Bangarra Dance Theatre has emerged as one of the big winners at this year’s Helpmann Awards.

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The awards for live performance are being presented over two nights, the first act of the awards ceremony was held at Sydney’s Town Hall and saw Bangarra Dance Theatre take to the stage several times to pick up trophies.

Artistic Director Stephen Page picked up the award for Best Choreography in a Ballet, Dance or Physical Theatre Production for the company’s production Bennelong. 

The company’s major work for 2017 told the story of Woollarawarre Bennelong was a senior man of the Eora, from the Port Jackson area in Sydney. With extraordinary curiosity and diplomacy, Bennelong led his community to survive a clash of cultures, and left a legacy that reverberates through contemporary life.

The show also picked up the award for Best Scenic Design for Jacob Nash, and the Lighting Design award for Nick Schlieper. Bangarra’s regional tour of Our Land People Stories was also rewarded. Bangarra will be bringing their show Dark Emu to Perth’s State Theatre Centre in early August.

Anita Hegh was named Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play for her role in the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. Mitchell Butel was award the trophy for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play for Mr Murns, A post-Electric Play.

Mat Verevis was awarded the Helpmann for Best Male Actor is a Supporting Role for his portrayal of songwriter Barry Mann in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Amy Lehpamer who plays his on-stage wife in the show won the Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical. Lehpamer, who Perth audiences last saw playing Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, said the best thing about playing Cynthia Weill was she got to fall in love with Verevis every night.  The musical’s director Marc Bruni was given the Best Direction of a Musical Award.

Kate Miller-Keidke and Keir Nutall won The Best Original Score Award for their work on Muriel’s Wedding The Musical. The show’s music director Isaac Hayward picked up the Best Music Direction Award. While Michael Waters won the Best Sound Design award for his work on the production. Waters was also nominated for his work on Dream Lover.

Drag legend Taylor Mac was given a special award for the Melbourne Festival’s production of the show Taylor Mac: A 24 Decade History of Popular Music. Taylor Mac sent a video message from New York City. Jonathon Holloway, the Artistic Director of the Melbourne Festival accepted the award saying the show was one of the most epic things he’d ever been involved in. High praise from the man who captivated Perth with some giant puppets just a few years ago.

In the realm of opera, Lorina Gore picked up the award for Best Female Performer in a Supporting Role for her part in the opera Hamlet. The production’s director – acclaimed opera and film director Neil Armfield was also a winner. Kanen Breen took home the Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role for his part in Pinchgut Opera’s production Coronation of Poppea. 

In a field that was dominated by men, Sarah Goodes – the sole female director across the categories of theatre, musical and opera won the Best Direction of a Play for The Children – a co-production between the Sydney Theatre Company and The Melbourne Theatre Company.

Graeme Watson.

Declaration: The writer is visiting Sydney and The Helpmann Awards as a guest of Live Performance Australia.