2023 Matilda Awards Winners & Nominees

The GOLD MATILDA

Suellen Maunder, JUTE

Artistic Director since 1992, pioneering regional theatre, new work development and support of local theatre practitioners

Artistic Director & CEO of JUTE Theatre Company, Cairns,  Suellen was founding member in 1992, alongside Kathryn Ash and Susan Prince, of Just Us Theatre Ensemble, a gutsy, forward-looking company which grew to become a dynamic, award-winning new work theatre organisation and a beacon for regional arts practice across Australia.

For more than 30 years, Suellen has led with energy, tenacity and rigour, stepping into different roles on and off stage, spearheading the development, production and touring of new, diverse and vibrant work.

Suellen was also a key figure in the establishment of Bulmba-ja Arts Centre and is a well-respected voice in the state and national arts communities.

BEST Set Design

Tyler Hill, Stunt Double, The Farm, Brisbane Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse, Screen Queensland, Performing Lines

The set design for Stunt Double was an inspired blend of B-grade horror props and A-grade craftsmanship, brilliantly transforming the bare stage into a fictional 70s Australian film before our eyes. The dynamic set evoked an old Hollywood feel with a distinctive and charming 'Australiana' touch that always had us guessing where the next action-packed thrill would take us. Tyler Hills’ innovative use of dark and cinematic elements within the set not only delivered a visually striking experience but also masterfully complemented the show's overall exploration of the film industry's treatment of its hardest workers.

ShORTLIST

David Cross, RED, Dancenorth

Peter Keavy, Capricorn, La Boite Theatre in Association with QPAC

Josh McIntosh, Tae Tae in the Land of Yaaas!, Shake & Stir Theatre Co, QPAC and Brisbane Festival

Simone Romaniuk, BANANALAND, Brisbane Festival, QPAC  

BEST Costume Design

Delvene Cockatoo-Collins and Peter Keavy, Capricorn, La Boite Theatre in Association with QPAC

Delvene Cockatoo-Collins' Here Fishy Fishy costume delighted the judges both visually and audibly. The costume pieces looked hand dyed in ochre, giving it a natural, earthy appearance. Mother of Pearl shells trimmed the overcoat. These were eye-catching and cleverly used to include the element of water in the costume. They also made a delightful clinking sound as the character moved. Peter Keavy used colour and styling effectively in coordinating costumes for Capricorn. The humans wore outfits of teals & turquoise which matched the colours of the set, elevating its visual effect.  Here Fishy Fishy had several goldfish-orange costumes and distinctive styles of clothing were used to reflect the characters' changing moods and mindset.

ShORTLIST

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

Kate Miller-Heidke, Keir Nuttall, James Dobinson, Joy Weng and Terry McKibbin, BANANALAND, Brisbane Festival, QPAC

BANANALAND is a tribute to the delightfully nonsensical pursuit of an unattainable goal, guided by the masterful musical compositions of Kate Miller-Heidke and her partner Keir Nuttall. The production showcased a remarkable group of singer-actors, each able to captivate the audience with their dynamic performances and impeccable vocal abilities. Together as a vocal ensemble, they effortlessly intertwined their voices to create flawless harmonies that were both powerful and satisfying. The brilliant Musical Direction by James Dobinson was further elevated by the impeccable Sound Design of Weng and McKibbin, resulting in an unforgettable auditory experience for all.

ShORTLIST

Alisdair Macindoe, RED, Dancenorth

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

With an international team of creatives at the helm and a true collaboration across all art forms, Salamander was one of 2023's defining experiences. Ben Hughes transformed the unconventional performance venue into a living, breathing space of sculpture and movement, carefully guiding the audience and providing nuanced visual rhythm throughout the journey. Ben's detail in creating evocative atmospheres and emotional heft whilst simultaneously showing technical restraint and artistic cohesion demonstrates why he is one of Australia's leading lighting designers.

ShORTLIST

Yaron Lifschitz, Eternity, Circa, Brisbane Festival, City of Newcastle’s New Annual Festival

Trent Suidgeest, Frankenstein, Shake & Stir Theatre Co, QPAC

Trent Suidgeest, Tae Tae in the Land of Yaaas!, Shake & Stir Theatre Co, QPAC and Brisbane Festival

Bernie Tan-Hayes, Vietgone, Queensland Theatre

BEST VIDEO design

Freddy Komp, Breathe In, Crossroad Arts

Freddy Komp’s video design for Breathe In transcends traditional boundaries, skillfully capturing the essence of the protagonists' experience of living with alternative communication needs. Through a seamless fusion of realistic and abstract visuals, Komp artfully conveys the nuanced experiences faced by Brenden and Georgia. The incorporation of written captions further enhances inclusivity, setting a groundbreaking standard for how accessibility can be thoughtfully integrated into the artistic process. Breathe In's video design offers a poignant glimpse into a life shaped by alternative communication channels, demonstrating the power of multimedia storytelling in portraying the universal aspects of the human experience.

ShORTLIST

Justin Harrison, Is That You, Ruthie?, QPAC in association with Oombarra Productions

Nevin Howell, Vietgone, Queensland Theatre

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

Daniel Evans has reportedly said the best advice he ever received was “Dive head-first into what you want – the worst that can happen is that you hit your head. Definitely check the level of water, just to be on the safe side”. In Drizzle Boy Evans dived in headfirst. Being a neurotypical man directing a work about autism, Evans opened himself up to a world and a community that wasn’t his own with an honest integrity that allowed the authenticity of the writing to shine through.  Bringing his accustomed flair for theatricality, Evans achieved an astonishingly joyful and sensitive production and served as a bridge between neurotypical audiences and the neurodivergent nature inherent in the writing.

ShORTLIST

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 Company, Metro Arts

Alison Richardson, Breathe In, Crossroad Arts

Best PERFORMANCE in a LEADING Role INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION

Jason Klarwein, Every Brilliant Thing, THAT Production Company, Metro Arts

In his role as the solo-actor in Every Brilliant Thing, Jason Klarwein’s performance immerses the audience seamlessly in the fraught but beautiful world the central character inhabits. In role as the unnamed central character, our narrator and guide, Klarwein interacts with every single member of the audience, and in even the briefest of moments, makes them feel safe, valued and central to the incredible story that unfolds onstage every night. Every Brilliant Thing moves through joy and despair, hope and loss, grief and love and Klarwein’s skilful, sensitive, deftly responsive and nuanced performance guides the audience on a journey equally as personal and transformative for them as it is for the central character.

ShORTLIST

Caitlin Dooley, CAKE, IMRSE

Stephen Hirst, Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes, Offside Theatre

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

In her portrayal of Ruby in Is That You, Ruthie?, Chenoa Deemal allows the audience to experience the incredible strength, inexorable humour and unsinkable resilience of this character through her energetic, heart-rending and utterly compelling performance. In addition to playing Ruby, Chenoa Deemal takes on the mantle of multiple characters through a play that moves back and forwards in time through Australia’s history, and in every transformation Deemal’s versatility is astonishing; each new character is as convincing as they are engaging. Through song and dance, inhabiting a chorus of characters and spanning decades, Deemal’s performance is unforgettable, and central to the audience’s understanding of the multi-generational impact of Australia’s racist policies and the Stolen Generation on Aboriginal families.

ShORTLIST

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

Cameron Hurry, Grand Horizons, PIP Theatre

Cameron Hurry emerged as a stand-out performer in Grand Horizons, leaving an indelible mark with his portrayal of the gay drama teacher son. Hurry combined his instinct for comic timing with an ability to seamlessly capture nuanced elements of emotion and deliver them with sincerity, drawing the audience in and creating a lively connection between them and his character. His mastery of his craft was evident in every scene, as he skilfully navigated the complexities of the character, revealing layers of depth and vulnerability. Hurry's performance in Grand Horizons not only showcased his exceptional talent but also exemplified the transformative power of acting when executed with such precision and conviction.

ShORTLIST

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

Best PERFORMANCE in a supporting Role MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION

Ngọc Phan, Vietgone, Queensland Theatre

Ngọc Phan gave an engaging and charismatic performance playing numerous characters in Queensland Theatre’s Vietgone. Drawing on her natural flair for comedy combined with an unfailing feeling for authenticity, Ngọc showcased her acting range transforming into the various roles from dutiful wife to nervous translator to free-loving hippy, and more. Ngọc’s embodiment of the role of the sassy mother was a highlight, capturing the ‘tough-love’ energy and physical comedy of an Asian mother. It was a joy watching Ngọc perform these larger-than-life characters whilst still maintaining a sense of sincerity and honesty to her roles.

ShORTLIST

Helen Cassidy, Tae Tae in the Land of Yaaas!, Shake & Stir Theatre Co, QPAC and Brisbane Festival

Courtney Cavallaro, As You Like It, Queensland Theatre

Barbara Lowing, The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race, Queensland Theatre

Merlynn Tong, The Poison of Polygamy, La Boite Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company

Best ENSEMBLE

Stunt Double, The Farm, Brisbane Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse, Screen Queensland, Performing Lines

Stunt Double’s ensemble cast, Gavin Webber, Kate Harman, Grayson Millwood, Essie Horn, David Carberry, Matt Cornell and Ngọc Phan, had the audience enraptured from the show’s first moment. The performers worked together seamlessly to transport the audience into the often-overlooked world of stunt doubles and the misogyny and power struggles that are still so prevalent in the industry. They balanced multiple roles including guiding over 30 audience members in real time to recreate life on a film set, manipulating the sets, and showcasing their own diverse skills in acting, acrobatics, dance and stunt work. Their ability to convey the physical demands and mental resilience required by stunt work was truly commendable.

ShORTLIST

Betwixt, Pink Matter, Metro Arts

Salamander, Brisbane Festival, Northshore

The Penelopiad, Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble

From Little Things, Flipside Circus, Casus Creations

Bille Brown Award for Best Emerging Artist

Nevin Howell: Video design, Drizzle Boy, Queensland Theatre; Vietgone, Queensland Theatre; White China, Playlab Theatre

Nevin Howell is an exceptional video designer, breaking onto the professional scene with works including Drizzle Boy, White China and Vietgone. An outstanding talent, with the skill, determination and work ethic to match, Nevin’s attention to detail and his storytelling through exploration, vibrancy and emotion mark him as a designer to watch. Through Drizzle Boy we saw Nevin’s ability to find the joyful and experimental elements of AV. Vietgone was an explosion of feeling and satirical inventiveness, navigated expertly through smart, beautiful and poetic projections. White China was curated, clever and crisp. Nevin is quickly becoming a constant in our industry. He is utterly deserving of this award.  

SHORTLIST

Caitlin Hill: Direction, Proof, Ad Astra

Courtney Cavallaro: Performance, As You Like It, Queensland Theatre

Peter Keavy: Set and costume design, Capricorn, La Boite Theatre in association with QPAC; Higher Faster Louder, JUTE

Malika Savory: Performance, Children of the Black Skirt, Lost Child Ensemble/The Curators’ Theatre; Picnic at Hanging Rock, Observatory Theatre

Best Musical or Cabaret

BANANALAND, Brisbane Festival, QPAC

BANANALAND was a must-see musical comedy that was impossible to resist. With its hilariously captivating storyline, it took the audience on a bubbly journey through the highs and lows of being a dedicated musician, challenged with staying true to their craft. The production was a feast for the senses, with vibrant characters, dazzling costumes, ingenious sets, and catchy songs. The talented team of Miller-Heidke, Nuttall, Dobinson, and Phillips pulled out all the stops to deliver a delightful and unforgettable musical experience. Backed by a stellar cast of versatile and gifted actors, BANANALAND was guaranteed to have you tapping your feet and singing along with your heart full.

ShORTLIST

A Very Naughty Christmas, Woodward Productions

Billy Elliot, Matt Ward Entertainment

Merry Mixology, Outside the Jukebox

The Wizard of Oz in Concert, Prospero Arts, QPAC

Best Circus or Physical Theatre work

Stunt Double, The Farm, Brisbane Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse, Screen Queensland, Performing Lines

Stunt Double by The Farm is an impressive, powerful, and innovative blockbuster that defies genres and expectations. It’s a love letter to the Ozploitation schlock horror flicks of the 70s. It’s also an allegory for the impact of power and hierarchy, an ode to the unseen and underappreciated stunt performers of the film industry, a showcase of how little the industry’s ingrained misogyny has changed over the years. And it’s still so much more. Stunt Double effortlessly and cohesively weaves together dance, physical theatre, video, acrobatics, fight choreography, audience participation, multi-model sets, innovative lighting design and big action scenes to create a unique work that moves and impresses in equal measure. There was nothing like it in 2023.

ShORTLIST

Break, The Farm, Metro Arts

Party Ghost, Brisbane Festival, Cluster Arts, Metro Arts

RED, Dancenorth

Salamander, Brisbane Festival, Northshore

brisbane powerhouse
Best Independent Production

Every Brilliant Thing, THAT Production Company, Metro Arts

THAT Production Company is building a strong reputation for producing plays that tap into the complexity of our shared humanity. 2023 saw THAT take on the daunting task of producing a comedy about suicide. Under the direction of Timothy Wynn with a stellar production team including Eva Fritz, Nathaniel Knight and Wil Hughes, Metro Arts became a safe space for actor Jason Klarwein to explore emotions and experiences often only discussed in whispers – if at all.  THAT’s skilful and respectful examination of one man’s relationship with mental health, loss and living produced theatre at its best: challenging, honest, and life-altering.

ShORTLIST

Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes, Offside Theatre

CAKE, IMRSE

ITEM, Dance Masala's Nakhre Crew, Metro Arts

Proof, Ad Astra

Best Mainstage Production

Drizzle Boy, Queensland Theatre

Drizzle Boy represents a ground-breaking moment in Australian theatre. The work was written and performed by neurodivergent artists and hit a sweet spot of shining a light on living with autism in a way that informed and entertained mainstream audiences without alienating disability and neurodiverse audience members. Following through the metaphor that Drizzle Boy is the centre of his own universe, the set, lighting and projection revolved around him, evoking night sky and stars or circular journeys with or away from people. It was funny and tender as well as heartbreakingly sad but at its heart it was honest and real. Drizzle Boy won Ryan Enniss the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award but the real win was for authentic autistic representation on our stage.

SHORTLIST

Breathe In, Crossroad Arts

Is That You, Ruthie?, QPAC in association with Oombarra Productions

Vietgone, Queensland Theatre

Frankenstein, Shake & Stir Theatre Co, QPAC

THE JUDGES’ AWARD

Breathe In, Crossroad Arts

For breaking new ground in integrating multiple communication modes within the artistic process

 A powerful site-specific work giving voice to themes and stories of survival, isolation, grief and courage drawn from performers Brenden Borellini and Georgia Cranko, both denied ‘the luxury of speech’ through lived experience of disability. Expanding out from their alternative communication needs, the production breaks new ground in artistically integrating multiple communication modes (signing, touch, palm-writing, text-keyboard, audio-describing, captioning, voice-over, movement) alongside original live music, oversized projections and compelling sound design. Breathe In is not so much a play which audiences passively observe, but a gripping sensory experience, giving unique and unflinching insight into the worlds of the artist/protagonists and, for many of its audience members, leaves their perception of living with disability powerfully, positively and permanently altered.

QUT SCHOOL OF CREATIVE PRACTICE BEHIND THE SCENES AWARD

Darryl Keys

 Darryl Keys is one of the most dedicated, hardworking, resourceful and skilled technicians in the industry. 

As Head Technician in the staging department at QPAC, Darryl is invaluable in mounting numerous productions, working tirelessly within his own department, while also going above and beyond to deliver the highest quality of service to external companies. 

The extreme level of difficulty to curate the build, tech and success of these productions is a perfect showcase of Darryl’s skills. 

A foundation of expert knowledge, a source of inspiration, a complex problem solver, and a staple in our technical community. 

Darryl's work is seen, admired, and immensely appreciated.