The Newcastle theatre community came together in a glittering celebration of local talent, as the 47th City of Newcastle Drama Awards (CONDAs) honoured the best of the region's stages. Held at Newcastle's City Hall, the 2025 ceremony was the largest in its history, with a record 28 award categories recognising exceptional work across musicals, plays, and youth theatre.
A Night of Major Wins for Leading Companies
Opera Hunter emerged as one of the night's big winners, with its production of Stephen Sondheim's 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street' securing four coveted awards. The dark and gritty musical triumphed in the categories of Best Musical Production, Excellence by a Performer in a Leading Role - Musical for Bridget Glennie, and Excellence by a Performer in a Supporting Role - Musical for Maddie Watts. The team of Ralf Jorg and Dana Leon Oakley also earned praise for Excellence in Hair and Wigs.
Not to be outdone, the Newcastle Theatre Company enjoyed significant success. The company's powerful staging of Florian Zeller's 'The Father' won Best Dramatic Production, while its ensemble for 'Morning Sacrifice' was awarded Best Ensemble - Play. The set and props design for 'Morning Sacrifice', crafted by Amy Wilde, also received an Excellence award.
Youth Theatre and Special Honours
The youth categories showcased the incredible depth of emerging talent in the Hunter region. Hunter Drama's young performers excelled, with 'The Crucible' winning Best Production 18 and Under Play and 'Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief' earning Best Ensemble - Musical. Kye Dennis shared the award for Excellence by a Performer 18 and Under in a Lead Role - Musical for his work in 'Percy Jackson'.
High Street Productions' 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' was a double winner, taking home both Best Production - Musical and seeing Lachlan King share the lead role award. The highest accolade of the evening, the Outstanding Achievement and Contribution to Theatre award, was presented to John McFadden for his exceptional and lasting impact on Newcastle's theatre industry.
Legacy Awards were also bestowed upon George Francis, Bill and Val Hitchcock, and Michelle Burnitt, honouring their dedicated contributions to the arts community over many years.
A Celebration of Creative Community
CONDA president Jody Miller reflected on the significance of the night, stating it was a joy to see the community unite. "The outstanding standard of work this year led to a record 28 award categories, more than previous years," Miller said, highlighting the growth and vitality of the local scene.
The 2025 CONDAs were supported by sponsors Out of the Square, the City of Newcastle's Civic Theatre, and JH Productions. The full list of winners stands as a testament to the creativity, hard work, and passion that defines Newcastle's performing arts landscape, promising an exciting future for theatre in the region.
