communities. This award is for a dance maker to further their development. Prize is a Dancehouse Membership, introduction to the Dancehouse community, free workshops, tickets to select shows, and professional development conversations with Dancehouse staff.

WINNERS: Kai Losey and Julie Tran
 

La Mama Award for an Emerging Theatre Maker
La Mama is proud to offer this award to an emerging writer or theatre maker who has demonstrated passion and determination in presenting their ideas and works as part of the 2025 Union House Theatre (and associated) program. The prize is a spot in La Mama’s 2026 Exploration Season and industry connections through La Mama.

WINNERS: Emmaline May and Gryff Connah

Louise Homfrey Trust Prize

WINNERS: Chenkai Tian and Juliet Bland

Murray Sutherland Trust Prize

WINNERS: Vivienne Mackenzie and Claire Steel

SASS Student Theatre Award

WINNER: Little Hall Arts Society

Want to find out more about each award?

🎬 Outstanding Direction
A show that was coherent, had an incredible vision and made us all say out loud "Holy smoke, that was sensational!" Send them some award nomination love right now!

🎭 Outstanding Performance
Someone who adapted their character in the truest way possible, showed great dance moves, shined with that ‘X factor’ or stunned with their ability to captivate the crowd. Gold Logie Worthy (or better, UHT Award Worthy)?!

💡Outstanding Lighting Design
Did a production you saw (or designed) shine a little light on things in an artistic and cohesive way? Could you see what you needed to see (and disguise what you didn’t!) Was there razzle and dazzle? Celebrate the designer behind it – put in a nom today.

🎼 Outstanding Sound Design
A good sound design lifts the emotional impact of a production. Did you/someone you know create a sound design so great it made an audience member jump out of their seats or made them burst into tears? Nominate them!

🎶 Outstanding Music (Exciting new category)
Here's an award to recognise the incredible musical directors, composers and bands - whether its recreating the magic of an existing song, or composing an original altogether - these musical legends know how to add musical magic to a show.

💄 Outstanding Costume/ Hair & Make-up
A costume, hair and make-up design so great, it made Hollywood sit up and take notice! Or just the audience at UHT! Both are excellent and award nom worthy. Do it!

🪑 Outstanding Set Design
Did a production's set design transform the theatres? Did the designer use flats and screws like you’d never believe?! Whether it was a grand and ambitious set or there were a few clever pieces that brought the world of the play to life - a good set can do wonders! Nominate your favourite set designer.

♠️ Outstanding Backstage Crew
Here's an appreciation for the quickest, smartest backstage crew. Reward your favourite stage manger/production manager/backstage crew for creating a show as smooth as Italian gelato.

💃 Outstanding Dance & Choreography
Did you see a dance piece so beautiful that it made you gasp? Or perhaps, a dance number made you want to get up from your seats and dance along. Whether it was a solo dance or an ensemble performance, celebrate your choreographer and dancer friends by sending them a nomination!

📽️ Outstanding Audio-Visual Design
Did the AV design pull you in? Were you transported somewhere else entirely? Honour the vision-designing wizard who can blend technology and storytelling to transform the stage through clever use of projection, making the world of the show unforgettable.

📲 Marketing Genius
Did you or someone you know make super exciting creative content and took your show marketing to a whole new level? Send them a like!

🐣 Emerging Artist
For those new to theatre/art/creativity, this award is for you or someone you know. 

🐾 Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone
Did you or a student theatre group you know present a work/ do something that no one expected? Or perhaps someone started a new theatre group altogether! This award is for those who made brave choices this year!

👯‍♂️ Best Ensemble
This award is for an ensemble or collective of artists, who have discovered the power of communal creativity and shared practice, and are working as a team and performing together. Nominate them! Go Team Go!

🤹‍♀️ The Skillful Show Juggler
Do you or someone you know have their calendars full with shows across various student theatre groups? Maybe that sounds like it was you! Publicity officer one day, set designer the next but still manage to get it all done and doing an awesome job along the way. Nominate. Nominate. Nominate.

👶 Outstanding New Works
Did you or someone write a new work, devise a new movement piece or perhaps thought of an idea of a multi-day immersive experience? Whether it was a brain-dump, a few pages of dialogue or a complete work, we want to celebrate those creative people who have created new work!

UMSU Theatre Partner Awards
You can also nominate our Partner Awards! We have an array of Partner Awards with leading theatre and arts platforms, across writing, performing, dance, bakcstage and more.