Sydney Theatre Celebrates a Standout Year
When: 20 January 2026
Sydney’s theatre community packed into the York Theatre Jan 20 with the kind of charge that only happens when a whole industry shows up for itself. Across the room: artists, producers, designers, independents, veterans, all there to honour a year that refused to play small.
Grief is the Thing with Feathers dominated the mainstage categories, while Sistren claimed the independent crown with equal force. Kat Stewart, Fraser Morrison, Damien Ryan and Ian Michael were recognised for work that left audiences rattled in the best way. Musicals had their own victory lap with Phar Lap, led by Sheridan Harbridge and Joel Granger.
The night’s emotional centre belonged to Elizabeth Butcher AM, whose Lifetime Achievement Award drew a standing ovation for a legacy that shaped the city’s cultural architecture.
Winners walked away with the first-ever “Syd” trophy, a small, gleaming reminder of a year where Sydney theatre roared.
And now, the lineup in all its glory:
WINNERS OF 2025 SYDNEY THEATRE AWARDS
Grief is the Thing with Feathers (Belvoir and Andrew Henry Presents)
BEST INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION
Sistren (Green Door Theatre Company in association with Griffin Theatre Company)
BEST DIRECTION OF A MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION
Damien Ryan (The Player Kings)
BEST DIRECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION
Ian Michael (Sistren)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION
Kat Stewart (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING ROLE IN AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION
Fraser Morrison (Cruise)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION
Angela Mahlatjie (Primary Trust)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION
Deborah Galanos (Saints of Damour)
BEST STAGE DESIGN OF A MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION
Nick Schlieper and Simon Phillips with Craig Wilkinson and Jon Weber (Grief is the Thing with Feathers)
BEST STAGE DESIGN OF AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION
Hannah Tayler and Paris Bell (Lost & Finding)
BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION
Ella Butler and Hailley Hunt (Orlando)
BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION
Emelia Simcox (Cowbois)
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION
Nick Schlieper (Grief is the Thing with Feathers)
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION
Ryan McDonald (Furious Mattress)
BEST SOUND DESIGN AND COMPOSITION OF A MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION
Freya Schack-Arnott and Daniel Herten (Grief is the Thing with Feathers)
BEST SOUND DESIGN AND COMPOSITION OF AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION
Tom Hogan (Birdsong of Tomorrow)
BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK
Grief is the Thing with Feathers (Simon Phillips, Nick Schlieper & Toby Schmitz)
BEST NEWCOMER
Danny Howard (Jacky / Whitefella Yella Tree)
Iolanthe (Sistren / The Edit)
BEST ENSEMBLE
The Player Kings (Sport for Jove in association with Seymour Centre)
Phar Lap: The Electro-Swing Musical (Hayes Theatre Co)
BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
Sheridan Harbridge (Phar Lap: The Electro-Swing Musical)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Joel Granger (Phar Lap: The Electro-Swing Musical)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Elenoa Rokobaro (Hadestown)
BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION
Guy Simpson (Guys & Dolls)
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY OF A MUSICAL
Kelley Abbey (Guys & Dolls)
BEST DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Dann Barber (Set and Costume Design, Candide)
Wolfgang in the Stars (Circa and Riverside Theatres)
BEST PRODUCTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Converted (ATYP)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Follow Faith in Theatres on Instagram and Facebook and Tiki Tok to stay close to the artists, ideas, and surprises shaping Sydney’s stages – before everyone else catches on.
Because theatre needs Faith.
Photo Credit: Stephen Reinhardt