2016 Helpmann Awards announced

Matilda The Musical photo by James MorganCelebrating artistic excellence and distinguished achievement in live performance, the 2016 Helpmann Awards were presented at a star-studded ceremony last night (Monday 25 July) at the Sydney Lyric Theatre.

The 2016 Helpmann Award winners were announced in the categories of comedy, cabaret, children’s presentation, contemporary music, dance and physical theatre, industry, musicals, opera and classical music, regional touring and theatre.

“We are proud to present the 16th Annual Helpmann Awards tonight,” said Chief Executive of LPA, Evelyn Richardson. “The breadth of winners, nominees and performances at tonight’s ceremony shines a spotlight on Australia’s world-class creative and artistic talent.”

Awards previously announced and presented live on stage tonight included a special award given to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for Outstanding Contribution to the Development of Comedy in Australia; the JC Williamson Award recognising outstanding contribution to the Australian live performance industry presented to Stephen Page; and the Sue Nattrass Award presented to Michael Lynch CBE AM, which honours exceptional service to the Australian live performance industry.

Matilda The Musical won a record 13 Helpmann Awards including Best Original Score for Tim Minchin, and the prestigious Best Musical, while Brisbane Baroque’s production of Agrippina won 4 awards, including Best Opera. Bangarra Dance Theatre winning 4 awards including Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work for Frances Rings and Sheoak, which also took out the award for Best Ballet or Dance Work.

Griffin Theatre Company received 3 awards for its production of Angus Cerini’s The Bleeding Tree including Best Play, Best Direction of a Play for Lee Lewis, and Best Female Actor in a Play for Paula Arundell.

Actor Mark Leonard Winter won two awards – Best Male Actor in a Play for Birdland (Melbourne Theatre Company), and Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play for King Lear (Sydney Theatre Company). Ladies In Black, which has just announced an Australian tour in 2017, took home Best New Australian Work for Carolyn Burns, Tim Finn and Simon Phillips.

Michael Griffiths won Best Cabaret Performer for his production of Cole, Tom Ballard received Best Comedy Performer for The World Keeps Happening, while Australian Theatre for Young People and Performing Lines won Best Regional Touring Production for Sugarland.

Guests were entertained by a number of sensational performances including: the cast of Ladies in Black; a recital from Andrey Gugnin – winner of the Sydney International Piano Competition; Grant Almirall, Gretel Scarlett and Jack Chambers presenting Good Mornin’ from Singin’ in the Rain; Jacqueline Dark singing Climb Ev’ry Mountain from The Sound of Music; and Quiet from Matilda the Musical starring all eight Matildas from the Sydney and Melbourne seasons.

2016 Helpmann Awards Winners:

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play
Mark Leonard Winter
King Lear
Sydney Theatre Company

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play
Sarah Peirse
The Golden Age
Sydney Theatre Company

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Daniel Frederiksen
Matilda The Musical

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Elise Mccann
Matilda The Musical

Best International Contemporary Concert
Prince Piano & A Microphone Tour 2016
Prince, Dainty Group and Ico Aps

Best Contemporary Music Festival
Womadelaide 2016 – The World’s Festival
Womadelaide Foundation

Best Australian Contemporary Concert
Mofo 2016 – Kate Miller-Heidke and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra with Visuals by Amy Gebhardt

Best Costume Design
Rob Howell
Matilda The Musical

Best Scenic Design
Rob Howell
Matilda The Musical

Best Lighting Design
Hugh Vanstone
Matilda The Musical

Best Sound Design
Simon Baker
Matilda The Musical

Best Individual Classical Music Performance
Pierre-Laurent Aimard
Melbourne Recital Centre and Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Best Chamber and/or Instrumental Ensemble Concert
French Baroque with Circa
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra

Best Symphony Orchestra Concert
Sir Simon Rattle conducts The Australian World Orchestra
Australian World Orchestra

Best Original Score
Tim Minchin
Matilda The Musical

Best Music Direction
Stephen Amos
Matilda The Musical

Best Presentation for Children
Bambert’s Book of Lost Stories
Barking Gecko Theatre Company

Best Regional Touring Production
Sugarland
Australian Theatre for Young People and Performing Lines

Best Cabaret Performer
Michael Griffiths
Cole
Adelaide Festival Centre’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival

Best Comedy Performer
Tom Ballard
The World Keeps Happening
Token Events

Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production
Il Ritorno
Brisbane Festival And Circa

Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work
Frances Rings
Sheoak
Bangarra Dance Theatre

Best Choreography in a Musical
Peter Darling
Matilda The Musical

Best Male Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work
Kimball Wong
Habitus
Australian Dance Theatre

Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work
Yolanda Lowatta
Sheoak
Bangarra Dance Theatre

Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role in an Opera
João Fernandes
Agrippina
Brisbane Baroque in association with QPAC

Best Female Performer in a Supporting Role in an Opera
Keri Fuge
Agrippina
Brisbane Baroque in association with QPAC

Best Male Performer in an Opera
Carlo Vistoli
Agrippina
Brisbane Baroque in association with QPAC

Best Female Performer in an Opera
Nicole Car
Luisa Miller
Opera Australia

Best Direction of an Opera
David Mcvicar
The Marriage Of Figaro
Opera Australia

Best Male Actor in a Play
Mark Leonard Winter
Birdland
Melbourne Theatre Company

Best Female Actor in a Play
Paula Arundell
The Bleeding Tree
Griffin Theatre Company

Best Male Actor in a Musical
James Millar
Matilda The Musical

Best Female Actor in a Musical
Molly Barwick, Dusty Bursill, Tiana Mirra, Alannah Parfett, Sasha Rose, Georgia Taplin, Bella Thomas and Ingrid Torelli
Matilda The Musical

Best Direction of a Play
Lee Lewis
The Bleeding Tree
Griffin Theatre Company

Best Direction of a Musical
Matthew Warchus
Matilda The Musical

Best New Australian Work
Carolyn Burns and Tim Finn with Simon Phillips
Ladies In Black
Queensland Theatre Company

Best Opera
Agrippina
Brisbane Baroque and QPAC

Best Ballet or Dance Work
Sheoak
Bangarra Dance Theatre

Best Play
The Bleeding Tree
Griffin Theatre Company

Best Musical
Matilda The Musical
The Royal Shakespeare Company and Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt with Chokey Productions, Just For Laughs Theatricals, Glass Half Full Productions, Paula Marie Black, Greenleaf Productions and Michael Lynch

For more information, and complete list of winners, visit: www.helpmannawards.com.au for details.

Image: Matilda The Musical – photo by James Morgan