9/33 Vulture Street West End QLD 4101 (07) 3036 2000 ABN 38 618 965 594 aruga.com.au MATILDA AWARD NOMINATIONS SHINE A LIGHT ON QUEENSLAND TALENT Actors, designers, directors, playwrights, companies and members of the creative team are centre stage this month with nominees for the prestigious 2019 Matilda Awards announced on Thursday 16 January. The Matilda Awards – Queensland’s premier awards for performing arts – honour and celebrate excellence in the Queensland theatre industry with winners crowned in 19 categories, including the new Creative Industries Backstage Award, at a star-studded ceremony on February 17 at Brisbane Powerhouse. Matilda Awards Executive Committee chairperson Deb Wilks said the event invests back into the state’s theatre community, with tickets on sale now for a small donation. “The Matilda Awards are a highly-anticipated part of the Queensland and Brisbane theatre scene,” Ms Wilks said. “From physical theatre, musical and cabaret triumphs, to the best in costume, lighting and performance, the awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the incredible array of talent we are lucky enough to have here in the sunshine state. “2019 was a huge year for the arts, and our list of nominees certainly reflect this. While every nominee is worthy, we’re excited to make some big announcements, of the recipients of the awards in each category, at the ceremony,” she said. Leading the charge with five nominations each is Shake & Stir Theatre Company’s stage adaptation of Fantastic Mr Fox, in collaboration with QPAC, and smash hit musical Fangirls, which premiered at Queensland Theatre as part of Brisbane Festival in September 2019. Fantastic Mr Fox received five nominations, including Best Video Design (Craig Wilkinson for video and Jon Weber for illustrations), Best Costume Design (Josh McIntosh), Best Sound Design/Composition (Guy Webster), Best Set Design (Guy Webster) and Best Director (Ross Balbuziente). A stage adaptation of the beloved children’s book by Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr Fox enjoyed a sold-out premiere season at QPAC in April 2019, wowing audiences with its eye-popping video and projection work. Produced by Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Festival and Belvoir in association with ATYP, Fangirls received five nominations, including Best Mainstage Production, Best Musical or Cabaret, Best Director (Paige Rattray) and Best Female Actor In A Supporting Role (Kimberley Hodgson) for her role as one of Edna’s closest friends, Briana. Written by Sydney-based playwright, composer and musical comedian Yve Blake, Fangirls tells the story of 14-year-old Edna who is head-over-heels and madly in love with ‘True Connection’ boy band star, Harry. 9/33 Vulture Street West End QLD 4101 (07) 3036 2000 ABN 38 618 965 594 aruga.com.au Squaring off for Best Director are Jason Klarwein (Death of A Salesman), Ross Balbuziente (Fantastic Mr Fox), Daniel Evans (Cinderella) and Paige Rattray (Fangirls). Australia’s best in show will battle it out for the coveted top spot, with Amy Ingram (Cinderella), Richard Lund (Kelly), Tama Matheson (When The World Was Wide), Kathryn Marquet (Magpie), Suzie French (Girl’s Guide to World War), Thomas Larkin Death of a Salesman) and Michael Mandalios (Magpie) and Kate Wilson (The Revisionist) among those nominated in the acting categories. A brand-new category and award at the 2018 Matilda Awards, saw Christine Felmington receive the Inaugural Emerging Female Arts Leader Award. 2019 nominees include Kate Malone Laura Hansford and Emily Wells. The Matilda Awards Committee will also announce the recipient of the Creative Industries Backstage Award, along with the Billie Brown Award for Best Emerging Artist and the revered Gold Matilda at the glittering awards ceremony on February 17. The energetic and entertaining evening will be directed by Zoe Tuffin. Barbara Lowing and Louise Brehmer will host the evening, with performances by talented Queensland theatre stars punctuating the presentations. The Matilda Awards are supported by Arts Queensland and Brisbane City Council. THE MATILDA AWARDS WHEN 17 February 2020 TIME 6:30pm for 7:00pm start WHERE Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse - 114 Lamington St, New Farm TICKETS www.matildaawards.com.au/tickets/ COST By donation MEDIA CONTACT Claire Bonney Aruga PR P: 0432 713 421 E: [email protected] FULL LIST OF 2020 MATILDA AWARD NOMINEES OVER PAGE 9/33 Vulture Street West End QLD 4101 (07) 3036 2000 ABN 38 618 965 594 aruga.com.au MATILDA AWARDS 2020 NOMINEES BEST VIDEO DESIGN Justin Harrison Fangirls (Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Festival and Belvoir in association with ATYP) Craig Wilkinson (video) and Jon Fantastic Mr Fox (Shake & Stir and QPAC) Weber (illustrations) Freddy Komp Tower of Babel (Baran Theatre at Metro Arts) Nathan Sibthorpe and Jeremy Statum (Flipside Circus and Counterpoint in partnership Gordon with Brisbane Powerhouse) BEST LIGHTING DESIGN Tom Wright Tectonic (Dancenorth at Bleach*) Ben Hughes L'Appartement (Queensland Theatre) David Walters Net of Souls (The Boxties and QPAC) Geoff Squires Inside Out (Tammy Zarb and Company) BEST SOUND DESIGN/COMPOSITION Guy Webster Fantastic Mr Fox (Shake & Stir and QPAC) Luke Smiles (design) and Anna Throttle (The Farm at Bleach*) Whitaker (associate) Guy Webster Inside Out (Tammy Zarb and Company) Guy Webster Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts (La Boite and Shake & Stir) BEST COSTUME DESIGN Leah Shelton Bitch on Heat (Leah Shelton at Brisbane Festival) Libby McDonnell Orpheus and Eurydice (Opera Queensland and Circa) Josh McIntosh Fantastic Mr Fox (Shake & Stir and QPAC) Anthony Spinaze Death of a Salesman (Queensland Theatre) BEST SET DESIGN Caroline Delore When the World was Wide (Camerata and QPAC) Josh McIntosh Jane Eyre (Shake & Stir and QPAC) Josh McIntosh Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts (Shake & Stir and La Boite) Josh McIntosh Fantastic Mr Fox (Shake & Stir and QPAC) BEST DIRECTOR Jason Klarwein Death of a Salesman (Queensland Theatre) Ross Balbuziente Fantastic Mr Fox (Shake & Stir and QPAC) Daniel Evans Cinderella (QPAC and Myths Made Here) Paige Rattray Fangirls (Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Festival and Belvoir in association with ATYP) BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Kathryn Marquet Magpie (Playlab, Metro Arts and e.g.) Suzie French Girl's Guide to World War (Musical Theatre Australia) Marika Marrosszeky Savage in Limbo (Big Scary Animal) 9/33 Vulture Street West End QLD 4101 (07) 3036 2000 ABN 38 618 965 594 aruga.com.au Kimberley Hodgson Fangirls (Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Festival and Belvoir in association with ATYP) BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Thomas Larkin Death of a Salesman (Queensland Theatre) Pacharo Mzembe L'Appartement (Queensland Theatre) Michael Mandalios Magpie (Playlab, Metro Arts and e.g.) Jackson McGovern Death of a Salesman (Queensland Theatre) BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Amy Ingram Cinderella (QPAC and Myths Made Here) Helen O’Leary The Confabulator (Helen O'Leary) Nelle Lee Jane Eyre (Shake & Stir and QPAC) Kate Wilson The Revisionist (Refraction Theatre) BEST MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Richard Lund Kelly (Ad Astra) Thomas Larkin Cinderella (QPAC and Myths Made Here) Tama Matheson When the World was Wide (Camerata and QPAC) Bryan Proberts Hydra (Queensland Theatre and SA Theatre Company) AWARD – BEST EMERGING ARTIST Gina Tay Limpus The Tempest and La Silhouette Sui Ensemble La Silhouette Ells Macrokanis Daddy Long Legs Michael Mandalios Magpie and The Revisionist BEST THEATRE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE WORK Tectonic Dancenorth Inside Out Tammy Zarb and Company Throttle The Farm You & I Casus Circus BEST MUSICAL OR CABARET Yank Understudy Productions Daddy Long Legs Passion Productions Fangirls Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Festival and Belvoir in association with ATYP When the World Was Wide Camerata and QPAC BEST INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION Kelly Ad Astra La Silhouette Sui Ensemble Throttle The Farm Girl's Guide to World War Musical Theatre Australia BEST MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION Death of a Salesman Queensland Theatre Fangirls Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Festival and Belvoir in association with ATYP L'Appartement Queensland Theatre Cinderella QPAC and Myths Made Here 9/33 Vulture Street West End QLD 4101 (07) 3036 2000 ABN 38 618 965 594 aruga.com.au THE LORD MAYOR’S AWARD FOR BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK Girl's Guide to World War Katy Forde (Book and lyrics), Aleathea Monsour (Composer) La Silhouette Sui Ensemble When The World Was Wide Tama Matheson Reagan Kelly Lewis Treston ABOUT THE MATILDA AWARDS The Matilda Awards are Queensland’s premier awards for performing arts. The inaugural event was held in 1987 as a means of celebrating, recognising and promoting excellence in Queensland's theatre industry. The awards are open to professional Queensland artists and to productions staged in Queensland by Queensland theatre companies. Winners are selected by a judging panel comprising artists, critics, commentators and individuals with demonstrated expertise in and knowledge of Queensland’s theatre industry. Past Matilda Award winners include Bille Brown, Robyn Nevin, Anthony Phelan, Jennifer Flowers, Sue Rider, Eugene Gilfedder, Andrew Buchanan, Hayden Spencer, Wesley Enoch, John Kotzas and Michael Gow. .