‘Riot.’
The cast members of Werner Film Productions’ Riot, Generator Pictures’ Homecoming Queens and Bunya Productions’ Mystery Road were voted by members of Equity Australia as the most outstanding ensembles in the 9th annual Equity Ensemble Awards.
Presented in Sydney on Monday night, ABC TV’s Riot’s Damon Herriman, Kate Box, Xavier Samuel, Jessica De Gouw and Josh Quong Tart took the prize for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a mini-series/telemovie.
SBS’s Homecoming Queens‘ Michelle Law, Liv Hewson, Taylor Ferguson, George Zhao, John McNeill, Yassmin Abdel-Magied and Adele Perovic won outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.
Aaron Pedersen, Judy Davis, Deborah Mailman, Wayne Blair, Colin Friels, Anthony Hayes, John Waters, Tasma Walton, Tasia Zalar, Madeleine Madden, Ernie Dingo, Aaron McGrath, Rohan Mirchandaney, Meyne Wyatt, Connor Van Vuuren, Eddie Baroo, Ningali Lawford, Jessica Falkholt, Benjamin Hoetjes and Kris McQuade won the drama series category for ABC TV’s Mystery Road.
The casting directors are Allison Meadows (Riot), McGregor Casting’s Gemma Brown (Homecoming Queens) and Anousha Zarkesh (Mystery Road).
Equity director Zoe Angus said the nominees and winners are a timely reminder of why Equity fights so hard for Australian stories and Australian storytellers.
“The performances we witnessed over the last 12 months were nothing short of world-class,” she said. “Equity is thrilled to honour our members for their fine work. We will continue fighting to ensure there are as many opportunities as possible for local performers to shine in local productions.”
Equity president Chloe Dallimore described the Ensemble Awards as a particularly special honour because they are the only actor-voted awards in the country.
“What makes these productions particularly impressive isn’t the work of one performer,” she said. “It’s the work of many, in perfect harmony. These awards recognise the truly collaborative process that makes good stories great viewing.”
Sally Riley, ABC head of drama, comedy and Indigenous, congratulated the casts of Mystery Road and Riot for “bringing these distinctively Australian stories to life for ABC audiences.”
(L-) Homecoming Queens’ Michelle Law, Mystery Road’s Eddie Baroo and Riot director Jeffrey Walker. (Photo credit: Adam Hollingworth/MEAA)
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A MINI-SERIES/TELEMOVIE
Riot (Werner Film Productions)
Damon Herriman, Kate Box, Xavier Samuel, Jessica De Gouw and Josh Quong Tart
Nominees:
Dr Blake Mysteries: Ghost Stories
No Activity: The Night Before Christmas
On The Ropes
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Riot
Safe Harbour
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES
Homecoming Queens (Generator Pictures)
Michelle Law, Liv Hewson, Taylor Ferguson, George Zhao, John McNeill, Yassmin Abdel-Magied and Adele Perovic
Nominees:
Back in Very Small Business
Homecoming Queens
How to Stay Married
Sando
Squinters
Street Smart
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE SERIES IN A DRAMA SERIES
Mystery Road (Bunya Productions)
Aaron Pedersen, Judy Davis, Deborah Mailman, Wayne Blair, Colin Friels, Anthony Hayes, John Waters, Tasma Walton, Tasia Zalar, Madeleine Madden, Ernie Dingo, Aaron McGrath, Rohan Mirchandaney, Meyne Wyatt, Connor Van Vuuren, Eddie Baroo, Ningali Lawford, Jessica Falkholt, Benjamin Hoetjes and Kris McQuade.
Nominees:
Mr Inbetween
Mystery Road
Pine Gap
Rake – Series 5
Wentworth – Series 6