Matilda the Musical has won 13 awards including best musical at the Helpmanns, Australia’s leading theatre awards.
The musical adaptation of the children’s novel by Roald Dahl had its Australian debut in Sydney last year following runs in London’s West End and Broadway, and won in all the categories it was nominated for.
The musical was created by British writer Dennis Kelly and Australian comedian and composer Tim Minchin. Minchin was awarded best original score, and other categories won by the musical included best direction, choreography, sound, design and music direction.
Accepting the award, Minchin said: “The production here is amazing. This industry is second to none in the world in all sides of the curtain.”
Best female actor in a musical was awarded as a shared prize to the eight young actors from Sydney and Melbourne who played Matilda. James Millar, playing the terrifying headteacher Miss Trunchbull won the best actor award, while Daniel Frederiksen (Matilda’s father Mr Wormwood) and Elise McCann (Miss Honey) were also awarded prizes for their supporting parts.
In their 16th year, the Helpmann awards celebrate and recognise Australia’s performance industry. They were held at the Sydney Lyric theatre on Monday night, with Sarah Blasko and the cast from Singin’ in the Rain performing.
Bangarra Dance Theatre won three awards for their performance Sheoak, while Bangarra’s artistic director, Stephen Page, was honoured with an outstanding contribution award.
“We have to lead the way for other brothers and sisters and hope for the future there will be major performing arts in all those other arts and mediums for indigenous peoples,” Page said.
“A lot of mob before me laid down that good solid ground for us to walk on that right pathway but I appreciate the recognition from Live Performance Australia the council, the committee.”
Minchin paid tribute to Page’s late brother, the composer David Page, who died unexpectedly in April, saying: “I want to honour David Page who was an incredible man, an incredible composer, sound designer, actor, singer and breaker down of boundaries and hurdles and I just want to acknowledge the loss to the Page family and Bangarra.”
The Bleeding Tree (Griffin Theatre Company) won best play. The actor Paula Arundell beat four-time winner Cate Blanchett for best female actor in a play. Mark Leonard Winter won best male actor for Birdland (Melbourne Theatre Company).
Best new Australian work went to Queensland Theatre Company for its production of Ladies in Black.
