The independent dance production Petrushka, Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA and WA Opera were the most awarded companies in this year’s Performing Arts WA Awards Ceremony, held on Monday 30 October in the Heath Ledger Theatre, Perth.

The annual ceremony celebrates achievement in Western Australian professional live performance in 2022 across the mainstage and independent sectors.

Petrushka (Game, Set, Match), by Scott Elstermann, was the biggest winner for the night, taking home five of the six awards for which it was nominated, including Outstanding New Work, Outstanding Choreography and Best Independent Production.

Petrushka (Game, Set, Match). Photo © Daniel Grant

Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA and WA Opera were the most awarded companies, taking home five awards each. Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA took home gongs for three productions: City of Gold, Barracking for the Umpire and The Glass Menagerie; WA Opera was recognised for La Traviata, Our Little Inventor and Tosca.

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to two recipients this year: Sue Peacock and David King, each honoured for their careers and dedication to teaching at WA Academy of Performing Arts.

WA Opera’s Our Little Inventor received the most nominations, featuring in 12 categories. Other big nominees included Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA’s hit footy family comedy Barracking for the Umpire (which returns in 2024) with eight nominations; Yirra Yaakin’s new musical Panawathi Girl with nine nominations; and Petrushka (Game, Set, Match) with six nominations.