Helpmann Award for Best Play

The Helpmann Award for Best Play is a theatre award, presented by Live Performance Australia (LPA) at the annual Helpmann Awards since 2001.[1] The award is for a production of a play, which may be a new work or a revival of an existing work. This is a list of winners and nominations for the Helpmann Award for Best Play.

Helpmann Award for
Best Play
Awarded forBest Play
LocationAustralia
Presented byLive Performance Australia
Currently held byCounting & Cracking (2019)
WebsiteHelpmannAwards.com.au

Winners and nominees

   Winners are listed first and marked in a separate colour.

2000s

YearTitleProduction compan(y/ies)
2001
(1st)
Life After GeorgeMelbourne Theatre Company
'Art'Melbourne Theatre Company
Jimmy and Pat Meet the QueenDeckchair Theatre
The Small PoppiesCompany B Belvoir
2002
(2nd)
CloudstreetCompany B Belvoir and Black Swan Theatre
Master ClassInternational Concert Attractions
The TempestMelbourne Theatre Company
Three SistersSydney Theatre Company
2003
(3rd)
CopenhagenSydney Theatre Company
SoftBack to Back and Melbourne Festival
The Comedy of ErrorsThe Bell Shakespeare Company
Waiting for GodotCompany B Belvoir and Sydney Festival
2004
(4th)
InheritanceMelbourne Theatre Company
Myth, Propaganda and Disaster in Nazi Germany and Contemporary America - A Drama in 30 ScenesPlaybox Theatre
The Servant of Two MastersThe Bell Shakespeare Company
FrozenMelbourne Theatre Company
2005
(5th)
The SapphiresMelbourne Theatre Company
Twelve Angry MenArts Projects Australia and Adrian Bohm
Hedda GablerSydney Theatre Company
Three FuriesSydney Festival
2006
(6th)
Stuff HappensCompany B Belvoir and Newtheatricals
AwayQueensland Theatre Company and Griffin Theatre Company
The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?State Theatre Company of South Australia
Le Dernier CaravansérailMelbourne International Arts Festival and Théâtre du Soleil
2007
(7th)
The Lost EchoSydney Theatre Company
Holding the ManGriffin Theatre Company
Parramatta GirlsCompany B Belvoir
The Season At SarsaparillaSydney Theatre Company
2008
(8th)
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?Company B Belvoir
Black WatchNational Theatre of Scotland, Sydney Festival and Perth International Arts Festival
When The Rain Stops FallingBrink Productions
Toy SymphonyCompany B Belvoir
2009
(9th)
War of the RosesSydney Theatre Company
Women of TroySydney Theatre Company
IvanovKatona Jozsef Theatre and Sydney Festival
GatzSydney Opera House and Brisbane Powerhouse

2010s

YearTitleProduction compan(y/ies)
2010
(10th)
Richard IIIMelbourne Theatre Company
August: Osage CountyMelbourne Theatre Company
Happy DaysMalthouse Theatre
The Book of EverythingCompany B Belvoir and Kim Carpenter's Theatre of Image
2011
(11th)
The Wild DuckBelvoir
The Diary of a MadmanBelvoir
Uncle VanyaSydney Theatre Company and Bell Shakespeare
Do not go gentlefortyfivedownstairs
2012
(12th)
Ganesh Versus the Third ReichBack to Back Theatre, Malthouse Theatre and Melbourne Festival
Neighbourhood WatchBelvoir
The BoysGriffin Theatre Company and Sydney Festival
The Importance of Being EarnestMelbourne Theatre Company
2013
(13th)
The Secret RiverSydney Theatre Company, The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival
MedeaBelvoir and Australian Theatre for Young People
Death of a SalesmanBelvoir
Hedda GablerState Theatre Company of South Australia
2014
(14th)
Angels in AmericaBelvoir
Roman TragediesToneelgroep Amsterdam presented by Adelaide Festival in association with Adelaide Festival Centre
The Shadow KingMalthouse Theatre in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals (Adelaide Festival, Brisbane Festival, Melbourne Festival, Perth International Arts Festival and Sydney Festival)
Waiting for GodotSydney Theatre Company
2015
(15th)
The Glass MenagerieBelvoir
Calpurnia DescendingMalthouse Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company
Suddenly Last SummerSydney Theatre Company
EndgameSydney Theatre Company
2016
(16th)
The Bleeding TreeGriffin Theatre Company
North by NorthwestMelbourne Theatre Company and Kay + McLean Productions by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures
Piece for Person and Ghetto BlasterPerforming Lines and Nicola Gunn
Prize FighterLa Boite Theatre Company and Brisbane Festival
2017
(17th)
The Drover's WifeBelvoir
Jasper JonesMelbourne Theatre Company
Once in Royal David's CityQueensland Theatre and Black Swan State Theatre Company
Things I Know To Be TrueState Theatre Company of South Australia and Frantic Assembly
2018
(18th)
The ChildrenMelbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company
The IrresistibleSide Pony Productions and The Last Great Hunt
The Real and Imagined History of the Elephant ManMalthouse Theatre
Black is the New WhiteSydney Theatre Company
The Resistible Rise of Arturo UiSydney Theatre Company
Laser Beak ManBrisbane Festival, La Boite Theatre Company and Dead Puppet Society in association with PowerArts
2019
(19th)[4][5]
Counting and CrackingBelvoir and Co-Curious
Blackie Blackie Brown: The Traditional Owner of DeathSydney Theatre Company and Malthouse Theatre
The Harp in the South: Part One and Part TwoSydney Theatre Company
Song for a Weary ThroatRawcus
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Parts One and Two)Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, and Michael Cassel
The Second WomanNat Randall and Anna Breckon and Performing Lines

See also

References