Western Australia’s newest Helpmann Award winners, The Rabbits cleans up, and all the nominees for the 2015 awards.
The mystical modern opera based on the book The Rabbits by John Marsden and Shaun Tan has led West Australian shows at the announcement of the 2015 Helpmann Award nominations, scooping four nominations at the prestigious performing arts awards.
The opera, a co-production between Opera Australia, West Australian Opera and Barking Gecko Theatre Company, was co-commissioned by the Perth International Arts Festival and Melbourne Festival, and premiered at PIAF in February this year. Its score, written by Perth-born composer Iain Grandage with Kate Miller-Heidke, has been nominated for the Helpmann for Best Sound Design.
The Rabbits was also nominated for Best New Australian Work, Best Costume Design and Best Presentation for Children.
Another PIAF favourite, The Incredible and Phenomenal Journey of the Giants to the Streets of Perth, was announced yesterday as the winner of the Best Special Event Award. An estimated 1.4 million people turned out to see The Giants walk through the streets of Perth in February, for PIAF artistic director Jonathan Holloway's final festival at the helm.
Acclaimed local composer Jessica Gethin was also awarded last night, winning the 2015 Brian Stacey Award for emerging Australian conductors. Ms Gethin, a WAAPA graduate, will receive a $10,000 award to support her music-making, which she says she will use to travel to the United States, Germany and Asia over the next two years to accept invitations to conduct.
Ms Gethin is currently the Chief Conductor of the Perth Symphony Orchestra.
West Australian Symphony Orchestra conductor Asher Fisch was also nominated, for the Best Individual Classical Music Performance award for his role conducting Beethoven Festival.
Other big hitters were Les Miserables, Once, Anything Goes and Opera Australia's Faust, which comes to Perth in October.
The winners of the 2015 Helpmann Awards will be announced in a ceremony in Sydney on July 27. All nominees are below.
INDUSTRY AWARDS
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
ANNA CORDINGLEY
Masquerade
Produced by Griffin Theatre Company and State Theatre Company of South Australia. NSW: Presented by Sydney Festival and Sydney Opera House. SA: Presented in association with Adelaide Festival Centre and Windmill Theatre. VIC: Presented by Melbourne Festival. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government's Major Festivals Initiative, managed by the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, Melbourne Festival, State Theatre Company of South Australia and Griffin Theatre Company.
DALE FERGUSON
Anything Goes
Opera Australia and John Frost
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.
GARY MCCANN
Faramondo
Brisbane Baroque in association with QPAC
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
GEOFF COBHAM
The Philip Glass Trilogy
State Opera Company, South Australia
NICK SCHLIEPER
Macbeth
Sydney Theatre Company
PAULE CONSTABLE
Faust
Opera Australia
PAULE CONSTABLE
Les Misérables
Cameron Mackintosh Australia
RACHEL BURKE
Marlin
Produced by Arena Theatre Company, presented by Melbourne Theatre Company
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
CAMERON GOODALL and QUENTIN GRANT
Little Bird
State Theatre Company of South Australia, in association with Adelaide Festival Centre
KATE MILLER-HEIDKE with IAIN GRANDAGE
The Rabbits
Opera Australia
MIKELANGELO and THE BLACKSEA GENTLEMEN
Masquerade
Produced by Griffin Theatre Company and State Theatre Company of South Australia
TIM ROGERS
What Rhymes with Cars and Girls
Melbourne Theatre Company
BEST MUSIC DIRECTION
ERIN HELYARD
Faramondo
Brisbane Baroque, in association with QPAC
MARTIN LOWE
Once
John Frost, Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo
TIM ROGERS
What Rhymes with Cars and Girls
Melbourne Theatre Company
TIMOTHY SEXTON
The Philip Glass Trilogy
State Opera South Australia
BEST SCENIC DESIGN
DAN POTRA
The Perfect American
Brisbane Festival and Opera Queensland, in association with Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Griffith University.
GEOFF COBHAM
Little Bird
State Theatre Company of South Australia, in association with Adelaide Festival Centre
MARG HORWELL
Marlin
Produced by Arena Theatre Company, presented by Melbourne Theatre Company
MATT KINLEY
Les Misérables
Cameron Mackintosh Australia
BEST SOUND DESIGN
CLIVE GOODWIN
Once
John Frost, Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo
JD BRILL, CLAIR GLOBAL and EAGLES
Eagles | History of the Eagles Live In Concert 2015
The Eagles and Frontier Touring
MICHAEL WATERS
Anything Goes
Opera Australia and John Frost
MICK POTTER
Les Misérables
Cameron Mackintosh Australia
BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK
AIDAN FENNESSY, MUSIC AND LYRICS BY TIM ROGERS
What Rhymes with Cars and Girls
Melbourne Theatre Company
ARENA THEATRE COMPANY
Marlin
Produced by Arena Theatre Company, presented by Melbourne Theatre Company
JOANNA MURRAY-SMITH
Switzerland
Sydney Theatre Company
NICKI BLOOM with songs and music by CAMERON GOODALL and QUENTIN GRANT
Little Bird
State Theatre Company of South Australia, in association with Adelaide Festival Centre
OPERA AUSTRALIA and BARKING GECKO THEATRE COMPANY, in association with WEST AUSTRALIAN OPERA, co-commission by PERTH INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL and MELBOURNE FESTIVAL
The Rabbits
Opera Australia and Barking Gecko Theatre Company, in association with West Australian Opera, co- commission by Perth International Arts Festival and Melbourne Theatre
TAMARA SAULWICK
Endings
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
JIMMY BARNES | 30:30 HINDSIGHT GREATEST HITS TOUR 2014
Jimmy Barnes and Frontier Touring, in association with Premier Artists and A Day on the Green
KYLIE | KISS ME ONCE TOUR 2015
Kylie Minogue and Frontier Touring
TINA ARENA RESET TOUR
Tina Arena and New World Artists
BEST CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL
BLUESFEST BYRON BAY
The 26th Annual Bluesfest Byron Bay 2015 and Peter Noble
LANEWAY FESTIVAL
Lunatic Entertainment and Chugg Entertainment
VIVID LIVE 2015
Destination NSW and Sydney Opera House
WOMADELAIDE 2015
Ian Scobie
BEST INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY CONCERT
ED SHEERAN | X WORLD TOUR 2015
Ed Sheeran and Frontier Touring
FOO FIGHTERS | SONIC HIGHWAYS WORLD TOUR 2015
Foo Fighters and Frontier Touring
PAUL SIMON and STING – ON STAGE TOGETHER
Paul Simon, Sting and Live Nation
THE ROLLING STONES | 14 ON FIRE
The Rolling Stones, Frontier Touring, AEG Live and IEC Entertainment
OPERA AND CLASSICAL MUSIC
BEST DIRECTION OF AN OPERA
DAVID MCVICAR
Faust
Opera Australia
DAVID MCVICAR
Don Giovanni
Opera Australia
LEIGH WARREN
Philip Glass Trilogy
State Opera of South Australia
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
ANNA STARUSHKEVYCH
Faramondo
NICOLE CAR
Don Giovanni
Opera Australia
TARYN FIEBIG
Don Giovanni
Opera Australia
BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA
CAITLIN HULCUP
Iphigenie en Tauride
Pinchgut Opera
JENNIFER RIVERA
Faramondo
Brisbane Baroque, in association with QPAC
LATONIA MOORE
Aida – Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour
Opera Australia
NICOLE CAR
Faust
Opera Australia
BEST MALE PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN OPERA
CHRISTOPHER LOWREY
Faramondo
SHANE LOWRENCEV
Don Giovanni
Opera Australia
TEDDY TAHU RHODES
Faust
Opera Australia
WARWICK FYFE
The Flying Dutchman
Victorian Opera
BEST MALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA
ADAM DIEGEL
Madama Butterfly
CHRISTOPHER PURVES
The Perfect American
CLAUDIO SGURA
Tosca
Opera Australia
MICHAEL FABIANO
Faust
Opera Australia
TEDDY TAHU RHODES
Don Giovanni
Opera Australia
BEST OPERA
FARAMONDO
Brisbane Baroque, in association with QPAC
FAUST
Opera Australia
MADAMA BUTTERFLY
English National Opera, Metropolitan Opera and Lithuanian National Opera in association with West Australian Opera and Perth International Arts Festival
THE PHILIP GLASS TRILOGY
State Opera South Australia
BEST CHAMBER AND INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE CONCERT
GOLDNER STRING QUARTET, MUSICA VIVA INTERNATIONAL CONCERT SERIES NATIONAL TOUR 2015
Goldner String Quartet for Musica Viva Australia
LES ARTS FLORISSANTS and LE JARDIN DES VOIX IN Â JARDIN Ã L'ITALIENNE
Melbourne Recital Centre, Sydney Opera House and Perth International Arts Festival
THE SIXTEEN
Melbourne Recital Centre, Sydney Opera House, Perth International Arts Festival, Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Australian National University of Music, Llewellyn Hall
STEPHEN HOUGH IN RECITAL
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
BEST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT
THE DAMNATION OF FAUST
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
MAHLER 3
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
REFLECTIONS ON GALLIPOLI
Australian Chamber Orchestra
TAFELMUSIK'S HOUSE OF DREAMS
Musica Viva
BEST INDIVIDUAL CLASSICAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE
ASHER FISCH
Beethoven Festival
West Australian Symphony Orchestra
CHRISTIAN TETZLAFF
Christian Tetlaff
Melbourne Recital Centre
EMANUEL AX
The Beethoven Piano Concertos
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
WILLIAM CHRISTIE
William Christie
COMEDY
BEST COMEDY PERFORMER
JUDITH LUCY
Judith Lucy – Ask No Questions of the Moth
Token Events
MATT OKINE
The Other Guy
Century Entertainment
NAZEEM HUSSAIN
Nazeem Hussain – Legally Brown
Live Nation
RONNY CHIENG
You Don't Know What You're Talking About
Century Entertainment
SAM SIMMONS
Sam Simmons – Spaghetti for Breakfast
Token Events
CABARET
BEST CABARET PERFORMER
BECCY COLE and LIBBY O'DONOVAN
The Cowgirl and the Showgirl
Adelaide Festival Centre Trust
CAMILLE O'SULLIVAN
Camille O'Sullivan – Changeling
Arts Centre Melbourne
DAVID CAMPBELL and JOHN BUCCHINO
David Campbell Sings John Bucchino
KIM SMITH
Nova Noir
Adelaide Festival Centre Trust
DANCE AND PHYSICAL THEATRE
BEST BALLET OR DANCE WORK
FRAME OF MIND
Sydney Dance Company
MEETING
Antony Hamilton and Alisdair Macindoe
MOTION PICTURE
Lucy Guerin Inc
PRECIPICE
Rachel Arianne Ogle
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
ANTONY HAMILTON
Meeting
Antony Hamilton Projects, Arts House and Insite Arts
NATALIE WEIR
Natalie Weir's The Red Shoes
Expressions Dance Company and Queensland Performing Arts Centre
RAFAEL BONACHELA
Frame of Mind
Sydney Dance Company
STEPHEN PAGE
Patyegarang
Bangarra Dance Theatre
BEST FEMALE DANCER IN A DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
CHLOE LEONG
William Forsythe's Quintett
Sydney Dance Company
ELISE MAY
Natalie Weir's The Red Shoes
Expressions Dance Company and Queensland Performing Arts Centre
JESSE SCALES
William Forsythe's Quintett
Sydney Dance Company
MADELEINE EASTOE
Giselle
The Australian Ballet
BEST MALE DANCER IN A DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
ALISDAIR MACINDOE
Motion Picture
Lucy Guerin Inc
CASS MORTIMER EIPPER
William Forsythe's Quintett
Sydney Dance Company
DAVID MACK
William Forsythe's Quintett
Sydney Dance Company
JACK ZIESING
Natalie Weir's The Red Shoes
Expressions Dance Company and Queensland Performing Arts Centre
BEST VISUAL AND PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
BEYOND THE CIRCA
Arts Centre Melbourne and Circa
DISLOCATE'S "IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK"
Marguerite Pepper Productions
THE PAPER ARCHITECT
Davy and Kristin McGuire and Perth International Arts Festival
TABAC ROUGE
Produced by Compagnie du Hanneton, presented by Sydney Festival
REGIONAL TOURING PRODUCTIONS
BEST REGIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION
FESTIVAL OF CIRCA
Circa
FOOD
Force Majeure and Belvoir
KELLY
Queensland Theatre Company
SONS & MOTHERS
Performing Lines and No Strings Attached Theatre of Disability
CHILDRENS PRESENTATIONS
BEST PRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN
CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS
Circa and Queensland Performing Arts Centre
HANS CHRISTIAN, YOU MUST BE AN ANGEL
Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne
PETE THE SHEEP
Monkey Baa Theatre Company
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
ANDREW UPTON
Endgame
Sydney Theatre Company
CLARE WATSON
What Rhymes with Cars and Girls
Melbourne Theatre Company
KIP WILLIAMS
Suddenly Last Summer
Sydney Theatre Company
SARAH GOODES
Switzerland
Sydney Theatre Company
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY
HELEN THOMSON
After Dinner
Sydney Theatre Company
JULIE FORSYTH
Endgame
Melbourne Theatre Company
PAMELA RABE
Beckett Triptych – Footfalls
State Theatre Company of South Australia, in association with Adelaide Festival
SARAH PEIRSE
Endgame
Sydney Theatre Company
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
JULIE FORSYTH
Night on Bald Mountain
Malthouse Theatre
PAMELA RABE
The Glass Menagerie
Belvoir
ROBYN NEVIN
Suddenly Last Summer
Sydney Theatre Company
SARAH PEIRSE
Switzerland
Sydney Theatre Company
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY
BRUCE SPENCE
Endgame
Sydney Theatre Company
GLENN HAZELDINE
After Dinner
Sydney Theatre Company
JOHN BELL
As You Like It
Bell Shakespeare
LASARUS RATUERE
Kill the Messenger
Belvoir
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
HUGO WEAVING
Endgame
Sydney Theatre Company
HUNTER PAGE-LOCHARD
Brothers Wreck
Belvoir
PETER CARROLL
Oedipus Rex
Belvoir
STEVE RODGERS
Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Porn
Griffin Theatre Company and Perth Theatre Company
BEST PLAY
CALPURNIA DESCENDING
Malthouse Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company
ENDGAME
Sydney Theatre Company
THE GLASS MENAGERIE
Belvoir
SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER
Sydney Theatre Company
MUSICALS
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A MUSICAL
ANDREW HALLSWORTH
Anything Goes
Opera Australia and John Frost
KATE CHAMPION and MICHELLE LYNCH
Dirty Dancing – The Classic Love Story on Stage
John Frost
MICHAEL ASHCROFT and GEOFFREY GARRATT
Les Misérables
Cameron Mackintosh Australia
STEVEN HOGGETT
Once
John Frost, Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo
BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
DEAN BRYANT
Anything Goes
Opera Australia and John Frost
JOHN TIFFANY
Once
John Frost, Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo
LAURENCE CONNOR and JAMES POWELL
Les Misérables
Cameron Mackintosh Australia
STUART MAUNDER AM
Into the Woods
Victorian Opera
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
AMY LEHPAMER
Once
John Frost, Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo
CLAIRE LYON
Anything Goes
Opera Australia and John Frost
KERRIE ANNE GREENLAND
Les Misérables
Cameron Mackintosh Australia
LUCY MAUNDER
Into the Woods
Victorian Opera
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
CAROLINE O'CONNOR
Anything Goes
Opera Australia and John Frost
HELEN DALLIMORE
Blood Brothers
Enda Markey Presents
MADELEINE JONES
Once
John Frost, Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo
PATRICE TIPOKI
Les Misérables
Cameron Mackintosh Australia
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
ALEX RATHGEBER
Anything Goes
Opera Australia and John Frost
BRENT HALL
Once
John Frost, Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr, Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo
CHRIS DURLING
Les Misérables
Cameron Mackintosh Australia
COLIN DEAN
Once
John Frost, Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr, Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo
EDDIE MULIAUMASEALI'I
Show Boat
The Production Company
TREVOR ASHLEY
Les Misérables
Cameron Mackintosh Australia
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
HAYDEN TEE
Les Misérables
Cameron Mackintosh Australia
SIMON GLEESON
Les Misérables
Cameron Mackintosh Australia
TODD MCKENNEY
Anything Goes
TODD MCKENNEY
La Cage Aux Folles
The Production Company
BEST MUSICAL
ANYTHING GOES
Opera Australia and John Frost
DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC LOVE STORY ON STAGE
John Frost, Karl Sydow, Martin McCullum and Joyce Entertainment
LES MisérableS
Cameron Mackintosh
ONCE
John Frost, Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo
2015 HELPMANN AWARDS BESTOWED AWARD
BEST SPECIAL EVENT
PERTH INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL IN ASSOCIATION WITH ROYAL DE LUXE
The Incredible and Phenomenal Journey of the Giants to the Streets of Perth
LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARDS
SUE NATTRASS AWARD
ERIC ROBINSON
JC WILLIAMSON AWARD
PAUL KELLY
THE BRIAN STACEY AWARD 2015
JESSICA GETHIN