2012 Matilda Awards announced, Brisbane

On Monday night, the Who’s Who of Brisbane Theatre were out to celebrate the annual Matilda Awards.

Held at the Gardens Point Theatre, the prestigious night was hosted by the talented and witty Adele (ahem… I mean Naomi Price), who gave just the right amount of sass to be a very entertaining host indeed.

The main 5 Gold Matilda Awards which started in 1987 are in recognition of individual theatre practitioners for their contribution to the industry in south-east Queensland. These Gold Awards are uncategorised as the judges wanted the flexibility to award those worthy regardless of category. If there were, for example, three outstanding designers one year but no really noteworthy directors, then it should be possible for the best people to get the awards no matter what their area of expertise.

And the Gold Matilda Awards for 2012 go to … (drum roll please)

• Bryan Probets
• Simone Romaniuk
• Helen Howard
• David Walters
• Margi Brown Ash

The List of Commendations and nominees for the various categories are as follows:

Best Mainstage Production

Winner:
Kelly (Queensland Theatre Company)

Nominees:
As You Like It (La Boite)
Bombshells (QTC)
Kelly (QTC)*
Tender Napalm (La Boite)
The Harbinger (La Boite & Dead Puppet Society)

Best New Australian Work

Winner:
A Tribute of Sorts (Benjamin Schostakowski)

Nominees:
A Tribute of Sorts (Benjamin Schostakowski)*
Home (Margi Brown Ash)
Kelly (Matthew Ryan)
Managing Carmen (David Williamson)

Best Independent Production

Winner:
A Tribute of Sorts (Benjamin Schostakowski)

Nominees:
1984 (shake & stir)
A Tribute of Sorts (La Boite & Monsters Appear)*
Loco Maricon Amor (The Danger Ensemble & Metro Arts)
Thérèse Raquin (Zen Zen Zo)
Vikram and the Vampire (Zen Zen Zo)

Best Male Actor in a Leading Role

Winner:
Dash Kruck (A Tribute of Sorts)

Nominees:
Bryan Probets (1984)
Dash Kruck (A Tribute of Sorts)*
Kurt Phelan (Tender Napalm)
Steven Rooke (Kelly)

Best Female Actor in a Leading Role

Winner:
Emily Curtin (A Tribute of Sorts)

Nominees:
Christen O’Leary (Bombshells)
Emily Curtin (A Tribute of Sorts)*
Helen Howard (As You Like It)
Lizzie Ballinger (Thérèse Raquin)
Margi Brown Ash (Home)

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Winner:
Bryan Probets (As You Like It)

Nominees:
Bryan Probets (As You Like It)*
John Batchelor (Managing Carmen)
Steven Tandy (Romeo and Juliet)
Tony Brockman (Thérèse Raquin)

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Winner:
Louise Brehmer & Luisa Prosser (Thérèse Raquin)

Nominees:
Liz Buchanan (Hairspray)
Louise Brehmer (Thérèse Raquin)*
Luisa Prosser (Thérèse Raquin)*
Rachel Dunham (Hairspray)

Best Director

Winner:
Helen Howard (Thérèse Raquin)

Nominees:
Ben Schostakowski (A Tribute of Sorts)
Helen Howard (Thérèse Raquin)*
Michael Futcher (1984)
Todd MacDonald (Kelly)

Best Design

Winner:
Simone Romaniuk (Kelly)

Nominees:
Bev Jensen (Home)
Optikal Bloc (1984)
Simone Romaniuk (Elizabeth)
Simone Romaniuk (Kelly)*

Bille Brown Award: Best Emerging Artist

Winner:
Lizzie Ballinger (Thérèse Raquin)

Nominees:
Daniel Anderson (lighting design for Bombshells and Tender Napalm)
Emily Curtin (A Tribute of Sorts)
Lizzie Ballinger (Thérèse Raquin)*
Luisa Prosser (Thérèse Raquin)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Career Achievement Award

Winner:
Roxanne McDonald

A lovely tribute to the late Bille Brown was given and the night was closed by the very talented vocals of Megan Shorey.

Congratulations to all Matilda Award Winners for 2012.