Windmill Theatre wowed delegates from all over the world at the International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY) Showcase in Florida, picking up its first international award for popular children’s show, Grug.

Grug walked away with the prestigious 2011 Victor Award for Best Show after being showcased to over 400 international delegates who also attended new productions by leading companies from the Netherlands, Canada, USA, Italy, Mexico as well as Australia.

Returning from the US earlier this week, Windmill’s General Manager/Executive Producer, Teena Munn said,

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to receive this award, which epitomises the incredible standing ovation response Grug received by the international delegates.

“After presenting Plop! at the 2010 IPAY in Pittsburgh, and now winning this year’s top award with Grug, we have enormous interest in touring our productions throughout the United States and Canada in 2012 and 2013.

“These successes also indicate how wide Windmill’s reach is becoming, not only to Australian children and their families, but to an ever-expanding international audience,” she said.

Selection for IPAY is by invitation only and Windmill has showcased in consecutive years, in itself a coup, with the support of Arts SA and the Australia Council.

Made by the same company which produces the Oscar trophies, the weighty IPAY statue will be a proud addition to Windmill’s awards cabinet, which in 2010 welcomed a national Australian Business Arts Award, a state Ruby Award and six national Helpmann Award nominations.