REVEALED - winners of the Waterford News & Star Green Room Awards 2026!

We are delighted to reveal the winners of the Waterford News & Star Green Room Awards 2026, celebrating Waterford arts, theatre and culture. 

These people represent the huge range of talent in Waterford across all genres of the arts. 

Thanks to Pat McEvoy, Arts Correspondent for the Waterford News & Star, whose body of work throughout the year makes it possible to compile the shortlist and select the Green Room Award winners.

Thanks also to our Lifetime Achievement Award judging panel, which includes Michael Grant, Mary Frances Ryan, Editor Waterford News & Star, Pat McEvoy, Des O'Keeffe and Sarah Jane Cleary.

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!

Green Room Awards 2026… 

PROFESSIONAL THEATRE 

Best Stage Management 

WINNER: Garter Lane - Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Nominees

• Premier Hall, Portlaw: Jack and the Beanstalk
• Dunhill Community Centre: Many Young Men of Twenty 
• Garter Lane: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie 
• Garter Lane: Newsies (Soul Dance Arts) 
• Brewery Lane Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir: The Loves of Cass McGuire

Best Sound and Lighting 

WINNER: Garter Lane - The Last Pearl

Nominees

• Theatre Royal: All Shook Up
• Garter Lane: Dances Like a Bomb
• Garter Lane: Word Against the Word
• Dick Meany Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir: The Addams Family

Best Set

WINNER: Garter Lane - A Streetcar Named Desire

Nominees

• Theatre Royal: Heaven
• Dick Meany Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir: The Addams Family
• Garter Lane: Big Maggie
• Garter Lane: Seussical the Musical
• Garter Lane: A Streetcar named Desire

Best Ballet or Dance Performance

WINNER: Garter Lane - Rachel Ní Bhraonáin’s MOSH

Nominees

• Tower Hotel: Dungarvan & Waterford School of Ballet
• Garter Lane : Rachel Ní Bhraonáin’s MOSH
• Garter Lane: Dances like a Bomb
• Garter Lane: Dance Scratch Night

Best Male Performance in a Professional Play

WINNER: Keith Dunphy - Word against the Word, Garter Lane

Nominees

• Andrew Bennett: Heaven, Theatre Royal
• Phelim Drew: Remembering Ronnie, Theatre Royal
• Michael Harding: Theatre Royal
• Patrick Ryan: Jilly Morgan’s Birthday Party, Theatre Royal
• Keith Dunphy: Word against the Word, Garter Lane

Best Female Performance in a Professional Play

WINNER: Imelda May - Mother of all the Behans, Theatre Royal

Nominees

• Janet Moran: Heaven, Theatre Royal
• Imelda May: Mother of all the Behans, Theatre Royal
• Georgina Miller: Jilly Morgan’s Birthday Party, Theatre Royal
• Norma Sheehan: It’s Wine O’Clock Theatre Royal

Best Professional Play

WINNER: Word against the Word, Garter Lane

Nominees

• Heaven: Theatre Royal

• Remembering Ronnie: Theatre Royal
• Mother of all the Behans: Theatre Royal
• Word against the Word: Garter Lane

View Pat McEvoy's Professional Theatre results reveal - and what made the winners stand out

ART, CULTURE AND HERITAGE

Best Exhibition

WINNER: SEA Art Group Christmas Exhibition; Protestant Hall, Tramore

Best Historical Talks

WINNER: The Broderick Talks at the Waterford Museum of Treasures

Best Radio Series

WINNER: Showtime on WLR FM with Wayne Brown

AMATEUR DRAMA

Best New Play

WINNER: Niamh Fennessy (Glue, Theatre Royal)

Nominees

• The Dark Room (Theatre Vamps Garter Lane 2)
• Hannah Carbery (Grasp, GOMA Garden)
• Declan Terry (The Ribbon Road, Halla Colmáin, An tSean-Phobail)
• Niamh Fennessy (Glue, Theatre Royal)
• Martina Collender (Still, We Sing; Near FM)

Best Supporting Actor in an Amateur Drama

WINNER: Tom Rogers (The Thrill of Love, Curtain Call Productions, Dungarvan Town Hall)

Nominees

• Tom Rogers (The Thrill of Love, Curtain Call Productions, Dungarvan Town Hall)
• Jonathan Whelan (Many Young Men of Twenty, Dunhill Players)
• Patrick Hennigan (Hue and Cry, Upstairs @ Phil Grimes Pub, Turnaround Theatre)
• Shane Flynn (Bouncers, Quay Players Musical and Dramatic Society)
• Johnny Irish (Juno and the Paycock, Brewery Lane Theatre)

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama

WINNER: Eibhlín Power (Juno and the Paycock, Brewery Lane Theatre)

Nominees

• Claire O’Halloran (The Thrill of Love, Curtain Call Productions, Dungarvan Town Hall)
  

• Ciara Burns (Many Young Men of Twenty, Dunhill Players)
• Chloe Dalton-O’Neill (Big Maggie, Waterford Dramatic Society 90th Production)
• Clodagh Kenny (A Streetcar Named Desire, Stagemad)
• Eibhlín Power (Juno and the Paycock, Brewery Lane Theatre)

Best Male Performance in an Amateur Drama

WINNER: Derek Flynn (The Dark Room, Theatre Vamps)

Nominees

• Derek Flynn (The Dark Room, Theatre Vamps)
  

• David Marchant (Dress You Up, Theatre Royal)
• John Flynn (Macbeth, Dungarvan Dramatic Club, Dungarvan Town Hall)
• Barry Roe (A Streetcar Named Desire, Stagemad)
• Declan Terry (The Ribbon Road; Aisteoirí An tSean-Phobail)

Best Female Performance in an Amateur Drama

WINNER: Lauren Cardiff (A Streetcar Named Desire, Stagemad)

Nominees

• Nicola Spendlove (The Dark Room, Theatre Vamps)
  

• Denise Quinn (Big Maggie, Waterford Dramatic Society 90th Production)
• Niamh Fennessy (Glue, Theatre Royal)
• Lauren Cardiff (A Streetcar Named Desire, Stagemad)
• Emma Walsh (Macbeth, Dungarvan Dramatic Club, Town Hall)

Best Director in an Amateur Drama

WINNER: Frieda Ryan (Big Maggie, Waterford Dramatic Society 90th Production)

Nominees

• Fidelma Meaney (The Thrill of Love, Curtain Call Productions, Dungarvan Town Hall)
  

• Frieda Ryan (Big Maggie, Waterford Dramatic Society 90th Production)
• Suzanne Shine (Brewery Lane Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir: The Loves of Cass McGuire)
• Veronica Coburn (Stories Sketched in Glass, Waterford Youth Arts, Garter Lane
• James Power (A Streetcar Named Desire, Stagemad)
• Derek Flynn (The Dark Room, Theatre Vamps)

Best Amateur Drama

WINNER: Big Maggie, Waterford Dramatic Society 90th Production

Nominees

• The Thrill of Love (Curtain Call Productions)
  

• Big Maggie (Waterford Dramatic Society 90th Production)
• The Loves of Cass McGuire (Brewery Lane Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir)
• A Streetcar Named Desire (Stagemad)
• Glue (Theatre Royal)

View Pat McEvoy's Amateur Theatre results reveal - and what made the winners stand out

MUSIC & MUSICALS

Best Youth Show

WINNER: Stories Sketched in Glass (Waterford Youth Arts 40th anniversary, Garter Lane)

Nominees

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (David Hennessy Stage School, Garter Lane)
  

• Six the Musical (Theatre Box, Garter Lane)
• Little Shop of Horrors (De La Salle College, DLS College Hall)
• SETU College Junior Strings Orchestras (SETU College Hill Campus) 
• Newsies (Soul Dance Arts, Garter Lane)
• Stories Sketched in Glass (Waterford Youth Arts, Garter Lane)
• Les Misérables (De La Salle College, DLS College Hall)

Best Youth Performance

WINNER: Mary Duggan as Audrey (Little Shop of Horrors, De La Salle College, DLS College Hall)

Nominees

• Alex Brophy as Candyman (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, David Hennessy Stage School, Garter Lane)
  

• Mary Duggan as Audrey (Little Shop of Horrors, De La Salle College, DLS College Hall)
• Brónagh Steenson as Katherine Plumber (Newsies, Soul Dance Arts, Garter Lane)
• Sadhbh Ní Chéilleachair (Saba’s Swim, Waterford Youth Arts, Garter Lane)
• Max Philpott as Javert (De La Salle College, DLS College Hall)

Best Costumes, Hair and Makeup

WINNER: Cinderella (Waterford Panto Society’s 40th Anniversary Panto, Theatre Royal)

Nominees

• Six the Musical (Garter Lane)
  

• The Addams Family (Dick Meany Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir)
• Garter Lane: Big Maggie (Waterford Dramatic Society 90th Production)
• All Shook Up (Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal)
• The Addams Family Musical (Tramore Community Theatre Group, Theatre Royal)
• Cinderella (Waterford Panto Society’s 40th Anniversary Panto, Theatre Royal)
• Jack and the Beanstalk (SETU Arena)

Best Concert

WINNER: Omega Three Orchestra (Garter Lane)

Nominees

• South East Technological University Concert (St Patrick’s Gateway)
  

• Waterford Chamber Music Festival (Mount Congreve)
• Omega Three Orchestra (Garter Lane)
• The Hibernian Orchestra (Symphony Club of Waterford, Christ Church)
• Notable Works (Brahms Requiem, St John’s Chapel)

Best Choir

WINNER: Notable Works (Brahms Requiem, St John’s Church)

Nominees

• De La Salle School Choir
  

• Madrigallery
• Notable Works
• Intonations
• SETU Music School Youth Choir

Best Male Comic Performance

WINNER: Richie Hayes (Jack and the Beanstalk, The SETU Arena Panto)

Nominees

• Freddie Kelly (Jack and the Beanstalk, Portlaw Pantomime Society, Premier Hall, Portlaw)
  

• Timmy Maloney (All Shook Up, Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal)
• Ray Collins (The Addams Family Musical, Theatre Royal)
• Brian Tuohy (Waterford Panto Society’s 40th Anniversary Panto Cinderella, Theatre Royal)
• Richie Hayes (Jack and the Beanstalk, The SETU Arena Panto)

Best Female Comic Performance

WINNER: Brenda Giles (Waterford Panto Society’s 40th Anniversary Panto, Cinderella, Theatre Royal)

Nominees

• Derbhla Walsh (Portlaw Musical Society, Jack and the Beanstalk, Premier Hall, Portlaw)
  

• Liadhain O’Shea (The Addams Family, Dick Meany Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir)
• Anne-Marie Collins (All Shook Up, Theatre Royal)
• Martina Flynn (Theatre Royal, The Addams Family Musical)
• Brenda Giles (Waterford Panto Society’s 40th Anniversary Panto, Cinderella, Theatre Royal)

Best Supporting Male Performance in a Musical

WINNER: Tobie Hickey (Tramore Community Theatre Group, The Addams Family Musical, Theatre Royal)

Nominees

• Cormac O’Donovan (The Addams Family, Dick Meany Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir)
  

• Conor Lyons (Quay Players Musical and Dramatic Society, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Garter Lane)
• Fionnan ‘Fatz’ Dunphy (All Shook Up, Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal)
• Tobie Hickey (Tramore Community Theatre Group, The Addams Family Musical, Theatre Royal)
• Adam O’Neill (Waterford Panto Society’s 40th Anniversary Panto, Cinderella, Theatre Royal)

Best Supporting Female Performance in a Musical

WINNER: Aoife O’Connor (Quay Players Musical and Dramatic Society, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Garter Lane)

Nominees

• Jordan Freeman (The Addams Family, Dick Meany Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir)
  

• Aoife O’Connor (Quay Players Musical and Dramatic Society, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Garter Lane)
• Molly May Powell (Tramore Community Theatre Group, The Addams Family Musical, Theatre Royal)
• Jane Kennedy (Waterford Panto Society’s 40th Anniversary Panto, Cinderella, Theatre Royal)
• Holly Ryan (Jack and the Beanstalk, The SETU Arena Panto)

Best Male Performance in a Musical

WINNER: Kieran Walsh (Tramore Community Theatre Group, The Addams Family Musical, Theatre Royal)

Nominees

• Andrew O’Grady (Quay Players Musical and Dramatic Society, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Garter Lane)
  

• Eoin Sheedy (The Addams Family, Dick Meany Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir)
• Jordan Bass (All Shook Up, Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal)
• Kieran Walsh (Tramore Community Theatre Group, The Addams Family Musical, Theatre Royal)
• Evan O’Hanlon (Jack and the Beanstalk, The SETU Arena Panto)

Best Female Performance in a Musical

WINNER: Sandra Power (The Addams Family, Dick Meany Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir)

Nominees

• Sandra Power (The Addams Family, Dick Meany Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir)
  

• Greta Rochford (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Garter Lane)
• Jenna Dunphy (All Shook Up, Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal)
• Tara Whelan (Tramore Community Theatre Group, The Addams Family Musical, Theatre Royal)
• Aoife O’Connor (Waterford Panto Society’s 40th Anniversary Panto, Cinderella, Theatre Royal)
• Alex Kavanagh (Jack and the Beanstalk, The SETU Arena Panto)

Best Choreographer

WINNER: Ali Reville (Waterford Panto Society’s 40th Anniversary Panto, Cinderella, Theatre Royal)

Nominees

• Michelle Condon (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Garter Lane)
  

• Ali Reville (Waterford Panto Society’s 40th Anniversary Panto, Cinderella, Theatre Royal)
• Keith Dwyer-Greene (The Addams Family, Dick Meany Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir)
• Jack Cunningham (All Shook Up, Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal)
• Ali Reville (Tramore Community Theatre Group, The Addams Family Musical, Theatre Royal) 

Best Musical Director 

WINNER: Kevin O’Carroll (Brahms Requiem, Notable Works, St. John’s Chapel)

Nominees

• Fergal Carroll (The Addams Family, Dick Meany Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir)
  

• Jimmy Brockie (Quay Players Musical and Dramatic Society, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Garter Lane)
• Andrew Lane (All Shook Up, Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal)
• Kevin O’Carroll (Brahms Requiem, Notable Works, St. John’s Chapel)
• Wayne Brown (Waterford Panto Society’s 40th Anniversary Panto, Cinderella, Theatre Royal)

Best Director in a Musical

WINNER: Andrew Holden (The Addams Family, Dick Meany Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir)

Nominees

• Andrew Holden (The Addams Family, Dick Meany Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir)
  

• David Hennessy (Quay Players Musical and Dramatic Society, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Garter Lane)
• Jack Cunningham (All Shook Up, Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal)
• Tony Corcoran (Waterford Panto Society’s 40th Anniversary Panto, Cinderella, Theatre Royal)
• Richie Hayes (Jack and the Beanstalk, The SETU Arena Panto)

Best Musical

WINNER: The Addams Family Musical (Carrick-On-Suir Musical Society, Dick Meany Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir)

Nominees

• The Addams Family Musical (Carrick-On-Suir Musical Society, Dick Meany Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir)
  

• Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Quay Players Musical and Dramatic Society, Garter Lane)
• All Shook Up (Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal)
• Cinderella (Waterford Panto Society Anniversary 40th Anniversary Panto, Theatre Royal)
• Jack and the Beanstalk (Richie Hayes, The SETU Arena Panto)

View Pat McEvoy's Music and Musicals results reveal - and what made the winners stand out

Outstanding Arts and Cultural Event of the Year: Keith Dunphy - ‘Word Against the Word’ at Garter Lane

View Pat McEvoy's reveal - and what made Keith Dunphy stand out

Lifetime Achievement Award: Blánaid MacCann

View our judges' Lifetime Achievement Award reveal