The winners of the 2015 Helpmann Awards were announced last night in front of a full house at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre hosted by Todd McKenney.
The 2015 Helpmann Awards presenters included Cate Blanchett, Danielle Cormack, Adam Garcia and David Campbell honouring the year’s best achievements.
Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Misérables, which received the most nominations in the 2015 Helpmann Awards, took home five Helpmann Awards, including Best Musical.
Other big winners on the night included Brisbane Baroque in association with QPAC’s Faramondo (five Helpmann Awards) and The Rabbits (Opera Australia and Barking Gecko Theatre Company co-production in association with West Australian Opera, commissioned by Melbourne Festival and Perth International Arts Festival), which took out all four awards it was nominated for.
Other winners included Judith Lucy, Chet Faker, Ed Sheeran and Kate Miller-Heidke.
See a full list of the winners here.
In addition to the presentation of the Helpmann Awards, show highlights included Les Misérables opening the night, and a one-off and exclusive performance by the full cast of the Helpmann Award-nominated Once.
Helpmann Awards host McKenney performed “I Am What I Am” from the Tony Award-winning production of La Cage aux Folles and Victorian Opera’s Sweeney Todd took the audience on a dark and twisted musical experience.
Clare Bowditch and the Paul Kelly Band also paid homage to this year’s JC Williamson Award recipient Paul Kelly by performing his single from the 1995 acclaimed album of the same name, “Deeper Water”.
Australia’s foremost illusionist, Cosentino – The Grand Illusionist brought some magic to the stage and a moving performance by the Australia Piano Quartet accompanied the In Memoriam segment of the show.
Foxtel Arts subscribers are able to view an exclusive encore screening on Thursday 30 July at 9.40 pm and Saturday 1 August at 3 pm.
Photo: Cast of Les Misérables