2024 Matilda Award Nominees Announced

Queensland’s premier celebration of performing arts, the Matilda Awards, has announced its nominees for 2024.

Now in its 37th year, the awards recognise excellence in live theatre across 20 categories, with a ceremony taking place at Brisbane Powerhouse on Monday, 24 February 2025. This year also marks a new partnership with the Actors’ & Entertainers’ Benevolent Fund (ABF Qld).

Leading the nominations is ‘Straight From The Strait’ by Opera Queensland, Yumpla Nerkep Foundation, and QPAC, with six nominations including Best Mainstage Production, Best Direction and Best New Australian Work.

Other notable nominees include ‘Ready or Not’ (Ainslee Palmer/HOTA) nominated for Best Independent Production, Best Performance by a Female Actor, and Best Sound Design; Scenes from a Yellow Peril (The Reaction Theory & BIPOC ARTS AUSTRALIA) recognised for Best Ensemble, Best Design, and Best Dramaturgy; and ’37’ (Queensland Theatre/Melbourne Theatre Company), which earned nominations for Best Mainstage Production, Best Performance by a Male Actor, and Best Lighting Design.

‘AI May’ (Embodi Theatre), ‘Dido and Aeneas’ (Opera Queensland/Circa), ‘GRIMM’ (Shake & Stir/QPAC/Brisbane Festival), and ‘Blue’ (Thomas Weatherall/La Boite), all secured four nominations across various categories as well.

This year’s ceremony will introduce two new awards to honour Queensland arts legends – The Carol Burns Award will celebrate the achievements of mid-career performers, while The Tony Gould Award will recognise the contributions of outstanding independent arts companies or collectives.

“Tony and Carol were fierce supporters of Queensland’s performing arts,” said ABF President Michael Balk. “It’s vital we honour their legacies.”

Matilda Awards Lead Judge Sue Rider also highlighted the diversity and quality of this year’s entries.

“The panel viewed 100 shows statewide, showcasing stories of inclusivity and passion,” Rider said. “

We’re proud to champion the remarkable growth of our independent theatre sector.”

For more details on nominees and the ceremony, visit matildaawards.com.au or follow Matilda Awards on social media.

2024 Matilda Award Nominations

Best Set Design

Chloe Greaves, Medea – Queensland Theatre
Josh McIntosh, GRIMM – Shake & Stir Theatre Co, QPAC and Brisbane Festival
Renée Mulder, Gaslight – Rodney Rigby, Queensland Theatre, Marriner Group & TEG
Kevin O’Brien, Straight From The Strait – Opera Queensland, Yumpla Nerkep Foundation & QPAC, in association with Brisbane Festival
Rozina Suliman, Wanderings – The Nest Ensemble/DOOR 3 Queensland Theatre

Best Costume Design

Lisa Fa’alafi & Leah Shelton, Dangerous Goods – A Polytoxic Production presented by QPAC
Frances Foo, Scenes from a Yellow Peril – The Reaction Theory & BIPOC ARTS AUSTRALIA
Libby McDonnell, Dido and Aeneas – Opera Queensland, in association with Circa
Renée Mulder, Gaslight – Rodney Rigby, Queensland Theatre, Marriner Group & TEG
Deborah Ralston and Seren Wagstaff, Slippery – Curtain World

Best Composition and/or Sound Design

Brady Watkins, Moss McGregor and Loki Liddle, Meet Your Maker – Alethea Beetson, Blak Social, Brisbane Festival & Brisbane Powerhouse
Wil Hughes, Blue – A Belvoir Street production, presented by La Boite Theatre
Guy Webster, Cost of Living – Queensland Theatre & Sydney Theatre Company
Guy Webster, GRIMM – Shake & Stir Theatre Co, QPAC and Brisbane Festival
Anna Whitaker, Ready or Not – White Rabbit Theatre & HOTA

Best Lighting Design

Briana Clark, Scenes From A Yellow Peril – The Reaction Theory & BIPOC ARTS AUSTRALIA
Jason Glenwright, Straight From The Strait – Opera Queensland, Yumpla Nerkep Foundation & QPAC, in association with Brisbane Festival
Ben Hughes, 37 – Queensland Theatre & Melbourne Theatre Company
Paul Jackson, Gaslight – Rodney Rigby, Queensland Theatre, Marriner Group & TEG
Geoff Squires, AI May – Embodi Theatre/PIP Theatre

Best Video Design

Nevin Howell, Eat Slay Zombie – A Playlab Theatre Production, Presented in Partnership with QPAC
Freddy Komp, AI May – Embodi Theatre/PIP Theatre
Craig Wilkinson & Jon Weber, James and the Giant Peach – Shake & Stir Theatre Co & QPAC
Craig Wilkinson, Round The Twist – Queensland Theatre & QPAC
Alethea Beetson, Sasha Parlett, Boneta-Marie Mabo & Ken Weston, Meet Your Maker – Alethea Beetson, Blak Social, Brisbane Festival & Brisbane Powerhouse

Best Direction

Chelsea August & Egan Sun-Bin, Scenes From A Yellow Peril – The Reaction Theory & BIPOC ARTS AUSTRALIA
Isaac Drandic, 37 – Queensland Theatre & Melbourne Theatre Company
Yaron Lifschitz, Dido and Aeneas – Opera Queensland, in association with Circa
Nadine McDonald-Dowd, Straight From The Strait – Opera Queensland, Yumpla Nerkep Foundation & QPAC, in association with Brisbane Festival
Lisa Smith, Ready or Not – White Rabbit Theatre & HOTA

Best Performance in a Leading Role – Independent Production

Margi Brown Ash, Wanderings – The Nest Ensemble/DOOR 3 Queensland Theatre
Adam Bartlett, Fun Home – PIP Theatre
Leo Buzac, After The End – Salad Days Collective
CJ de Mooi, Banana Crabtree Simon – de Mooi Media
Ainslee Palmer, Ready or Not – White Rabbit Theatre & HOTA

Best Performance in a Leading Role – Mainstage Production

Anna Dowsley, Dido and Aeneas – Opera Queensland, in association with Circa
Nelle Lee, GRIMM – Shake & Stir Theatre Co, QPAC and Brisbane Festival
Vaughan Wapau, Straight From The Strait – Opera Queensland, Yumpla Nerkep Foundation & QPAC, in association with Brisbane Festival
Thomas Weatherall, Blue – A Belvoir Street production, presented by La Boite Theatre
Tibian Wyles, 37 – Queensland Theatre & Melbourne Theatre Company

Best Performance in a Supporting Role – Independent Production

Micheal Enright, Fun Home – PIP Theatre
Jaya Fisher-Smith, A Night With The Villains – Mira Ball Productions
Greg Gesch, Love Lies Bleeding – Ad Astra
Julia Johnson, Equus – The X Collective
Rebecca Murphy, Julius Caesar – Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble

Best Performance in a Supporting Role – Mainstage Production

Helen Cassidy, Medea – Queensland Theatre
Georgia Corowa, Straight From The Strait – Opera Queensland, Yumpla Nerkep Foundation & QPAC, in association with Brisbane Festival
Anthony Standish, 37 – Queensland Theatre & Melbourne Theatre Company
Kimie Tsukakoshi, Trent Dalton’s Love Stories – Brisbane Festival & QPAC
Nic Van Lits, Round The Twist – Queensland Theatre & QPAC

Best Ensemble

Broadway Bingo – Outside The Jukebox
Horizon – A Playlab Theatre Production
Merrily We Roll Along – Ad Astra
Scenes From A Yellow Peril – The Reaction Theory & BIPOC ARTS AUSTRALIA
Slippery – Curtain World

Bille Brown Award for Best Emerging Artist

Sophia Ivanna Hodych – Creation, Co-direction, Co-writing: Art of Courage, Art of Courage UKRAINE, PIP Theatre, Brisbane Immersive,
Adelaide Lukin – Set and Costume Design: Love Lies Bleeding, Ad Astra; Direction: A Balloon Will Pop *at some point during this play, PIP Theatre, East and Under Theatre Co; Mask Design: Art of Courage, Art of Courage Ukraine, PIP Theatre, Brisbane Immersive; Prop Design: Adventures of Peter Rabbit, Small Crown Productions
Clarise Ooi – Performance: AI May, Embodi Theatre/PIP Theatre
Salad Days Collective – Body of Work: After The End, Backdock Arts; Scenes With Girls, PIP Theatre; Love, VENTspace
Thomas Weatherall – Creation, Writing, Performance: Blue, A Belvoir Street production, presented by La Boite Theatre

Best Musical or Cabaret

Dangerous Goods – A Polytoxic Production presented by QPAC
Fun Home – PIP Theatre
Merrily We Roll Along – Ad Astra
Round The Twist – Queensland Theatre & QPAC
Straight From The Strait – Opera Queensland, Yumpla Nerkep Foundation & QPAC, in association with Brisbane Festival

Best Circus or Physical Theatre Work

Camp Culture – Dale Woodbridge Brown & Cluster Arts
Dido and Aeneas – Opera Queensland, in association with Circa
[gameboy] by Amy Zhang – Presented by Metro Arts and Mad Dance House. Presented as part of Dance24
Suavé – The Pink Flamingo Brisbane

Best Independent Production

AI May – Embodi Theatre/PIP Theatre
Banana Crabtree Simon – de Mooi Media
Love Lies Bleeding – Ad Astra
Ready or Not – White Rabbit Theatre & HOTA
Scenes From A Yellow Peril – The Reaction Theory & BIPOC ARTS AUSTRALIA

Best Mainstage Production

37 – Queensland Theatre & Melbourne Theatre Company
Eat Slay Zombie – A Playlab Theatre Production, Presented in Partnership with QPAC
GRIMM – Shake & Stir Theatre Co, QPAC and Brisbane Festival
Medea – Queensland Theatre
Trent Dalton’s Love Stories – Brisbane Festival & QPAC

The Lord Mayor’s Award for Best New Australian Work

Blue – Playwright: Thomas Weatherall (A Belvoir Street production, presented by La Boite Theatre)
Eat Slay Zombie – Playwright: Alinta McGrady (A Playlab Theatre Production, Presented in Partnership with QPAC)
Ready or Not – Creator: Ainslee Palmer (White Rabbit Theatre & HOTA)
Slippery – Playwright: Esther Dougherty (Curtain World)
Wanderings – Co-writers: Margi Brown Ash, Zac Callaghan & Leah Mercer (The Nest Ensemble/DOOR 3 Queensland Theatre)

Behind The Scenes Award

Announced at the event – The award recognises an individual or small group that displays excellence within their position behind the scenes.

The Judge’s Award

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

The Gold Matilda

Announced at the event – The Gold Matilda is a special open award presented for a standout production or performance element; or in recognition of an individual or group for their contribution to the industry.