Blog
The AU Review
Kat Czornij
July 28, 2015
The best and brightest of the Australian Arts scene were dressed for the nines tonight as into the glorious foyer of Sydney’s Capitol Theatre they strolled. Yes, it is that time of the year again, the time when we honour and celebrate the incredible talents of our arts right across the country at the 2015 Helpmann Awards!
The ceremony this year was broadcast live across the Foxtel Arts channel, and there was a little bit of an extra buzz that can only be achieved through swooping crane cameras and film crews running up and down aisles. Both audiences in the theatre and at home were treated to a special night of entertainment. Performances included an opening melody from the cast of Les Miserables, a astonishing illusion act by Cosentino, a beautiful performance of “Gold” from Once and the chilling final sequence of Sweeney Todd.
The evening was of course hosted by the fabulous Todd McKenney who kept the crowd laughing throughout the evening, and then blew us all away with an incredible rendition of “I Am What I Am” from his nominated La Cage aux Folles. The build-up for this was particularly poignant as Todd stripped down out of his suit and into his sparkling gown and false eyelashes right on stage, all the while explaining that throughout his childhood he was taught that “if he must dance then it must be like a man”. The wig was brought onstage by Todd’s own mother, who declared that although this wasn’t what she had in mind she loved his performance.
Recipients of this years honorary awards were Eric Robinson receiving the Sue Nattrass and Paul Kelly the JC Williamson. Both humbly accepted their awards, thanking the journey that led them there. Clare Bowditch and the Paul Kelly Band then celebrated the honour with a rocking rendition of Kelly’s “Deeper Waters”.
The 41 awards presented during the evening celebrated a vast diversity of theatre across the country. Top honours included Brisbane Baroque’s Faramondo (which took five awards including Best Opera), Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Miserables (which also took five awards including Best Musical, Best Actor for Simon Gleeson and Best Supporting Actress for Kerrie Anne Greenland), Opera Australia and Barking Gecko Theatre Company’s The Rabbits (with four awards including Best New Australian Work) and Belvoir’s The Glass Menagerie for Best Play and Sydney Dance Company’s Frame of Mind for Best Ballet or Dance Work.
Here is the full list of recipients for the 2015 Helpmann Awards:
INDUSTRY AWARDS
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Gabriela Tylesova THE RABBITS Opera Australia and Barking Gecko Theatre Company, in association with West Australian Opera. Co-commissioned by Perth International Arts Festival and Melbourne Festival.
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Paule Constable LES MISERABLES Cameron Mackintosh Australia
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Kate Miller=Heidke and Iain Grandage THE RABBITS Opera Australia and Barking Gecko Theatre Company, in association with West Australian Opera. Co-commissioned by Perth International Arts Festival and Melbourne Festival.
BEST MUSIC DIRECTION
Martin Lowe ONCE John Frost, Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo
BEST SCENIC DESIGN
Geoff Cobham LITTLE BIRD State Theatre Company of South Australia, in association with Adelaide Festival Centre
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Mick Potter LES MISERABLES Cameron Mackintosh Australia
BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK
Kate Miller Heidke, Lally Katz, I ain Grandage, THE RABBITS Opera Australia and Barking Gecko Theatre Company, in association with West Australian Opera. Co-commissioned by Perth International Arts Festival and Melbourne Festival.
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
BEST AUSTRALIAN CONTEMPORARY CONCERT
Chet Faker NATIONAL TOUR 2015 Chet Faker, Frontier Touring, Artist Voice, Opulent, Future Classics and Perth International Arts Festival
BEST CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL
VIVID LIVE 2015 Destination NSW and Sydney Opera House
BEST INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY CONCERT
Ed Sheeran X WORLD TOUR 2015 Ed Sheeran and Frontier Touring
OPERA AND CLASSICAL MUSIC
BEST DIRECTION OF AN OPERA
Paul Curran FARAMONDO Brisbane Baroque, in association with QPAC
BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN OPERA
Anna Devin FARAMONDO Brisbane Baroque, in association with QPAC
BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA
Jennifer Rivera FARAMONDO Brisbane Baroque, in association with QPAC
BEST MALE PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN OPERA
Christopher Lowrey FARAMONDO Brisbane Baroque, in association with QPAC
BEST MALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA
Michal Fabino FAUST Opera Australia
BEST OPERA
FARAMONDO Brisbane Baroque, in association with QPAC
BEST CHAMBER AND INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE CONCERT
LES ARTS FLORISSANTS and LE JARDIN DES VOIX IN A JARDIN A L’ITALIENNE Melbourne Recital Centre, Sydney Opera House and Perth International Arts Festival
BEST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT
REFLECTIONS ON GALLIPOLI Australian Chamber Orchestra
BEST INDIVIDUAL CLASSICAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE
William Christie WILLIAM CHRISTIE Melbourne Recital Centre, Sydney Opera House, and Perth International Arts Festival
COMEDY
BEST COMEDY PERFORMER
Judith Lucy JUDITH LUCY – ASK NO QUESTIONS OF THE MOTH Token Events
CABARET
BEST CABARET PERFORMER
Camille O’Sullivan CAMILLE O’SULLIVAN – CHANGLELING Arts Centre Melbourne
DANCE AND PHYSICAL THEATRE
BEST BALLET OR DANCE WORK
FRAME OF MIND Sydney Dance Company
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Rafael Bonachela FRAME OF MIND Sydney Dance Company
BEST FEMALE DANCER IN A DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Chloe Leong WILLIAM FORSYTHE’S QUINTETT Sydney Dance Company
BEST MALE DANCER IN A DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Cass Mortimer Eipper WILLIAM FORSYTHE’S QUINTETT Sydney Dance Company
BEST VISUAL AND PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
THE PAPER ARCHITECT Davy and Kristin McGuire and Perth International Arts Festival
REGIONAL TOURING PRODUCTIONS
BEST REGIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION
FESTIVAL OF CIRCA Circa
CHILDRENS PRESENTATIONS
BEST PRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN
THE RABBITS Opera Australia and Barking Gecko Theatre Company, in association with West Australian Opera. Co-commissioned by Perth International Arts Festival and Melbourne Festival.
THEATRE
BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY
Kip Williams SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER Sydney Theatre Company
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY
Helen Thomson AFTER DINNER Sydney Theatre Company
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
Pamela Rabe THE GLASS MENAGERIE Belvoir
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY
John Bell AS YOU LIKE IT Bell Shakespeare
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
Hugo Weaving ENDGAME Sydney Theatre Company
BEST PLAY
THE GLASS MENAGERIE Belvoir
MUSICALS
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A MUSICAL
Andrew Hallsworth ANYTHING GOES Opera Australia and John Frost
BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
John Tiffany ONCE John Frost, Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Kerrie Anne Greenland LES MISERABLES Cameron Mackintosh Australia
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Caroline O’Connor ANYTHING GOES Opera Australia and John Frost
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Alex Rathgeber ANYTHING GOES Opera Australia and John Frost
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Simon Gleeson LES MISERABLES Cameron Mackintosh Australia
BEST MUSICAL
LES MISERABLES Cameron Mackintosh Australia
—
The reviewer was in attendance at the 2015 Helpmann Awards live in Sydney on the 27th July at the Capitol Theatre.
For more information visit www.helpmannawards.com.au/
