Vidya Makan is one of Australia's most exciting multi-hyphenates in the entertainment industry. As a leading lady, she has wowed audiences across the country through her powerful performances as Eliza in Hamilton, Catherine Parr in SIX, Ruby in Bloom and Dot/Marie in Sunday In The Park With George to name a few, all of which saw her nominated for major industry awards. In 2024 she featured on the ABC and Michael Cassel Group’s A (Very) Musical Christmas, and in 2023 she was a guest quiz master on Channel 10’s Have You Been Paying Attention.

Vidya is also a talented composer and lyricist of her own musicals. Her critically acclaimed debut original The Lucky Country opened to rave reviews in Sydney in 2023 and is being presented this October at Melbourne Theatre Company’s Southbank Theatre and then as part of the MELT festival in Brisbane. The original cast album will be released on all streaming platforms with Origin Music on August 14.

Vidya is currently in development with Queensland Theatre on a new original musical exploring the everyday lives of South Asian Australians working with collaborator Tasnim Hossain.

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. 

She is currently working on Gadigal country, soaking up so much sunshine she actually got sunburnt for the first time in her life.

Wear sunscreen mates.

ACTOR/SINGER AWARDS

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

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