Press release from ASTRA
Sydney Theatre is renowned as one of Australia’s premier arts venues, offering a state-of-the-art home for the best of Australian and international performing arts. The nearly 900 seat auditorium offers outstanding technical capabilities and ASTRA is delighted to announce this impressive venue will host the 9th Annual ASTRA Awards.
Subscription television (STV) has an increasing slate of original home grown productions and in doing so has developed a significant role in supporting the creative arts in Australia.
Last year marked a major change for the ASTRA Awards. The 2010 ceremony embraced a new format and focus with a ninety minute theatre style show including entertainment and popular STV talent as presenters. The change was a huge success with one journalist remarking, “If only all awards shows could be run like this”. In 2011 the 9th Annual ASTRA Awards continue to evolve.
The 9th Annual ASTRA Awards will take place on Thursday 21st July at Sydney Theatre, Walsh Bay. The ceremony will remain a tight theatre style show for the talent, production and best programming categories of STV. Separately the ASTRA Industry Excellence Awards celebrate the technical, marketing and promotional categories of STV and will be presented at the annual ASTRA Conference on 29 March.
Petra Buchanan, Chief Executive of ASTRA said, “Some of the best programming in Australia is on STV and the ASTRA Awards bring together viewers and the industry to celebrate and honour the stars and shows we all love to watch. Whether it’s drama, comedy, documentary, kids, music or lifestyle and reality programming STV channels are evolving and enhancing Australia’s creative arts industry and winning with viewers too. We are excited to be holding the 9th Annual ASTRA Awards at Sydney Theatre which is such an important part of the Australian arts community.”