It wasn’t quite the clean sweep that it enjoyed at the Helpmann Awards but Matilda the Musical was still the biggest winner of the night at the 2016 Green Room Awards, presented yesterday at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre. The musical, based on Roald Dahl’s novel and featuring music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, picked up eight Awards from 12 nominations, including Best Production of a Musical.

^{Matilda the Musical continues on its winning way at the Green Room Awards. Photograph © James Morgan}

Opera Australia’s Ring Cycle was the other big winner, scooping six of the eight opera awards including Best Opera Production.

Now in their 34th year, the Green Room Awards are peer-judged. The 2017 event – hosted by Julia Zemiro, the patron of the Association – honoured the best work presented on Melbourne’s stages in 2016 across seven major categories.

Though Matilda won for its direction, choreography and design, the performance awards in the Musical Theatre categories were spread across four other shows. Best Female Lead went to Caroline O’Connor for Funny Girl and Male Lead went to Callum Francis for Kinky Boots, while best performances in supporting roles were awarded to Naomi...