Due to much hard work, aspiration and creativity of our members, ARK Theatre has received the following Nominations and Awards!
Since 2013 ARK Theatre and youthARK have received 22 Awards, 3 Runner-up Awards from 71 Nominations!!
2026
GRAVE SONG by Alan Ashby - Directed by Alan Ashby
2025
THE BIGGER FISH by Michael Olsen - Director Sue Ashby
Dandenong Ranges One Act Play Festival - Gemco Theatre, Emerald
Adjudicators Award: Spirit of the Festival Award - Alan Ashby and Jimmy Dunne and The Dying Bread Music Duo
Adjudicators Award: ARK Theatre for Best Set
FAMDA One Act Play Festival - Foster Memorial Hall, Foster
Nomination: Best Original Script
Nomination: Best Set Design
Kyneton Daffodil and Arts One Act Play Festival - Bluestone Theatre, Kyneton
Award: Encouragement Award and $200.00 - ARK Theatre
ONEFEST One Act Play Festival - The Playhouse Theatre, Hobart Tasmania
2024
FOR OLD TIMES SAKE by Sue Ashby - Director: Jimmy Dunne | Alan Ashby
Dandenong Ranges One Act Play Festival - Gemco Theatre Emerald
Adjudicators Award: Sue Ashby - reworking and dusting off an original script
Nomination: Best Production
Nomination: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy - Kate Deavin
Nomination: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy - Jimmy Dunne
FAMDA One Act Play Festival - Foster Memorial Hall
Nomination: Most Outstanding Production - ARK Theatre
Nomination: Most Outstanding Director - Jimmy Dunne/Alan Ashby
Nomination: Most Outstanding Male Support Actor - Jimmy Dunne
Nomination: Most Outstanding Male Support Actor - Alan Ashby
SEYMOUR One Act Play Festival
Adjudicator Award: For Spontaneous Dialogue when props malfunctioned.
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POINT BLANK by Grace McNiven - Director Lisa McNiven
FAMDA One Act Play Festival - Foster Memorial Hall
Nomination: Best New Script - Grace McNiven
SEYMOUR One Act Play Festival
Adjudicator Award: Best Original Script - Grace McNiven
Adjudicator Award: Best Costume
Adjudicator Award: Best Supporting Actor - Jason Triggs
2023
Note: No productions took place in 2023
2022
FOR OLD TIMES SAKE by Sue Ashby - Director Gary Rens
Kyneton One Act Play Festival
Nomination: Best Male Actor - Sam Corr
Nomination: Best Supporting Female Actor - Julie Cuthbert
Seymour One Act Play Festival
Award: Best Production - ARK Theatre
Award: Best Director - Gary Rens
Nomination: Best Male Actor in a Comedy - Alan Ashby
Nomination: Best Female Actor in a Comedy - Julie Cuthbert
Nomination: Best Male Actor in a Comedy - Sam Corr
2020-2021
ARKfest Ten Minute Play Festival - March
Due to Covid-19 disruptions no theatre productions took place in 2020 and 2021
2019
VIGILANTE by Paula Armstrong - Directed by Paula Armstrong
Lyrebird Awards:
Nomination: Best One Act Play
CHARMAN MEOW by Julie Cunningham - Directed by Julie Cunningham
Lyrebird Awards:
Nomination: Best Youth Performer in a One Act Play - Hope Cunningham
NOTE: No One Act Plays were performed at One Act Play Festivals in 2019
2018
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE by Frank Cappra - youthARK Directed by
Lyrebird Awards:
Nomination: Best Youth Performer in a Drama - Georgia McAleer
Nomination: Best Youth Performer in a Drama - Alex Bradshaw
Nomination: Best Youth Performer in a Drama - Olivia Bradshaw
Nomination: Best Youth Performer in a Drama - Sam Winspear Schillings
One Act Play Festival Awards and Nominations
ARK Theatre GROUP
Foster Arts Music and Drama Association (FAMDA):
Adjudicator's Award: Most Helpful & Supportive Company, best to work with behind the scenes
Dust to Dust - Director Lisa McNiven
Fosters Arts Music and Drama Association (FAMDA):
Nomination: Most Outstanding Support Actor (Male) - Richard Mealy
THE TREE MAN by Bill Condon - Director Paula Armstrong
Mansfield OAP Festival:
Award: Best Female Actress - Angela Trakula
Runner-up: Best Production - The Tree Man
Nomination: Best Male Actor - Stephen Oakes
Nomination: Most Outstanding Director - Paula Armstrong
Monash One Act Play Festival - Peridot Theatre
Runner-up Award: Outstanding Production
Nomination: Outstanding Director - Paula Armstrong
Nomination: Outstanding Female Actor - Angela Trakula
Nomination: Outstanding Male Actor - Stephen Oakes
Fosters Arts Music and Drama Association (FAMDA):
Nomination: Most Outstanding Director - Paula Armstrong
Nomination: Most Outstanding Male Lead Actor - Stephen Oakes
Nomination: Most Outstanding Female Actor - Angela Trakula
ARKfest Ten Minute Play Festival - March
Best Play:
Best Director:
Best Actor:
Best Female Actor:
Best Poster:
2017
JAKES WOMEN by - Director Lisa McNiven
Victorian Drama League Awards:
Nomination: Best Actress, Leading Role Comedy - Fiona Carter
DEADLINE by (YouthARK) Director Candice Farrugia-Roberts
Fosters Arts Music and Drama Association (FAMDA):
Award: VDL Encouragement Award (Writing) - Candice Farrugia-Roberts
Award: Most Outstanding Male Lead Actor - Riley Stow
Nomination: Most Outstanding Male Lead Actor - Bohdi Lindsay
Nomination: Most Outstanding Production - Deadline
THE NOTICE by - Director Lisa McNiven
Seymour OAP Festival:
Award: Best Director - Lisa McNiven
Award: Best Actress - Patricia McCracken
Award: Best Production
Award: Best Costuming
Nomination: Best Actress - Angela Trakula
Nomination: Best Set
Nomination: Best Costume
Foster Arts Music and Drama Association (FAMDA):
Nomination: Most Outstanding (Set) Design - Lisa McNiven
Nomination: Most Outstanding Female Lead Actor - Angela Trakula
Nomination: Most Outstanding Support Actor (Female) - Patricia McCracken
Nomination: Most Outstanding Production - The Notice
2016
DAISY by - Director Robert Trott
Lyrebird Awards:
Adjudicator's Award: Best Solo - Ross Pearce
2015
DOWN COMES A JUMBUCK by - Director Phillip Stevenson
Dandenong Ranges OAP Festival (Gemco Theatre):
Award: Best Youth Actor - Ryan O’Keefe
Award: Best Female Supporting Actor - Jenny Silalahi
Runner-Up: Best Production - Down Came a Jumbuck
Nomination: Best Male Supporting Actor - Robert Trott
Nomination: Best Director - Phillip Stevenson
2014
FOURTEEN by - Director Angela McCulloch
Dandenong Ranes One Act Play Festival (Gemco Theatre):
Adjudicator Award - Best Table Setting
2013
THE RECKONING by - Director Fiona Carter
Fosters Arts Music and Drama Association (FAMDA):
Award: Most Outstanding (Set) Design - The Reckoning (Tom Blackburn | Jimmy Dunne)
Nomination: Best Actor - Sean Figgers
Monash OAP Festival:
Award: Best Staging - The Reckoning
Nomination: Excellence in Directing - Fiona Carter
GRAVE SONG by Alan Ashby - Directed by Alan Ashby
2025
THE BIGGER FISH by Michael Olsen - Director Sue Ashby
Dandenong Ranges One Act Play Festival - Gemco Theatre, Emerald
Adjudicators Award: Spirit of the Festival Award - Alan Ashby and Jimmy Dunne and The Dying Bread Music Duo
Adjudicators Award: ARK Theatre for Best Set
FAMDA One Act Play Festival - Foster Memorial Hall, Foster
Nomination: Best Original Script
Nomination: Best Set Design
Kyneton Daffodil and Arts One Act Play Festival - Bluestone Theatre, Kyneton
Award: Encouragement Award and $200.00 - ARK Theatre
ONEFEST One Act Play Festival - The Playhouse Theatre, Hobart Tasmania
2024
FOR OLD TIMES SAKE by Sue Ashby - Director: Jimmy Dunne | Alan Ashby
Dandenong Ranges One Act Play Festival - Gemco Theatre Emerald
Adjudicators Award: Sue Ashby - reworking and dusting off an original script
Nomination: Best Production
Nomination: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy - Kate Deavin
Nomination: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy - Jimmy Dunne
FAMDA One Act Play Festival - Foster Memorial Hall
Nomination: Most Outstanding Production - ARK Theatre
Nomination: Most Outstanding Director - Jimmy Dunne/Alan Ashby
Nomination: Most Outstanding Male Support Actor - Jimmy Dunne
Nomination: Most Outstanding Male Support Actor - Alan Ashby
SEYMOUR One Act Play Festival
Adjudicator Award: For Spontaneous Dialogue when props malfunctioned.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
POINT BLANK by Grace McNiven - Director Lisa McNiven
FAMDA One Act Play Festival - Foster Memorial Hall
Nomination: Best New Script - Grace McNiven
SEYMOUR One Act Play Festival
Adjudicator Award: Best Original Script - Grace McNiven
Adjudicator Award: Best Costume
Adjudicator Award: Best Supporting Actor - Jason Triggs
2023
Note: No productions took place in 2023
2022
FOR OLD TIMES SAKE by Sue Ashby - Director Gary Rens
Kyneton One Act Play Festival
Nomination: Best Male Actor - Sam Corr
Nomination: Best Supporting Female Actor - Julie Cuthbert
Seymour One Act Play Festival
Award: Best Production - ARK Theatre
Award: Best Director - Gary Rens
Nomination: Best Male Actor in a Comedy - Alan Ashby
Nomination: Best Female Actor in a Comedy - Julie Cuthbert
Nomination: Best Male Actor in a Comedy - Sam Corr
2020-2021
ARKfest Ten Minute Play Festival - March
Due to Covid-19 disruptions no theatre productions took place in 2020 and 2021
2019
VIGILANTE by Paula Armstrong - Directed by Paula Armstrong
Lyrebird Awards:
Nomination: Best One Act Play
CHARMAN MEOW by Julie Cunningham - Directed by Julie Cunningham
Lyrebird Awards:
Nomination: Best Youth Performer in a One Act Play - Hope Cunningham
NOTE: No One Act Plays were performed at One Act Play Festivals in 2019
2018
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE by Frank Cappra - youthARK Directed by
Lyrebird Awards:
Nomination: Best Youth Performer in a Drama - Georgia McAleer
Nomination: Best Youth Performer in a Drama - Alex Bradshaw
Nomination: Best Youth Performer in a Drama - Olivia Bradshaw
Nomination: Best Youth Performer in a Drama - Sam Winspear Schillings
One Act Play Festival Awards and Nominations
ARK Theatre GROUP
Foster Arts Music and Drama Association (FAMDA):
Adjudicator's Award: Most Helpful & Supportive Company, best to work with behind the scenes
Dust to Dust - Director Lisa McNiven
Fosters Arts Music and Drama Association (FAMDA):
Nomination: Most Outstanding Support Actor (Male) - Richard Mealy
THE TREE MAN by Bill Condon - Director Paula Armstrong
Mansfield OAP Festival:
Award: Best Female Actress - Angela Trakula
Runner-up: Best Production - The Tree Man
Nomination: Best Male Actor - Stephen Oakes
Nomination: Most Outstanding Director - Paula Armstrong
Monash One Act Play Festival - Peridot Theatre
Runner-up Award: Outstanding Production
Nomination: Outstanding Director - Paula Armstrong
Nomination: Outstanding Female Actor - Angela Trakula
Nomination: Outstanding Male Actor - Stephen Oakes
Fosters Arts Music and Drama Association (FAMDA):
Nomination: Most Outstanding Director - Paula Armstrong
Nomination: Most Outstanding Male Lead Actor - Stephen Oakes
Nomination: Most Outstanding Female Actor - Angela Trakula
ARKfest Ten Minute Play Festival - March
Best Play:
Best Director:
Best Actor:
Best Female Actor:
Best Poster:
2017
JAKES WOMEN by - Director Lisa McNiven
Victorian Drama League Awards:
Nomination: Best Actress, Leading Role Comedy - Fiona Carter
DEADLINE by (YouthARK) Director Candice Farrugia-Roberts
Fosters Arts Music and Drama Association (FAMDA):
Award: VDL Encouragement Award (Writing) - Candice Farrugia-Roberts
Award: Most Outstanding Male Lead Actor - Riley Stow
Nomination: Most Outstanding Male Lead Actor - Bohdi Lindsay
Nomination: Most Outstanding Production - Deadline
THE NOTICE by - Director Lisa McNiven
Seymour OAP Festival:
Award: Best Director - Lisa McNiven
Award: Best Actress - Patricia McCracken
Award: Best Production
Award: Best Costuming
Nomination: Best Actress - Angela Trakula
Nomination: Best Set
Nomination: Best Costume
Foster Arts Music and Drama Association (FAMDA):
Nomination: Most Outstanding (Set) Design - Lisa McNiven
Nomination: Most Outstanding Female Lead Actor - Angela Trakula
Nomination: Most Outstanding Support Actor (Female) - Patricia McCracken
Nomination: Most Outstanding Production - The Notice
2016
DAISY by - Director Robert Trott
Lyrebird Awards:
Adjudicator's Award: Best Solo - Ross Pearce
2015
DOWN COMES A JUMBUCK by - Director Phillip Stevenson
Dandenong Ranges OAP Festival (Gemco Theatre):
Award: Best Youth Actor - Ryan O’Keefe
Award: Best Female Supporting Actor - Jenny Silalahi
Runner-Up: Best Production - Down Came a Jumbuck
Nomination: Best Male Supporting Actor - Robert Trott
Nomination: Best Director - Phillip Stevenson
2014
FOURTEEN by - Director Angela McCulloch
Dandenong Ranes One Act Play Festival (Gemco Theatre):
Adjudicator Award - Best Table Setting
2013
THE RECKONING by - Director Fiona Carter
Fosters Arts Music and Drama Association (FAMDA):
Award: Most Outstanding (Set) Design - The Reckoning (Tom Blackburn | Jimmy Dunne)
Nomination: Best Actor - Sean Figgers
Monash OAP Festival:
Award: Best Staging - The Reckoning
Nomination: Excellence in Directing - Fiona Carter
