The Helpmann Awards are accolades for live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group Live Performance Australia (LPA) since 2001. The annual awards recognise achievements in the disciplines of

musical theatre Musical theatre is a form of theatre, theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, ...

contemporary music Contemporary music is whatever music is produced at the current time. Specifically, it could refer to: Genres or audiences * Adult contemporary music * British contemporary R&B * Christian adult contemporary * Christian contemporary hit radio * Con ...

comedy Comedy is a genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. Origins Comedy originated in ancient Greec ...

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be #Relationship to other music traditions, distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical mu ...

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...

dance Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...

and physical theatre. 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. They are named in honour of ballet dancer, choreographer, director and actor Sir Robert Helpmann. The awards are the Australian equivalent of the United States' Tony Awards for

Broadway theatre Broadway theatre,Although ''theater'' is generally the spelling for this common noun in the United States (see American and British English spelling differences#-re, -er, American and British English spelling differences), many of the List of ...

and the United Kingdom's Laurence Olivier Awards for West End theatre. The Helpmann Awards were last awarded in 2019. LPA cancelled the 2020 and 2021 awards due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. No public statement has been made for subsequent years.

History

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. At the inaugural Helpmann Awards, twenty six accolades were handed out for achievements in

performance A performance is an act or process of staging or presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment. It is also defined as the action or process of carrying out or accomplishing an action, task, or function. Performance has evolved glo ...

, direction,

choreography Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which Motion (physics), motion or Visual appearance, form or both are specified. ''Choreography'' may also refer to the design itself. A chor ...

lighting Lighting or illumination is the deliberate use of light to achieve practical or aesthetic effects. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources like lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight. ...

sound In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid. In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the br ...

music Music is the arrangement of sound to create some combination of Musical form, form, harmony, melody, rhythm, or otherwise Musical expression, expressive content. Music is generally agreed to be a cultural universal that is present in all hum ...

, costume and scenic design and production, in the disciplines of

and physical theatre. Over the years the categories expanded and now include many more honours.

Aims and description

The aim of the awards is to promote Australia's live entertainment industry, 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. Special non-competitive prizes are also bestowed upon individuals: the JC Williamson Award (named after theatre manager James Cassius Williamson), for one's life's work in Australia's live entertainment industry. This is the highest honour presented by Live Performance Australia. Other special awards are the Sue Nattrass Award, which recognises outstanding achievement in a field without high public profile, the Brian Stacey Memorial Award, and an award for Best Special Event.

Eligibility and voting

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

Award categories

The award categories are currently: ;Theatre * Best Play * Best Direction of a Play * Best Male Actor in a Play * Best Female Actor in a Play * Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role – Play * Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role – Play ;Musicals * Best Musical * Best Direction of a Musical * Best Choreography in a Musical * Best Male Actor in a Musical * Best Female Actor in a Musical * Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role – Musical * Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role – Musical ;Opera and classical music * Best Opera * Best Symphony Orchestra Concert * Best Chamber and Instrumental Ensemble Concert * Best Direction of an Opera * Best Male Performer in an Opera * Best Female Performer in an Opera * Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role – Opera * Best Female Performer in a Supporting Role – Opera * Best Individual Classical Music Performance ;Dance and physical theatre *Best Ballet *Best Dance Production * Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production * Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production * Best Male Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production * Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production ;Contemporary music * Best International Contemporary Concert * Best Australian Contemporary Concert * Best Contemporary Music Festival ;Other * Best Regional Touring Production * Best Comedy Performer * Best Cabaret Performer * Best Presentation for Children ;Industry * Best New Australian Work * Best Original Score * Best Music Direction * Best Costume Design * Best Scenic Design * Best Lighting Design * Best Sound Design ;Special awards * JC Williamson Award * Sue Nattrass Award * Brian Stacey Memorial Award * Best Special Event ;Retired * Best Ballet or Dance Work *Best Classical Concert Presentation * Best Contemporary Concert Presentation *Best Live Music Presentation * Best Performance in an Australian Contemporary Concert

Ceremony

The annual Helpmann Awards ceremony is usually held between May and September. They have been variously held in Sydney at the Star City Show Room, Sydney Lyric,

Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue Performing arts center, performing arts centre in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Located on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, it is widely regarded as one of the world's most famous and distinctive b ...

and the Capitol Theatre, and at the Arts Centre Melbourne. Australian stage and screen actor Simon Burke has 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 various

Foxtel NXE Australia Pty Ltd, trading as the Foxtel Group, is an Australian pay television company that operates cable television, direct-broadcast satellite, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April ...

channels, and since 2018 live on ABC Television. Simon Burke in June 2013

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

References

External links

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Helpmann Awards trophy picture
{{Helpmann Awards Australian theatre awards Australian music awards