Spectrum member, Paul Dion, has been recognised for his creative talent by the Canberra Area Theatre (CAT) Award judges who voted his musical, Prix D'Amour, (The Price of Love) the best original work for 2010.

Paul wrote the script, music and lyrics for the show which was performed by the Spectrum Theatre Group at Twyford Hall in July and August 2010.

He was one of five nominees from 58 theatrical companies across the ACT and NSW, and received the award at the gala CAT Awards ceremony, held at the Llewellyn Hall, ANU School of Music, Canberra on Saturday, February 19.

Attended by about 850 people, the CAT Awards recognise the artistic work of theatrical groups and individuals groups from Canberra and regional NSW.

Prix D'Amour is based on the book 'Rose' by Robert Wainwright and tells the story of Rose Hancock-Porteous' escape from the poverty of Manila, her arrival in Perth, Western Australia on a three month visitor's visa and how she lands herself a job as a housekeeper for one of Australia's wealthiest men, newly widowed and ageing mining magnate, Lang Hancock.

Their subsequent marriage creates friction and his lavish spending on her threatens the business until everyone ends up in court.

Speaking at the ceremony after receiving his award from ABC presenter, Tim Ferguson, Paul thanked Spectrum for taking up the challenge of staging a new work. He also thanked Rose Porteous-Hancock, Gina Rinehart, Lang Hancock, and Willie Porteous for leading such interesting lives and providing the raw material on which Prix D'Amour is based.

The CAT Awards recognise the work of amateur and pro-am productions. In 2010 judges viewed 96 plays, musicals and variety shows across a wide area including Canberra, Queanbeyan, Dubbo, Orange, Wagga Wagga, Cooma, Parkes and the South Coast to critique the work of more than 7,000 performers and production personnel.

See our Cat Awards page for more details of previous awards and nomination for Spectrum Theatre Group.