2024 Anywhere Awards nominations announced!

The nominees for the 2024 Anywhere Awards for live performances anywhere have been revealed and the stage (literal, not actual) is set for the awards to be announced on 9 November.

Celebrating the creative spirit of performances in nooks, crannies, and unconventional spaces, these awards recognize the people, places, and productions that embody the Anywhere Festival’s bold ethos: performances with clarity of vision, ingenuity, and a passion for breaking traditional molds.

Since its inception, the Anywhere Festival has redefined the boundaries of performance. From rooftops to hidden alleys, living rooms to bustling breweries, the festival has brought theatre, music, cabaret, and circus acts to unexpected locations, making art accessible to all and challenging what a “stage” can be. It’s a festival where ambition meets raw creativity, and the 2024 Anywhere Awards shine a light on those who have pushed these boundaries the furthest.

This year’s nominees are an exciting mix of fresh faces and established talents. From first-time producers to beloved local performers from the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Moreton Bay, and the Sunshine Coast, as well as standout projects from Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney, the lineup reflects the festival’s growing reach and appeal across Australia.

The awards are based on a combination of audience feedback, reviewer insights, industry professionals, and input from the Anywhere Festival team. Audience participation plays a vital role in the process, with every vote, comment, and review considered, ensuring that even the most intimate shows with smaller capacities are celebrated alongside larger productions.

A Celebration of Bold Performances

The Anywhere Festival is proud to spotlight performances that entertain, challenge norms, and offer fresh takes on relevant topics. As past winners have shared, the awards represent more than just recognition: “The Anywhere Awards are a fantastic opportunity,” said The Drawer Productions, winner of the 2022 Anywhere Award. Lightning Bolt Creative, also a 2022 winner, added, “It’s confirmation that people truly appreciate our work as artists.”

And the nominees are…

This year’s awards will culminate in an extraordinary event held at the loading dock of The Paint Factory in Yeronga on Saturday, 9 November, where Awards will be announced across categories including:

The 2024 Anywhere Award for Comedy

1. A Lust of Elves and Magic presented by Improv Queensland at The Raven Cellar Bar, West End
2. The Birds and the Bees presented by The Bee Babette at Hip Hops Brewery, Brendale
3. IKEA Wars presented by Kieren Bullock at the The Paint Factory, Yeronga
4. Love Junkie! Presented by Sarah Walton at The Raven Cellar Bar, West End 

The 2024 Anywhere Award for Cabaret and Music led Theatre

1. That Drag Show! Presented by Abril LaTrene and Scrunch’N’Fold Productions at Arcana, Moorooka
2. Guilty presented by Inscape Assembly at the Bloodhound Bar, Fortitude Valley
3. Cabarats presented by Verum Arts at The Mix Bar, Woolloongabba
4. The Ukulele Man presented by Marcel Cole at The Raven Cellar Bar, West End

The 2024 Anywhere Award for a Location

1. Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium | Mt. Coot-tha
2. The Raven Cellar Bar | West End
3. The Paint Factory | Yeronga
4. Starlight Hall | Yandina
5. The Pole Gym | Brisbane CBD
6. Tannins Brew | Brendale
7. Shirley’s | Yeerongpilly

The 2024 Anywhere Award for Music

1. The Lady Singer’s Record Parlour (Vol. 1) presented by Anje West at The Parlour, Fairfield
2. Brandon Lee Jazz Guitarist presented in multiple locations around Brisbane.
3. Angel Strings at the Planetarium, presented by Angel Strings at the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, Mt Coot-tha
4. Acoustic Guitar Spectacular presented by Red Chair Productions at Arcana, Moorooka

The 2024 Anywhere Award for Theatre

1. A Stretch of The Imagination by Jack Hibberd presented by 3bcreative at Studio1
2. As Told By The Boys Who Fed Me Apples presented by Lachlan Driscoll at Holy Trinity Church, Fortitude Valley
3. No Exit presented by Role Initative Theatre at Method Art Collective
4. Set Me On Fire presented by Silent Sky Collective at Backdock Arts, Fortitude Valley

The 2024 Anywhere Award for Spoken Word and Ideas

1. Chaos Theory presented by Aaron Ducker at Northside Studios, Banyo
2. Brisbane 48 Hour Film Project presented by Whitfield Productions at Angelika Cinemas
3. Stark Raven Mad presented by Catbird Theatre at On The Board Theatre Company, Tingalpa
4. Wild Vacancies Urban Nature Adventure presented by Sally Guildford at The Paint Factory, Yeronga

The 2024 Anywhere Award for Dance and Circus

1. Aerialicious Up Late presented by Aerialicious at The Pole Gym, Brisbane CBD
2. A Journey to Euphoria by Euphoric Flow at Enchanted Enterprises, Windsor
3. SOMNIUM, presented by MOTUS COLLECTIVE at Vulcana Arts Hub, Morningside
4. 2004 Slumber Party presented by Glitter Martini at VENTSpace, South Brisbane

The 2024 Anywhere Award Audience Vote

1. Blow The Men Down presented by Flaming Carnations at The Paint Factory, Yeronga
2. Eat Her Out presented by Georgia Thomas and Aoife Kissane at the Paint Factory, Yeronga
3. Guilty presented by Inscape Assembly at the Bloodhound Bar, Fortitude Valley
4. Set Me On Fire presented by Silent Sky Collective at Backdock Arts, Fortitude Valley

Best of 2024 Anywhere Award

For embracing the Anywhere ethos of using non traditional spaces in a way where they frame and add to show, to creating or making it possible to create ambitious works.

1. The Raven Cellar Bar
2. Bus Stop Observations by Anon. at 42 bus stops around Brisbane.
3. Eat Her Out presented by Georgia Thomas and Aoife Kissane at the Paint Factory, Yeronga
4. Films in the Forest by EnvironmentArts Stories at the Starlight Hall outside Yandina
5. Destructive Nature by Handlight Productions at House Conspiracy, West End

Additionally, awards from the Anywhere Festival in Moreton Bay will be presented, including the Moreton Bay Box Office Award for The Birds and the Bees by The Bee Babette, the People’s Choice Award for Crazy Little Thing Called Love by PRIMA and the Mormon Bay Festival Team Award for NO EXIT presented by Role Initiative Theatre.

With every performance in this unique festival celebrating the thrill of unexpected spaces and innovative artistry, the 2024 Anywhere Awards are set to be a spectacular celebration of Australia’s most creative talent.

Join us on 9 November at The Paint Factory, Yeronga, by RSVPing AT THIS LINK as we honor those who have made the 2024 unforgettable!

Anywhere Festivals is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. Brisbane Anywhere Festival is supported by Brisbane City Council, Moreton Bay Anywhere Festivals is supported by City of Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast Council make it possible for us to run the “Supported by Anywhere Festivals” initiative in the region.