Ann Sudmalis (Gilmore, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Wow! Member for Parramatta, you're amazing. On 16 September, as patron of the Nowra Players, I was invited to see some of the talented young actors of the Shoalhaven at the annual Youth Drama Awards. These talented young women and men delivered a range of performances, including the outstanding Damn You William, performed by Eleanor Petricevic, Hannah Brookes and Phoebe Sherer. It was an entertaining and remarkable five-minute perspective on Shakespeare. These three young women also delivered solo performances demonstrating their talents across different dramatic works. I was very impressed by all the performances, and I also commend the skills, talent and professionalism shown by Lucy Hadfield, Sammi Vella, Aidan Sezenenko, Emma De Costa, Ceradwen Cole, Lulu Clarke, Morgan Dootson and Bonnie Butler. The presentations included Amelia and A Woman Alone, which were great references to the strong roles of women in different social settings, breaking ground where women had not previously excelled. For me it was a perfect way for some of these young actors to start their journey of women making a difference. Congratulations to all involved from the Nowra Players in keeping and growing a strong dramatic arts presence in the Shoalhaven. Our dramatic artists' presence has been maintained for 50 years in the same building, as they proudly say, and they continue to present fantastic productions every year, constantly booked out almost as soon as they announce them.

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