The first person bestowed with a Sue Nattrass Award, Patricia Boggs has worked in many and varied roles during her long career, but she is best known for being Australia’s best and most respected Ticketing consultant. She has worked on nearly 150 shows from small plays to the biggest productions and with Australia’s and indeed the world’s most prolific producers. After also working on more recent productions such as Mamma Mia!, We Will Rock You, The Lion King, Billy Elliot and Mary Poppins, she is a woman who has made an incredible lifetime contribution to live performance in Australia certainly shaping the way current ticketing processes are implemented throughout the industry.

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 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, 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. Passionate, loyal, honest, respected, admired are just a few of the words used to describe Patricia Boggs, the worthy recipient of the inaugural Sue Nattrass Award.

QUOTE

“When I was told I was to receive the inaugural Sue Nattrass Award, I was amazed – Sue has been an inspiration in all facets of the Australian theatrical scene for as long as I can remember. I was overjoyed and honoured.

I believe to reach any goal you must accept that there are no problems only solutions.”