Meet our Judges
2025 CONDA Judges
Christine Fletcher
Christine completed a Master of Theatre Arts in 1996 at the University of Newcastle. She was a specialist drama teacher at Hunter School of the Performing Arts from 1998 to 2013 and lectured Drama courses at the University of Newcastle. Christine is a performer, playwright and director as well as an arts administrator. She was the coordinator of the Hunter Primary Drama Festival for the NSW Department of Education and the theatre school principal for YPT for several years.
Jackie King
Jackie has been an active member of the Newcastle Theatre Community since 1997. She has worked with most local theatre companies in over 50 productions, including plays, musicals, opera, and cabaret shows, with vast experience both onstage and backstage and in production management. Jackie is an experienced Creative arts educator and, as a Secondary Creative arts advisor for the NSW Department of Education, develops resources and professional learning to support the delivery of Creative arts education statewide.
Joanna Andrew
Joanna Andrew is a seasoned performer, vocal coach, and director with experience in opera, musical theatre, dramatic plays, and oratorio. She began in the NBN Television Children's Choir, performing at events like the Sydney Opera House and Carols by Candlelight, and won numerous Aria competitions across NSW, VIC, and QLD. Over 40 years, she has played diverse roles, including Marmee (Little Women), Mercedes (Carmen), and Valencienne (The Merry Widow), with professional credits in Aida (International Opera Festival), Wagner's Ring Cycle (Sydney Symphony Orchestra), and oratorio performances such as Handel’s Messiah. Jo holds an Advanced Diploma in Arts (UNE), a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration, and is pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Inclusive Education. An accredited member of the Music Teachers’ Association of NSW and ANATS, she directs youth productions and has coached students who have gone on to study at institutions like NIDA, WAAPA, and the VCA, achieving success in television, film, and theatre.
Larni Christie
Larni has over 25 years of experience as a Drama Teacher and Community Theatre Specialist in the Hunter and New England regions. She has contributed to more than 25 productions since 1989, serving as a director, producer, choreographer, and designer. Larni has been a Drama Specialist with the Department of Education for 25 years and has run a Speech and Drama studio for 18 years. Her contributions have been recognized with multiple Australia Day Awards and Life Membership of the Muswellbrook Amateur Theatrical Society.
Sascha Okenhall
Sacha completed a Bachelor of Performing Arts at the Australian Institute of Music (formally known as the Australian Academy of Dramatic Art), where she studied a range of theatrical genres and styles. A protégé of director Jason Langley, Sascha assistant directed productions staged at the Hayes Theatre, Newtown Theatre and Camden People's Theatre in London before directing her own productions at Brave New Word Theatre. Sacha relocated to Newcastle in 2017 to raise her three children.
Dan Stranger
Dan Stranger is a performing arts teacher, director, and writer with extensive experience in theatre, film, and screenwriting. Originally from the UK, he holds a BA in Scriptwriting & Performance and has worked with Hunter Drama, Cessnock Performing Arts Centre, and Maitland Repertory Theatre. Dan has directed productions like Fantastic Mr. Fox, Alice in Wonderland Jr., and The Tempest and has had his writing showcased at international festivals. A skilled stage manager and technical designer, he has also contributed to productions at the Edinburgh Fringe. Passionate about youth theatre, he founded Broken Leg Theatre Company, mentoring young performers in acting, technical production, and creative development.
Wendy Ratcliffe
With over 35 years in theatre, Wendy Ratcliffe has made significant contributions to Newcastle Theatre as a performer, producer, and designer. Her extensive training includes a BA in Classical Civilisation and Drama, a Graduate Diploma in Education, a Masters in Education, over 20 years of vocal training, and certifications in fashion, makeup, and special effects. Wendy’s career spans community theatre, film, and TV, earning her five CONDAs, including Best Actress (Les Misérables, Blood Brothers, Lost in Yonkers) and Best Costume Design (Jekyll and Hyde), as well as a CONDA for Outstanding Achievement in 1998. She has played diverse roles across musical theatre, opera, and straight theatre, with standout performances in We Will Rock You, Next to Normal, The Wild Party, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Laramie Project, and The Taming of the Shrew. A skilled costume designer, Wendy is highly regarded for her theatrical aesthetics and continues to contribute to the industry as a member of the CONDA judging committee.