Theatre scene's raucous new Rumpus Awards hope to come back in 2027
Cheeky, DIY theatre event aimed to throw light on the stage scene’s unsung heroes—and ended up selling out
Rae Takei and Alen Dominguez receive The Hudson Williams Presents: The Gay Icon Award, while Steffanie Davis leads the Royal Rumpus Choir. Photos by Angelica Schwartz
IT WAS THE LITTLE DIY awards show that grew into a sold-out event—one its organizers hope will happen annually.
For the past year, organizers Jasmine Chen and Angelica Schwartz, coworkers at Neworld Theatre, had been trying to throw together a Vancouver community-building awards night “where everyone could feel seen”. Their inspiration was Toronto’s Harold Awards, and Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang’s satirical Las Culturistas Culture Awards.
On June 1, their dream became a reality with the the inaugural Rumpus Awards at 1422 Progress Lab. Hosted by Steffanie Davis, with musical collaboration from Mishelle Cuttler, the event handed out such absurd awards as the Most Perimenopausal Jokes in a Single Season Award (Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg) and Best in Show: Best Performance by a Dog in a Show (Neko the Cockapoo in Gateway Theatre’s production of Annie), giving recognition not just to those onstage, but to those behind, from stage managers to dramaturgs to volunteers. Organizers say they were blown away by the number of nominees—86 in all—submitted through a public callout for an event that was mainly funded through ticket and bar sales.
The Marcus Youssef Shit Disturber Award went to interdisciplinary performer, dramaturg, and director Aryo Khakpour, while the Backstage Ninja Award for Outstanding Technicianship was bestowed upon Nico Dicecco and Sarah McCready. The Hudson Williams Presents: The Gay Icon Award, meanwhile, went to Alen Dominguez and Rae Takei, while Rebecca Mulvihill and Yvonne Yip were recognized with the Standby, Go! Excellence in Stage Management Award.
There was much more, alongside such entertainment as the newly coined “Royal Rumpus Choir”, tap dancing by Amanda Sum, and improv antics by Tightrope Theatre. The rationale behind all of it? “This industry can be exhausting,” said coproducer Schwartz. “So much of being an artist involves administration, fundraising, grant writing, and all the unseen labour that happens behind the scenes. It can be hard to pause long enough to celebrate our wins—especially together. The Rumpus Awards was our attempt to create that moment. A space where people could laugh, be recognized, and remember that none of us are doing this work alone.”
Organizers say they hope to bring the Rumpus Awards back in 2027 and are exploring community fundraising to make a second edition possible. 
Related Articles
