Drum roll... We reveal the nominees in the Waterford News & Star Green Room Awards 2025!

The nominees of the Waterford News & Star Green Room Awards! 

We are incredibly lucky here in Waterford to have such a rich seam of talent running through all our generations, and that is reflected in the roll call of talent that makes up the Green Room Awards nominations shortlist.

The Waterford News & Star is delighted to return to the Theatre Royal on Sunday, March 2, to celebrate these incredible people and this much-valued aspect of Waterford civic and community life.

We are immensely grateful to our generous Green Room Awards lead co-sponsors, Cantec Group and Waterford Credit Union, who recognise this crucial part of Waterford society.

We are also delighted to have the generous support of Waterford City & County Council, FLI Group and Sanofi.

The Green Room Awards gala event will feature a fantastic variety show, as well as the highly anticipated awards themselves, a pre-show drinks reception kindly supported by Blackwater Distillery and a generous dollop of Spraoi fun!

Thanks to Pat McEvoy, Arts Correspondent for the Waterford News & Star, whose Trojan work throughout the year makes the Green Room Awards event possible, as well as to all our supporters, who help us create this show.

Congratulations and the very best of luck to all the nominees!

Mary Frances Ryan Editor, Waterford News & Star 

Honouring our talented Waterford people 

The Waterford News & Star Green Room Awards 2025 is a night that celebrates the very best of Waterford’s talented arts, theatre and culture sectors. Waterford City and County Council are delighted to once again be supporting the awards through our Arts and Culture programme.

As Mayor of Waterford City and County, I believe that it is important to celebrate these artists and the incredible contribution they make. They are as much about community as they are about the arts, reflecting how deeply embedded theatre, performance and the arts are here in Waterford.

I expect that a fantastic selection of local talent will be honoured on the night and look forward to seeing who takes home an award.

Mayor of Waterford, Cllr Jason Murphy

Tickets on sale now

The Waterford News & Star Green Room Awards take place in Theatre Royal, Waterford city, at 8pm on Sunday, March 2nd, with a drinks reception thanks to Blackwater Distillery from 7pm.

Tickets are €20 and go on sale through the Theatre Royal Box Office from today (Tuesday, January 28th).

And the nominees are...

The following are the nominations for the Waterford News & Star Green Room Awards 2025

PROFESSIONAL THEATRE

Best Stage Management:

• Private Peaceful (Dungarvan Dramatic Club, Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre) 

• Evita (Waterford Musical Society, Theatre Royal) 

• 9 to 5 the Musical (Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society, Dick Meany Auditorium) 

• The Snapper (Curtain Call Productions, Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre) 

• Beauty and the Beast Panto (Waterford Panto Society, Theatre Royal) 

Best Sound and Lighting:

• The Bilberry Goats…is this it? (Bilberry Goats, Garter Lane) 

• 9 to 5 the Musical (Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society, Dick Meany Auditorium) 

• Crazy for You (Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal) 

• Evita (Waterford Musical Society, Theatre Royal) 

• Beauty and the Beast Panto (Waterford Panto Society, Theatre Royal) 

Best Set:

• The Hare (Once Off Productions, Theatre Royal) 

• 9 to 5 the Musical (Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society, Dick Meany Auditorium) 

• The SpongeBob Musical (David Hennessy Stage School, Garter Lane) 

• Crazy for You (Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal) 

• Beauty and the Beast (Waterford Panto Society, Theatre Royal) 

Best Opera/Ballet/Dance:

• Sleeping Beauty (Ukrainian Peace Ballet, Theatre Royal) 

• Giulio Cesare (Blackwater Valley Opera Festival) 

• Losing Your Body (Rachel Ní Bhraonáin, Garter Lane) 

Best New Play:

• The Boys of Summer (Derek Flynn, Theatre Vamps, Tramore Coastguard Cultural Centre) 

• The Hare (Clare Monnelly and Bob Kelly, Once Off Productions, Theatre Royal) 

• Bone Music (Heather Comerford, Brewery Lane Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir) 

• Dress You Up (Wayne Power, Stagemad Theatre Co., Bank Lane) 

• Castel Gandolfo (Jim Nolan, Four Rivers Theatre, Garter Lane) 

Best Supporting Actor in a Professional Play:

• Joe Meagher (Unrehearsed scenes from Shakespeare, Theatre Royal) 

• Dylan Kennedy (TABOO, Red ‘n Blue Theatre Co., Theatre Royal) 

• Naoise Dunbar (Outrage, Theatre Royal) 

• Garrett Lombard (Castel Gandolfo, Four Rivers Theatre, Garter Lane) 

• Andrew Holden (The Shakespeare Review of Hamlet, Theatre Royal) 

Best Supporting Actress in a Professional Play:

• Paula Weldon (Unrehearsed scenes from Shakespeare, Theatre Royal) 

• Caitríona Ennis (Outrage, Theatre Royal) 

• Elishka Lane (Castel Gandolfo, Four Rivers Theatre, Garter Lane) 

• Denise Quinn (My Brilliant Divorce, Garter Lane) 

Best One-Person Performance:

• Úna Ní Bhriain (The Hare, Once Off Productions, Theatre Royal) 

• Kyla Cobbler (Gone Rogue, Garter Lane) 

• Jason Byrne (Ironic Bionic Man, Theatre Royal) 

• Jarlath Regan (In Bits, Theatre Royal) 

Best Male Performance in a Professional Play:

• Derek Flynn (Misery, Theatre Vamps, Tramore Coastguard Station) 

• Richard Kieswick (Cat… the play, Backstage at the Theatre Royal) 

• Michael Power (Castel Gandolfo, Four Rivers Theatre, Garter Lane) 

• Ed Byrne (Tragedy Plus Time, Theatre Royal) 

Best Female Performance in a Professional Play:

• Rose Henderson (Vixen by Helen Casey, Theatre Royal) 

• Nicola Spendlove (Misery, Theatre Vamps, Tramore Coastguard Cultural Centre) 

• Denise Quinn (My Brilliant Divorce, Waterford Dramatic Society, Garter Lane) 

• Jenny Fennessy (TABOO, Red ‘n Blue Theatre Co., Theatre Royal) 

• Carrie Crowley (Castel Gandolfo, Four Rivers Theatre, Garter Lane) 

Best Director in a Professional Play:

• Derek Flynn (Misery, Theatre Vamps, Tramore Coastguard Cultural Centre) 

• Ben Barnes (Castel Gandolfo, Four Rivers Theatre, Garter Lane) 

• Bob Kelly (The Hare, Once Off Productions, Theatre Royal) 

• Dylan Kennedy (TABOO, Red ‘n Blue Theatre Co., Theatre Royal) 

• Jim Culleton (Fishamble Theatre Co., Outrage, Theatre Royal) 

Best Professional Play:

• Castel Gandolfo (Four River Theatre, Garter Lane) 

• Misery (Theatre Vamps, Tramore Coastguard Cultural Centre) 

• Outrage (Fishamble Theatre Co., Theatre Royal) 

• TABOO (Red ‘n Blue Theatre Co., Theatre Royal) 

• The Hare (Once Off Productions, Theatre Royal)

ART, CULTURE & HERITAGE

Best Exhibition:

• Kwaidan (Tramore Coastguard Cultural Centre) 

• Tramore Artists (Protestant Hall, Church Road, Tramore) 

• Muscles and Mind: Irish Art Olympians (Waterford Gallery of Art) 

• Roses from the Heart exhibition (Reginald’s Tower) 

• BODIES: Life Studies from the Waterford Art Collection (Waterford Gallery of Art) 

Best Historical Talks:

• The Broderick Talks (Waterford Museum of Treasures) 

• From Tramore to Tokyo (Agnes Aylward, Waterford Museum of Treasures) 

• Waterford and the Wider World (Waterford Museum of Treasures, The Large Room) 

• Booze, Blaas and Banter (Imagine Arts Festival, Jordan’s Bar) 

Best Radio Series:

• On The Fringe (Gemma Delaney, WLR FM) 

• Showtime (Wayne Brown, WLR FM) 

• From Rebel Leader to Peace Activist: The Making of George Lennon (Simon Maguire, WLR FM) 

AMATEUR DRAMA 

Best Supporting Actor in an Amateur Drama:

• Tom Rogers Snr. (A Few Good Men, Curtain Call Productions, Dungarvan Town Hall) 

• Michael Raggett: (Glorious, Brewery Lane Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir) 

• Pat Power (Out of Order, Dungarvan Dramatic Club, Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre) 

• Davy Sutton (The Bilberry Goats…is this it?, Garter Lane) 

• Derek Flynn (Déise Dogs, Theatre Vamps, Tramore Coastguard Cultural Centre) 

Best Supporting Actress in an Amateur Drama:

• Caitlin Whelan (The Boys of Summer, Theatre Vamps, Tramore Coastguard Cultural Centre) 

• Greta Rochford (Dress You Up, Stagemad Theatre Co., Bank Lane) 

• Jayne Tennyson (Glorious, Brewery Lane Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir) 

• Catherine Whelan (The Snapper, Curtain Call Productions, Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre) 

Best Male Performance in an Amateur Drama:

• Tom Rogers Jnr.: (A Few Good Men, Curtain Call Productions, Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre) 

• Derek Flynn (Misery, Theatre Vamps, Tramore Coastguard Cultural Centre) 

• John Flynn (Private Peaceful, Dungarvan Dramatic Club, Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre) 

• Seán Upton (Up Down Boy, David Hennessy Musical & Dramatic Society, St. Patrick’s Gateway Centre) 

• Colm Power (The Dumb Waiter, Brewery Lane Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir) 

Best Female Performance in an Amateur Drama:

• Maria Clancy (Glorious, Brewery Lane Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir) 

• Nicola Spendlove (Misery, Theatre Vamps, Tramore Coastguard Cultural Centre) 

• Brenda Giles (Up Down Boy, David Hennessy Musical & Dramatic Society, St. Patrick’s Gateway Centre) 

• Lily Gierczewski (Out of Order, Dungarvan Dramatic Club, Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre) 

Best Director in an Amateur Drama:

• David Hennessy (Up Down Boy, David Hennessy Musical & Dramatic Society, St. Patrick’s Gateway Centre) 

• Mary Kelly (The Snapper, Curtain Call Productions, Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre) 

• Fidelma Meaney (A Few Good Men, Curtain Call Productions, Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre) 

• Esther Byrne (Glorious, Brewery Lane Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir) 

• Frieda Ryan (My Brilliant Divorce, Garter Lane) 

Best Amateur Drama:

• Up Down Boy (David Hennessy Musical & Dramatic Society, St. Patrick’s Gateway Centre) 

• The Snapper (Curtain Call Productions, Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre) 

• A Few Good Men (Curtain Call Productions, Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre) 

• The Dumb Waiter (Brewery Lane Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir) 

• Out of Order (Dungarvan Dramatic Club, Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre)

MUSIC & MUSICALS 

Best Youth Show:

• Cats (Soul Dance Arts, Garter Lane) 

• The SpongeBob Musical (David Hennessy Stage School, Garter Lane) 

• Dancing Down Broadway (Soul Dance Arts, Garter Lane) 

• Irish Youth Wind Ensemble (Symphony Club of Waterford, SETU Arena) 

• Under Milk Wood (Waterford Youth Arts, Garter Lane) 

• Annie (Barron Hall, Stradbally) 

Best Youth Performance:

• Caoimhe Scanlon (The SpongeBob Musical, David Hennessy Stage School, Garter Lane) 

• Jenna Dunphy (Soul Dance Arts, Dancing Down Broadway, Garter Lane) 

• Aoife Crotty (Annie, Barron Hall, Stradbally) 

• Aoife O’Connor (The SpongeBob Musical, David Hennessy Stage School, Garter Lane) 

• Sam Horsefall (Cats, Soul Dance Arts, Garter Lane) 

Best Costumes, Hairs and Makeup:

• Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (David Hennessy Musical Society, Garter Lane) 

• Evita (Waterford Musical Society, Theatre Royal) 

• A Night at the Musicals (Tramore Musical Society, Theatre Royal) 

• Crazy for You (Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal) 

• Beauty and the Beast (Waterford Panto Society, Theatre Royal) 

Best Concert:

• SETU Budding Bows (Festival of Youth Orchestras, National Concert Hall, Dublin) 

• Richie Hayes (Theatre Royal) 

• Waterford Chamber Music Festival (Mount Congreve) 

• Live@TheRoyal: Celebrating 240 years of ‘The People’s Theatre’ (Theatre Royal) 

• Camille Thomas & the National Symphony Orchestra (SETU Arena) 

Best Choir:

• De La Salle School Choir 

• Madrigallery 

• Notable Works 

• Intonations 

• SETU Music School Youth Choir 

Best Male Comic Performance:

• Shane Flynn (Aladdin, Portlaw Musical Society, Premier Hall, Portlaw) 

• Neil Bourke (9 to 5 the Musical, Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society, Dick Meany Theatre) 

• Jonathan Kelly (Crazy for You, Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal) 

• Pat Power (Out of Order, Dungarvan Dramatic Club, Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre) 

• Tony Corcoran (Beauty and the Beast, Waterford Panto Society, Theatre Royal) 

Best Female Comic Performance:

• Caz Butler Kelly (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, David Hennessy Musical Society, Garter Lane) 

• Leah Cooley (Nunsense, Jack Cunningham Productions, Garter Lane) 

• Tarryn Atlee (9 to 5 the Musical, Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society, Dick Meany Theatre) 

• Brenda Giles (Beauty and the Beast, Waterford Panto Society, Theatre Royal) 

• Róisín Briggs (The Snapper, Curtain Call Productions, Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre) 

Best Supporting Male Performance in a Musical:

• Pádraig Dí Fusco (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, David Hennessy Musical Society, Garter Lane) 

• Brian Tuohy (Evita, Waterford Musical Society, Theatre Royal) 

• Kieran Walsh (Crazy for You, Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal) 

• Tobie Hickey (Beauty and the Beast, Waterford Panto Society, Theatre Royal) 

• Rory Walsh (A Night at the Musicals, Tramore Musical Society, Theatre Royal) 

Best Supporting Female Performance in a Musical:

• Jenna Dunphy (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, David Hennessy Musical Society, Garter Lane) 

• Anne Marie Collins (Nunsense, Jack Cunningham Productions, Garter Lane) 

• Jordan Freeman (9 to 5 the Musical, Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society, Dick Meany Theatre) 

• Lauren Cardiff (Evita, Waterford Musical Society, Theatre Royal) 

• Trish Orpen (Crazy for You, Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal) 

Best Male Performance in a Musical:

• Danny Brockie (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, David Hennessy Musical Society, Garter Lane) 

• Dermot Keyes (Evita, Waterford Musical Society, Theatre Royal) 

• Conor Lyons (Crazy for You, Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal) 

• Jamie Beamish (Live@TheRoyal: Celebrating 240 years of ‘The People’s Theatre’, Theatre Royal) 

• Joe Shanahan (Beauty and the Beast, Waterford Panto Society, Theatre Royal) 

Best Female Performance in a Musical:

• Alex Kavanagh (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, David Hennessy Musical Society, Garter Lane) 

• Karen Steenson (Nunsense, Jack Cunningham Productions, Garter Lane) 

• Sandra Power (9 to 5 the Musical, Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society, Dick Meany Theatre) 

• Paula Weldon (Evita, Waterford Musical Society, Theatre Royal) 

• Jennifer White (Crazy for You, Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal) 

• Aoife O’Connor (Beauty and the Beast, Waterford Panto Society, Theatre Royal) 

Best Choreographer:

• Michelle Condon (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, David Hennessy Musical Society, Garter Lane) 

• Ali Reville (Evita, Waterford Musical Society, Theatre Royal) 

• Keith Dwyer-Greene (9 to 5 the Musical, Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society, Dick Meany Theatre) 

• Jack Cunningham (Crazy for You, Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal) 

• Ali Reville (Beauty and the Beast, Waterford Panto Society, Theatre Royal) 

Best Musical Director:

• Caoimhe O’Connor (Aladdin, Portlaw Musical Society, Premier Hall, Portlaw) 

• Jimmy Brockie (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, David Hennessy Musical Society, Garter Lane) 

• Wayne Brown (Evita, Waterford Musical Society, Theatre Royal) 

• Emma Walsh (Crazy for You, Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal) 

• Wayne Brown (Beauty and the Beast, Waterford Panto Society, Theatre Royal) 

Best Director in a Musical:

• Bill Stafford (Aladdin, Portlaw Pantomime Society, Premier Hall, Portlaw) 

• David Hennessy (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, David Hennessy Musical Society, Garter Lane) 

• Liam Butler (Evita, Waterford Musical Society, Theatre Royal) 

• Martin McNelis (9 to 5 the Musical, Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society, Dick Meany Theatre) 

• Jack Cunningham (Crazy for You, Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal) 

• Tony Corcoran (Beauty and the Beast, Waterford Panto Society, Theatre Royal) 

Best Musical:

• Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (David Hennessy Musical Society, Garter Lane) 

• Evita (Waterford Musical Society, Theatre Royal) 

• 9 to 5 the Musical (Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society, Dick Meany Theatre) 

• Crazy for You (Jack Cunningham Productions, Theatre Royal) 

• Beauty and the Beast (Waterford Panto Society, Theatre Royal)

AWARDS FINALE 

People’s Choice Award 

The public’s choice from the following adjudicated shortlist:

• Aisteoirí an tSean Phobail 

• All Together Now at Curraghmore Estate 

• European City of Christmas Opening Ceremony 

• SpeakEasy Waterford Poetry and Open Mic 

• Spraoi Festival Parade 

• Subterranean Sounds 

• Symphony Club of Waterford 

• Tramore Coastguard Cultural Centre 

• Waterford Chamber Music Festival 

• Waterford Gallery of Art 

• Waterford Youth Arts 

• West Waterford Drama Festival, Ballyduff

Outstanding Arts & Cultural Event of the Year: 

To be announced on the night 

Lifetime Achievement Award: 

To be announced on the night

About the Awards 

The Waterford News & Star Green Room Awards celebrate the diversity, scale, and quality of Waterford’s theatre, arts, and cultural scene.

During this glitzy awards season event in the Theatre Royal, co-hosted by Pat McEvoy, Waterford News & Star arts correspondent, and Dymphna Nugent, broadcaster with WLR FM, the Green Room Award winners are revealed, alongside a highly entertaining variety show, putting Waterford talent in the spotlight.

Pat McEvoy reviews more than 100 shows and events annually, with these performances seen by thousands of Waterford people who pack out the Theatre Royal, Garter Lane Theatre, and theatres and venues in Dungarvan, Tramore, Carrick-on-Suir, Portlaw, and beyond.

The scope of the awards encompasses musicals, drama, comedy, choral, panto, art exhibitions, and much more.

They are as much about community as they are about the arts, reflecting how deeply embedded theatre and performance is in Waterford.

There are over 30 awards covering hundreds of performances and roles. The nominations shortlist is chosen based upon Pat McEvoy’s reviews during the year.

We also present an adjudicated Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as a People's Choice Award, chosen by the public from an adjudicated Waterford theatre/entertainment/arts/culture group shortlist.

Our adjudication panel for both the Lifetime Achievement Award and the People’s Choice shortlist are representatives of Waterford theatre and arts, and Waterford media personnel, with in-depth knowledge of the vibrant Waterford arts and culture scene in our city and county.

This year’s judges include Pat McEvoy, Mary Frances Ryan, Des O’Keeffe, Michael Grant, and Sarah Jane Cleary.

Lifetime Achievement Award 

We will be presenting a very special award to an individual, chosen by our adjudication panel, who has provided an immense contribution to the arts and cultural life of Waterford throughout their lifetime.

Celebrating exceptional talent across the Déise!

The Waterford News & Star is delighted to acknowledge its hugely valued supporters for their backing of the Waterford News & Star Green Room Awards. Our lead co-sponsors are Cantec Group and Waterford Credit Union. 

Cantec Group is proud to sponsor the Waterford News & Star Green Room Awards, a prestigious event that celebrates the exceptional talent and diversity of Waterford’s theatre, arts, and culture.

“We are honoured to support and attend this celebration of creativity, which recognises the talent and passion that make Waterford a vibrant cultural hub,” said Eadaoin Carrick, Cantec Group.

Waterford Credit Union are delighted to support the Waterford News & Star Green Room Awards 2025.

“Waterford Credit Union pride ourselves on being an integral part of the local community and continuously strive to collaborate with community events throughout the year. It is great to be able to support in celebrating and honouring Waterford arts, theatre and culture at this year’s Green Room Awards,” said Jenny O’Mahony, Marketing and Business Development Officer. “Wishing all of the entries the very best of luck, we can’t wait to see all the fantastic Waterford talent showcased at the awards.”

We are also delighted to have the generous support of Waterford City & County Council, FLI Group and Sanofi. 

Thanks to Blackwater Distillery and Spraoi for supporting our foyer reception, and media support from Waterford News & Star and WLR FM.

A Proud Déise History 

Waterford is synonymous with the arts, having long nurtured its playhouses and theatre spaces. The beautiful Victorian-era Theatre Royal, fondly known as the ‘People’s Theatre’, where we gather for the Waterford News & Star Green Room Awards, is one of the oldest continually operating performance spaces in Ireland.

Thespians and playwrights have long trod the boards across the Déise, in grand theatre houses and small community spaces.

Dotted across Waterford are symbols of our rich, cultural heritage. In the city alone, a short stroll takes us past the bust of William Vincent Wallace on The Mall – remembering that esteemed composer; on Greyfriars you’ll find the statue of Luke Wadding, the man who gave us St Patrick’s Day; and circling around Christ Church Cathedral, you’ll pass the astonishing museums of the Viking Triangle.

In O’Connell Street, a whole area has been dedicated as a cultural quarter, incorporating superb gallery and theatre spaces.

Waterford was the nexus for the fantastic Tops of the Town during the 1970s and 1980s, memories of which live on in stories and anecdotes of factory and stage life.

With festivals now built around our arts and cultural offerings, new life is being breathed into ways and means of expression, with a broader benefit being achieved for Waterfordians and visitors to the Déise alike.

While the Tops of the Town might be long gone, Waterford people continue to engage with and enjoy the arts and theatre, whether participating or taking their seats and switching their mobiles to off.

The arts and progress have always gone hand in hand in societies across the centuries, and that evident knowledge of and passion for the arts is as true of Waterford as many much larger European cities.

The Waterford News & Star Green Room Awards take place in Theatre Royal, Waterford city, at 8pm on Sunday, March 2nd, with a drinks reception thanks to Blackwater Distillery from 7pm. Tickets are €20 and go on sale through the Theatre Royal Box Office from today (Tuesday, January 28th).