Jump to content

Helpmann Awards

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Helpmann Awards
Awarded for"Distinguished artistic achievement and excellence in the many disciplines of Australia's vibrant live performance sectors"
CountryAustralia
Presented byLive Performance Australia
First awarded2001
Websitewww.helpmannawards.com.au
Television/radio coverage
NetworkOvation(2004–2005)
Fox8(2006)
Bio.(2007–2009)
Studio(2010–2012)
Arena(2013–2014)
Foxtel Arts(2015–2017)
ABC(2018)

TheHelpmann Awardsare accolades for live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group LiveLive Performance Australia(LPA) since 2001.[1]

The annual awards recognise achievements in the disciplines ofmusical theatre,contemporary music,comedy,opera,classical music,theatre,danceandphysical theatre.[2]Over forty awards are given to productions, festivals and concerts, and for individuals for their work in performance, direction, choreography, lighting, sound, music, costume and scenic design.[1]

They are named in honour of ballet dancer, choreographer, director and actorSir Robert Helpmann.[1]

The awards are the Australian equivalent of the United States'Tony AwardsforBroadway theatreand the United Kingdom'sLaurence Olivier AwardsforWest End theatre.[3]

History[edit]

The awards are named after Sir Robert Helpmann

The Helpmann Awards were established in 2001 by the Australian Entertainment Industry Association (now known as Live Performance Australia (LPA)). They are named in honour of Australian actor, choreographer, dancer and theatre director,Sir Robert Helpmann.[4][3]

At theinaugural Helpmann Awards,twenty six accolades were handed out for achievements inperformance,direction,choreography,lighting,sound,music,costumeandscenic designandproduction,in the disciplines ofmusical theatre,contemporary music,comedy,opera,classical music,theatre,danceandphysical theatre.[5]Over the years the categories expanded and now include many more honours.[2]

Aims and description[edit]

The aim of the awards is to promote Australia'slive entertainmentindustry, both locally and internationally, by: recognising artistic achievements; administering the awards with integrity; ensuring the awards are celebrated by the industry and Australian community; and ensuring the ceremony is the most prestigious awards in the local industry and the highlight of each season.[6]

Special non-competitive prizes are also bestowed upon individuals: theJC Williamson Award(named after theatre managerJames Cassius Williamson), for one's life's work in Australia's live entertainment industry. This is the highest honour presented by Live Performance Australia.[7][8]Other special awards are the Sue Nattrass Award, which recognises outstanding achievement in a field without high public profile,[1]the Brian Stacey Memorial Award, and an award for Best Special Event.[citation needed]

Eligibility and voting[edit]

To be eligible for the Helpmann Awards, a production must: be produced or presented by an LPA Member, or professionally produced by a non-Member that has paid an Industry Service Fee for the production; fall within the artistic or industry award categories; and officially open in Australia during the season (or for Best Regional Touring Production Award, undertake its first Australian regional tour during the season).[9]Exemptions from the entry criteria can be granted in exceptional circumstances by a committee consisting of the LPA president, chief executive and chair of the Helpmann Awards Administration Committee (HAAC).[9]

Nine nominating panels determine the nominees for their respective fields.[10]These are: cabaret, children's presentation, comedy, contemporary music, dance and physical theatre, industry awards, musicals, opera and classical music, and theatre.[10]The nominating panels comprises artists, creatives, arts administrators, writers, journalists, producers, promoters, venue managers and educators.[10]The HAAC selects the chair of each panel, who in turn chooses the members of their respective fields.[10]The nominations are then determined by each of them, who choose four per category.[10]The winners are determined in a secret online ballot by the voters who are employees of LPA members, panelists and previous Helpmann winners and nominees.[11]

Award categories[edit]

The award categories are currently:

Ceremony[edit]

The annual Helpmann Awards ceremony is usually held between May and September. They have been variously held in Sydney at theStar CityShow Room,Sydney Lyric,Sydney Opera Houseand theCapitol Theatre,and at the Arts Centre Melbourne.[12]Australian stage and screen actorSimon Burkehas presided over the event seven times, the most of any other person, from 2001 to 2006, and again in 2012. The awards have been broadcast since 2004 on variousFoxtelchannels,[13]and since 2018 live onABC Television.[1]

Simon Burke has hosted the awards seven times, more than any other person.
Date[A] Host/Hosts Network Venue Ref.
25 March2001 Simon Burke — Lyric Theatre [14]
6 May2002 Star City Show Room [12]
19 May2003 [15]
9 August2004 Ovation Lyric Theatre [16]
8 August2005 [17]
31 July2006 Fox8 [18]
6 August2007 Jonathan Biggins Bio. Capitol Theatre [19]
28 July2008 Jonathan Biggins andJulia Zemiro Lyric Theatre [20]
27 July2009 Sydney Opera House [21]
6 September2010 David Campbell Studio [22]
1 August2011 Jonathan Biggins [23]
24 September2012 Simon Burke [24]
29 July2013 Eddie PerfectandChristie Whelan-Browne Arena [25]
18 August2014 Jonathan Biggins Capitol Theatre [26]
27 July2015 Todd McKenney Foxtel Arts [27]
25 July2016 Helen Dallimore,Guy Noble,Simon Philips,Queenie van de ZandtandThe Umbilical Brothers Lyric Theatre [28]
24 July2017 Jan van de StoolandTim Draxl Capitol Theatre, Sydney [29]
15 & 16 July2018 Glenn A Baker AM,Rafael Bonachela,David Campbell,Jacqueline Dark,Anne EdmondsandTony Sheldon ABC [30][31]
14 & 15 July2019 Susie YoussefandMitchell Butel Arts Centre Melbourne
2020 and 2021 Cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic —
2022 Event did not occur

^[A]Each year is linked to the full list of winners and nominees from that year following the ceremony.

References[edit]

  1. ^abcde"Events & Programs".Live Performance Australia.Retrieved22 March2022.
  2. ^ab"Helpmann Awards – About".Helpmann Awards.Live Performance Australia (LPA). Archived fromthe originalon 12 January 2012.Retrieved31 December2012.
  3. ^ab"Introducing... (The Helpmann Awards)".Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Australian Web Archive. Archived fromthe originalon 17 July 2003.Retrieved29 August2013.
  4. ^Sexton, Christopher."Helpmann, Sir Robert Murray (1909–1986)".Australian Dictionary of Biography.Australian National University(ANU).Retrieved29 August2013.
  5. ^"Australian Web Archive 2001 Helpmann Awards Winners".Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Australian Web Archive. Archived fromthe originalon 17 July 2003.Retrieved29 August2013.
  6. ^"Helpmann Awards".Live Performance Australia (LPA). Archived fromthe originalon 29 October 2013.Retrieved29 August2013.
  7. ^"Katharine Brisbane awarded Helpmann's highest honour".ABC Radio National.Australian Broadcasting Corporation(ABC).Retrieved31 December2012.
  8. ^"Brian Stacey Memorial Trust – The Brian Stacey Award".Brian Stacey Memorial Trust.Retrieved29 August2013.
  9. ^ab"Helpmann Awards – Eligibility".Helpmannawards.com.au (Live Performance Australia (LPA)). Archived fromthe originalon 12 May 2013.Retrieved2 September2013.
  10. ^abcde"Helpmann Awards – Nominating Panels".Helpmannawards.com.au (Live Performance Australia (LPA)). Archived fromthe originalon 12 May 2013.Retrieved2 September2013.
  11. ^"Helpmann Awards – Voting".Helpmannawards.com.au (Live Performance Australia (LPA)). Archived fromthe originalon 9 April 2013.Retrieved2 September2013.
  12. ^abBryce Hallet (16 April 2002)."Categorically, Bobby needs a makeover".The Age.The Age Company Ltd.Fairfax Media.Retrieved30 August2013.
  13. ^Staff (7 June 2013)."Date Announced and Foxtel's Arena TV confirmed as broadcast partner".Live Performance Australia. Archived fromthe originalon 30 August 2013.Retrieved30 August2013.
  14. ^"APRA Newsletter – March 2001"(PDF).Australasian Performing Right Association(APRA). Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 29 October 2013.Retrieved15 February2012.
  15. ^"2003 Presentation (The Helpmann Awards)".Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Australian Web Archive. Archived fromthe originalon 17 July 2003.Retrieved30 August2013.
  16. ^"Past productions – Helpmann Awards".New Theatricals. Archived fromthe originalon 14 January 2014.Retrieved30 August2013.
  17. ^Roberts, Jo (12 July 2005)."Springtime for Helpmann".The Age.Fairfax Media.Retrieved30 August2013.
  18. ^Staff (31 July 2006)."Night shines a light on lean times".The Sydney Morning Herald.Fairfax Media.Retrieved30 August2013.
  19. ^Knox, David (9 July 2007)."Helpmann Awards live on Bio".TV Tonight.Retrieved30 August2013.
  20. ^Piening, Simon (2 July 2008)."Nominations for 2008 Helpmann Awards announced".Australian Stage Online.Retrieved30 August2013.
  21. ^Knox, David (8 July 2009)."Airdate: 2009 Helpmann Awards".TV Tonight.Retrieved30 August2013.
  22. ^Boland, Michaela (7 September 2010)."Upstart iOTA trumps opera at Helpmann Awards".The Australian.News Corp Australia(News Corp).Retrieved30 August2013.
  23. ^Knox, David (5 July 2011)."Airdate: Helpmann Awards 2011".TV Tonight.Retrieved30 August2013.
  24. ^Knox, David (12 September 2012)."STUDIO free for one week for all Foxtel subscribers".TV Tonight.Retrieved30 August2013.
  25. ^Epstein, Jackie (13 June 2013)."Helpmann Awards find perfect hosts".PerthNow.The Sunday Times(News Corp Australia).Retrieved1 July2013.
  26. ^"Helpmann Awards – Performances and Host announced for 2014 Helpmann Awards".Helpmannawards.com.au (Live Performance Australia (LPA)). 1 July 2014.Retrieved14 July2014.
  27. ^"Todd McKenney to host 2015 Helpmann Awards".Sky News Australia.Australian News Channel Pty Ltd. 8 June 2015.Retrieved22 June2015.
  28. ^"2016 Helpmann Awards Hosts and Performances Announced".
  29. ^"2017 Full line up of Performances, Hosts and Presenters Plus confirmed broadcast details".
  30. ^"Events | Helpmann Awards".www.helpmannawards.com.au.Retrieved4 May2018.
  31. ^"Jacqui Dark on Twitter".Twitter.Retrieved6 July2018.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Helpmann_Awards&oldid=1162330393"