A huge line up of stars and industry heavyweights come together to honour and celebrate Australia’s prestigious live performance awards, the Helpmann Awards.
This year, the winners of the Helpmann Awards will be announced at two events over two nights. Both events will be directed by one of Australia’s Olivier and MTV Award winner, choreographer and director David Atkins. This year, for the first time, the Helpmann Awards will be broadcast live across the country, on the ABC.
Helpmann Awards Act I Sunday 15 July 6pm Sydney Town Hall
Act I is an up close, industry-insider event at cocktail hour celebrating creative, designer and supporting roles and will include awards for Best Presentation for Children, Best Regional Touring Production and Best Special Event.
Act I will be hosted by Rhoda Roberts and Michael Lynch, one of Australia’s most experienced and internationally renowned Arts Administrators. Vanessa Scammell and Max Lambert, will play on dual grand pianos. Performers will include Chloe Dallimore and Amanda Laing, Georgina Hopson, Sydney Youth Orchestra quintet, and operatic duo Jenny Lui and Andrew Jones.
Helpmann Award Act II Monday 16 July 2018 Capitol Theatre Sydney
Staged on the set of Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical, this black-tie event will present awards in all live performance genres along with celebrating the 2017 Centenary JC Williamson and Sue Nattrass Award recipients, and honouring colleagues In Memoriam.
Hosts for the night include Olivier & Tony Nominee, performer and writer, Tony Sheldon; choreographer Raphael Bonachela; the multiple Helpmann Award winning mezzo soprano Jacqueline Dark and musical theatre star and TV host David Campbell.
Performances will include the cast of Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical performing “It’s Raining Men” and a duet from ab [intra] with Sydney Dance Company dancers Davide Di Giovanni and Charmene Yap.
The stars from the new Australian musical Muriel’s Wedding, Maggie McKenna and Madeleine Jones, will perform Amazing as their characters, Muriel and Rhonda, affirm their new friendship.
Triple ARIA award winners, My Friend the Chocolate Cake, with David Bridie, Helen Mountfort and Hope Csutoros will perform the Weep as part of the In Memoriam.
The biggest line up of Australia leading female vocalists will bring the show home with songs from Funny Girl. Divas and funny girls themselves, Michala Banas (Upper Middle Bogan), Natalie Bassingthwaite (The X Factor), Casey Donovan (Australian Idol) Virginia Gay (First Tuesday Book Club), Verity Hunt-Ballard (Mary Poppins), Dami Im (Eurovision), Maggie McKenna (Muriel’s Wedding the Musical), Queenie van der Zandt and Zahra Newman (Book of Mormon).
The red carpet will roll outside the Capitol Theatre from 6 pm hosted by Rhonda Burchmore. The Helpmann Awards Act II will broadcast live from the Capitol Theatre on ABC on Monday 16 July at 9.30 pm. Highlights from the previous night, Act I, will also be part of the broadcast.
Eric Scott
For more of Eric Scott’s writings on theatre, check out Absolute Theatre
Other reviews you might enjoy:
- Mamma Mia! (Capitol) – theatre review
- My Fair Lady (Regent) – theatre review
- Muriel’s Wedding: The Musical (STC) – theatre review
Eric Scott is a Brisbane-based entertainment and travel writer, playwright and novelist