The 2016 Helpmann Awards were presented on Monday 25 July at the Sydney Lyric Theatre.
In the Dance and Physical Theatre category it was Bangarra Dance Theatre’s year. In addition to artistic director Stephen Page receiving the JC Williamson Award (announced at the start of July), Bangarra’s Sheoak scooped Best Ballet or Dance Work for the company, Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work for Frances Rings and Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work for Yolande Lowatta.
Matilda the Musical dominated the Musical sector taking out every award in the category, as well as nearly all of the Industry awards.
Congratulations to all award winners and short-listed nominees. Below is a list of some of the highlights. A full list of winners and short-listed nominees is available on the Helpmann Awards website.
Best Ballet or Dance Work:
Bangarra Dance Theatre for Sheoak
Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work:
Frances Rings for Sheoak (Bangarra Dance Theatre)
Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work:
Yolanda Lowatta in Sheoak (Bangarra Dance Theatre)
Best Male Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work:
Kimball Wong in Habitus by Australian Dance Theatre
Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production:
Brisbane Theatre and Circa for It Ritorno
Best Musical:
The Royal Shakespeare Company and Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt with Chokey Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals, Glass Half Full Productions, Paula Marie Black, Greenleaf Productions and Michael Lynch for Matilda the Musical
Best Choreography in a Musical:
Peter Darling for Matilda the Musical