PANELS

The panels for the 2026 Sydney Theatre Awards comprise:

MAINSTAGE THEATRE PANEL

Chair - Sue Donnelly (Arts consultant)

David Berthold (Theatre director)

Erica Brennan (Writer, director, creative producer)

Joanne Kee (Artistic Director, Seymour Centre)

Robert Love (Arts consultant)

Joyce Morgan (Critic, Sydney Morning Herald)

Rod Quinn (ABC Radio announcer and critic)

John Shand (Critic, Sydney Morning Herald)

Cassie Tongue (Freelance theatre critic)

Suzy Wrong (Critic, Suzy Goes See)

INDEPENDENT THEATRE PANEL

Chair – Kenneth Moraleda (Actor, director)

Jason Blake (Digital Editor, Limelight)

Justin Clarke (Editor, Theatre Thoughts)

Sarah Odillo Maher (Literary Manager, Ensemble Theatre)

Kate Prendergast (Freelance theatre critic)

Jordan Shea (Playwright, teacher)

Diana Simmonds (Critic, Stagenoise)

Charlotte Smee (Freelance theatre critic)

Jonathan Ware (New Work Development Producer, Sydney Theatre Company)

Samuel Webster (Critic, Sydney Theatre Diary)

MUSICALS PANEL

Chair - Deborah Jones (Critic, The Australian)

Emily David (Freelance producer)

Margi de Ferranti (Actor, teacher)

Peter Eyers (Host, Stages podcast)

Mark Humphries (Comedian and satirist)

Jade Kops (Critic, BroadwayWorld)

Jason Langley (Director, actor)

Jo Litson (Print Editor, Limelight magazine)

Cassie Tongue (Freelance theatre critic)

Suzy Wrong (Critic, Suzy Goes See)

CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S PANEL

Chair - Ian Phipps (Theatre publicist, IP Publicity)

Chris Bendall (Artistic Director, Bondi Pavilion)

Lee Lewis (Director)

Amy Matthews (Producer Arts & Culture, Waverley Council)

Danielle O’Keefe (The House that Dan Built)

Simone Whetton (Arts Commentator, ABC Radio)