The Theatre Board of the Australia Council (OzCo) has recently awarded over $8.5 million to 65 diverse theatre companies and artists in its latest grant round. Valued at $5,806,328 the grants were distributed nationally in the categories of New Work (commission and development), New Work (production), Presentation and Promotion, Skills and Arts Development (individuals and organisations) and Key Organisations (triennial and program). New Chair of the Theatre Board, Ian McRae has remarked the he is very impressed by the variety of theatre being presented by small to medium sized companies and individual artists, noting the difficult restraints of low resources. 'The challenge to the Theatre Board is supporting this variety and innovation from embryonic state through to key organisation level enabling exciting artistic visions to be realised financially,' he said. The Board, he also notes, has made some important decisions about the direction of the Key Organisations category. The new one-year grants are therefore designed to address the lack of any funding option between one-off project support and triennial grants. Successful grant recipients include;

Bizircus (WA) $10,000 - for 'Bog Lap' a street theatre production performed from the inside of a car fusing clown and circus skills with installation. To be performed for the Perth International Festival of the Arts.

Knee High Puppeteers (SA) $39,803 - for 'Family Away from Home' a giant puppet production exploring the issues facing newly arrived immigrants. To be performed within a giant inflatable house in the CBD of Adelaide.

Just Us Theatre Ensemble (QLD) $50,000 - to support a year-long program of innovative, community responsive theatre. JUTE is based in Cairns and is a first time Key Organisations grant recipient.

Hydra Hamlet (NSW) $58,000 - for the creative development and production of Reg Cribb's new play 'Last Cab to Darwin'. A complete listing of all successful applicants in this round as well as other grant, initiative and out-of-time recipients allocated by the Theatre Board is available at;www.ozco.gov.au/theatre/assessment