IO Performance, a new theatre company founded by Grace Roberts and Chris Jackson, picked up 19 nominations: an extraordinary feat for a company that opened their first production in April.

Ms Roberts said she was "still processing" the company's recognition through the awards: "We were hoping for one or two, but our breath was taken away a bit when the last award was read out which was Best Production, because we got three out of four in that," she said.

She said the secret to the company's success was a simple one: consistent hard work.

"We've just put 110 per cent in: we are barely at home, we just go from production to production, and we have so much passion for theatre and making interesting art that we didn't really think about how many hours we'd spent on each production," she said. "It's just hard work, and not giving up."

The company is holding an open day this week at IOHQ, at 180 Cimitiere Street, from 10am to 3pm, with workshops, a Q&A at 11am, and the opportunity to see if you can be involved in the company.

Encore Theatre Company put on two productions this year which garnered a total of 25 nominations: 13 for Strictly Ballroom and 12 for We Will Rock You.

Encore president and co-founder Belinda King said the awards were an acknowledgement of the whole team - not just the ones who get to bow in the standing ovation.

"We're just a little beside ourselves," she said. "It's quite extraordinary, and I feel it's a testament to the evenness of the team - that there is strength right across the board, on and off stage.

"The production and behind-the-scenes people don't get a round of applause on the night. So it's certainly wonderful recognition of all the work that goes into building a performance from the ground up - whether it's sets, costumes, wig, music direction, everything."

Encore's next production will be Mamma Mia, playing in March, and King said advance ticket sales so far had outstripped all of their previous productions.

Tickets are available through the Princess Theatre Box Office or theatrenorth.com.au

She also congratulated IO Performance as the other Northern company to dominate the award nominations.

"I've been to some of those shows and they are really something," she said.

Also from the North, Fawkes Theatre Company received four nominations for The Return, the Launceston Players' production of 1984 received three, Mudlark Theatre's It Happened One Day was nominated for Outstanding New Writing, while Three River Theatre's co-production of 101 with Hobart's Blue Cow Theatre received three nominations. Winners will be announced on February 22.