The statewide awards recognise three categories – community musical theatre, community and professional theatre.

Launceston’s Encore, Launceston Musical Society, Next Stage and Three River theatre companies were among nominees, as well as youth contemporary dance company Stompin.

Encore Theatre’s  co-president Belinda King was excited to learn two of its biggest productions last year – The Phantom of the Opera and The Vicar of Dibley – earned 13 nominations between them.

King said she and co-president Jamie Hillard were ‘‘thrilled and astonished’’ with the scope of nominations, both of which included best production categories.

‘‘We came with no expectations, having not been before,’’ she said.

‘‘The number of awards nominated for Northern theatre companies is a testament to the standards that can be achieved with or without a capital city postcode.’’

Launceston Musical Society secretary Karen Williams said LMS was ecstatic about receiving three nominations for its production of Spamalot.

‘‘We had very talented directors of the show, a highly talented cast and orchestra, the costumes were amazing, light was fairly spectacular,’’ Williams said.

‘‘Everything just blended and worked.’’ 

She said the set design nomination for the work of Darrell Rogers and his crew was of particular note.

Theatre Council of Tasmania chairman Rod Anderson said 37 productions registered for the Errols, which have been named in tribute to swashbuckling Tasmanian actor of the 1940s Errol Flynn.

‘‘Judges were astounded by the standard of entries in the very first theatre awards,’’ Mr Anderson said.

‘‘It also made their jobs very difficult as, in the end, they had to narrow it down to a shortlist of finalists.’’