Queensland’s dazzling theatre industry is back in the spotlight with the return of the prestigious Matilda Awards on 29 March 2022.
After a COVID-enforced hiatus in 2021, Queensland’s premier awards for performing arts is back to recognise two seasons of exceptional entertainment across 2020 and 2021.
Matilda Awards Chair Jan Irvine said the expanded scope meant the committee has selected six nominees in each of the 16 categories, instead of the traditional four. “The past two years have been challenging and, at times, heartbreaking for Queensland’s performing arts sector,” said Ms Irvine.
“But among the rubble of this pandemic, talented and passionate actors, designers, directors, playwrights, companies and creative teams have continued to produce incredible, world-class work to delight, reflect, distract and, above all, entertain audiences.”
Independent productions are strong contenders in 2022, led by shake & stir theatre co. with six nominations for Fourthcoming, THAT Production Company’s five nominations for Sea Wall, Michael Smith & The Farm with four nominations for Cowboy and The Little Red Company with four nominations for Your Song.
La Boite Theatre’s 2021 season opener, Naked & Screaming, is nominated for six awards, as is Queensland Theatre’s Brisbane Festival juggernaut, Boy Swallows Universe. Vying for Best Mainstage Production are La Boite’s Away and Naked & Screaming, Queensland Theatre’s Boy Swallows Universe, Triple X and Prima Facie and shake & stir’s Fourthcoming.
The Matilda Awards is supported by Arts Queensland and Brisbane City Council and will be presented at the Powerhouse Theatre – Brisbane Powerhouse on Tuesday 29 March 2022. For more information, visit: www.matildaawards.com.au for details.
Image: Boy Swallows Universe – photo by David Kelly
Matilda Awards 2022 Nominees:
Best Video Design:
Studio Hackett & Wirrim Studio: Weredingo (Karul Projects)
Nathan Sibthorp: Horizon (Brisbane Powerhouse & Playlab Theatre)
Nathan Sibthorpe: The Holidays (Queensland Theatre)
Craig Wilkinson: Avoidable Perils (Counterpilot & Optikal Bloc)
Craig Wilkinson: Boy Swallows Universe (Queensland Theatre)
Craig Wilkinson: Fourthcoming (shake & stir theatre co)
Best Lighting Design:
Daniel Anderson: Sea Wall (THAT Production Company)
Christine Felmingham: The Bull, the Moon and the Coronet of Stars (The Hive)
Jason Glenwright: The Holidays (Queensland Theatre)
Jason Glenwright: Your Song (The Little Red Company)
Ben Hughes: Boy Swallows Universe (Queensland Theatre)
David Walters: Horizon (Brisbane Powerhouse & Playlab Theatre)
Sound Design:
Jamie Taylor: Your Song (The Little Red Company)
Brady Watkins: Sea Wall (THAT Production Company)
Guy Webster: Fourthcoming (shake & stir theatre co)
Guy Webster: Undertow (Shock Therapy Productions)
Guy Webster: Naked & Screaming (La Boite Theatre)
Anna Whitaker & Ben Ely: Cowboy (Brisbane Festival & Metro Arts)
Best Costume Design:
Briefs Factory: Dirty Laundry (Briefs Factory International)
Lisa Fa’alafi, Leah Shelton & Chloe Greaves: Demolition (Polytoxic)
Chloe Greaves: That’s What She Said (The Good Room & Metro Arts)
Bill Haycock: Of Mice & Men (Ad Astra)
Renee Mulder: Triple X (Queensland Theatre)
Sarah Winter: Away (La Boite Theatre)
Best Set Design:
Chloe Greaves: Naked & Screaming (La Boite Theatre)
Chloe Greaves: That’s What She Said (The Good Room & Metro Arts)
Bill Haycock: Of Mice and Men (Ad Astra)
Lisa Fa’alafi, Leah Shelton, Leigh Walker & Helen Clifford: Demolition (Polytoxic)
Renee Mulder: Triple X (Queensland Theatre)
The Tap Pack: The Tap Pack (SK Entertainment)
Best Director:
Daniel Evans: Away (La Boite Theatre)
Nelle Lee & Nick Skubij: Fourthcoming (shake & stir theatre co)
Lee Lewis: Mouthpiece (Queensland Theatre)
Sanja Simic: Caesar (La Boite Theatre)
Sanja Simic: Naked & Screaming (La Boite Theatre)
Timothy Wynn: Sea Wall (THAT Production Company)
Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role:
Ellen Bailey: Taming of the Shrew (Queensland Theatre)
Asabi Goodman: The Revolutionists (The Curators)
Jodie Le Vesconte: Anatomy of a Suicide (Metro Arts & BC Productions Qld with e.g & Big Scar)y
Barb Lowing: Ishmael (Dead Puppet Society)
Ngoc Phan: Boy Swallows Universe (Queensland Theatre)
Christen O’Leary: Triple X (Queensland Theatre)
Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role:
Darcy Brown: Animal Farm (shake & stir theatre co)
Andrew Buchanan: Boy Swallows Universe (Queensland Theatre)
Leon Cain: The Taming of the Shrew (Queensland Theatre)
Pierce Gordon: Against the Wall (Passion Productions)
Benjin Maza: Weredingo (Karul Projects)
Steven Rooke: Rising (Metro Arts & Playlab Theatre)
Best Female Actor in a Leading Role:
Emily Burton: Naked & Screaming (La Boite Theatre)
Ling Cooper Tang: Rising (Metro Arts & Playlab Theatre)
Judy Hainsworth: Margaret Fulton The Musical (Jally Entertainment)
Irena Lysiuk: Your Song (The Little Red Company)
Ngoc Phan: Horizon (Brisbane Powerhouse & Playlab Theatre)
Isabella Tannock: Get Her Outta Here (Broccolini Productions)
Best Male Actor in a Leading Role:
Toby Angus: This Ain’t No Pussy Show (Kate Harman, Brisbane Festival & Metro Arts)
Johnny Balbuziente: Fourthcoming (shake & stir theatre co)
Jackson McGovern: Naked & Screaming (La Boite Theatre)
Jayden Popik: Mouthpiece (Queensland Theatre)
Steven Rooke: Sea Wall (THAT Production Company)
Michael Smith: Cowboy (Brisbane Festival, Metro Arts & The Farm)
Bille Brown Award – Best Emerging Artist:
Toby Angus: This Ain’t No Pussy Show (Kate Harman, Brisbane Festival & Metro Arts)
Pierce Gordon: Against the Wall (Passion Productions)
Lucy Heathcote: Our Town (Queensland Theatre)
Joe Klocek: Boy Swallows Universe (Queensland Theatre)
Jayden Popik: Mouthpiece (Queensland Theatre)
Isabella Tannock: Get Her Outta Here (Broccolini Productions)
Best Circus or Physical Theatre Work:
Auntie’s Fiafia Night (Casus Circus)
Collision (Casus Circus/Mad Dance House)
Cowboy (Michael Smith & The Farm, Brisbane Festival & Metro Arts)
Demolition (Polytoxic)
Ingress (Bridie Hooper)
Wolfgang’s Magical Musical Circus (Circa)
Best Musical or Cabaret:
Friends! The Musical Parody (SK Productions)
Lesbian Love Stories (The Local Lesbians)
The Tap Pack (SK Productions)
There’s Something about Music (The Little Red Company)
Tick, Tick … Boom (THAT Production Company)
Your Song (The Little Red Company)
Best Independent Production:
Against the Wall (Passion Productions)
Boyle & Waters in Leotard (Metro Arts)
Cowboy (The Farm, Brisbane Festival & Metro Arts)
Sea Wall (THAT Production Company)
Undertow (Shock Therapy Productions)
Wilbur the Optical Whale (indelabilityarts, Brisbane Festival & Metro Arts)
Best Mainstage Production:
Away (La Boite Theatre)
Boy Swallows Universe (Queensland Theatre)
Fourthcoming (shake & stir theatre co)
Naked & Screaming (La Boite Theatre)
Prima Facie (Queensland Theatre)
Triple X (Queensland Theatre)
The Lord Mayor’s Award for Best New Australian Work:
Cowboy (Michael Smith & The Farm Michael Smith & The Farm, Brisbane Festival & Metro Arts)
Fourthcoming (Nelle Lee – shake & stir theatre co)
Return to the Dirt (Steve Pirie – Queensland Theatre)
That’s What She Said (The Good Room- The Good Room & Metro Arts)
Undertow (Hayden Jones & Sam Foster Shock Therapy Productions)
Wilbur the Optical Whale (Karen Lee Roberts – indelabilityarts, Brisbane Festival & Metro Arts)