Lusi Austin Wins Cat Award
Cowra musician, author and playwright, Lusi Auston, has taken out the Best Original Work award at the 2025 Canberra Area Theatre (CAT) Awards.
She won the award for her play, Intertwined, which took the stage at the Cowra Civic Centre in July last year.
Intertwined is a play Ms Austin wrote, exploring the intersection of three different people’s lives who all have one thing in common: Cowra.
The play combines both Cowra’s culture and history, and portrays the town’s significance in these areas.
The play tells the story of three characters: Teen Girl, Australian Solider and Aboriginal Man.
“They are each a conglomeration of stories from lots of different people,” Ms Austin said last year.
“I was given special permission by Professor Peter Read to use some of the oral histories that he recorded with Erambie community members in 1979.
He has since read the script and given me his written endorsement which has been really exciting.”
“I wanted to tell the stories of the Cowra Breakout, in particular, the aftermath of the Breakout in a new way. My play uses first-hand accounts, musical interludes and visual displays.”
The CAT Awards aim to celebrate the diverse landscape of the arts in Canberra and the surrounding regions, providing recognition of the enormous contribution made by non-professional groups and individuals to the artistic life.
Since its inception in 1994 it has sought to recognise outstanding contributions to the cultural and artistic tapestry of Australia.
In a post on her Facebook page, Lusi thanked all of her cast and crew for the award.
“This one means so very much and is FOR US ALL! My first ever CAT AWARDS nomination and award!
This one is for the cast, crew, band, our family and friends, the helpers, the consultants, mentors, creative advice-givers, amazing supporters (financial, in-kind, or otherwise!), for the people who sent texts of encouragement, who prayed me through the process, who shared yarns and stories, who gave feedback along the way, who leant us props, who believed in us…
CONGRATULATIONS - this is for you! Thank you isn’t sufficient but it’s all I have left in the old word-bank tonight,” she said via the Lusi Austin Creative Facebook page.
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