Melbourne’s live performance sector was celebrated at the Green Room Awards, held at the Meat Market in North Melbourne on Monday 16 March, with honours shared across independent and mainstage companies as well as commercial productions.

Victorian Opera’s Katya Kabanova. Photo © Jeff Busby

In Opera, Desiree Frahn (Katya Kabanova) and Rosario La Spina (Samson et Dalila) were recognised for their leading performances. Victorian Opera’s Katya Kabanova also collected awards for design (Robert Brown and Niklas Pajanti), supporting performance (Emily Edmonds) and musical achievement (Alexander Briger).

Circa’s Orpheus & Eurydice won for direction (Yaron Lifschitz) and production. Forest Collective’s Labyrinth won for Outstanding New Australian Opera.

Theatre awards included Dylan van den Berg for new Australian writing (Whitefella Yella Tree) and Jethro Woodward for music and sound design for Meow Meow’s The Red Shoes, which also won production.

Melbourne Theatre Company’s Destiny took out set and costume design (Sophie Woodward), while Anne-Louise Sarks won for directing Rebecca. Performance awards went to Nadie...