The 37th Annual Green Room Awards were to have been presented at a live ceremony at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre on March 30. This was unable to go ahead due to the COVID-19 pandemic but instead of cancelling the event altogether, the Awards were presented on April 6 via an online ceremony.

Hosted by pop-music comedy duo Otto & Astrid, the nominees and winners were announced by Rob Meldrum via a series of YouTube clips. The awards, which celebrate the performing arts industry in Melbourne, were presented across seven categories: Cabaret, Contemporary and Experimental Performance, Dance, Independent Theatre, Musical theatre, Opera, and Theatre Companies. Fifty-seven awards were presented across the seven categories along with five special Green Room Awards.

Il Viaggo a Reims. Photograph © Jeff Busby

In the Opera Category, the lion’s share of gongs went to Opera Australia, whose production of Il Viaggio a Reims was named outstanding Production. Il Viaggio also won best Director for Damiano Michieletto, who set Rossini’s opera in an art gallery, while Set, Costume and Lighting Design (combined in one award) went to Paolo Fantin, Carla Teti and Alessandro Carletti.

The OA production of Turandot took...