2026 Theatre in Paradise

Last week I attended the three nights at the Ferny Lane Theatre enjoying 7 productions competing in this years 28th Norfolk Island Theatre in Paradise Festival.

Tuesday evening started with the local NATS production a play written and Directed by Dinty Wilson, “It’s True”. This was a wonderful play with local Norfolk Island children off on an adventure to the beach, they I don’t think they were supposed to drive the old truck down to Emily Bay. I loved the turtle and the brave turtle rescue.

The next play was “ A Rich American” by Scott Hunt, presented by Square Pags Australia. Directed by Meredith McQueen who was also an actor along with Ian McQueen, the two actors on stage. The Sound Technician was Tim McQueen. I loved the accents and the twist at the end was great. Wonderful play and they received awards including Best Female Actor presented to Meredith McQueen, (Amanda), Overall Performance, Ian McQueen and awarded the Runner-up Production.

The final play on Tuesday evening was “Job Hunting, presented by The Soft Prop Collective, Australia. I never thought that job hunting would include being a hitman. This was very entertaining with lots of twist and turns. Directed and written by Ewan Paterson and assistant director Aerlyn O’Brien, this had seven characters, all coming and going at this apartment, unaware of what was going on.

Wednesday night was the second night at the theatre with Parachute presented by the Mousetrap Theatre from Australia. Written by Paul Hannah, Directed by Trevor Howden and two actors on a roof top of a tall city building. This moving play was starting a conversation about a crisis and contemplating suicide and the conversation to convince her to reconsider. A powerful play with a sensitive subject.

The final play on Wednesday evening was “Golf, Marriage and Other Murderous Matters” by The Soft Prop Collective from Australia. Written by Debra Chalmers, Director Aerlyn O’Brien, Assistant Director Marion Jones, and a cast of six actors. This was the second production by the visiting The Soft Prop Collective. What a great play with lots of twist and comings and goings in this apartment, the home of John and Jenny, who’s where not communicating well and Jenny was exhausted. This play was great entertainment.

Thursday evening, I returned to another packed house at the Ferny Lane Theatre and watch “Shakespeare’s Sheilas” presented by Front Row Theatre, from Australia with Julie Bray returning to Norfolk Island for her 28th festival. This play was by Julie Bray and Dale Murison, Directed by Dale Murison and cast of five actors including Julie Bray. They were awarded with BEST Production, BEST Director, BEST Male Actor Jeremy Wellwood as Iva, Adjudicator’s award, Making Bad Acting look good Rebecca McMahon. The stage was very busy with lots going on but very entertaining adaption from Shakespeare’s Girlie Bits by Leah Pellinkoff.

The Final production for the Festival was presented by NATS, Norfolk Island, “Husband Murderers Support Group, by Hugh O’Brien. Directed by Rose Evans and actors Katerine Lance, Kathryn Heard and Megan Evans. This was another dark humour plays with a few twist. This support group to stop the ladies from wanting to murder their husbands or was it just a cover or other secrets and scheming plans. Great to see locals on stage entertaining the audience and competing in the Theatre Festival.

Thank you, Susan Cridland, from Queensland, the Adjudicator for the Theatre Festival. She also took workshops during the week, working with the actors, directors and local Norfolk Islanders who attended the workshops.

After each play, the Adjudicator, Susan Cridland, spoke to the actors and audience about the play and her thoughts about the presentations and their acting, them they went to the “green room” to talk more about her review of their evening’s production.

Thank you, Rebekah Gupte who was the MC during the Theatre Festival. Plus, a big thank you to everyone on stage, behind the scenes, the lighting and sound, the organisers stage managers and crew. Big thank you to Peter Hughson for the photography, which is never an easy job in the dark.

Thank you to the sponsors and local supporters and everyone who bought tickets supporting NATS and the annual Theatre in Paradise.

Thank you everyone for the amazing week at the Ferny Lane Theatre.

During the week I was lucky to have a front row seat, and I was able to take a few photographs on my mobile phone. Here are a few photos from the three nights.

Betty Matthews

17 July 2026

The following is the published list of winners from the 2026 Theatre Festival.

NATS - Norfolk Amateur Theatrical Society

https://www.facebook.com/NATS.NI

7, 8, 9 July 2026

And the winners of the 2026 Theatre Festival are...

At the presentation dinner last night, the Adjudicator Susan Cridland presented the following awards.

BEST PRODUCTION – ‘Shakespeare's Sheilas’ by Front Row Theatre

RUNNER UP TO BEST PRODUCTION – ‘A Rich American’ by Square Pegs

BEST DIRECTOR – Dale Murison for ‘Shakespeare's Sheilas’ (Front Row Theatre)

BEST MALE ACTOR – Jeremy Wellwood as Iva in ‘Shakespeare's Sheilas’ (Front Row Theatre)

BEST FEMALE ACTOR – Meredith McQueen as Amanda in ‘A Rich American’ (Square Pegs)

RUNNER UP TO BEST MALE ACTOR – Grant Caldwell as Charlie in ‘Parachute’ (Mousetrap Theatre)

RUNNER UP TO BEST FEMALE ACTOR – Claire Marchesi as Jenny in ‘Golf, Marriage, and Other Murderous Matters’ (Soft Prop Collective)

BEST ORIGINAL SCRIPT – ‘Job Hunting’ by Ewan Paterson (Soft Prop Collective)

IAN ANDERSON AWARD FOR PURE ENJOYMENT – Dinty Wilson and company for the puppetry of the turtle and "driving" the car across the stage (NATS)

ED BONE AWARD FOR COMEDIC PERFORMANCE – Kathryn Heard as Patti in Husband Murderers Support Group (NATS)

ADJUDICATOR'S AWARD - Best newcomer to theatre - Alexander Wilson as Peter in 'It's True' (NATS)

ADJUDICATOR'S AWARD - Overall Performance - Ian McQueen in 'A Rich American' (Square Pegs)

ADJUDICATOR'S AWARD - Audience Impact - Parachute (Mousetrap Theatre)

ADJUDICATOR'S AWARD - Audience Impact - Husband Murderers Support Group (NATS)

ADJUDICATOR'S AWARD - Making bad acting look good - Rebecca McMahon in 'Shakespeare's Sheilas' (Front Row Theatre)

Congratulations to all involved. The 28th Theatre Festival was a huge success with huge crowd support, excellent performances, and a warm and friendly atmosphere