Entertainment
11 March, 2024
JUTE founder picks up gold
ARTISTIC director and chief executive of JUTE Theatre Company, actress, advocate for regional arts and passionate theatre lover Suellen Maunder has been awarded one of the greatest honours in state theatre – the Gold Matilda – for her invaluable contributions to regional theatre and the advancement of JUTE.
In an award ceremony at the Brisbane Powerhouse on Monday, February 26, the co-founder of JUTE was awarded the biggest award of the night – the Gold Matilda – at the 2023 Queensland Matilda Awards for her role as chief executive and artistic director of JUTE since 1992.
Founded by Ms Maunder, Kathryn Ash and Susan Price in 1992 as Just Us Theatre Ensemble, later operating as JUTE, for over three decades and with the guidance of Maunder, the theatre has become a beacon for regional theatre and an insatiable promoter and developer of local artists.
Still shocked by the achievement Ms Maunder told Cairns Local News the award was also a win for regional theatre across the state.
“It was an incredible surprise, I’m still processing it, but it was an honour to have my name called in front of over 900 theatre peers,” she said.
“This is an incredible honour, and the entirety of this award is owned by regional theatre. With a lot of regional productions also winning awards, it was a very exciting night for regional theatre.
“Cairns should be very proud that for so many years they have supported a company like ours because a lot of people thought we couldn’t survive when we started – here we are 30 years later, so I think this award is about never giving up.”
Reflecting on the humble beginnings of JUTE, Ms Maunder, who went from actress, to director, to head of the company, said she had treasured every moment, artist and production within the company.
“It’s like watching a child grow up, you don’t see the little steps along the way, but I treasure every single artist that I’ve worked with, who have made us who we are and our beautiful audience,” she said.
“One of our biggest achievements is Bulmba-ja Arts Centre, because we got the government to give us $2.7 million to build it, and over the years JUTE has brought millions of dollars in funding for the region and we’re one of the biggest employers of the arts outside of Brisbane and that’s what we’re about, making sure that people get paid for their artistry.
“There’s always more goals to achieve and stories to tell and I think the company is in good hands for the future after I stand down in 2025.”
