The hit satirical musical Urinetown, from WA independent producers Western Sky Projects, dominates this year’s nominations for WA’s top stage awards.

Presented at the Liberty Theatre last November, Urinetown has picked up 14 nominations ahead of the Performing Arts WA (PAWA) Awards to be held at the State Theatre Centre on April 20. The awards honour the best work created over the past year in 2025.

Other big nominees include Freeze Frame Opera’s Dead Man Walking (nine), Co3 Dance Australia and the ACO Collective’s dance work In the Shadow of Time (eight) and Sage J Harlow’s/Tone List’s lo-fi experimental opera O,D,E at the Blue Room Theatre (eight). The Blue Room is represented in 46 nominations, confirming its place as the home of independent theatre.

WA Ballet scored 18 nominations across five shows from 2025, Drew Anthony Collective garnered 10 from three shows, and Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA received 11 nominations across four shows.

Presented with the support of DCITS and Arts & Culture Trust, the PAWAs reward excellence across a diverse range of art forms including theatre, dance, musicals, opera and cabaret. They are hosted each year by Artist Relief Fund WA, a charity which supports arts workers experiencing hardship.

“We’re thrilled to host the Performing Arts WA Awards again this year,” Artist Relief Fund WA Chair Nick Maclaine says. “It’s so important to recognise the incredible achievements in professional performing arts in WA, and we’re set for another fantastic ceremony this year.”

A total of 47 productions will vie for awards this year, in addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award and the new Ripple Effect Award in honour of Georgia Malone – a champion of the arts who sadly died in April 2025 after a two-year battle with bowel cancer.

Georgia had an unwavering passion for the arts and a special commitment to supporting leading-edge artists who pushed boundaries and made us see the world differently.

Her remarkable career an arts industry leader, mentor and strategist over nearly 30 years included key roles at Minderoo Foundation, Co3 Australia, Perth Festival, Sydney Dance Company, Ten Days on the Island, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, TEDxPerth and her own arts sector consultancy.

The Ripple Effect Award will celebrate an individual whose passion and love for arts and culture leads them to contribute above and beyond in the spirit of Georgia herself. The winner will be encouraged to use their prize to continue the ripple effect and reinvest in the sector in a meaningful way.

The idea for the award came from Georgia Malone’s husband John Carter, who was inspired by an entry in her diary talking about her legacy and wanting to have had a ‘ripple effect’ on the world.

Georgia had a deep impact on the sector over thirty years, and countless artists and leaders will attest that they would not be where they are today without her honesty, wisdom and support.

The Artist Relief Fund is running a fundraising campaign through Australian Cultural Fund to support the ongoing giving of the Ripple Effect Award.

The 2026 Performing Arts WA Awards will be held at the Heath Ledger Theatre on April 20 April. See the full list of nominees and book tickets: https://www.performingartswaawards.com/