Vidya Makan is an ARIA Award nominated entertainment multi-hyphenate. In musical theatre, she has wow’d audiences across the globe through her emotionally rich and vocally powerful performances as Eliza in Hamilton (Michael Cassel Group), Catherine Parr in SIX (Louise Withers and Associates), Brendan in Fuccbois (House of Oz, Soft Tread), Ruby in Bloom (Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company), Dot/Marie in Sunday In The Park With George (Watch This) and Papa Ge in Once On This Island (Altitude Theatre) to name a few; many of which saw her nominated for major industry awards. Her career defining performance as Eliza Hamilton earnt her the 2025 Timeout Critic’s Choice Award for Best Performance In A Leading Role. In 2027, she will make her Netflix feature film debut (TBA-NDA). Vidya is also no stranger to Australian TV screens, having featured as a presenter at the 39th Annual ARIA Awards (Paramount Plus), a lead singer in ABC and Michael Cassel Group’s A Very Musical Christmas and as a guest quiz master on Channel 10’s Have You Been Paying Attention. Vidya currently appears as Brendan in Bridie Connell’s hilarious boyband musical Fuccbois: Live In Concert (Soft Tread, House of Oz); the original cast album is currently available on all streaming platforms.

Vidya’s seven time Green Room Award nominated debut musical as a composer/lyricist,The Lucky Country played to sold out audiences across Australia in 2023 and 2025. The show’s ARIA award nominated original cast album is available on all streaming platforms through Origin Music, and its libretto is soon to be published by Playlab. Vidya is currently developing Nine Nights, a new Australian musical/festival experience about the everyday lives of South Asian Australians. The show has been supported so far by the likes of Create NSW, Hayes Theatre Co, APRA AMCOS, Queensland Theatre Company and Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

BACKGROUND

Vidya grew up in Brisbane, Queensland spending most of her time on the football (soccer) field with dreams of one day becoming a Matilda. However, at the age of 14 after playing flower girl number 3 in her high-school production of My Fair Lady, Vidya decided to take on a much more realistic and stable path and made the wise decision to lead a life in showbiz.

Having learnt to read music at the age of three (before she was able to read English) she is also a cellist and highly skilled pianist. Vidya is a proud graduate of The Bachelor of Musical Theatre program at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, class of 2015. 

ACTOR/SINGER AWARDS

2026 Green Room Award Nomination, Outstanding Ensemble for The Lucky Country

2025 Timeout Sydney Critic’s Choice Award Winner, Best Performance in a Musical for Eliza in Hamilton

2024 Sydney Theatre Award Nomination, Judith Johnson Award for Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical for Eliza in Hamilton

2024 BroadwayWorld Award Nomination, Best Supporting Actor (Musical Theatre) for Eliza in Hamilton

2024 Green Room Award Nomination, Best Supporting Artist (Musical Theatre) for Ruby in Bloom

2023 Sydney Theatre Award Nomination, Best ENSEMBLE for The Lucky Country

2023 Green Room Award Winner, Best ENSEMBLE (Musical Theatre) for SIX

2023 Sydney Theatre Award Nomination, Best ENSEMBLE for SIX

2020 Green Room Award Nomination, Best Performance in a Leading Role (Musical Theatre) for Dot/Marie, Sunday In The Park With George

COMPOSER/LYRICIST AWARDS

2026 Green Room Award Nomination, Outstanding New Australian Music Theatre Writing- The Lucky Country

2026 Green Room Award Nomination, Outstanding Production- The Lucky Country

2025 ARIA Award Nomination, Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album for The Lucky Country Original Cast Album

2023 APRA AMCOS Professional Development Award (Musical Theatre), National Winner

2021 Create NSW New Musical Theatre Fellowship Winner (Inaugural Recipient)

2021 Brand X/City Of Sydney Live Work Residency

2021 Green Room Award Nomination, Online Performance for I NEED YOU TO SEE ME