The Matilda Awards, Queensland’s premier awards for performing arts, has announced its 2022 nominees across 20 new and refreshed categories.

The awards ceremony will take place at Brisbane Powerhouse on 27 February.

Two new categories have been added this year. Best Ensemble acknowledges outstanding whole-of-cast performances, and a Judges Award will honour work that “pushes artistic boundaries”.

The Matilda Awards. Photo supplied

In line with the recent Sydney Theatre Awards, acting categories are now gender-inclusive for artists in lead and supporting roles across mainstage and independent productions.

“The Matilda Awards committee consistently strives to make this a more inclusive and representative celebration and will recognise actors across production type, rather than by gender,” said Matilda Awards Chair Jan Irvine.

The Sydney Theatre Awards’ decision to award in gender-neutral acting categories generated considerable criticism in Sydney, much of it led by former Sydney Theatre Awards panelist and Limelight contributor Diana Simmonds, who was quoted in The Australian as saying that “the very successful baby was thrown out with the bathwater, in an attempt to be woke, PC and otherwise downright offensive.”

“If a woman wins, then the men are cheated,’’ Simmonds said....