Presented to the Designer or Design team, this category encompasses scenic design for full professional and Independent productions across all performance categories. Designers may be nominated separately in the same category for different productions. 

Presented to the Designer or Design team, this category encompasses costume design for full professional and Independent productions across all performance categories. Designers may be nominated separately in the same category for different productions. 

Presented to the Designer or Design team, this category encompasses original Lighting design for full professional and Independent productions across all performance categories. Designers may be nominated separately in the same category for different productions. 

Work in this category may include lighting and lighting elements that support the aesthetic of a production but does not include Audio Visual elements such as projection and video, unless they are especially integral as lighting elements of a production.

Presented to the Designer or Design team. this category encompasses original sound design for full professional and Independent productions across all performance categories. Designers may be nominated separately in the same category for different productions. 

Work in this category may include backing score for theatre productions, ambient sounds and atmosphere created through sound either live or recorded, to support the aesthetic of a production.  From 2018 onwards, this category may also include songs and score for musical theatre or cabaret works.

Presented to the Designer or Design team, this category encompasses original Video design for full professional and Independent productions across all performance categories. Designers may be nominated separately in the same category for different productions. 

Work in this category may include projection, video, recorded moving images, animations, etc. that support the aesthetic of a production but does not include general lighting or lighting elements.  Where the Audio Visual design is used as the major set design element for a production such that it is eligible for nomination in the Best Design - Set category, the work will be nominated in one category only. 

Presented to the Director or Directing Team. This category encompasses Directors or Directing teams for full professional or independent productions across all performance categories. Directors may be nominated separately in the same category for different productions. 

Presented to an individual performer, this category encompasses performances by an individual actor in a lead role, in productions across all performance categories, in both full professional and independent productions.  Actors may be nominated separately in the same category for different productions. 

Actors nominated in this category cannot be nominated in Best Actor in a Supporting Role category or Best Ensemble for the same role.  Where actors perform multiple roles in a single production they may be nominated once only in this category for that production. 

Presented to an individual performer, this category encompasses performances by an individual actor in a supporting role (non-lead) in productions across all performance categories, in both full professional and independent productions. Actors may be nominated separately in the same category for different productions.

Actors nominated in this category cannot be nominated in Best Actor in a Leading Role category for the same role. Where actors perform multiple roles in a single production they may be nominated once only in this category for that production. 

Presented to an ensemble of performers, this category encompasses performances by an ensemble cast in productions across all performance categories, in both full professional and independent productions.  Actors may be nominated separately in the same category for different productions. 

Where a standout performance by an actor in an ensemble cast is nominated the actor may also be nominated in the Supporting Role category.

Actors nominated in this category cannot be nominated in Best Actor in a Leading Role category for the same role.

Presented to the producing company or collective, this category encompasses Musical Theatre and Cabaret productions by full professional or Independent companies.

Work in this category cannot be nominated in Best Circus or Physical Theatre Production, however may be nominated in Best Mainstage Production or Best Independent Production.

Presented to the producing company or collective, this category encompasses performance work that may be considered circus or physical theatre by full professional or Independent companies.

Works nominated in this category cannot be nominated in Best Musical or Cabaret, however may be nominated in Best Mainstage or Best Independent Production.

Presented to an individual or team, this category encompasses artists who are considered in the early stages of their professional career. 

It includes artists engaged in full professional or independent productions in any performance category and includes artists across all individual categories of the awards such as actors, designers, directors, etc. 

Artists may be nominated only once in this category but the nomination may represent a body of work in the awards year.

Once nominated for this category, nominees may not be nominated for this category in the future.

Presented to the producing company or collective, this work encompasses productions delivered by fully professional companies or independent companies working in collaboration with major venues to produce work. 

The award is given for the best overall production thinking beyond the production in terms of individual categories. 

Works in this category will usually have received nominations in one or more individual categories, though in rare cases it is possible for a work to be nominated where it has not been nominated in any individual category. 

A company may produce separate works allowing them to be nominated in Best Mainstage and Best Independent Production for different works, though this would be rare.

Works nominated in this category cannot be nominated in Best Independent Production, however may have been nominated in Best Musical or Cabaret.  Producing companies may be nominated separately in the same category for different productions.

Presented to the producing company or collective, this category encompasses theatre works produced by independent companies or collectives across all performance categories who are producing work that is not considered “mainstage.”

This may refer to the scale of the work, producing framework, or level of formal support given by organisations and funding bodies.

The award is given for the best overall production thinking beyond the production in terms of individual categories. 

Works in this category will usually have received nominations in one or more individual categories, though in rare cases it is possible for a work to be nominated where it has not been nominated in any individual category. 

A company may produce separate works allowing them to be nominated in Best Mainstage and Best Independent Production for different works, though this would be rare.

Works nominated in this category cannot be nominated in Best Mainstage Production, however may have been nominated in Best Musical or Cabaret etc. Producing companies may be nominated separately in the same category for different productions.

Presented to the Writer, Writing team, Deviser or Devising team, this category encompasses all new Australian created works within the awards year seen by the Judging Panel and includes work from all performance categories

Work may be a new script, adaptation or devised work. Work in this category may have been nominated in other individual categories.

An award that recognises an individual or small group who display excellence within their position behind the scenes.

Excellence can be defined as the demonstration of outstanding skill, creativity, and execution in a specific area of theatre production. Excellence is not just about technical proficiency but also about how effectively the individual/small group communicates ideas, challenges norms, and resonates with audiences and the broader theatre community.

This could include, but is not limited to: stage managers, assistant stage managers, production managers, sound, lighting or video operators, marketing, finance, managers, administration. 

Nominations can be submitted by any individual from within the professional theatre sector and can be made via the Matilda Awards website.  Nominations will be received by the Judging Panel who will create a short list and determine the winner.

An award given at the discretion of the judges for a standout production or performance element in that season or recognition to an individual company or group for their contribution to the industry

An award given at the discretion of the judges for outstanding theatrical endeavour which pushes artistic and/or other boundaries.