2017 Helpmann Award Winners
The 17th Annual Helpmann Awards were presented at a ceremony on Monday 24 July at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney, on the set of Kinky Boots.
Major awards included The Book of Mormon (Best Musical), The Drover's Wife (both Best Play and Best New Australian Work), Saul (Best Opera) and Snow White (Best Ballet).
Big winners of the evening were Barry Kosky's Adelaide Festival production of the Handel opera Saul and Belvoir's production of Leah Purcell's The Drover's Wife.
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, classical music, theatre, ballet, dance and physical theatre, presentation for children, regional touring and cabaret.
Live Performance Australia (LPA) Chief Executive, Evelyn Richardson said, “This year has been a remarkable year for live performances in Australia reflecting a vibrant industry with more than 18 million people attending shows across the country and ticket revenues of $1.4 billion”.
“Over the past seventeen years, the Helpmann Awards have received over 10,000 entries and announced 2,600 Nominations, which further illustrates the scale of the live performance industry in Australia. We are thrilled to be announcing on 24 July a further 42 winners to add to the existing 550 Helpmann Awards alumni.”
NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the Helpmann Awards is hosted in Sydney thanks to the support of the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.
“It’s been another remarkable year for live performance in Australia and this year’s Nominees reflect the strength and vibrancy of this sector. I congratulate all of the 2017 Helpmann Awards Nominees and wish them the best of luck,” Mr Marshall said.
Richard Tognetti AO, Artistic Director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, is the recipient of the 2017 JC Williamson Award, bestowed on an individual who has made a truly outstanding contribution to the enrichment of Australia’s live performance culture and shaped the future of the industry for the better. Rob Brookman AM is the recipient of this year’s Sue Nattrass Award which honours an exceptional individual in a service role that supports the industry.
The Helpmann Awards are proudly supported by the New South Wales Government, through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
2017 Helpmann Award Winners
INDUSTRY
BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK
LEAH PURCELL
The Drover’s Wife
Belvoir
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
GREGG BARNES
Aladdin
Disney Theatrical Productions (Australia)
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
IAIN GRANDAGE AND RAHAYU SUPANGGAH
Satan Jawa
Arts Centre Melbourne and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
BEST MUSIC DIRECTION
ERIN HELYARD
Saul
2017 Adelaide Festival in association with the State Opera of South Australia, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the Adelaide Festival Centre
BEST SCENIC DESIGN
ANNA CORDINGLEY
Jasper Jones
Melbourne Theatre Company
BEST SOUND DESIGN
GARETH FRY
The Encounter
Complicite, Sydney Festival, Malthouse Theatre, Adelaide Festival & Perth International Arts Festival
CABARET
BEST CABARET PERFORMER
MATERHARERE HOPE HAAMI, JUANITA DUNCAN, OFA FOTU, CRYSTAL STACEY, LISA FA'ALAFI AND KIM 'BUSTY BEATZ' BOWERS
Hot Brown Honey
Arts Centre Melbourne and Sydney Opera House in Association with Briefs Factory Presents
COMEDY
BEST COMEDY PERFORMER
HANNAH GADSBY
Nanette
Token Events
PRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN
BEST PRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN
JUMP FIRST, ASK LATER
Powerhouse Youth Theatre and Force Majeure
REGIONAL TOURING
BEST REGIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION
TERRAIN
Bangarra Dance Theatre
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
BEST AUSTRALIAN CONTEMPORARY CONCERT
NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS AND BILLIONS AUSTRALIA
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Billions Australia
BEST CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL
MONA FOMA 2017
Museum of Old and New Art
BEST INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY CONCERT
PATTI SMITH AND BLUESFEST TOURING
Patti Smith and her Band Australian Tour 2017
Bluesfest Touring
DANCE AND PHYSICAL THEATRE
BEST BALLET
SNOW WHITE
Ballet Preljocaj
BEST DANCE PRODUCTION
ATTRACTOR
Dancenorth and Lucy Guerin Inc, with Arts Centre Melbourne, WOMADelaide and Brisbane Festival
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A BALLET, DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
GIDEON OBARZANEK AND LUCY GUERIN
Attractor
Dancenorth and Lucy Guerin Inc, with Melbourne Arts Centre, WOMADelaide and Brisbane Festival
BEST MALE DANCER IN A BALLET, DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
KEVIN JACKSON
Nijinsky
The Australian Ballet
BEST FEMALE DANCER IN A BALLET, DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
LILIAN STEINER
Split
Lucy Guerin Inc and Arts House
BEST VISUAL OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
SNAKE SESSIONS
Branch Nebula, produced by Intimate Spectacle
OPERA AND CLASSICAL MUSIC
BEST DIRECTION OF AN OPERA
BARRIE KOSKY
Saul
2017 Adelaide Festival in association with the State Opera of South Australia, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the Adelaide Festival Centre
BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN OPERA
LORINA GORE
King Roger
Opera Australia
BEST MALE PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN OPERA
KANEN BREEN
Saul
2017 Adelaide Festival in association with the State Opera of South Australia, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the Adelaide Festival Centre
BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA
LISE LINDSTROM
The Ring Cycle
Opera Australia
BEST MALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA
CHRISTOPHER PURVES
Saul
2017 Adelaide Festival in association with the State Opera of South Australia, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the Adelaide Festival Centre
BEST OPERA
SAUL
Glyndebourne Festival Opera and 2017 Adelaide Festival in association with the State Opera of South Australia, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the Adelaide Festival Centre
BEST CHAMBER AND/OR INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE CONCERT
ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS
Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Recital Centre and QPAC
BEST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT
STEMME, SKELTON, TRISTAN & ISOLDE
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
BEST INDIVIDUAL CLASSICAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE
JOSHUA BELL
Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Melbourne Recital Centre and Sydney Symphony Orchestra
THEATRE
BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY
LETICIA CÁCERES
The Drover’s Wife
Belvoir
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY
AMBER MCMAHON
Girl Asleep
Windmill Theatre Company
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY
GUY SIMON
Jasper Jones
Melbourne Theatre Company
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
KATE MULVANY
Richard 3
Bell Shakespeare
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
MARK COLE SMITH
The Drover’s Wife
Belvoir
BEST PLAY
THE DROVER’S WIFE
Belvoir
MUSICALS
BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
TREY PARKER AND CASEY NICHOLAW
The Book of Mormon
ANNE GAREFINO, SCOTT RUDIN, IMPORTANT MUSICALS, JOHN FROST, Roger Berlind, Scott M. Delman, Jean Doumanian, Roy Furman, Stephanie P. McClelland, Kevin Morris, Jon B. Platt, Sonia Friedman Productions
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A MUSICAL
JERRY MITCHELL
Kinky Boots
MICHAEL CASSEL by special arrangement with DARYL ROTH and HAL LUFTIG
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
ROBYN NEVIN
My Fair Lady
Opera Australia & John Frost
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
MICHAEL JAMES SCOTT
Aladdin
Disney Theatrical Productions (Australia)
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
ANNA O’BYRNE
My Fair Lady
Opera Australia and John Frost
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
CALLUM FRANCIS
Kinky Boots
MICHAEL CASSEL by special arrangement with DARYL ROTH and HAL LUFTIG
BEST MUSICAL
THE BOOK OF MORMON
ANNE GAREFINO, SCOTT RUDIN, IMPORTANT MUSICALS, JOHN FROST, Roger Berlind, Scott M. Delman, Jean Doumanian, Roy Furman, Stephanie P. McClelland, Kevin Morris, Jon B. Platt, Sonia Friedman Productions
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