Hayes Theatre and Sport for Jove dominate, as Sydney’s independent theatre scene appears in rude health.

The nominations for the 2015 Sydney Theatre Awards have been announced this morning, and for the first time independent musical theatre has been given its own platform with the introduction of several new categories separating the accomplishments of mainstream and independent productions.

Tim Minchin’s global smash-hit adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic, Matilda, presented by The Royal Shakespeare Company, leads the tally in the mainstream musical theatre awards with five nods including Best Production, and two nominations a piece in both Best Actress and Actor categories. A Special Achievement Award will also go to the four young performers in the title role of the Australian premiere season at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre.

In the independent musical theatre categories, Hayes Theatre is all but guaranteed to take home an impressive haul after securing 17 nominations in total – nine for its production of Heathers and eight for Violet. This marks a watershed year for the musical theatre pioneers, who were also one of the most successful applicants to the highly competitive September grant round for Australia Council funding, receiving...