Under Our Wing Award winner

Each year we give an award to an emerging cabaret performer who in our opinion deserves much more recognition than they are currently receiving.

The award has gained much credibility over the years after several of its little known (at that point) recipients – including Tim Minchin – achieved significant career success.

We’re thrilled to announce that the 2009 winner – chosen from a very high standard of possible candidates – is Tom Dickins.

Tom first came to our attention at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival when he invited us to hear him sing his newly written songs. We instantly saw the potential for his voice and stories to fit perfectly into the cabaret genre.

Amanda Palmer from the Dresdon Dolls was also at that invitation-only showcase and she too recognised his potential, writing that Tom has “the velvety yet bittersweet voice of an angel, only recently fallen from grace.”

Returning to Australia, Tom won the Professional Development Award at the inaugural Short Sweet+Cabaret in July 2008 for his 10-minute cabaret piece “Cab-O-Rage”, which entitled him to course entry to Play Right Productions’ rigorous cabaret course.

In February 2009 Amanda Palmer proved she meant what she wrote when she invited Tom to perform with her at one of The Butterfly Club’s infamous ‘secret shows’.

He returns to the stage as The Butterfly Club’s headline performer for the 2009 Melbourne Fringe Festival. His exciting new show ‘Where Was I’ runs for the full three weeks of the Festival.

>> dates: Thursday 24 September to Sunday 11 October (12 performances Thurs to Sun)
>> times: 9.00 pm Thurs – Sats, 8.00 pm Sundays
>> preview week ticket price: $15
>> bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com or www.melbournefringe.com.au
>> listen to Tom: www.myspace.com/tomdickins