Matilda Awards

The Matilda Awards recognise excellence in cabaret, dance, theatre, and performance in southeast Queensland. The 38th edition was held at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre on 2 March 2026.

History Established in 1987 by Alison Cotes and Sue Gough, the awards are an annual event held in February or March. The awards are voted by a panel of industry personnel and critics and membership of the panel has changes over time.

In 2012 Silver and Gold Matilda statuettes were introduced, awarded for either a single work or a body of work over time. There were five Gold Awards each year but in 2015 only one was awarded as a result of industry advice.

In 2013 the Award for the Best Emerging Artist was changed to Bille Brown Award for Best Emerging Artist, named after the late actor.

At the 2015 awards co-founder Alison Cotes was farewelled after 25 years on the committee. She later wrote: "In spite of many changes over its 29 year history, and the often bitter political rows about format and judges, the Matilda Awards are still going strong, and with the backing of Arts Queensland will continue to develop, even if they do annoy many people along the way and attract plenty of criticism."

At the 2015 awards the Gold Matilda was awarded posthumously to Carol Burns. She was renowned in Brisbane theatre and the audience responded with a standing ovation.

Over the years awards have been won by productions from many theatre companies including Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts, Fractal Theatre Company, Harvest Rain, Judith Wright Arts Centre, La Boite, Grin 'n' Tonic, little red company, Metro Arts, Monsters Appear, Oscar Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre Company (QTC), shake & stir, The Escapists, Wax Lyrical, and Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre.

Structure and Management

·Organization: Managed by a not-for-profit Executive Committee and supported by a Judging Committee of members chosen for their industry expertise.

·Judging: The judging panel evaluates theatre productions across a calendar year (January to December) based on published criteria. Two notable Lead Judges are Sue Rider and Paul Delit OAM.

·Categories: The Matilda Awards feature roughly 22 award categories, covering best mainstage production, independent production, directing, lighting, sound design, and acting.

Key Awards and Recognition

·The Gold Matilda: The highest honour awarded for an exceptional body of work, a standout production, or a major contribution to the industry.

·Bille Brown Award: Renamed in 2013, this award recognizes the Best Emerging Artist, honouring the legacy of the late actor Bille Brown.

Hall of Fame

In 2011, the Matilda Awards created a Hall of Fame which recognises performers/craftsmen for a body of work. , the inductees were Sven Swenson, Sue Rider, Eugene Gilfedder, David Walters, Bill Haycock, Dale Ferguson, Andrew Buchanan, Caroline Kennison, Michael Futcher, Helen Howard, Greg Clarke, Hayden Spencer, Helen Cassidy, and Jennifer Flowers.

Awards Winners are listed on the Matilda Awards website.

Award Winner Award Winner Award Winner 1988 Award Winner Jennifer Flowers: performances Hedda Gabler, The Lady Aoi, Butts in the Borsht Award Winner Sue Rider: devising and directing The Matilda Women Award Winner Eugene Gilfedder: versatile contribution to theatre, musical composition and direction, performance Hamlet Award Winner Robert Arthur: directing Too Young For Ghosts, Hamlet Award Winner David Walters: lighting Les Liaisons Dangeureuses, The Sentimental Bloke, A Different Drummer Commendation Anna Pike: performance Commendation Sally McKenzie: performance Commendation Russell Kiefel: performance Commendation Bill Haycock: stage design Commendation Rick Billinghurst: directing Commendation Anthony Phelan: performance 1989 Award Winner David Brown: acting Romeo and Juliet, The Perfectionist Award Winner Jim Vilè: vital contribution to the enrichment of pro-am theatre in Brisbane Award Winner Rod Wissler: performance Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Award Winner Mark Radvan: directing Equus Commendation Veronica Neave: performance as Juliet Commendation Ian Leigh-Cooper: solid contribution to Brisbane theatre as director and actor Commendation David Clendinning: extraordinary versatility in performance Commendation Christen O'Leary: refreshing new talent in Brisbane theatre The Threepenny Opera, Tokyo Rose Commendation Errol O'Neill: interpretation of The Christian Brothers Special Commendation Queensland Performing Arts Trust: The Soldier's Tale 1990 Award Winner David Clendinning: translating A Month In The Country, performances The Venetian Twins, Lost Weekend Award Winner Dale Ferguson: stage design Top Silk, A Month In The Country Award Winner Bill Haycock: stage design Legend, The Glass Menagerie, Brief Lives Award WinnerAubrey Mellor: contribution to the development of Queensland theatre Award Winner Anthony Phelan: performance A Month In The Country, Top Silk Commendation Beth Armstron : performance Commendation David Bell: directing Commendation Sally McKenzie: performance Commendation Veronica Neave: performance Commendation David Walter: lighting Commendation Rod Wissler: performance Commendation Joss McWilliam: - performance Special Commendation Queensland Performing Arts Trust: Legend 1991 Award Winner David Bell: directing The Game of Love and Chance, Bouncers Award WinnerAubrey Mellor: directing Money and Friends Award Winner Bryan Nason: artistic direction (Grin 'n' Tonic), directing Gilgamesh Award Winner Anthony Phelan: performance Essington Lewis I Am Work, The Game of Love and Chance Award Winner Sue Rider: directing Mrs Klein, devising and directing Dancing on the Walls Of Paris Commendation Charles Barry: performance Commendation Jennifer Flowers:: performance Commendation Eugene Gilfedder: performance Commendation Bill Haycock: stage design Commendation Sally McKenzie: performance Commendation Veronica Neave: performance Commendation Christen O'Leary: performance Commendation Seymour Productions: body of work Special Commendation Babette Stephens: a lifetime of service to Queensland theatre 1992 Award Winner Bille Brown: performance Twelfth Night Award Winner Jonathan Hardy: performance Twelfth Night Award Winner Jennifer Flowers: performance A Cheery Soul, Twelfth Night, Hotel Sorrento, directing The Idiot Award Winner Veronica Neave: performance Twelfth Night, The Idiot Award Winner David Berthold: directing The Heidi Chronicles, co-directing Hotel Sorrento Commendation Andrew Buchanan: performance The Adman Commendation Anthony Phelan: performance Commendation Peter Lamb: performance The Idiot Commendation Jennifer Blocksidge: performance Commendation David Walters: lighting Commendation Dale Ferguson (designer): stage design Commendation Bill Haycock: stage design Special Commendation John Kotzas and Queensland Performing Arts Trust Out of the Box Special Commendation La Boite Theatre: The Idiot 1993 Award Winner Brenna Lee-Cooney: establishment Fractal Theatre Company, directing The Orestaeia Award Winner Sue Rider: directing Vita! Award Winner Dale Ferguson: stage design Romeo & Juliet, The Shaughraun Award Winner Andrew Buchanan: performance Romeo & Juliet, Summer of the Aliens, The Waking Hour Award Winner Jonathan Hardy: performance Romeo & Juliet, The Shaughraun Commendation Angie Quick Commendation David Clendinning Commendation Eugene Gilfedder Commendation Caroline Kennison: performance Vita: A Fantasy Commendation Siobhan Lawless: performance Diving For Pearls Special Commendation David Bell, David Walters and Bill Haycock creating The Waking Hour for Queensland Performing Arts Trust 1994 Award Winner Andrew Buchanan: performance The Taming of the Shrew, Cosi Award Winner Michael Futcher: performance Grendel Award Winner Kevin Hides: performance Cosi, Cyrano de Bergerac Award Winner Caroline Kennison: performance Dancing at Lughnasa Award Winner Peter Lamb: performance Coriolanus, Theo An Illumination of the Life of Van Gogh Highly Commended Hilary Beaton: script No Strings Attached Highly Commended Irena Haze: performances Coriolanus, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Romance of Orpheus Highly Commended Charles Barry: performance The Taming of the Shrew Highly Commended Karen Crone: performances Cosi, No Strings Attached Highly Commended Leah Purcell: performance Low Highly Commended Christopher Morris: performance Low Outstanding Contribution to the Local Scene John Kotzas: artistic director Out of the Box Outstanding Contribution to the Local Scene Sue Rider: consistent high standards for la Boite theatre Special Award for Services to the Qld Theatre Industry Alan Edwards 1995 Award Winner Andrew Buchanan: performance Hamlet Award Winner John Batchelor: performance Christmas at Turkey Beach, Mill Fire Award Winner Elise Greig: performance Mill Fire, Honour Award Winner Philip Dean: script Long Gone Lonesome Cowgirls Award Winner Jacqui Carroll: leadership and direction Frank Theatre Commendation Gael Ballantyne: performance The Cavalcaders Commendation Deborah Mailman: performance The Seven Stages of Grieving Commendation Peter Lamb: performance Commendation Andrew McGahan: script Bait Commendation Liz Buchanan: performance Long Gone Lonesome Cowgirls Commendation Barbara Fordham: performance Long Gone Lonesome Cowgirls Most Exciting Production The Dark, Rock 'n' Roll Circus Sustained Contribution to Queensland Theatre Sean Mee: recognition 20 years in Queensland theatre Special Commendation Bryan Nason, Grin & Tonic Theatre Troupe and its repertory season of four Shakespeare plays Special Commendation Michael Futcher & Helen Howard Matrix Theatre Special Commendation Metro Arts, Experimetro programme 1996 Award Winner Caroline Kennison: performance Skylight, Simpatico Award Winner Jennifer Flowers: performance Supermarket Pavane Award Winner Glenn Francis: design Skylight, Love Child, There Goes The Neighbourhood, Supermarket Pavane, The Dreamers, Romeo& Juliet Award Winner Lewis Jones: direction Someone To Watch Over Me, Bouncers Award Winner Danny Murphy: Olenna, Abigail's Party, There Goes The Neighbourhood Commendation Michael Futcher Commendation Charles Barry Commendation Bill Haycock Commendation Rachel Konyi Commendation Matt Scott Best Production Sweeney Todd Queensland Theatre Company Commended Brisbane Festival's community programme for supporting and promoting local theatre 1997 Award Winner Elaine Acworth: playwright Solitary Animals Award Winner John Batchelor: performance Sweet Phoebe, Oz Shorts Award Winner| Greg Clarke: design Oz Shorts|- | Award Winner | Paul Denny: performance Scar| Award Winner | Robyn Nevin: performance Masterclass, directing Summer Rain, After The Ball| Commendation | Anna Yen: writing, directing, performance |- | Commendation | Deborah Mailman: performance | Commendation | Lorraine Dalu: performance | Commendation | Elise Greig: performance |- | Commendation | Stephen Davis: writing | Commendation | Anthony Weigh: performance | Special Commendation | Wesley Enoch, services to indigenous theatre |- | Special Commendation | John Kotzas, Stage X Festival

Matilda Awards

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