Nominations Announced For 2023 Matilda Awards
Placing Queensland theatre centre stage, the 36th annual Matilda Awards will be held at Brisbane Powerhouse on 26th February, 2024
This year’s nominees celebrate outstanding actors, composers, designers, directors from across the Sunshine State, with 62 creatives and 35 shows nominated across the board.
Three shows have received five nominations each. These include Breathe In from Mackay’s Crossroad Arts, Is That You, Ruthie? from QPAC in association with Oombarra Productions and Vietgone from Queensland Theatre. Followed closely by Drizzle Boy from Queensland Theatre and BANANALAND from Brisbane Festival and QPAC, both of which have four nominations.
The Matilda Awards are also shining a spotlight on the significance of arts organisations in the creation of new work. Brisbane Festival is named in 18 nominations across seven shows and QPAC in 16 nominations across four shows, while Metro Arts again shows its strength in the support of independent and emerging artists with 6 nominations across four shows.
Lead Judge of the Matilda Awards, Sue Rider, is thrilled to share the nominees the panel has had the pleasure of reviewing.
“In 2023 the judging panel saw a wealth of theatre embracing stories and artists from diverse points of view and it is great to see such work making its mark in the nominations. The Poison of Polygamy from La Boite Theatre, Unconditional from Playlab Theatre/Brisbane Festival/Brisbane Powerhouse and Tae Tae in the Land of Yaaas! from Brisbane Festival/shake & stir theatre co/QPAC all explored perspectives which break new ground.
“We are also excited to have seen more regional work than ever before. Of 100 shows reviewed by the panel, 19 were from outside Brisbane. We are proud that The Matilda Awards are working to champion the excellence of Queensland’s theatre industry across the board,” says Ms Rider.
Chair of the Matilda Awards, Jan Irvine, also expressed her delight that the annual Matilda Awards provide an important platform to showcase this State’s emerging and established artists.
“I am delighted to see the great diversity of work and artistry within this year’s nominees, and I acknowledge the challenging task of our judges to arrive at a such a wonderful list of nominees.”
The Matilda Awards is supported by Arts Queensland and Brisbane City Council.
About The Matilda Awards
The Matilda Awards were founded in 1987 by theatre critics Alison Cotes and Sue Gough, to celebrate and promote the excellence of Queensland’s theatre industry.
2023 MATILDA AWARDS
WHEN: Monday 26 February 2023
TIME: 6.30pm for a 7pm start
WHERE: Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse, 114 Lamington St, New Farm
TICKETS: matildaawards.com.au
2023 MATILDA AWARD NOMINATIONS
|
CATEGORY |
PRODUCER |
BEST SET DESIGN
|
David Cross, RED |
Dancenorth |
|
Tyler Hill, Stunt Double |
Brisbane Festival/Brisbane Powerhouse/Screen Queensland/The Farm/Performing Lines |
|
Peter Keavy, Capricorn |
La Boite Theatre |
|
Josh McIntosh, Tae Tae in the Land of Yaaas! |
Brisbane Festival/shake & stir theatre co/QPAC |
|
Simone Romaniuk, BANANALAND |
Brisbane Festival/QPAC |
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
|
Delvene Cockatoo-Collins and Peter Keavy, Capricorn |
La Boite Theatre |
|
Dan Gough, Kasey Turner, Savannah Fry, Emily Overton CAKE |
IMRSE |
|
Jess Hansen, Billy Elliot |
Matt Ward Entertainment |
|
Belinda Gayle McCormack, Adventures of Peter Rabbit |
Small Crown Productions |
|
Simone Romaniuk, BANANALAND |
Brisbane Festival/QPAC |
BEST COMPOSITION AND/OR SOUND DESIGN
|
Alisdair Macindoe RED |
Dancenorth |
|
Kate Miller-Heidke, Keir Nuttall, James Dobinson, Joy Weng, Terry McKibbin BANANALAND |
Brisbane Festival/QPAC |
|
Josh Notting & Autumn Skuthorpe, Breathe In |
Crossroad Arts |
|
Guy Webster, Drizzle Boy |
Queensland Theatre |
|
Guy Webster & Matt Hsu’s Obscure Orchestra, The Poison of Polygamy |
La Boite Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company |
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
|
Ben Hughes, Salamander |
Brisbane Festival/Northshore |
|
Yaron Lipschitz, Eternity |
Brisbane Festival/Circa |
|
Trent Suidgeest, Frankenstein |
shake & stir theatre co/QPAC |
|
Trent Suidgeest, Tae Tae in the Land of Yaaas! |
Brisbane Festival/shake & stir theatre co/QPAC |
|
Bernie Tan-Hayes, Vietgone |
Queensland Theatre |
BEST VIDEO DESIGN
|
Justin Harrison, Is That You, Ruthie? |
QPAC in association with Oombarra Productions |
|
Nevin Howell, Vietgone |
Queensland Theatre |
|
Freddie Komp, Breathe In |
Crossroad Arts |
|
Craig Wilkinson, Frankenstein |
shake & stir theatre co/QPAC |
|
Craig Wilkinson, Wizard of Oz in Concert |
Prospero Arts/QPAC |
BEST DIRECTION
|
Daniel Evans, Drizzle Boy |
Queensland Theatre |
|
Ngọc Phan & Daniel Evans, Vietgone |
Queensland Theatre |
|
Leah Purcell, Is That You, Ruthie? |
QPAC in association with Oombarra Productions |
|
Timothy Wynn, Every Brilliant Thing |
THAT Production Co/Metro Arts |
|
Alison Richardson, Breathe In |
Crossroad Arts |
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING ROLE INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION
|
Caitlin Dooley, CAKE |
IMRSE |
|
Stephen Hirst, Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes |
Offside Theatre |
|
Jason Klarwein, Every Brilliant Thing |
THAT Production Co/Metro Arts |
|
Liliana Macarone, The Penelopiad |
Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble |
|
Cecilia Martin, Break |
The Farm/Metro Arts |
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING ROLE MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION
|
Chenoa Deemal, Is That You Ruthie? |
QPAC in association with Oombarra Productions |
|
Seán Dowling, Unconditional |
Playlab Theatre, presented by Playlab Theatre and Brisbane Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse |
|
Anthony Gooley, The Mystery of the Valkyrie |
Woodward Productions/PowerArts |
|
Cameron Hurry, Unconditional |
Playlab Theatre, presented by Playlab Theatre and Brisbane Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse |
|
Kimie Tsukakoshi, The Poison of Polygamy |
La Boite Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company |
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION
|
Pierce Gordon, Proof |
Ad Astra |
|
Aimee Duroux, Proof |
Ad Astra |
|
Brigitte Freeme, Top Girls |
Ad Astra |
|
Zoe de Plevitz, Adventures of Peter Rabbit |
Small Crown Productions |
|
Cameron Hurry, Grand Horizons |
PIP Theatre |
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION
|
Helen Cassidy, Tae Tae in the Land of Yaaas! |
Brisbane Festival/shake & stir theatre co/QPAC |
|
Courtney Cavallaro, As You Like It |
Queensland Theatre |
|
Ngọc Phan, Vietgone |
Queensland Theatre |
|
Barbara Lowing, Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race |
Queensland Theatre |
|
Merlynn Tong, The Poison of Polygamy |
La Boite Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company |
BEST ENSEMBLE
|
Betwixt |
Pink Matter/Metro Arts |
|
Salamander |
Brisbane Festival/Northshore |
|
Stunt Double |
Brisbane Festival/Brisbane Powerhouse/Screen Queensland/The Farm |
|
The Penelopiad |
Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble |
|
From Little Things |
Flipside Circus & Casus Creations |
BILLE BROWN AWARD BEST EMERGING ARTIST
|
Caitlin Hill, Direction |
Proof, Ad Astra |
|
Courtney Cavallaro, Performance |
As You Like It, Queensland Theatre |
|
Nevin Howell, Video Design |
Drizzle Boy, Queensland Theatre; Vietgone, Queensland Theatre; White China, Playlab Theatre |
|
Peter Keavy, Set and Costume Design |
Capricorn, La Boite Theatre; Higher Faster Louder, JUTE |
|
Malika Savory, Performance |
Children of the Black Skirt, Curators’ Theatre; Picnic at Hanging Rock, Observatory Theatre |
BEST MUSICAL OR CABARET
|
A Very Naughty Christmas |
Woodward Productions |
|
BANANALAND |
Brisbane Festival/QPAC |
|
Billy Elliot |
Matt Ward Entertainment |
|
Merry Mixology |
Outside the Jukebox |
|
The Wizard of Oz in Concert |
Prospero Arts/QPAC |
BEST CIRCUS OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
|
Break |
The Farm/Metro Arts |
|
Party Ghost |
Brisbane Festival/Cluster Arts |
|
RED |
Dancenorth |
|
Salamander |
Brisbane Festival/Northshore |
|
Stunt Double |
Brisbane Festival/Brisbane Powerhouse/Screen Queensland/The Farm/Performing Lines |
BRISBANE POWERHOUSE BEST INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION
|
Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes |
Offside Theatre |
|
CAKE |
IMRSE |
|
ITEM |
Dance Masala’s Nakhre Crew/Metro Arts |
|
Every Brilliant Thing |
THAT Production Company/Metro Arts |
|
Proof |
Ad Astra |
BEST MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION
|
Breathe In |
Crossroad Arts |
|
Drizzle Boy |
Queensland Theatre |
|
Is That You, Ruthie? |
QPAC in association with Oombarra Productions |
|
Vietgone |
Queensland Theatre |
|
Frankenstein |
shake & stir theatre co/QPAC |
THE JUDGES’ AWARD
An award given from time to time at the discretion of the judges for outstanding theatrical endeavour which pushes artistic and/or other boundaries.
TO BE ANNOUNCED ON THE NIGHT
THE LORD MAYOR’S AWARD FOR BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK
|
Breathe In |
Co-creators Brenden Borellini, Georgia Cranko, Alison Richardson Crossroad Arts |
|
Drizzle Boy |
Writer Ryan Enniss Queensland Theatre |
|
Don’t Ask What the Bird Look Like |
Writer Hannah Belanszky Queensland Theatre |
|
Is That You, Ruthie? |
Stage Adaptation by Leah Purcell, based on Is That You, Ruthie? and Buthalangi: A Maranoa Woman by Dr Ruth Hegarty QPAC in association with Oombarra Productions |
|
Unconditional |
Playwrights Seán Dowling, Cameron Hurry Playlab Theatre, presented by Playlab Theatre and Brisbane Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse |
THE GOLD MATILDA
The Gold Matilda is a special open award that may be awarded for a standout production or performance element in that season or recognition to an individual company or group for their contribution to the industry as determined by the judging panel.
TO BE ANNOUNCED ON THE NIGHT
QUT SCHOOL OF CREATIVE PRACTICE BEHIND THE SCENES AWARD
TO BE ANNOUNCED ON THE NIGHT
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