The breadth of both talent and participation on Border and North East stages has encouraged the creation of a new recognition scheme.
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A range of community and school productions have already been adjudicated as part of the Amateur Performance Theatre Awards - Border Region, aimed mainly at groups within a 50 kilometre radius of Albury-Wodonga, plus Wangaratta.
Shows staged between March 2019 and February 2020 are eligible for the inaugural awards, with Camp Rock (BYTE Sized Productions), Phantom of the Opera (Trinity Anglican College), The Shoehorn Sonata (Wangaratta Players) and Avenue Q (Revolution Theatre Productions) among those visited so far by the pool of 12 adjudicators.
The APT Awards have been developed by a small volunteer working party of people involved in the region's theatre scene.
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Facilitator Shoshanna Griffin, who is treasurer of The Other Theatre Company, said the idea had been discussed among the various theatre groups for several years.
Presently the closest regional programs are the Georgy Awards in Shepparton and the Canberra Area Theatre Awards, particularly since the Zonta Awards for Performing Arts in Wangaratta ended in 2015 after 25 years.
"We've decided why are we travelling to these locations when we have a variety here, such a large group of people who are involved in community theatre and amateur theatre," Mrs Griffin said.
"It's actually recognition of the hours and hours volunteers give to putting on a production and we're not just talking on stage, but backstage and behind the productions themselves.
"We also want to get the smaller theatre companies involved as well, so we're looking at areas such as Chiltern and Beechworth.
"That's the beauty about community theatre, is that it's quite diverse."
Wangaratta's Nicky Powell, one of the adjudicators, said she had been excited to learn about the APT Awards.
"I've seen that so many people are really passionate, who put a lot of time and energy into community theatre," she said.
"We just miss that chance to come together and celebrate each year.
"It's amazing the talent we have in this area, we should be very proud as an area of what we're able to present."
The first APT Awards are set to be presented next autumn, with sponsors sought for the event and individual categories.
More information is available at aptawards.com.au, as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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