Matilda Awards celebrate best of 2019 Queensland theatre

Published Monday, 17 February, 2020 at 10:20 PM

Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Leeanne Enoch

The best and brightest in Queensland performing arts have been recognised at the 2019 Matilda Awards at the Brisbane Powerhouse tonight.

Attending the awards and presenting the coveted Gold Matilda, Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch congratulated all the nominees and recipients for their outstanding work. 

“The annual Matilda Awards are a chance to celebrate the quality and diversity of the state’s theatre scene, and the impressive vitality and breadth of this year’s nominees and winners,” Ms Enoch said.

“The Matilda Awards honour actors, designers, directors, playwrights, companies along with members of creative teams, and I’m pleased to see the 2019 Awards recognise new productions and emerging practitioners alongside the work of Queensland’s established performing arts organisations.”

Minister Enoch presented the Gold Matilda Award to shake & stir theatre company for creating mainstage and in-school productions of excellence, touring Australia and New Zealand since 2006.

“Congratulations to shake & stir on winning the Gold Matilda, which honours an individual, organisation or creative team for an outstanding contribution to theatre in Queensland,” Ms Enoch said.

“Formed in 2006, shake & stir is one of Australia’s leading contemporary theatre companies, touring its bold and exciting productions nationally and internationally and often using comedy to address social issues.” 

Winners were crowned in 19 categories, including the new QUT Creative Industries Backstage Award for outstanding work from technicians, stage managers and other behind-the-scenes workers, and this year it was awarded to stage manager and tour producer, Tanya Malouf.

Matilda Awards Chair, Deb Wilks, said the event was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the incredible array of theatre talent in the state.

“The Matilda Awards is now the ‘night of nights’ for the Queensland arts sector, bringing together our arts leaders, students and emerging artists,” Ms Wilks said.

“The ceremony highlights the value of the arts to the wider Queensland community as it grows in stature every year.”

Ms Enoch said the Palaszcsuk Government supports the awards as part of its commitment to the arts, recognising the role the sector plays in supporting cultural, social and economic development and in making creativity the key to a strong future for Queensland.

“Promoting and nurturing a vibrant and sustainable arts sector is an important part of supporting a healthy, thriving and connected state,” she said.

“We have a lot to celebrate about the performing arts, with our state theatre company, Queensland Theatre, marking its 50th anniversary this year, and our independent sector and emerging artists producing bold and brilliant work."

Minister Enoch thanked the Matilda Award judging panel for their work in selecting the 2019 recipients.

For more information on the awards, visit matildaawards.com.au.

 

Matilda Awards 2019 Winners

Best Video Design: Craig Wilkinson and Jon Weber, Fantastic Mr Fox

Best Lighting Design: Geoff Squires, Inside Out

Best Sound Design/Composition: Luke Smiles and Anna Whitaker, Throttle 

Best Costume Design: Libby McDonnell, Orpheus and Eurydice

Best Set Design: Josh McIntosh, Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts

Best Director: Daniel Evans, Cinderella

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Susie French, A Girl’s Guide to World War

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Thomas Larkin, Death of a Salesman

Best Female Actor in a Leading Role: Amy Ingram, Cinderella

Best Male Actor in a Leading Role: Richard Lund, Kelly

Bille Brown Award – Best Emerging Artist: Gina Tay Limpus, The Tempest and La Silhouette

Best Circus or Physical Theatre Work: Inside Out, Tammy Zarb and Company

Best Independent Production: La Silhouette, Sui Ensemble

Best Musical or Cabaret: Fangirls, Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Festival and Belvoir in association with ATYP 

Best Mainstage Production: Death of a Salesman, Queensland Theatre

The Lord Mayor’s Award for Best New Australian Work: A Girl’s Guide to World War, Katy Forde (book and lyrics), Aleathea Monsour (composer)

Backstage Award: Tanya Malouf, stage manager and tour producer

Emerging Female Arts Leader Award: Emily Wells

Gold: shake & stir 

ENDS

Media Contact: Debbie Turner 0437 859 987