In 2024, Melbourne’s arts scene has never felt more exciting. From world premieres of award-winning musicals and blockbuster exhibitions to indie operations involving wildly talented individuals, our city is alive with awe-inspiring cultural offerings.
All year round, Time Out’s dedicated critics are busy catching musicals, plays and exhibitions around Melbourne to give readers the juicy coverage they want: independent critical reviews. What better way to shine a spotlight on the talented artists and performers we love to write about than by launching the very first Time Out Arts & Culture Awards, celebrating the best of the arts in our city from May 2023 to May 2024.
For the Best Performance in a Play category, we looked for standout actors who shone the brightest on stage. Whether it was their spot-on delivery, next-level physicality or emotional range, we were looking for unforgettable individuals who got us right in the feels.
And the winner is…
Max McKenna has taken home the Critics' Choice Best Performance in a Play Award 2024 for their performance in The Almighty Sometimes in Time Out Melbourne’s inaugural Arts & Culture Awards.
Exploring the destructive depths of mental illness on the stage is no easy task, but it's one McKenna executed with devastating skill. Their portrayal of Anna's never-defined yet ever-present psychological struggle was as heartwrenching as it was layered, from grandiose youthful vigour to desperate depression.
We left the theatre with so much to contemplate, in large part thanks to McKenna’s sensitive and nuanced performance.