Deb Cunningham was recognised for costumes designed for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Shrek and the Secret of the North Pole.

A huge pharaoh mask created by Alan Stanger for the stage setting of Joseph took out top honours for best technical achievement.

The awards follow similar success last year when Dubbo Theatre Company’s Allyn Smith won best actor in a feature role.

This is only the second year Dubbo has been involved in the awards, which see up to 14 highly experienced judges attend a number of performances and make nominations for excellence.

Dubbo Theatre Company director Chris Bray congratulated Ms Cunningham and Mr Stanger on their awards.

“This really is a great achievement for our company and is proof that local theatre productions are of a very professional standard,” she said. “Both people are important members of our team and their commitment is greatly appreciated. Being a high school teacher in Dubbo also means Deborah’s skill and expertise is being passed on to her students - she’s a real asset to Dubbo College.”

Deborah said her award was only possible because of the close-knit crew involved in creating the costumes.

“I usually come up with the designs and then there’s a team of people who work to manufacture the costumes,” she said.

Ms Cunningham teaches visual arts and visual design at Dubbo College Delroy Campus and VET entertainment at Dubbo College Senior Campus.

Dubbo received a record five nominations for this year’s theatre awards, including Justin Huntsdale for best actor in the musical, Chris Bray best set design and Michael Carolan for his portrayal of Bloss in Look Away Now from Alarms and Excursions. Mrs Bray is looking forward to taking productions to new heights in the regional theatre complex.

“A whole lot of touring shows are now coming to Dubbo and audiences are enjoying new experiences,’’ she said.

“Hopefully they will support us as we move forward with different ideas.

“We are starting off the year with madness and mayhem in the Venetian Twins on April 1. A musical will be presented in August followed by the annual Christmas pantomime in December.’’

Dubbo Theatre Company evolved in 1957 when a group of enthusiasts expressed a wish to enlarge their repertoire to include musicals, dramas and pantomimes. The Canberra Area Theatre Awards were established in 1994 to recognise the contribution made by non-professional community arts companies.