The Newcastle theatre community celebrated the 43rd annual CONDA Awards on December 11, recognising the previous year’s most outstanding theatre achievements.
City of Newcastle Drama Association is behind one of Newcastle’s most prestigious theatre industry awards, the CONDAs.
The CONDAs encourage excellence in theatre-making through a range of annual award categories, and are determined by the CONDA judging panel made up of theatrical artists and professionals.
Awards are presented for outstanding individuals or collective efforts in up to 25 categories, and the judging panel select winners from as many as ten nominees in each category.
Winner of Excellence by a Performer in a Lead Role was Rob Dilley in the production Things I Know to be True.
Dilley has been a full-time Newcastle Solicitor for nine years, but before that, was a professional actor.
He said this was the first award he had ever received in his 36 years of acting.
“It is so surprising and incredibly humbling to have been the winner of this award,” Dilley said.
“I have probably done more than 1000 hours and over 60 shows in my acting career and have never even been nominated.
“Over the years, I have received standing ovations and been lucky enough to work with amazing performers, but to receive this award and be recognised for my work is incredibly gratifying.”
Dilley said it was a great feeling to have the approval of the audience and his fellow peers.
Things I Know to be True was presented by The Very Popular Theatre Company and was held in July this year at the Civic Theatre.
Along with Dilley’s award, the production received a handful of CONDAs including, Excellence in Sound Design, Excellence by a Performer in a Supporting Role (Rachel Jackett), Excellence by a Choreographer and Best Dramatic Production.
Directed by Daniel Stoddart and written by Andrew Bovell, the play follows the Price family and the ups and downs of family revelations, truth-telling, and each family member’s complicated lives.
“The part I played was the father, Bob Price, it tells the story of his family and what happens to the course of them over a year,” Dilley said.
“The play absolutely slays the audience and sucks them right in. We had such a great cast, and we just got so lucky with the chemistry and the mesh of personalities.
“Everyone was terrific and Jan Hunt, who plays the mother, Fran Price, is an excellent actor. We were able to put Bob and Fran together really quickly.”
He said playing the character of Bob Price was a challenge, and was by far the most emotional play he had ever been a part of.
“Bob has this tremendous past and a huge emotional breakdown by the end of the show. It took a lot of energy channelling his character,” Dilley said.
“It’s a pretty surreal job, having to step into the shoes and psychology of another person.
“You become this lightning rod for the audience by conveying and amplifying those emotions. But I love live performance, and I love the way it makes me feel.”
Dilley said over the past 15 years, he had only done a handful of shows, and his last one, prior to this, was in 2018.
He did his first professional show in 1984 and continued full time until 1996. After that, Dilley took on casual acting jobs until 2008, when he started his law degree.
Before becoming a lawyer, Dilley was an events manager, arts coordinator, and venue manager working in multicultural arts organisations.
“I would love to perform more, but it’s just time management for me,” he said.
“I’m a full-time lawyer, which is a pretty intense and time-consuming job. I am also mindful of my partner, who, if I do take on a show, doesn’t get to see me at all.
“I definitely want to do a show again with The Very Popular Theatre Company, but I suppose it’s just waiting for the right one to come along.”
Hayley McMahon