Patricia Boggs – unsung hero recognised with special industry achievement award
Patricia Boggs has been named as the inaugural recipient of LPA’s new Sue Nattrass award, established to recognise and honour positions in the arts which often do not enjoy a high public profile.
Live Performance Australia today announced Patricia Boggs, arguably Australia’s best and most respected Ticketing consultant, as the winner of this industry achievement award for her outstanding service to the Australian live performance industry.
Many industry greats, including producers John Frost and Cameron Mackintosh, have praised “Boggsy” for her tireless service to the arts crediting her with “shaping the way current ticketing processes are implemented throughout the industry” in Australia.
Established with the intention of shining a spotlight on people in service roles in the arts, The Sue Nattrass Award pays tribute to, and commemorates the lifetime service of, Sue Nattrass AO who, amongst many achievements, has been a long serving LPA President and the first woman to hold the position. It seems only fitting that another influential Australian woman in the arts receives the inaugural award.
“Patricia Boggs’ career has spanned many decades and many productions in most of our country’s theatres and many overseas”, Sue Nattrass said in a statement today.
“Having a career of a similar length and sharing some of those experiences, I have been in a handy position to observe the tireless, devoted work of this generous woman. I have seen the respect shown to her by her peers and the positive outcomes of her innovative thinking and her support for both the producers and the public. I have a deep respect for Pat and I am delighted that she is the recipient of the inaugural Sue Nattrass Award. I can think of no-one more fitting.” she said.
The prestigious honour will sit alongside the JC Williamson award (won this year by John Frost OAM) and will be presented at the 2014 Helpmann Award Ceremony at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre on August 18.
“This award could not have gone to a better person. Pat Boggs is a wonderful mentor and friend to so many people in the performing arts industry – she taught us all our sums and wrote the book on ticketing. Boy, can she sell a ticket or two!” said Australia’s most prolific theatre producer, John Frost.
Fellow producer Cameron Mackintosh added: “Pat is a marvel, a living legend, so it is terrific news that she has been chosen as the first recipient of an award named after another Australian theatrical legend, Sue Nattrass. I cannot imagine a more worthy choice than the Great Boggsy. Many congratulations”
Roles in consideration for the award include arts administrator, academic or teacher, technical supplier, marketing professional, ticketing professional, agent, archivist, historian, public servant, and member of the media.
About Patricia Boggs
Patricia Boggs, or Pat as she is affectionately known, is a true trailblazer of Australian theatre, starting her theatrical career in circa 1964 at Sydney’s Tivoli Theatre with a JC Williamson production of Hadrian VII. From here Patricia joined the Metro Theatre where she started as a booking clerk, becoming the treasurer of the Box Office soon after for the production of Hair.
She went on to manage the Playbox Theatre before co-managing the Capitol Theatre working for Harry M. Miller on Jesus Christ Superstar. It was after returning to the Metro Theatre where Pat first met a very young John Frost who was sent to her by Harry M. Miller for an education in the box office.
In 1974 Pat became the Greater Union Theatre’s first female Manager before becoming Theatre Manager and Box Office Manager with the MLC Theatre Royal Company holding that position for 14 years. Pat was passionate about providing access to the theatre to some of the city’s most underprivileged children and schools. While working on Cats she convinced the producer to give away free tickets on many Wednesday matinees to the next generation of theatre-goers. This dedication continued throughout her career, and she believed that all people regardless of economic circumstance should have the ability to experience the joy of theatre, especially children.
In 1989 she joined the Cameron Mackintosh organisation working on Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon. Pat was key in the establishment of an independent Box Office Operation for Cameron Mackintosh Australia in 1992, launching a retail shop front box office as well as an independent telephone call centre for The Phantom of the Opera Sydney season. Pat also played a key role in developing the opportunities for selling tickets to the travel industry via ticket/flight/hotel packages.
She has also served as a Trustee of The Sydney Opera House Board from 1996 to 2002.
