QTC the big winner at the 2015 Matildas
Queensland Theatre Company was the big winner in this year’s Matilda awards, winning Best mainstage production, Lord Mayor's Award for Best new Australian work and Best male actor in a leading role (Dash Kruck) with Matthew Ryan’s play Brisbane, a 2015 world premiere drawing on true stories from the leafy streets of Brisbane set in the middle of World War II.
Libby Munro in QTC’s production ofGrounded was awarded Best female actor in a leading role; and Naomi Price won Best female actor in a supporting role for QTC’sLadies in Black.
The Matilda Awards were begun in 1987 by theatre reviewers Alison Cotes and Sue Gough, who felt there should be some form of recognition that celebrated and promoted the excellence of southeast Queensland’s theatre industry.
Past winners include Bille Brown, Robyn Nevin, Sally McKenzie, Russell Kiefel, Wesley Enoch and Michael Gow.
The late Carol Burns received a posthumous Gold Matilda. It was the first time that a single award had been presented in the Gold Matilda category—normally five Gold Matildas are presented.
In another first, that award was presented posthumously to Carol, who died late last year aged 68.
The Golden Matilda was presented in recognition of Burns’ lifetime achievement, which culminated in a final performance in Queensland Theatre Company’s 2015 productionHappy Days, for which she also received a Silver Matilda nomination.
Winners were:
2015 GOLD MATILDA AWARD
Carol Burns—for an outstanding performance in HAPPY DAYS and an exceptional body of work
2015 SILVER MATILDA COMMENDATIONS
Brisbane—Best Mainstage Production Queensland Theatre Company
Brisbane—Lord Mayor's Award for Best New Australian Work,written by Matthew Ryan
The Pillowman—Best Independent Production,Shock Therapy Productions in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse
Dash Kruck—Best Male Actor in a Leading Role,Brisbane
Libby Munro—Best Female Actor in a Leading Role,Grounded
Tama Matheson—Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role,The Pillowman
Naomi Price—Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role,Ladies in Black
Sam Foster—Best Director,The Pillowman
Josh McIntosh—Best Design (Set & Costumes),Dracula
Jason Glenwright—Best Technical Design (Lights, Multimedia & Sound),lighting design,Dracula
Georgina Hopson—Bille Brown Award for Best Emerging Artist,Pirates of Penzance & Into the Woods
I Might Take My Shirt Off—Best Musical or Cabaret,QPAC in association with Queensland Cabaret Festival,Jai Higgs & Dash Kruck