Another year, another Helpmann Awards, the nation’s most prestigious prize-giving celebrating the year’s best live performances. Last week, the great and good of Australia’s arts scene came together to toast this year’s crop of winners. And while we’re not suggesting that any of that bright bunch were undeserving, it has to be said that the Helpmanns is not without its shortcomings.
A lack of comprehensive judging, a dearth of diversity amongst the nominees, and the dominance of major – and richly funded – productions, means some seriously accomplished work never gets a look in.
Until now that is. Following the lead of Time Out Melbourne’s esteemed colleagues in Sydney, we’ve compiled a list of local luminaries, along with a few alternative gongs, to plug the gaps in the Helpmanns existing categories. And the winners are…
Biggest Bragging Rights For Having Attended
24 Decade History Of Popular Music – Taylor Mac, Melbourne Festival
Best Hat
Jonathan Holloway – The Inauguration, Melbourne Festival
Most Inspiring Arts Leader
Liz Jones, La Mama Theatre
Breakout Artist Of The Year
Jean Tong – Romeo Is Not The Only Fruit, Hungry Ghosts
Most Shamelessly Multi-Talented Artist
Declan Greene – playwright, director, adaptor
Best Use Of Celine Dion’s Face
Discordia
Best Use Of Rob Mills
Puffs – Alex Theatre
Best Melbourne-Premiered Play
Merciless Gods (pictured above) – Dan Giovonnoni
Most Underrated Production
Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again., Malthouse Theatre
Best On Stage Romance
Alex Aldrich & Zoe Boesen, The Moors, Little Ones Theatre, Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre
Most Affecting Performance
Dion Williams – Brothers Wreck, Malthouse Theatre
Most Egg-cellent Comedy Show
Natalie Palamides – Laid
Most Talented Idiot-Savant
Sam Campbell
Best Use Of A Sarong
Joint Winner:
Anne Edmonds/Helen Bidou – Enter The Spinakker Lounge
Ash Flanders – Blackie Blackie Brown, Malthouse Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company
Most Innovative Cross-Over
Mama Alto – Only A Paper Moon, MoMA at NGV
Best Devised Work
Joan – The Rabble
Most expectation-busting use of child actors
Joint winner:
Lone – The Rabble
Book Of Exodus: parts 1 & 2 – Fraught Outfit
Best Coup De Theatre
Wild – MTC
Best Ensemble In A Play
Joint winner
Angels In America – fortyfivedownstairs
Merciless Gods – Little Ones Theatre
Best Programmed Season
Malthouse 2017 Season – Matt Lutton
Best (Unintentional) William Shatner Impression
Paulini – The Bodyguard
Best Use Of Orifices On Stage
Joint Winner
Wild Bore – Zoe Coombs Marr
Love & Anger – Betty Grumble
Best After Show Party Tucker
Australian Ballet
The Show Must Go On Award
Emily Tomlins – who dislocated shoulder during a performance of My Sister Feather at La Mama, and still completed the show.
The “It’s About Fucking Time” Award
Patricia Cornelius, MTC mainstage debut, The House Of Bernarda Alba