The 14th Annual Helpmann Awards have been presented in a star-studded affair at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre and broadcast on Foxtel’s Arena.
Host Jonathan Biggins was joined by some of Australia’s most talented performers and industry leaders to announce this year’s winners while recognising the distinguished artistic achievement and excellence across the major disciplines of Australia’s live performance industry.
Showcasing Australia’s unique and diverse live performance industry, show highlights included live performances from Disney’s The Lion King, Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production of Les Miserables, Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical, and a very special medley from The King and I with Lisa McCune, Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Lou Diamond Phillips.
During the ceremony, Sydney Theatre Company’s acclaimed Wharf Revue served up a dose of their trademark razor-sharp, irreverent and anarchic political satire with some very special guest appearances by ‘Paul Keating’ and ‘Julia Gillard’.
Additionally there were performances from singer Mark Vincent, Djuki Mala (Chooky Dancers) and The Zephyr Quartet from Adelaide. Opera star Taryn Fiebig was joined by Dominic Grimshaw to perform the Pie Jesu from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Requiem for tonight’s In Memoriam segment.
In addition, two very special awards were presented tonight in honour of two exceptional individuals for their lifetime contribution to the live performance industry in Australia, John Frost AM (JC Williamson Award) and Patricia Boggs (Sue Nattrass Award). This year’s Best Special Event Award was presented to Destination NSW for Vivid Sydney 2013.
Chief Executive, Live Performance Australia, Evelyn Richardson said “Tonight we celebrated the very best of our talented live performance industry.”
“Our annual Ticketing Survey 2013 released today shows that the industry recorded record revenue growth generating $1.479 billion, up 22.7% on 2012. More than 17.9 million people attended live events in 2013 indicating that Australians continue to engage with and be entertained by our wonderful productions across all the live performance genres.”
And the 2014 Helpmann Awards Winners are:
Best Costume Design
Roger Kirk
The King & I – Opera Australia & John Frost
Best Lighting Design
Nick Schlieper
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead – Sydney Theatre Company
Best Music Direction
Pietari Inkinen
The Melbourne Ring Cycle – Opera Australia
Best Original Score
Iain Grandage
When Time Stops – Expressions Dance Company and Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Best Scenic Design
Gabriela Tylesova
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead – Sydney Theatre Company
Best Sound Design
Michael Waters
The King & I – Opera Australia and John Frost
Best Australian Contemporary Concert
Hunters & Collectors
Hunters & Collectors, Frontier Touring and Roundhouse Entertainment
Best Contemporary Music Festival
Bluesfest Byron Bay 2014
Bluesfest
Best International Contemporary Concert
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band 2014
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band & Frontier Touring
Best Direction of an Opera
Neil Armfield
The Melbourne Ring Cycle – Opera Australia
Best Female Performer in a Supporting Role in an Opera
Jacqueline Dark
The Melbourne Ring Cycle – Opera Australia
Best Female Performer in an Opera
Christine Goerke
Elektra – Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role in an Opera
Warwick Fyfe
The Melbourne Ring Cycle – Opera Australia
Best Male Performer in an Opera
Terje Stensvold
The Melbourne Ring Cycle – Opera Australia
Best Opera
The Melbourne Ring Cycle
Opera Australia
Best Chamber and/or Instrumental Ensemble Concert
The Jerusalem Project
Melbourne Recital Centre and Sydney Opera House
Best Symphony Orchestra Concert
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Arts Centre Melbourne, Perth Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Sydney Opera House
Best Individual Classical Music Performance
Julia Lezhneva
Julia Lezhneva with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
Hobart Baroque
Best Comedy Performer
Sam Simmons
Sam Simmons: Death Of A Sails-Man – Token Events
Best Cabaret Performer
Sarah Ward
Yana Alana Between The Cracks – Ebony Bott at fortyfivedownstairs
Best Ballet or Dance Work
Chroma
The Australian Ballet
Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production
Stephanie Lake
A Small Prometheus – Melbourne Festival, Arts House and Insite Arts
Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production
Charmene Yap
’2 in D Minor’ as part of ‘Interplay’ – Sydney Dance Company
Best Male Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production
James Vu Anh Pham
247 Days – Chunky Move
Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production
Whelping Box
Branch Nebula, Matt Prest & Clare Britton, produced by Intimate Spectacle & Performing Lines, presented by Performance Space & Arts House.
Best Regional Touring Production
Jack Charles vs The Crown
Ilbijerri Theatre Company
Best Presentation for Children
Pinocchio
Windmill Theatre & State Theatre Company of South Australia
Best Direction of a Play
Michael Kantor
The Shadow King – Malthouse Theatre in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals – Adelaide Festival, Brisbane Festival, Melbourne Festival, Perth International Arts Festival and Sydney Festival.
Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play
Robyn Nevin
Angels In America – Belvoir
Best Female Actor in a Play
Cate Blanchett
The Maids – Sydney Theatre Company
Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play
Luke Mullins
Waiting for Godot – Sydney Theatre Company
Best Male Actor in a Play
Richard Roxburgh
Waiting For Godot – Sydney Theatre Company
Best Play
Angels In America
Belvoir
Best Choreography in a Musical
Andrew Hallsworth
Sweet Charity – Luckiest Productions & Neil Gooding Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co.
Best Direction of a Musical
Dean Bryant
Sweet Charity – Luckiest Productions & Neil Gooding Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co.
Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Heather Mitchell
Strictly Ballroom The Musical – Global Creatures
Best Female Actor in a Musical
Verity Hunt-Ballard
Sweet Charity – Luckiest Productions & Neil Gooding Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co.
Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Reg Livermore
Wicked – Marc Platt, David Stone, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, John Frost
Best Male Actor in a Musical
Craig McLachlan
Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show – Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost
Best Musical
The King & I
Opera Australia & John Frost
Best New Australian Work
Rosemary Myers with Julianne O’Brien
Pinocchio – Windmill Theatre & State Theatre Company of South
For more information, visit: www.helpmannawards.com.au for details.
Image: The King and I – winner of Best Musical