Local talent shines at the Matilda Awards

Creatives among Queensland’s performing arts sector were celebrated at the Matilda Awards last night.

Held annually since 1987, the event recognised practitioners across Southeast Queensland in cabaret, dance and theatre performances. Highlighting some of 2018’s most outstanding productions, the evening was full of entertainment and revelry.

While several nominations were received for each category, some notable recipients included Noni Hazlehurst for Best Female Actor in a Leading Role with her electric performance in ‘Mother’ at QPAC, Paul Bishop for Best Male Actor in a Leading Role with his portrayal of a grieving father in ‘Poison’, and Carly Skelton, who collected the Bille Brown Award for Best Emerging Artist for her vulnerable work in ‘The Hatpin’ with Oz Theatricals.

Other coveted gongs included the Gold Matilda Award, which went to debase productions for their commitment to making theatre of excellence for over 20-years, and the Inaugural Emerging Female Leader Award, which was presented to Christine Felmingham. Best Mainstage Production was a tie between ‘Prize Fighter’ by La Boite Theatre Company and Brisbane Festival, and ‘The Longest Minute’ presented by JUTE Theatre Company, debase productions and Queensland Theatre.

The Matilda Awards were presented at Brisbane Powerhouse in a sell-out display. The proceedings were hosted by Judy Hainsworth, who is currently showing her new work #firstworldwhitegirls at Brisbane’s Comedy Festival, and Matilda Awards Judge, Lewis Jones. The awards are determined by a panel of industry personnel and critics each year.

Over the years, many theatre companies have been awarded prestigious trophies, including, La Boite Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre Company, shake & stir, Metro Arts and Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts.

A full list of the recipients is available below.

Recipients and Nominees of the 2018 Matilda Awards

2018 Gold Matilda Award – debase productions

Inaugural Emerging Female Leader Award – Christine Flemingham

Best Video Design – Craig Wilkinson, ‘A Christmas Carol’ (shake & stir theatre co and QPAC)
Also nominated, Craig Wilkinson ‘I’ve Been Meaning to Ask You’ (The Good Room and Brisbane Festival), Counterpilot ‘Crunch Time (Metro Arts)’, and Craig and Karl (vision), Pete Foley (animation) ‘Privacy Settings’ (Polytoxic, Festival 2018 and Flowstate).

Best Lighting Design – David Walters, ‘Nearer the Gods’ (Queensland Theatre)
Also nominated, Jason Glenwright ‘The Longest Minute’ (JUTE Theatre Company, debase Productions and Queensland Theatre), Ben Hughes ‘ Good Muslim Boy’ (Queensland Theatre and Malthouse Theatre), ‘Prize Fighter’ (La Boite Theatre Company and Brisbane Festival) and Jason Glenwright ‘A Christmas Carol’ (shake & stir theatre co and QPAC).

Best Sound Design/Composition – Babushka, ’Happily Ever After’ (Little Match Productions, in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse)
Also nominated, Phil Slade ‘Good Muslim Boy’ (Queensland Theatre and Malthouse Theatre), Lisa Cheney ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’ (Little Match Productions), and Chris Perren and Salliana Campbell ‘A Christmas Carol’ (shake & stir theatre co and QPAC).

Best Costume Design – Penny Challen, ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’ (Little Match Productions)
Also nominated, Josh McIntosh ‘A Christmas Carol’ (shake & stir theatre co and QPAC), Penny Challen ‘Babushka, Happily Ever After’ (Little Match Productions in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse), and Diana Eden, Luisa Bannah and Gayle MacGregor ‘Alice in Wonderland’ (Boyd Production in association with Rapid Fire International).

Best Set Design – Josh McIntosh, ‘A Christmas Carol’ (shake & stir theatre co and QPAC)
Also nominated, Sarah Winter ‘The Sound of a Finished Kiss’ (Now Look Here and Electric Moon in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse), Anna Straker ‘Umami Mermaids’ (Brisbane Festival), and Bill Haycock ‘Prize Fighter’ (La Boite Theatre Company and Brisbane Festival)

Best Director – Natano Fa’anana and Bridget Boyle, ‘We Live Here’ (Flipside Circus and Metro Arts)
Also, nominated, Catarina Hebbard ‘Poison’ (Elise Grieg and Metro Arts), Bridget Boyle ‘The Longest Minute’ (JUTE Theatre Company, debase productions and Queensland Theatre), Tim Hill ‘Spring Awakening’ (Underground Broadway), and Daniel Evans ‘I’ve Been Meaning to Ask You’ (The Good Room and Brisbane Festival)

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role – Andrea Moor, ‘Hedda’ (Queensland Theatre)
Also nominated, Joey Kohnke ‘Yielding’ (THAT Production Company), Kimie Tsukakoshi ‘Nearer the Gods’ (Queensland Theatre) and Carly Skelton ‘The Hatpin’ (Oz Theatricals).

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role – Jackson McGovern, ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’ (Little Match Productions)
Also nominated, Jeremy Ambrum ‘The Longest Minute; (JUTE Theatre Company, debase productions and Queensland Theatre), Gideon Mzembe ‘Prize Fighter’ (La Boite Theatre Company and Brisbane Festival), and Bryan Probets ‘A Christmas Carol’ (shake & stir theatre co and QPAC)

Best Female Actor in a Leading Role – Noni Hazlehurst, ‘Mother’ (If Theatre and QPAC)
Also nominated, Jessica Veurman ‘Yielding’ (That Production Company), Sarah Murr ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’ (Little Match Productions), and Chenoa Deemal ‘The Longest Minute’ (JUTE Theatre Company, debase productions and Queensland Theatre)

Best Male Actor in a Leading Role – Paul Bishop ‘Poison’ (Elise Grieg and Metro Arts)
Also nominated, Pacharo Mzembe ‘Prize Fighter’ (La Boite Theatre Company and Brisbane Festival), Eugene Gilfedder ‘A Christmas Carol’ (shake & stir theatre co and QPAC), and Jason Klarwein ‘Hedda’ (Queensland Theatre)

Bille Brown Award for Best Emerging Artist – Carly Skelton, ‘The Hatpin’ (Oz Theatricals)
Also nominated, Sarah Whalen ‘BARE’ (Understudy Productions in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse), Ruby Clark for her body of work including ‘Rent’, ‘Spring Awakening’, ‘Boy&Girl’, and ‘Wheel of Fortune’, and Wightman and Stark ‘Love Letters to F**kbois’ (Metro Arts)

Best Circus of Physical Theatre Work – ‘We Live Here’ (Flipside Circus and Metro Arts)
Also nominated, ‘Aura’ (Circa and Flowstate), ‘Chasing Smoke’ (Casus Circus in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse), and Invisible Things (Alex Mizzen and Vulcana Circus in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse)

Best Independent Production -‘The Sound of a Finished Kiss’ (Now Look Here and Electric Moon in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse)
Also nominated, ‘I’ve Been Meaning to Ask You’ (The Good Room and Brisbane Festival)
Also nominated, ‘We Live Here’ (Flipside Circus and Metro Arts), and ‘Babushka in Happily Ever After’ (Little Match Productions in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse)

Best Musical or Cabaret – ‘The Sound of a Finished Kiss (Now Look Here and Electric Moon in partnership with Brisbane Festival)
Also nominated, ‘Babushka in Happily Ever After’ (Little Match Productions in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse), ‘Twelfth Night’ (Queensland Theatre in association with QPAC), and ‘Spring Awakening’ (Underground Broadway)

Best Mainstage Production – awarded to both ‘The Longest Minute’ (JUTE Theatre Company, debase productions and Queensland Theatre) and ‘Prize Fighter’ (La Boite Theatre Company and Brisbane Festival)
Also nominated, ‘Hedda’ (Queensland Theatre), ‘A Christmas Carol’ (shake & stir theatre co and QPAC), and ‘Nearer the Gods’ (Queensland Theatre)

The Lord Mayor’s Award for Best New Australian Work – ‘Crunch Time’  by Counterpilot
Also nominated, ‘Nearer the Gods’ by David Williamson, ‘The Sound of a Finished Kiss’ by Kate Wild, and ‘Yielding’ by Emma Workman