Celebrating artistic excellence and distinguished achievement in Australia’s live entertainment and performing arts industry
Final 2019 Helpmann Award winners announced!
A complete list of the 43 Award winners plus the 2019 JC Williamson and 2019 Sue Nattrass Award
ACT ONE
The Act 1 winners were:
Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play – Vaishnavi Suryaprakash, Counting & Cracking
Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play – Paul Blackwell, Faith Healer
Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role in an Opera – Tom Erik Lie, Komische Oper Berlin’s The Magic Flute
Best Female Performer in a Supporting Role in an Opera – Taryn Fiebig, Metamorphosis
Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Tony Sheldon, Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The New Musical
Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Elaine Crombie, Barbara and the Camp Dogs
Best Costume Design – Gabriela Tylesova, Twelfth Night
Best Scenic Design – Dale Ferguson, Counting & Cracking
Best Lighting Design – Neil Austin, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Parts One and Two)
Best Sound Design – Stefan Gregory, Counting & Cracking
Best Music Direction – Erin Helyard, Artaserse
Best Original Score – Ursula Yovich, Alana Valentine, and Adm Ventoura, Barbara and the Camp Dogs
Best Special Event – Dark Mofo 2018, Museum of Old and New Art (Mona)
Best Presentation For Children and Young People – Robot Song, Arena Theatre Company
Best Regional Touring Production – Bennelong, Bangarra Dance Theatre
Best Choreography in a Ballet, Dance, or Physical Theatre Production – Antony Hamilton, Forever & Ever
Best Choreography in a Musical – Malik Le Nost and Mitchell Woodcock, Saturday Night Fever
Best Direction of an Opera – Barrie Kosky and Suzanne Andrade, Komische Oper Berlin’s The Magic Flute
Best Direction of a Musical – Francesca Zambello, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: West Side Story
Best Direction of a Play – Eamon Flash and S. Shakthidharan, Counting & Cracking
ACT 11 WINNERS
Helpmann Awards Act II Winners
Best Male Actor in a Musical – Brent Hill, School of Rock the Musical
Best Female Actor in a Musical – Ursula Yovich, Barbara and the Camp Dogs
Best Male Actor in a Play – Prakash Belawadi, Counting & Cracking
Best Female Actor in a Play – Kate Mulvany, Every Brilliant Thing
Best Comedy Performer – Hannah Gadsby, Douglas
Best Cabaret Performer – Ali McGregor, Yma Sumac – The Peruvian Songbird
Best Male Dancer in a Ballet, Dance, or Physical Theatre Production – Waangenga Blanco, Dark Emu
Best Female Dancer in a Ballet, Dance, or Physical Theatre Production – Tara Jade Samaya, Common Ground
Best Male Performer in an Opera – Michael Honeyman, Wozzeck
Best Female Performer in an Opera – Lise Lindstrom, Salome
Best International Contemporary Concert – David Byrne and Frontier Touring, American Utopia Tour 2018
Best Contemporary Music Festival – Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), MONA FOMA 2019
Best Australian Contemporary Concert – Tim Minchin and Live Nation Australasia, Back
Best Individual Classical Music Performance – Asher Fisch, Tristan und Isolde
Best Chamber and/or Instrumental Ensemble Concert – Gabrieli Consort & Players – Purcell’s King Arthur
Best Symphony Orchestra Concert – Tristan und Isolde, West Australian Symphony Orchestra
Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production – Out Of Chaos…, Gravity & Other Myths
Best Ballet – Aurum, The Australian Ballet
Best Dance Production – The Beginning of Nature, Australian Dance Theatre
Best Opera – Komische Oper Berlin’s The Magic Flute
Best Musical – Barbara and the Camp Dogs
Best Production of a Play – Counting & Cracking
Best New Australian Work – S. Shakthidharan and Eamon Flack, Counting & Cracking
The 2019 Helpmann Awards Act II was a star studded black-tie gala event hosted by the fabulous dynamic duo of comedian, writer and actor, Susie Youssef, and Artistic Director of State Theatre SA, Mitchell Butel.
Saluting artistic excellence and achievement on Australian stages over the past year, twenty three (23) prestigious Helpmann Awards were presented in the categories of comedy, cabaret, contemporary music, musicals, opera, classical music, theatre and ballet, dance and physical theatre. These Awards complement the 20 Awards announced last night at the 2019 Helpmann Awards Act I. In addition, the 2019 JC Williamson Award was presented by Paul Kelly AO to the legendary singer-songwriter Kev Carmody, for his outstanding contribution to the live performance industry.
This year’s special guest presenters included industry luminaries Greta Bradman, Rhonda Burchmore OAM, Uncle Jack Charles, Joel Creasey, Lucy Durack, James Egglestone, Nancye Hayes AM, Stephanie Lake, Chong Lim, Paul Kelly AO, Rachael Maza, David McAllister AM, Kate Miller-Heidke, Jacob Nash, Keir Nuttall, Beau Dean Riley Smith and Vanessa Scammell.
The Helpmann Awards were established in 2001 by Live Performance Australia (LPA). Richard Evans, President of LPA, said “We are proud to present the 19h Annual Helpmann Awards in Melbourne this year for the very first time. The breadth and diversity of Winners, Nominees and performances at tonight’s and yesterday’s events shines a spotlight on Australia’s world-class creative and artistic talent. Congratulations to all 2019 Helpmann Award Nominees and Winners!”
In a world first, the cast of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD performed an exclusive montage at the play’s Australian home, Melbourne’s Princess Theatre, which was beamed live to the thrilled 2019 Helpmann Awards audience at Arts Centre Melbourne’s State Theatre.
As well as the special live cross to Melbourne’s Princess Theatre, acclaimed performances at the State Theatre included Victorian Opera with their new work Lorelei, featuring divas Ali McGregor, Dimity Shepherd and Danielle Calder; The Australian Ballet with an exquisite new piece from Aurum by choreographer Alice Topp; the breathtaking Bangarra dancers Beau Dean Riley Smith, Rikki Mason, Tyrel Dulvarie, Ryan Pearson, Baden Hitchcock and Bradley Smith in an excerpt from the Helpmann Award winning production Bennelong; a special tribute to Kev Carmody from electronic soul pop duo Electric Fields; musical theatre darling Silvie Paladino; and bringing the show home was the sensational Brent Hill and the extraordinary kids from the hit musical School of Rock. Once again, the Helpmann Awards Orchestra was led by exceptional musical director Vanessa Scammell.
The Helpmann Awards Act II was preceded by the Red Carpet Walk with its fun and fabulous frocks, hosted by colourful comedienne Cal Wilson. The celebrations continued late into the night with the After Party at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.
Yesterday, the 2019 Helpmann Awards Act I saw the gravitas of Australia’s most prestigious live theatre and entertainment awards meet the atmosphere of a sophisticated jazz lounge, for an up close, upbeat, exclusive industry-only night to remember.
Hosted by the legendary performer, writer, artistic director and national treasure, Robyn Archer AO, the evening’s presenters included industry favourites Annie Aitken, Casey Bennetto, Tony Briggs, Uncle Jack Charles, Ako Kondo, Matt Lee, Ali McGregor, Natalie O’Donnell, Gareth Reeves, Graeme Russell, Claire Spencer, Anne Wood and the legendary punk rock duo from Die Roten Punkte, Otto and Astrid Rot.
The Helpmann Awards were established in 2001 by Live Performance Australia (LPA).
