Previous Winners

2007 Winners
2006 Winners
2005 Winners
2004 Winners

2007 DROVER WINNERS

The 2007 Drover Awards were presented at the Awards Dinner in the Grand Chancellor Launceston Hotel on 20 September, by the 2006 Touring Legend Jacki Weaver.

Design Excellence :

Bangarra Dance Theatre for Clan

This recognises innovation and quality in production design for touring. This includes sets, costumes, lighting and sound. These elements have excellent artistic standards yet accommodate the need of different size venues, technical capabilities, OH&S requirements and level of support required by the venue.

Tour Management Excellence:

Expressions Dance Company for The 5th Door & Virtually Richard 3

This recognises the production company with an outstanding commitment to touring. It rewards the financial and artistic risk taken, excellence to follow up, timely delivery of marketing materials, the willingness to respond to feedback, to form strong partnerships with venues and to work together to develop audiences and enrich the cultural lives of all Australians.

Road Crew Excellence:

Patch Theatre Company for Who Sank The Boat?

This recognises the hard work performed by touring crews who always are the first to arrive at a venue and the last to leave. It rewards the commitment to customer service, level of communication and level of skill, expertise and knowledge. It also recognises the harmony and team effort required for touring crews.

Excellent Audience Response - This year there were two winners:

TaikOz for Daha Pounding Wave and D'Arrietta Productions for The Blonde The Brunette & The Vengeful Redhead

This recognises the production that is dearly and popularly loved by audiences. It is not box office dependent however this may play a factor. It acknowledges the need for audiences to have a great night out, to be touched by the magic of theatre and the creation of a "buzz" around town.

Optional Special Panel Award for Innovation:

Expressions Dance Company for The 5th Door & Virtually Richard 3

This award is given to a tour that is highly innovative in its art form or touring model.

Optional Special Panel Award for Audience Development:

Bell Shakespeare

This award recognises a tour that contributed to the audience development program of the APACA members. This could be measured by repeat visits, education programs, delivery of workshops, innovative marketing campaigns, the willingness of performers to meet sponsors and audiences and to participate in PR.

Touring Excellence:

Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People for Jackie French's Hitler's Daughter

This is awarded for overall excellence in touring, recognising the quality of the production, performers and administration team. This tour would be well supported by the home team, have great staff on the road and be well received by audiences. The marketing campaign is effective and works.

Touring Legend:

Christine Dunstan

This award recognises an outstanding performance by an individual or company.

Back Row L to R:
Raley Lee (TaikOz), Jasmine Gulash (Bangarra Dance Theatre ), Dave Brown
(Patch Theatre Company), Abel Valls (Expressions Dance Company), Christopher Tooher (Bell Shakespeare), Tim McGarry (Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People)

Front Row L to R:
Sandy Collins (Bangarra Dance Theatre), Jacki Weaver (D’Arrietta Productions),
Christine Dunstan (Christine Dunstan Productions), Eva Di Cesare
(Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People)

Photo by Mark Hyland Photographics

2006 DROVER WINNER LIST

The 2006 Drover Awards were presented at a glittering dinner at Sydney's Wharf Restaurant on Thursday 7 September by the 2005 Touring Legend Winner Wendy Blacklock AM

Tour Management Excellence:

Bell Shakespeare for The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Excellent Audience Response

Malthouse Theatre for Minefields and Miniskirts

Design Excellence

Malthouse Theatre for Minefields and Miniskirts

Special Panel Award for Audience Development

Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People

Special Panel Award for Innovation

The Australian Ballet for their performance of Pirouettes in the Pilbara at the
Walkington Theatre in Karratha

Touring Legend

Jacki Weaver

Touring Excellence

Griffin Theatre Company for Mr Bailey’s Minder
 

2006 Drover Winners

L-R: Penny Miles (for Malthouse Theatre), Tim McGarry (Monkey Baa), Heather Dransfield (for Malthouse Theatre), David Berthold (Griffin), Eva di Cesare (Monkey Baa), Sandie Eldridge (Monkey Baa), Moira Hay (Bell Shakespeare), Richard Evans (Australian Ballet), Dave Brown (Patch)

Dave Brown from Patch Theatre with 2005 Touring Legend Winner Wendy Blacklock

Pippa Davis from the Walkington Theatre in Karratha Australian Ballet's Richard Evans and Wendy Blacklock

Moira Hay from Bell with Wendy Blacklock

2005 AWARDS

The 2nd Annual Drover Awards were presented by the Senator for the ACT, Gary Humphries at the Gala Dinner at Old Parliament House on Friday 16 September.

This year's big winner was Pork Chop Productions, which won two awards for Last Cab to Darwin. The 2005 Drover Winners are

Tour Management Excellence:

Christine Dunstan Productions for The 3 Divas and Flatfoot

Road Crew Excellence:

Blackbird Productions for BPM Beats Per Minute

Excellent Audience Response:

Pork Chop Productions for Last Cab to Darwin

Design Excellence:

Bell Shakespeare for A Midsummer Night?s Dream

Special Panel Award for Audience Development:

Taikoz

Touring Legend:

Wendy Blacklock

Touring Excellence:

Pork Chop Productions for Last Cab to Darwin

2005 Drover Winners in Canberra

L-R: Greg Johns (Taikoz), Jonathan Bielski (Sydney Opera House for Pork Chop),
Wendy Blacklock, Christopher Tooher (Bell Shakespeare), Suzie Franke (Blackbird), Christine Dunstan (CDP), Matthew Henderson (Blackbird).

2004 DROVER AWARDS

24 September 2004

TOUR MANAGEMENT EXCELLENCE Awarded to BELL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

This recognises the work performed by the production company in dealing with multiple venues for budgets, pricing, contracts and scheduling. It rewards excellence in follow up, timely delivery of marketing materials, complexity of juggling conflicting needs and priorities and a minutia of detail.

ROAD CREW EXCELLENCE Awarded to CIRCUS OZ

This recognises the hard work performed by touring crews who always are the first to arrive at a venue and the last to leave. It rewards the commitment to customer service, level of communication and level of skill, expertise and knowledge. It also recognises the harmony and team effort required for touring crews.

EXCELLENT AUDIENCE RESPONSE Awarded to PERTH THEATRE COMPANY
For SHADOW OF THE EAGLE

This recognises the production that is dearly and popularly loved by audiences. It is not box office dependent however this may play a factor. It acknowledges the need for audiences to have a great night out, to be touched by the magic of theatre and the creation of a 'buzz' around town.

TOURING LEGEND Awarded to GARRY GINIVAN

This award recognises an outstanding performance by an individual or company.

DESIGN EXCELLENCE Awarded to BELL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
For THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS

This recognises innovation and quality in production design for touring. This includes sets, costumes, lighting and sound. These elements have excellent artistic standards yet accommodate the need of different size venues, technical capabilities, OH&S requirements and level of support required by the venue.

SPECIAL PANEL AWARD FOR AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
Awarded to BELL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

This award recognises a tour that contributed to the audience development program of the APACA members. This could be measured by repeat visits, education programs, delivery of workshops, innovative marketing campaigns, the willingness of performers to meet sponsors and audiences and to participate in PR

TOURING EXCELLENCE Awarded to PATCH THEATRE COMPANY
For PIGS, BEARS & BILLY GOATS GRUFF

This is awarded for overall excellence in all areas of the tour, recognising the quality of the production, performers, design, management, marketing, co-ordination and crew.