How many judges will see our show?

Three independent judges will see each show, and where possible they try to each see a different performance, be it a matinee or a night show. Judges also try to avoid opening night performances so that the production has time to develop, and any issues can be ironed out.

Can I tell the cast that there is a judge in the audience?

We prefer that the cast do not know when judges are attending the performances, for obvious reasons. Please do not place 'Reserved for Judges' signs on seats.

How much does it cost to enter?

The awards cost $35 per show entry to be judged. As our judges are mostly located on the central Gold Coast, if your company performs outside of a 100km round trip from Southport then a $100 fuel subsidy cost is also added per show if applicable.

How can I get involved?

Judges are selected and approached to join the committee by the Convenr. However sponsorship is available for individual awards that are presented on the awards evening. Additionally word of mouth and following our efforts are also great ways of getting involved.

How are decisions made about Nominations, Finalists and Winners?

The judges complete an online nomination form after each show that they see. This form contains all 32 categories and is where the judges fill in the names of the nominees and assigning a score out of 5. Each judges score is stored and at the end of the season automatically populated to give each nomination a total possible score out of 15. From here the scores are run through a data system that gives out the top four nominations from each category based on scoring to create our finalists for each category and the nominee with the highest score point is deemed to be the winner. In the case where a tie is evident then on occasion a dual award may be given.

What is the best way to support?

Support for the Gold Palm Theatre Awards ultimately stems from the support of community theatre itself. The best way to show support is to go out and see shows, all kinds of shows! See plays, musicals, youth theatre and school productions, there is so much talent and incredible work being done in these community run venues all around the state and beyond, so get in the car and go and see shows, your support is what makes the show go on.

The Fine Print

Welcome to Gold Palm Theatre Awards!

Scope of the Awards

The Gold Palm Theatre Awards recognise excellence in community theatre across South East Queensland, The Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales. Fully professional productions are not eligible; only community‑based productions will be considered. A community production is defined as one that draws primarily on its local community for performers, creative teams, and technical personnel. Productions may be amateur or pro–am, meaning they may include some paid personnel and still remain eligible.

Individuals engaged on a fully professional basis (such as directors, musical directors, designers, or cast members) may not be eligible for individual awards. For the purposes of the Gold Palm Theatre Awards, a professional is considered to be someone paid at or near Equity rates and/or someone who earns the majority of their income as a theatre professional—whether as a performer, director, designer, or technician.

Performers may receive payment and still be eligible, provided they are not engaged under the definition of a professional above.

Producing companies are responsible for advising the Awards committee of any personnel who should be excluded from consideration due to professional engagement.

Focus of the Awards

The Awards recognise achievement rather than critique. Judges compare productions and performances with a focus on notable accomplishments. Under the current scoring system, only elements that may be appropriate for nomination or awards are formally assessed. While all categories are considered for each production, not every aspect requires a score.

Youth Categories

Several categories are divided into youth and open divisions (for example, Best Performance, Best Production, Best Director). Youth categories are intended for school productions and youth theatre companies only.

“Youth” is defined as ending at the completion of high school. University theatre groups are therefore assessed in open categories.

Eligibility of Youth Productions in Open Categories

School and youth productions may also be nominated in open categories where no youth equivalent exists (for example, Set Design or Lighting Design).

Young people are eligible for youth awards if they are of primary or secondary school age.

This information has been compiled to give further information on all aspects of the Awards to participating groups, schools & colleges. The Gold Palm Theatre Awards are growing and evolving each year, and the information set out below reflects the judges’ desire to assist participating groups/schools in all aspects of Awards procedure. Please feel free to pass this website and information on to anyone in your theatre group who has a query on any aspect of the Awards.

All companies will need to fill out and complete a

• Registration Form for the year they are entering the awards.

• Company Show Sheet showing each shows’ dates, times and venues (not just a season beginning and end date)

• Confirm payment of your registration for 2026 and inform Convenor of the date paid or send us a screen shot of the payment details. Judges will not be allocated to shows until all of the previous documentation and information has been submitted.

N.B. Notification of show dates etc. must be given to the Awards Convenor at least 30 days before the opening performance.

When judges have been allocated dates to attend your show(s), you will be sent an email (copied to each judge who will be attending) stating the date/time of the performance to be judged.

At each of the performances that a judge is attending you need to provide:

• A program for each judge attending, with any changes to cast names etc. clearly indicated on it (i.e. last minute changes to cast members.) If you are using a digital program, please note that all judges need to be given a printed copy BEFORE the show starts so they know which actor is taking which role. A simple black and white program stapled together is sufficient

• Two tickets for each judge (unless you are informed that one only is necessary) - available at the box office for collection at the designated performance.

• Any change to shows / dates etc. should be communicated to the Convenor as soon as possible to allow re-arrangement of judges’ attending schedules. If any show is cancelled, please ensure that we are told immediately so judges do not turn up at your theatre to find no show is on!

Judges will not discuss any aspect of the performance with any member of the presenting group after the show.

Separate Streams of Award

Please see the definitions of the two Streams of the Awards at the top of the List of Categories for the awards.

Productions with a number of school age children in the cast (i.e. under 18 years) or those with a target audience of children (i.e. pantomimes, children’s school holiday shows etc.) will be required to state ON THEIR REGISTRATION FOR which “Stream” they wish to enter – the Youth Program Awards or the Community Theatre Awards. If you nominate to be considered in this category you will be judged against other school/youth productions and not community groups.(Please note that Junior productions must be 90minutes or longer to be attended by Judges)

Attendance of Judges at Performances

Judges will be allocated to your show dates as soon as possible. The sooner we receive your list of shows the better. PLEASE NOTE THAT A MINIMUM OF 30 DAYS IS REQUIRED TO ALLOCATE JUDGES.

Presentation Night – Stage Presentation

When Finalists are announced, groups will be asked to provide black and white or coloured still photographs of the Nominees. Please let us have these as soon as you can, to include in the PPT for events. If we do not get reasonable pics of Finalists we may have to use program photos which are often not as good.

If a digital copy of the front page of the nominated show’s program is available, it would also be gratefully received for the best quality presentation.

Presentation Night – Entertainment Matters

During the year, groups/schools will be given notice that an item is being considered for inclusion in the entertainment for the Presentation Night – final choices will be made by early November to allow casts time to rehearse. Backing tracks to be used on the night will need to be emailed or sent to the Convenor at least a week before for checking on the venue’s equipment.

A brief rehearsal/sound check is available for each entertainment item during the afternoon of the Presentation Night date. As many groups will be travelling from outside the Gold Coast, the latest time slots will be reserved for them. It is vital that when your time slot is given you are able to be at the venue Please bear this in mind when accepting a performance invitation.

Being asked to perform on the night does not necessarily mean the song or the show is a Finalist. We try to showcase musical items from a wide variety of companies to show the work they are doing.

Entertainers who do not have a ticket for the evening will have to leave as soon as their item is over and will not be permitted to remain inside the venue or attend the event without a valid ticket.

Ineligibility for Awards

No actor receiving a professional fee for a role may be nominated for a Gold Palm Theatre Award. In a case where a Director or Musical Director receives expenses to cover petrol etc. they may be deemed eligible providing they do not make a living from directing or music-directing shows.

It is understood however, that from time to time, professional performers take roles in community productions. If a role is played by a performer in this situation, where that person is performing as an amateur/community theatre participant, and not receiving payment, the nomination may be given.

No category of wardrobe or set or any other item which is professionally sourced (or hired) will be eligible for nomination.

Fully professional productions are excluded from judging – only community productions will be included. To be clearer, a professional is regarded as one who is being paid at or near Equity rates or one who makes a living mainly as a theatre professional, including performer, director, designer or technician.

We realise thatt in many cases musicians need to be paid an honorarium, which is acceptable.

We depend on participants to advise us of anyone who should not be included.

Other matters such as profit share, are noted in the Definitions sheet attached.

No judge may accept a nomination for an Award of any kind.

In the case where a production in which a judge has some interest or involvement is nominated (i.e. if the judge – serves on the Committee of a company being nominated), the judge will recuse him/herself from discussions on that nomination at any Judges’ meeting.

Timings for Judging Attending

Judges may attend opening night performances – to cover the number of shows to be judged, and because we feel strongly that THE SHOW SHOULD BE READY BY OPENING. Judges may attend a production together, or on separate occasions. Any nomination MUST be agreed to by ALL THREE judges.

The Convenor must receive notification of any extra shows to be included in the year’s judging at least 30 days before opening night. This is necessary given the number of shows covered by judges. Junior Theatre productions of less than 90 minutes will not be eligible for judging.

Judging Matters

Nominations for Awards are based on a points system. In the case of the Magic Moment of Theatre Award, an explanation of WHY the Award is given will be provided by the Emcee or Presenter at the time of presentation of the Award. In the case of a production having two casts (swings/alternate performers), only one cast will be judged. Judges will not attend a production twice to see each cast. (It may be prudent to let us know when performers OTHER THAN the main cast are on, so that those performances can be avoided.)

Nominations for OUTSTANDING PRODUCTIONS will not have a designated nominee – the company or school producing the show should decide who will receive the award.

All categories will not necessarily be awarded each year. Where no (or insufficient) nominations in a category are received, the award will not be given.

Gold Palm Theatre Awards Judges’ decisions are final, and no communication will be entered into as a result of any Award being given out. However, any group or school may request Feedback from attending judges, through the Convenor. This will be given via one email only, to the Director of the production, not individual actors.

Newsletter

The 3 times a year Awards Newsletter, the CULTURE VULTURE, will begin again in early February and be available online on the Palm Awards & website and forwarded to all participating groups/schools’ Contacts. (Also out in June and October – feel free to contribute!) Upcoming participants’ shows, news and gossip of local, national and international events will be welcomed! Tell others what shows you are doing – offer set and prop pieces and wardrobe for hire to others!

Participating Groups & Contact People

It is extremely important that we have correct information on the people we will use as “Contacts” with your organisation. Please be specific about phone numbers, participating group address, venue where the show will be staged etc. If the contact changes during the year (i.e. at your AGM), would you kindly let us know as soon as possible. We use emails to communicate and need to know that important information on judges & attendance dates, nominations etc. are going to the right person.

Nominations - Nominees etc. Communication

It is the participating School/groups responsibility to pass on any information concerning finalists or nominees to the people nominated. We suggest that all information concerning the Presentation Night be emailed in its entirety to all Finalists so that all relevant details are received by each Finalist.

2026 DEFINITIONS

In order to make things clearer for participants of the Awards, we have set out below an exploration of the various issues contained therein.

PRO-AM - This sort of performance is often defined as containing a cast of both professional and amateur actors.

PROFIT SHARE - The company pays the bills out of the ticket sales income, then shares the remainder with the cast (and sometimes crew). It is not eligible for entry into the Awards. No nominee can receive a professional payment, or be part of a profit-share arrangement.

PRESENTATION NIGHT - The annual prize-giving evening for the awards.

CONVENOR - The person who is in overall charge of the policies, operation and business plan of the Awards.

RECUSE - The act of removing oneself from the discussion of a production, particularly when one has had something to do with it.

FEEDBACK - Notes from attending judges, must be requested by the show’s Director.

Laughter is much more important than applause. Applause is almost a duty. Laughter is a reward.

Carol Channing