The 2018 Performing Arts WA (PAWA) Awards were held Monday 28 April, at the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia. Presented annually, these WA-based industry awards have traditionally celebrated outstanding achievement in theatre. In 2018, however, the PAWA Awards were expanded to include a selection of prizes for dance, making for a record number of awards presented on the night. The excitement, too, was heightened, as representatives from both art-forms came together to recognise the achievements of artists and companies across the two disciplines.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2018 Performing Arts WA Awards:
DANCE AWARDS
Best Production presented by Bendigo Bank North Perth: Dust on the Shortbread – Anything Is Valid Dance Theatre
![](https://legacy.seesawmag.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/102_PERFORMING-ARTS-WA-AWARDS_20190429_Photo-by-Rebecca-Mansell-300x200.jpg)
Best New Work presented by Bendigo Bank North Perth: Krzysztof Pastor – Dracula, West Australian Ballet
Best Newcomer presented by MEAA: Luci Young – Frank Enstein, Co3 Australia
![Oscar Valdes and partner](https://legacy.seesawmag.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/108_PERFORMING-ARTS-WA-AWARDS_20190429_Photo-by-Rebecca-Mansell-300x200.jpg)
Best Performer (Male): Oscar Valdés – La Sylphide, West Australian Ballet
Best Performer (Female): Ella-Rose Trew – WA Dance Makers Project, Co3 Australia
Best Director or Choreographer: Grayson Millwood and Gavin Webber – Frank Enstein, made by The Farm in collaboration with Co3 Australia
THEATRE AWARDS
![Julia Hales holding two awards](https://legacy.seesawmag.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/141_PERFORMING-ARTS-WA-AWARDS_20190429_Photo-by-Rebecca-Mansell-300x201.jpg)
Best Mainstage Production presented by Hawaiian: You Know We Belong Together – A Black Swan, Perth Festival and DADAA Co-Production
![](https://legacy.seesawmag.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/144_PERFORMING-ARTS-WA-AWARDS_20190429_Photo-by-Rebecca-Mansell-300x201.jpg)
Best Independent Production presented by Bendigo Bank North Perth: Frankie’s – The Blue Room Theatre and Variegated Productions
Best New Work presented by Bendigo Bank North Perth: Julia Hales with Finn O’Branagain and Clare Watson – You Know We Belong Together, A Black Swan, Perth Festival and DADAA Co-Production
Best Newcomer presented by MEAA: Mackenzie Dunn – Assassins & Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Black Swan State Theatre Company
Best Supporting Actor (Male): Will O’Mahony – Assassins, Black Swan State Theatre Company
Best Supporting Actor (Female): Morgan Owen – Court My Crotch, The Blue Room Theatre & FUGUE
![](https://legacy.seesawmag.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/109_PERFORMING-ARTS-WA-AWARDS_20190429_Photo-by-Rebecca-Mansell-300x200.jpg)
Best Actor in a Mainstage Production (Male) presented by Artist Management Australia: Kelton Pell – Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Black Swan State Theatre Company
Best Actor in a Mainstage Production (Female) presented by Moore Creative Artists: Amy Mathews – Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Black Swan State Theatre Company
![St John Cowcher](https://legacy.seesawmag.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/104_PERFORMING-ARTS-WA-AWARDS_20190429_Photo-by-Rebecca-Mansell-300x200.jpg)
Best Actor in an Independent Production (Male) presented by Media Super: St John Cowcher – Frankie’s, The Blue Room Theatre and Variegated Productions
Best Actor in an Independent Production (Female) presented by Media Super: Frieda Lee – The Inconsequential Lives of Little Fish, The Blue Room Theatre and Frieda, Sam and Friends
Best Director of a Mainstage Production: Adam Mitchell – Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Black Swan State Theatre Company
![Scott McArdle holding his award](https://legacy.seesawmag.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/146_PERFORMING-ARTS-WA-AWARDS_20190429_Photo-by-Rebecca-Mansell-300x201.jpg)
Best Director of an Independent Production presented by Gage Roads: Scott McArdle – Josephine!, The Blue Room Theatre Summer Nights and Second Chance Theatre
THEATRE & DANCE: PRODUCTION AWARDS
Best Sound Design: Eden Mulholland – In-Lore Act II as part of WA Dance Makers Project, Co3 Australia
Best Lighting Design: Joe Lui – Love/Less, Kynan Hughes & MoveMe Festival
![](https://legacy.seesawmag.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/110_PERFORMING-ARTS-WA-AWARDS_20190429_Photo-by-Rebecca-Mansell-300x200.jpg)
Best Stage Design: Tyler Hill – Hir, Black Swan State Theatre Company
Best Costume Design: Charles Cusick Smith – Dracula, West Australian Ballet
![](https://legacy.seesawmag.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/074_PERFORMING-ARTS-WA-AWARDS_20190429_Photo-by-Rebecca-Mansell-300x201.jpg)
Best Composition or Arranging: Michael Brett – Dracula, West Australian Ballet
To see the list of nominees, head to legacy.seesawmag.com.au/news/2018-performing-arts-wa-awards-nominations
Pictured top are the happy winners with the State Member for Perth, John Carey.
All photos: Rebecca Mansell.
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