Helpmann Awards: Best so far

Congratulations to the 2014 Helpmann Awards team!

It was a brilliant execution of a highly complex live show at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre last night. Kudos to Disney TP Aust and Stephen Found for the venue; JPJ and Michael Waters (with Andrew Foster) for the fantastic audio, and Gavan Swift for the re-purposed Lion King lighting design (Lights by PRG). The big screens worked a treat too, thanks to Big Picture.

Technical Director Mark Henstridge had his hands full, with full cast numbers such as from The Lion King – the stunning Circle of Life opener, complete with stampeding hoards of African everything. Le Miz, Strictly Ballroom and The Kind and I all featured – imagine these complex musicals, transplanted onto the Lion King set. That was something most people say cannot be done – a blank design starting on an empty stage would be hard enough.

CX salutes technical winners: Michael Waters for Best Sound Design (The King and I) and Nick Schlieper who won Best Lighting Design for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Sydney Theatre Company).

Live Performance Australia revived and renewed the Helpmanns after last year’s awards were dogged by long commercial breaks. Last night’s show was broadcast on a slight delay on Arena, with encore showings TODAY Tuesday 19th August at 8.30am and 5pm; and Saturday 23 August at 11.10am. All times AEST.

We acknowledge the other nominees for technical awards: Geoff Cobam, Nigel Levings and Matt Scott (Lighting); and Tony David Cray, Jessica James-Moody and Jethro Woodward (Sound).

Finally, CX thanks LPA for the invitation, and really enjoyed the camaraderie and sense of occasion.