Pambula actor Penelope Hunt has gain accolades from Canberra after being named runner up for the Best Actor award in a recent play festival.
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Pambula based Footprint Theatre's entry in the Canberra Short + Sweet play festival - 'Slow Dating' by Adam Szudrich - placed second in both the professional judges' and the audience's vote in the Week One heats.
Director Lis Shelley from Lochiel and Merimbula actor Penelope Hunt travelled again to Canberra two weeks ago for the gala final, where Penelope was named runner up for the Best Actor award for her role as Ester in 'Slow Dating'.
The play, about a 70-year-old married woman who attends a speed dating event for seniors, received praise from audience goers.
Feedback included 'there should be more like it', 'very natural acting' and 'very effective use of lighting'.
Ms Hunt, who has been acting for many years, said she was absolutely gobsmacked when she heard her name called out.
“It was just amazing,” Ms Hunt said. “It was the most exciting thing that’s happened to me since the birth of my children 40 years ago.”
With more than 80 actors performing at the festival in 30 different plays, runner up is no easy feat.
“I was just so overcome, I could barely speak.”
Director Lis Shelley said she wasn’t overly surprised when Ms Hunt’s name was called out because she knew the audience loved the monologue and had received enormous amounts of positive feedback.
Ms Shelley was the whole reason behind why Ms Hunt was performing at the festival as Ms Shelley had been personally invited to direct a play, which is not a common occurance.
“Lis was the mastermind behind the performance.” Ms Hunt said.
Footprint Theatre's Michael Ubrihien from Bega also featured as an actor in the popular play called 'Brexit', the script for which won 'Best Script' at the gala final.
The festival was a great experience for all the writers, directors and actors concerned and Footprint Theatre looks forward to performing the play 'Slow Dating' in the Bega Valley as part of the Candelo Arts Society monthly variety night on November 18, together with other short theatre pieces.