2010

Gold Matilda Awardees

Leon Cain for his performance in I Love You, Bro.

The Escapists for devising and producing boy girl wall.

Eugene Gilfedder for his body of performance work in 2010 including Grimm Tales, Hamlet and The Chairs.

Leah Purcell for her artistic direction of the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts and directing and acting in The Story of the Miracles at Cookies Table.

David Berthold for his repositioning of La Boite and directing Hamlet and I Love You, Bro.

Silver Matilda Awardees & Nominees

Best Mainstage Production:

Hamlet (La Boite)

Best Independent Production:

boy girl wall (The Escapists at Metro)

Best Direction:

Michael Futcher for Grimm Tales

Best Female Actor in a Lead Role:

Leah Purcell in The Story of The Miracles at Cookie's Table

Best Male Actor in a Lead Role:

Leon Cain in I Love You, Bro

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role:

Melanie Zanetti in The Little Dog Laughed

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role:

Dan Crestani in Grimm Tales

Best New Australian Work:

The Bitterling by Sven Swenson

Best Emerging Artist:

Amy Ingram for acting in Fat Pig and Single Admissions

Best Design (set, lighting, sound or costume):

Greg Clarke for design on Grimm Tales

2011

Gold Matilda Awardees

Simone de Haas for her artistic direction of Mixed Company and commitment to producing quality self-funded independent theatre across three decades; including directing, designing and acting in its body of work.

Steven Rooke for his outstanding body of performance work in 2011, including No Man's Land, Julius Caesar and The Removalists.

Josh McIntosh for his prolific body of work for independent theatre companies in 2011, including shake & stir's Animal Farm and set and costume designs for Harvest Rain.

Marcel Dorney for his accomplishment as a playwright in researching and rendering the script of Fractions.

Melanie Zanetti for her radiant performance as
Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion.

Silver Matilda Awardees & Nominees

Best Mainstage Production:

Pygmalion, Queensland Theatre Company

Best Independent Production:

Animal Farm, Shake & Stir
Amadeus, 4MBS Festival of Classics

Best New Play:

Fractions by Marcel Dorney

Best Musical:

Cabaret, Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre

Best Director:

Michael Futcher, Animal Farm
Michael Gow, No Man’s Land

Best Male Actor in a Leading Role:

Paul Bishop, Edward Gant’s Amazing Feats of Loneliness

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role:

Steven Rooke, No Man’s Land

Best Female Actor in a Lead Role:

Melanie Zanetti, Pygmalion

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role:

Carol Burns, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Best Emerging Artist:

Anna McGahan, Julius Caesar

Best Design (set, lighting, sound or costume):

Renee Mulder, set design, Edward Gant’s Amazing Feats of Loneliness

2012

Gold Matilda Awardees

Bryan Probets

Simone Romaniuk

Helen Howard

David Walters

Margi Brown Ash

Silver Matilda Awardees & Nominees 

Best Mainstage Production:

Kelly (QTC)

Best New Australian Work:

A Tribute of Sorts (Benjamin Schostakowski)

Best Independent Production:

A Tribute of Sorts (La Boite & Monsters Appear)

Best Male Actor in a Leading Role:

Dash Kruck (A Tribute of Sorts)

Best Female Actor in a Leading Role:

Emily Curtin (A Tribute of Sorts)

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role:

Bryan Probets (As You Like It)

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role:

Louise Brehmer (Thérèse Raquin)
Luisa Prosser (Thérèse Raquin) 

Best Director:

Helen Howard (Thérèse Raquin)

Best Design:

Simone Romaniuk (Kelly)

Best Emerging Artist:

Lizzie Ballinger (Thérèse Raquin)

2013

Gold Matilda Awardees

Barbara Lowing for performances in The China Incident, Tequila Mockingbird, and Motherland.

Jason Glenwright for lighting Rumour Has It: Sixty Minutes Inside Adele, Out Damn Snot, Blood Brothers, Oklahoma!, Next to Normal, and Tequila Mockingbird.

Andrea Moor for directing Venus in Fur.

shake & stir theatre co. for creating Tequila Mockingbird.

Christen O’Leary for her performance in End of the Rainbow.

Silver Matilda Awardees & Nominees 

Best Mainstage Production:

Tequila Mockingbird, shake + stir and QPAC

Best New Australian Work:

1001 Nights, Michael Futcher and Helen Howard (adapters)

Best Independent Production:

Motherland, Metro Arts and Ellen Belloo

Best Male Actor in a Leading Role:

Dan Crestani, 1001 Nights

Best Female Actor in a Leading Role:

Libby Munro, Venus in Fur

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role:

Hayden Spencer, End of the Rainbow

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role:

Louise Brehmer, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Best Director:

Michael Futcher, 1001 Nights

Best Design (Set and costumes):

Angel Kosch, costume design, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Best Technical Design (Lighting, multimedia and sound design):

Phil Slade, musical director, 1001 Nights

Bille Brown Award for the Best Emerging Artist:

Sandra Carluccio, creator, This Is Capital City

Best Musical or Cabaret:

Rumour Has It: 60 Minutes Inside Adele, Judith Wright Centre and the little red company

2014

Gold Matilda Awardees

Steven Mitchell Wright for directing A Doll's House and directing/designing Caligula.

Tim O'Connor for realising a new vision for Harvest Rain.

optikal bloc for projection and video work on Pale Blue Dot, The Mountaintop, Wuthering Heights, Gasp! and 1984.

Simone Romaniuk for designing Macbeth and Australia Day.

Sven Swenson for co-producing, writing and acting in Angel Gear and Dangerfield Park.

Silver Matilda Awardees & Nominees

Best Mainstage Production

Gloria, Queensland Theatre Company

Best Independent Production

Angel Gear, La Boite Indie & Pentimento Productions
with the support of QPAC

Best Male Actor in a Leading Role

Sven Swenson, Angel Gear

Best Female Actor in a Leading Role

Helen Christinson, A Doll’s House

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Damien Cassidy, A Doll’s House

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Cienda McNamara, A Doll’s House

Best Director

Steven Mitchell Wright, A Doll’s House

Best Design (Set and costumes)

Simone Romaniuk, Macbeth

Best Technical Design (Lighting, multimedia and sound design)

optikal bloc, Pale Blue Dot

Bille Brown Award for the Best Emerging Artist

Casey Woods, Angel Gear

The Lord Mayor's Award for Best New Australian Work

Richard Jordan, Machina

Best Musical or Cabaret

Spamalot, Harvest Rain Theatre Company

2015

Gold Matilda Awardees

Carol Burns for an outstanding performance in Happy Days, and also to celebrate an exceptional body of work.

Silver Matilda Awardees & Nominees

Best Mainstage Production

Brisbane, Queensland Theatre Company

Best Independent Production

The Pillowman, Shock Therapy Productions in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse

Best Male Actor in a Leading Role

Dash Kruck, Brisbane

Best Female Actor in a Leading Role

Libby Munro, Grounded

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Tama Matheson, The Pillowman

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Naomi Price, Ladies in Black

Best Director

Sam Foster, The Pillowman

Best Design (Set and costumes)

Josh McIntosh - set design on Dracula

Best Technical Design (Lighting, multimedia and sound)

Jason Glenwright - lighting design on Dracula

Bille Brown Award for the Best Emerging Artist

Georgina Hopson, Pirates of Penzance & Into the Woods

The Lord Mayor's Award for Best New Australian Work

Brisbane, by Matthew Ryan

Best Musical or Cabaret

I Might Take My Shirt Off, QPAC in association with QLD Cabaret Festival, Jai Higgs & Dash Kruck

Hall of Fame

Sven Swenson

2016

Gold Matilda Awardee

Dead Puppet Society for their exceptional body of work.

Silver Matilda Awardees & Nominees 

Best Mainstage Production

Switzerland, Queensland Theatre Company

Best Independent Production

Viral, Shock Therapy Productions

Best Musical or Cabaret

Carrie: The Musical, Brisbane Powerhouse and Wax Lyrical Productions

Best New Australian Work

proudly supported by Brisbane City Council

Bastard Territory, Stephen Carleton

Best Director

David Morton, The Wider Earth

Best Male Actor

Matthew Backer, Switzerland

Best Supporting Male Actor

Julian Curtis, True West

Bille Brown Award for Best Emerging Artist

Emily Weir, Tartuffe

Best Female Actor

Andrea Moor, Switzerland

Best Supporting Female Actor

Emily Weir, Tartuffe

Best Set Design

Leah Shelton, Terror Australis

Best Costume Design

David Morton & Aaron Barton, The Wider Earth

Best Lighting Design

Jason Glenwright, Carrie: The Musical

Best Sound Design / Composition

Tony Brumpton (Sound Design), Lior & Tony Buchen (Composition), The Wider Earth

Best Audio Visual Design

Justin Harrison (AV Design) & Anna Straker (Illustration), The Wider Earth

2017

Gold Matilda Awardee

Playlab for evolving into Queensland’s new-writing theatre company with their inaugural production of Blue Bones, positioning them nationally as the only company to take work from idea through development, on stage and into publication. 
Read more.

Silver Matilda Awardees & Nominees 

Best Mainstage Production

Blue Bones (Playlab in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse)

Best Independent Production

The Forwards (Shock Therapy Productions, Zeal & Brisbane Powerhouse)

Best Musical or Cabaret

American Idiot (shake & stir theatre co and QPAC)

Best Circus or Physical Theatre Work

Humans (Circa & QPAC)

The Lord Mayor's Award for Best New Australian Work

Blue Bones, by Merlynn Tong

Best Director

Ian Lawson, Blue Bones (Playlab in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse)

Bille Brown Award for Best Emerging Artist

Meg Bowden, The Winter's Tale (Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble)

Best Female Actor in a Leading Role

Merlynn Tong, Blue Bones (Playlab in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse)

Best Male Actor in a Leading Role

Colin Smith, An Octoroon (Queensland Theatre & Brisbane Festival)

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Elise Greig, Swallow (EG & Metro Arts)
Helen O'Leary, Swallow (EG & Metro Arts)

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Anthony Standish, An Octoroon (Queensland Theatre & Brisbane Festival)

Best Set Design

Josh McIntosh, American Idiot (shake & stir theatre co & QPAC)

Best Costume Design

GUSH: Bianca Mackail, Mayu Muto, Celia White & Anna Yen, Monsteria (GUSH, Vulcana Women's Circus & Brisbane Powerhouse)

Best Lighting Design

David Walters, Blue Bones (Playlab in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse)

Best Sound Design

Tony Brumpton & Sam Cromack (Ball Park Music), Laser Beak Man (Dead Puppet Society, Brisbane Festival & La Boite)

Best Audio Visual Design

Nathan Sibthorpe, Blue Bones (Playlab in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse)

2018

Gold Matilda Awardee

Debase Productions
This special, open award recognises either a standout production or performance element in the year’s theatrical season or, in this instance, recognition of an individual company or group for their contribution to the industry as determined by the judging panel. DeBase are being recognised this year for their commitment to making theatre of excellence in Queensland for over 20 years, touring nationally and internationally, focusing on the use of comedy to address social issues in a way that is in tune with their target audience.

Inaugural Emerging Female Leader Award

Christine Felmingham

Lifetime Achievement Award

Rosemary Walker, for her outstanding contribution to the Queensland Theatre industry throughout her career as a publicist.

Silver Matilda Awardees & Nominees 

Best Video Design

Craig Wilkinson, A Christmas Carol

An original and captivating video design that incorporated new video forms, staging magical gestures that were both theatrical and cinematic to impeccably support the aesthetic of the production. Craig’s design enchanted audiences with its spectacle, but only ever to serve the wonder of the story being told.

Best Lighting Design

David Walters, Nearer the Gods

In a production that that deals with both human foibles and the mysteries of the star-studded universe, David Walters’s original design displayed exquisite lighting artistry, providing moments that transported us beyond the characters’ earthbound realities, giving the audience evocative glimpses of the cosmic enormities that grounded the story.

Best Sound Design/Composition

Babushka, Happily Ever After

Babushka, in collaboration with Luke Volker, created an impressive sound aesthetic that incorporated blind-siding arrangements of a combination of original composition and existing works, utilising exquisite vocal harmonies and live music to deliver a darkly seductive and wickedly theatrical score.

Best Costume Design

Penny Challen, The Owl and the Pussycat

From a Surfers Paradise beach as part of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Festival 2018 to a season at Flowstate and then on tour, the costume design for this work needed to be flexible and pack a visual punch. And that’s precisely what Penny Challen succeeded in doing. A visual feast, within an innovative contemporary context, the costume design provided seamless dramaturgical support for the work, with each costume displaying an impressive attention to detail and providing a vibrant and precise expression of the characters within their pea-green world.

Best Set Design

Josh McIntosh, A Christmas Carol

For inventive use of scale, theatrically realising a shifting cityscape that brought a vivid liveliness to this world. Josh’s modular design enabled a dynamic relationship between the characters and their environment, where the whole world seemed to open up and close in on its inhabitants as the story unfolded. This outstanding scenic design created a highly adaptive space that traversed numerous locations and technical requirements in a way that clearly evoked the environment of Ebenezer Scrooge’s world, while giving the artists a space within which to explore and create.

Best Director

Natano Fa’anana and Bridget Boyle, We Live Here

To the excellent directing team of Natano Fa’anana & Bridget Boyle, for their elegant and nuanced direction, and sensitive, funny, yet hard-hitting sharing of the story of the people of Hummingbird house. These directors worked collaboratively to create an incredibly strong visual narrative that seamlessly combined forms of circus and recorded narration to portray real stories. The result of their attention to detail was a compelling and unforgettable theatrical experience.

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Andrea Moor, Hedda

Andrea Moor was barely recognizable in her standout portrayal of Aunt Julia Tesman, completely embodying the bogan matriarch, skilfully bringing both humour and heart in this layered and nuanced supporting performance. This outstanding work solidifies Andrea’s place as one of Queensland’s theatrical treasures.

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Jackson McGovern, The Owl and the Pussycat

Jackson found gravity, balance, humanity and humour in an eclectic array of larger-than-life characters including a turkey, a pig, a bear and a moon. In a challenging breadth of roles, the skill of the performer shone through to create many memorable and standout moments that expertly supported the storytelling.

Best Female Actor in a Leading Role

Noni Hazlehurst, Mother

In a solo work written specifically for her, Noni gave an outstanding performance, giving voice to Christie, a lost, fallen and ultimately dispossessed woman existing on the fringes of society. Through her nuanced portrayal, we were able to connect with the humanity of this beautifully wrought character, and perhaps reflect on our own.

Best Male Actor in a Leading Role

Paul Bishop, Poison

For his compelling and unflinching portrayal of a father faced with life after the death of his son and the breakdown of his marriage, Paul Bishop brought the depth and breadth of his experience as one of Queensland’s most experienced actors to this work, presenting an intimately moving performance that captured the complexity of loss as both particular and universal. With Paul’s embodiment, the sticky details of this character’s backstory open up to accommodate our own grief and heartaches.

Bille Brown Award – Best Emerging Artist

Carly Quinn, The Hatpin

In the early stages of her professional career, Carly is being acknowledged for her portrayal of Harriet Piper, clearly meeting the professional requirements of the challenge. Carly displayed a solid skill base within a fully realised character journey replete with inventive choices and excellent comic timing that was skilfully coupled with vulnerability and empathy.

Best Circus or Physical Theatre Work

We Live Here, Flipside and Metro Arts

A unique collaboration of physical theatre, circus and recorded verbatim stories, this intricately nuanced production utilised a strong ensemble, excellent skills base, transformative design, stunning direction and detailed, touching performances to deliver an impossible-to-forget story about life in the face of death. For many, this work offered one of those divine experiences in the theatre – where an inexplicable moment in time and space lands with such emotional resonance that it transcends all language as a way of connecting us to each other.

Best Independent Production

The Sound of a Finished Kiss, Now Look Here and Electric Moon

In a strong year of independent work, The Sound of a Finished Kiss was considered the best overall independent production because of the unique nature of the musical work, the execution of the production, the degree of difficulty and uniqueness inherent in the original concept and the way in which all elements of the production came together to create an innovative theatrical experience of the indie musical reimagined for Queensland audiences.

Best Musical or Cabaret

The Sound of a Finished Kiss, Now Look Here and Electric Moon in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse

The indie musical reimagined for Queensland audiences, this compelling story of love, loss, betrayal and share-housing was explored in an inventive work inspired by the songs of The Go-Betweens. Using four singers, a live band and eleven songs from this iconic Brisbane band, The Sound of a Finished Kiss proved to be a powerful coming-of-age story that cut across genres and generations.

Best Mainstage Production: TIE

Prize Fighter (La Boite & Brisbane Festival) and The Longest Minute (Jute, Debase and Queensland Theatre)

This award is shared between two exceptional productions this year. Prize Fighter is recognised for the further development that has refined it into a powerful theatrical work of excellence. The urgent heart of this production explores the compelling story of a Congolese refugee, haunted by his past as a child soldier, as he fights to build a future in Brisbane.

The Longest Minute is acknowledged as an excellent collaboration between Jute, Debase & Queensland Theatre, fully immersing a diverse audience in the world of sport & theatre. By capturing attention through a uniquely local premise, this play sneaks up on us to explore underlying social, cultural and gender themes within its compelling story.

All elements of both productions were consistently outstanding and worked harmoniously to deliver theatre of excellence.

The Lord Mayor’s Award for Best New Australian Work

Crunch Time, Counterpilot

Including works from all performance categories, this is a very competitive category and this year is awarded to an outstanding new work that pushes the boundaries of what contemporary theatre is or can be. A transmedia performance work, sitting in the world of immersive theatre, Crunch Time places its full trust in the hands of the audience, combining intricately complex interactive digital design, with a guest chef from a public position, to set the scene for a performative dinner party designed to model the processes of democracy while providing the audience with a uniquely immersive theatrical event.

2019

Gold Matilda Awardee

Shake & Stir
Shake & Stir is one of Australia’s leading contemporary theatre companies, formed in 2006, and creating bold and exciting mainstage and in-school productions that tour Australia and New Zealand. Shake & Stir has built a company that doesn’t just entertain existing audiences with their spectacular main house productions that display a consistent level of excellence, but the company also cultivates a new audience, creating the artists of tomorrow through their in-school programs.

Inaugural Emerging Female Leader Award

Emily Wells

Emily Wells is an impressive young woman who is stepping into a leadership space as a First Nations producer across disciplines.  Already contributing significantly to the sector and demonstrating  curiosity and enthusiasm to continue to learn and expand her skills and networks, Emily is ready to embrace the mentoring opportunities offered by the Emerging Female Arts Leader Award. 

Backstage Award

Tanya Malouf

A fixture of the Queensland performing arts community, Tanya has demonstrated excellence in her long career as a stage manager, company manager, and project coordinator. While recognising her incredible body of work, Tanya was especially nominated for her tireless efforts in her role as Tour Producer with ArTour in 2019, demonstrating patience, persistence and professionalism in all she does behind the scenes to secure multi-location national tours for Queensland artists.

Silver Matilda Awardees & Nominees

BEST VIDEO DESIGN: WINNER

Craig Wilkinson (video) and Jon Weber (illustrations), Fantastic Mr Fox (Shake & Stir and QPAC)

Video design excellence is positioned front and centre in this visually decadent production, using animation to drive the distinct theatrical style and staging. With this elaborately interactive design, Craig Wilkinson has cemented his reputation as a master of projector spectacle, demonstrating the magical theatricality of his illusory virtual worlds. Jon Weber’s illustrated environments here create the perfect play space for these larger-than-life characters to breathe, and for this much-loved classic to find its purpose on stage.

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN: WINNER

Geoff Squires, Inside Out (Tammy Zarb and Company)

This unsuspecting design was executed sensitively in response to its site, transforming found spaces imaginatively whilst respecting the eccentricities of the architecture. Geoff made very effective use of simple tools and excellent design choices, appropriating existing lighting fixtures alongside theatrical interventions in order to sculpt the environment. In this promenade work, the bold use of lighting contributed indispensably to the sense of enchantment and discovery felt by the audience.

BEST SOUND DESIGN/COMPOSITION: WINNER

Luke Smiles (design) and Anna Whitaker (associate), Throttle (The Farm at Bleach*)

This design involved a very high degree of difficulty, bringing to life the sound environment for a B-grade Thriller, viewed from within the safety of your own car.  With a soundtrack heard through your car radio, this production excellently captured all the nuance, originality and detail of live-action drive-in theatre.  Sound effects and voiceover were incorporated impeccably, bringing to life what begins as one man’s love song to his Volvo but turns deadly as the zombies inflict mayhem and disorder, running riot through the outdoor site.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN: WINNER

Libby McDonnell, Orpheus and Eurydice (Opera Queensland and Circa)

In Orpheus and Eurydice, Libby McDonnell and the costume team at Opera Queensland created some of the most stunning costumes this year on Queensland’s stages. The bold, graphic styling combined with exquisite cutting created a striking aesthetic that would be very much at home on the best international stages and linger long in the audience’s memory after seeing the production. As Orpheus and Eurydice took their perilous journey home, we were treated to exquisite detail and variation in costuming that served both the singers and the circus performers alike, combining harmoniously to create an exceptional whole.

BEST SET DESIGN: WINNER

Josh McIntosh, Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts (Shake & Stir and La Boite)

This tightly crafted, swiftly moving production needed a flexible, inventive and workable set to facilitate the rapid-fire storytelling. The result was a delightful design that not only met all practical requirements and levels of excellence but, in its seamless execution, also perfectly matched the production’s witty, sharp and clever style. Facilitating the surprising and hilarious twists of the production, the design brought to life Roald Dahl’s beloved stories, serving the text and tight ensemble of 4 actors, in equal measure.

BEST DIRECTOR: WINNER

Daniel Evans, Cinderella (QPAC and Myths Made Here)

While the term auteur usually only relates to film, Daniel Evans’ individual style and sure hand ensures the term translates easily to theatre.  Daniel gives each of his productions his personal and unique stamp and in the instance of Cinderella, the direction is so distinct and individual that Daniel’s signature was evident from the opening moment.  This was tight, compelling storytelling, executed flawlessly and delivering a consistent level of excellence, eliciting beautifully nuanced performances from the actors.  

SHORTLIST

Jason Klarwein, Death of a Salesman (Queensland Theatre)

Ross Balbuziente, Fantastic Mr Fox (Shake & Stir and QPAC)

Paige Rattray, Fangirls (Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Festival and Belvoir in association with ATYP)

BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: WINNER

Susie French, Girl’s Guide to World War (Musical Theatre Australia)

Susie’s down-to-earth, unpretentious characterisation was executed effortlessly, and captured the passion, dedication and sheer determination of a woman well ahead of her time. Embodying the individuality and inimitability of Dr. Lilian Cooper, Susie was able to entertain and educate while keeping us eating out of the palm of her hand.  From the moment we met this full-rounded character, it was clear we were in excellent hands as we watched Dr. Cooper’s story unfold.  

BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: WINNER

Thomas Larkin, Death of a Salesman (Queensland Theatre)

Thomas Larkin's touching performance of an iconic character, Biff, in Arthur Miller’s modern American classic, presents a unique challenge for an actor.  How to breathe life into such a well-known role?  Thomas addressed this issue head on and successfully delivered a deeply moving portrayal while speaking to contemporary issues of masculinity, expectations and fulfilment.  His physicality and vocal work were both excellent, executed with individuality and assurance.   As Biff’s fractured relationship with his father came into sharp relief, the craft and skill of the actor were utilised to full effect, expertly embedded in the character, delivering a performance that was compelling and deeply affecting.    

BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE: WINNER

Amy Ingram, Cinderella (QPAC and Myths Made Here)

Amy's intricately detailed portrayal of Ashley in Cinderella was a highlight of the year, with her impeccable comedic timing and raw vulnerability she had us in the palm of her hand from the moment she walked on stage. We were laughing, crying and cringing with awkwardness as we followed her journey through the reimagining of Cinderella.  Ultimately, due to Amy’s skill and level of excellence as an actor, we were left with a lasting connection to the character and her world.  This achievement speaks volumes to the strength of Amy's performance and the execution of a fresh, contemporary take on an iconic character.

BEST MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE: WINNER

Richard Lund, Kelly (Ad Astra)

In a highly competitive field, Richard's performance of Ned Kelly gave us a fresh, multi-faceted and finely crafted portrayal of a character we all 'know'. A high degree of excellence was evident in a performance that was a glorious mix of  danger and humour, strength and compassion with the underlying fierce loyalty of the Ned Kelly we all expect.  Richard executed the role with confidence, consistency and a high level of skill, as he sat naturally and comfortably in this character, hooking us into his unique world and keeping us hanging on his every word. 

BILLE BROWN AWARD – BEST EMERGING ARTIST: WINNER

Gina Tay Limpus, The Tempest and La Silhouette

A physical actor, director and theatre-maker, Gina is being recognised for her compelling talent and strong skill set, that transfer seamlessly to any context. Still in the early stages of her professional career, in her work in both The Tempest and La Silhouette, Gina displayed consistency and a high level of execution in her work, both vocally and physically.  We look forward to seeing more from Gina as her career develops.

BEST CIRCUS OR PHYSICAL THEATRE WORK: WINNER

Inside Out (Tammy Zarb and Company)

A compelling new physical theatre work, presented as part of Bleach* Festival, Inside Out stood out in what was a highly competitive field.  In this large-scale, site-specific theatre work, Tammy work utilised an excellent ensemble of performers to lead audiences across the grandeur of the Abedian School of Architecture Building at Bond University, exploring what was conceptualised as a ‘cathedral of concrete.’ The ensemble explored the sloping pathways, mezzanines, curved stairwells and sloping sculptural frames, before leading the audience outside to its wooden forest.  This was a cinematic-like, yet highly theatrical experience that was enhanced by live vocalists, a beautiful soundscape and an intelligent and unique lighting design.

BEST MUSICAL OR CABARET: WINNER

Fangirls (Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Festival and Belvoir in association with ATYP)

Fangirls, a bold new musical, delivered a genuinely fresh, loud and proud female-centric production that brought the experiences of young women front and centre on our stages.  First love meets fan culture in this hilarious musical work that combines pop culture, touches of rave and the soul of choir, to cleverly explore the brave new world taking place right now through the online media experiences of young people. Acute, edgy, and very sharp direction and command of each element from Paige Rattray and her team made this production of Fangirls a highlight on stage this year, embraced by female and male audiences alike, and reminding us to never underestimate teenage girls.

BEST INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION: WINNER

La Silhouette (Sui Ensemble)

It’s not easy to choose the recipient for the category, given the vast number of independent shows viewed throughout the year. With La Silhouette, Sui Ensemble showed that they are not only an ambitious company, but also a company with an abundance of raw talent that enabled them to devise a work of immersive theatre that has a very high degree of difficulty accompanied by a high level of excellence in terms of execution.  Skilfully weaving together local queer histories that are both beautiful and sad, both true and imagined, La Silhouette is a unique and truly independent work that envelops its audience whole and refuses to pull any punches from euphoric start to climactic finish. 

BEST MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION: WINNER

Death of a Salesman (Queensland Theatre)

It is potentially challenging to bring something new to a play that is over seventy years old, but Queensland Theatre’s production of Death of a Salesman managed to bring the Arthur Miller classic into the present without changing what made it a classic in the first place. This production delighted both existing fans as well as educating a new generation about what earns this work a place at the top of the list of the great American plays.  As the death-rattle of American optimism echoed through the land of the free market, the audience followed Willy Loman as he lost himself in the halcyon days of the past, at the same time opening a window for the audience to reflect on America then and now. A withering commentary on capitalism, this production displayed excellence in every element, bringing an American classic very much into the contemporary conversation.

THE LORD MAYOR’S AWARD FOR BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK: WINNER

Girl’s Guide to World War, Katy Forde (Book and lyrics), Aleathea Monsour (Composer)

A new musical that explores the astonishing true story of a group of women who try to sign up for army service in World War One but are soundly rejected and told to, “Go home and sit still”. Thankfully, the women have other ideas.  Incorporating live music and a narrative that traverses the gamut of the human condition, this is a finely nuanced work  that follows a year that changes their lives forever.  Dealing with themes of inclusion, freedom, power and commitment, this work uses a combination of compelling storytelling and original musical composition to explore a story of contemporary relevance.