The 17th annual Helpmann Awards to take centre stage in Sydney on Monday 24 July

Rob Brookman AMLive Performance Australia (LPA) have announced the details of the 17th annual Helpmann Awards, which will see the stars of the live performance industry come together with fans for a remarkable night on Monday 24 July at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre.

The Helpmann Awards are the premier celebration of Australia’s vibrant live performance industry and recognise distinguished achievement and excellence in Australia’s live performance sectors, including musical theatre, contemporary music, comedy, opera and classical music, theatre, ballet, dance and physical theatre, presentations for children, regional touring and cabaret.

“The Helpmann Awards celebrate the many hands and hearts engaged in making the live performance industry the dynamic and creative powerhouse that is enjoyed by 18.4 million people each year in Australia, LPA Chief Executive, Evelyn Richardson.

Continuing his long and successful history with the Helpmann Awards, Jon Nicholls returns to the role of Executive Producer of the Awards Ceremony, that will include performances by the casts of Kinky Boots, The Book of Mormon, Disney’s Aladdin The Musical and My Fair Lady.

Live Performance Australia is honoured to announce Rob Brookman AM as the recipient of this year’s Sue Nattrass Award. This prestigious Award honours exceptional service to the Australian live performance industry shining a spotlight on people in service roles that support our industry. Mr Brookman will be presented with the Award at the 17th annual Helpmann Awards Ceremony on Monday 24 July.

Rob Brookman AM is a leading Australian theatre producer, festival director, cultural programmer and arts administrator. He has most recently completed a five year term as Executive Director of State Theatre Company South Australia and will take up a new role as the Executive Director of the Adelaide Festival in early May.

He has held leadership positions in a number of Australasia’s foremost festivals and performing arts organisations including Adelaide Festival (Administrator, Associate Director, Artistic Director), Adelaide Festival Centre (Programming Director, Producer, Artistic Director), National Festival of Australian Theatre (Artistic Director), New Zealand International Festival of Arts (Artistic Director), Arts Projects Australia (Founding Co-Director) and Sydney Theatre Company (General Manager).

In 1992 he co-founded Australia’s leading world music festival WOMADelaide and remained as Artistic Director and/or Artistic Advisor for 15 years.  Rob has also run his own cultural consultancy Sweet Reason Pty Ltd offering consulting services to major productions and festivals, and undertaking feasibility studies and project development work for a wide range of clients including festivals, commercial developers and local government agencies.

Rob has held many arts-related Board positions including Deputy Chair of Playing Australia, Chair of the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award, Chair of the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, and is currently a Trustee of the WOMADelaide Foundation, Treasurer of the Arts Industry Council of SA and a Board Member of the Melbourne Festival.

“I have been blessed to be able to pursue a livelihood in the arts that involves doing things and working with people that I absolutely love;  and doubly fortunate to have worked in our industry at a time of incredible change and development which has afforded opportunities that were undreamed of when I started out,” said Mr Brookman. “To be so generously recognised by my peers through the Sue Nattrass Award is the best kind of icing on the most fabulously rich, complex, beautiful and utterly enjoyable, cake.”

Nominees for the 17th annual Helpmann Awards will be announced on Monday 19 June. Tickets for the Awards Ceremony go on sale on Monday 1 May through Ticketmaster. For more information, visit: www.helpmannawards.com.au for details.

Image: Rob Brookman AM