Secret River dominates Helpmann Awards Colin Moody and Ursula Yovich in STC's The Secret River. Picture: Heidrun Lohr Source: The Australian IT swept through the critics' hearts and now The Secret River is flooding this year's Helpmann Awards. The Sydney Theatre Company (STC) stage adaptation of the Kate Grenville novel has dominated theatre nominations with 11 nods, including for lighting, sound, design and best play. Opening to rave reviews, The Secret River tells of the clash between two families and the possibility of a different history for Australia. Neil Armfield, who returned to the STC for the first time in 13 years to direct the family drama that showed in January and Feburary, has been nominated for his work, as has Nathaniel Dean with a Best Actor nomination. "This is a very strong piece, and one of the best new works this year," Live Performance Australia chief executive Evelyn Richardson told AAP on Monday. We've had a large number of strong entries and we're thrilled that there are so many new Australian works created that are worthy of nominations. The high-voltage stage production of King Kong, which has just opened in Melbourne, will also be bestowed with a special additional award this year recognising the design, creation and operation of the Kong itself. A crew comprising creature designer Sonny Tilders, puppetry director Peter Wilson and Kong voice artist Harley Durst will be presented with the Outstanding Theatrical Achievement award. "The industry panel felt really significantly that it was a ground-breaking Australian creation and the first of its kind in the world," Richardson said of the special gong. The organisers of White Night Melbourne, the city's all-night cultural festival held in February, will also be handed a special event award. Actors Russell Dykstra (The Addams Family) and Chris Ryan (King Kong) will go head-to-head for Best Male Actor in a supporting role, as will Chloe Dallimore (The Addams Family) and Esther Hannaford (King Kong) for the best female actor gongs. There are also nods for Legally Blonde The Musical in the best musical and choreography categories, while bubbly lead Lucy Durack has been recognised with a best female actor nomination. Opera Australia dominates nominations in its field - with productions Die tote Stadt, Salome and Un Ballo in Maschera going up against Hobart Baroque & Royal Opera House's L'isola Disabitata for Best Opera. With tours by Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Gotye and Keith Urban, concert promoters will also battle in the local and international live music categories. The Helpmann Awards will be announced on Monday, July 29 at the Sydney Opera House and broadcast live on Foxtel's Arena channel. BEST COSTUME DESIGN - Hugh Colman - Swan Lake (Baynes), The Australian Ballet - Julian Crouch & Phelim McDermott - The Addams Family, Rodney Rigby together with Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical - Roger Kirk - King Kong, Global Creatures - Tess Schofield - The Secret River, Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival BEST SCENIC DESIGN - Stephen Curtis - The Secret River, Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival - Peter England - King Kong, Global Creatures - Jonathon Oxlade - School Dance, Windmill Theatre - Amon Tobin - Amon Tobin ISAM: Live, Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House Presents BEST LIGHTING DESIGN - Mark Howett - The Secret River, Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival - Peter Mumford - King Kong, Global Creatures - Paul Normandale - Coldplay Mylo Xyloto Tour, Chugg Entertainment - John Rayment - Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour - Carmen, Opera Australia BEST SOUND DESIGN - Tony David Cray - Die Tote Stadt, Opera Australia - Tony David Cray - Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour - Carmen, Opera Australia - Peter Hylenski - King Kong, Global Creatures - Luke Smiles - School Dance, Windmill Theatre BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - King Kong - Original music Composed by Marius de Vries featuring songs and original compositions by 3D from Massive Attack, Guy Garvey, Sarah McLachlan, Justice and The Avalanches with additional lyrics by Michael Mitnick and Richard Thomas, Global Creatures - The Secret River - Iain Grandage, Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival - Midnight Son - Gordon Kerry & Louis Nowra, Victorian Opera - Terrain - David Page, Bangarra Dance Theatre BEST INDIVIDUAL CLASSICAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE - Ana Vidovic - Ana Vidovic in Recital, Adelaide Festival Centres Adelaide International Guitar Festival - Jordi Savall - Jordi Savall & Andrew Lawrence King, Melbourne Recital Centre - Simone Young Conducting The Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra - Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner (concert performance) & Symphony No. 2 in C Minor Resurrection by Gustav Mahler, Soloists from the Hamburg State Opera with the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Queensland Performing Arts Centre & Events Queensland - Stuart Skelton - Tchaikovsky's Queen of Spades: An Opera in Concert, Sydney Symphony BEST MUSIC DIRECTION - Christian Badea - Die Tote Stadt, Opera Australia - Iain Grandage - The Secret River, Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival - James Morrison - Boundary Street, Black Swan State Theatre Company & Brisbane Festival - Tristen Parr - Duck, Death and the Tulip, Barking Gecko Theatre Company presented by Perth International Arts Festival BEST CHAMBER & / OR INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE CONCERT - Jordi Savall & Andrew Lawrence King - Melbourne Recital Centre - Takacs Quartet - Musica Viva Australia - Philip Glass Complete Piano Etudes - Perth International Arts Festival - Steve Reich - A Celebration - Sydney Opera House Presents BEST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT - Beethoven 9 - Australian Chamber Orchestra - Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner (concert performance), The Hamburg State Opera with The Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra - Queensland Performing Arts Centre & Events Queensland - Symphony No.2 in C Minor, Resurrection by Gustave Mahler, Soloists from The Hamburg State Opera with the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra - Queensland Performing Arts Centre & Events Queensland - Tchaikovsky's Queen of Spades: An Opera in Concert - Sydney Symphony BEST INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY CONCERT - Tedeschi Trucks Band & Trombone Shorty - Tedeschi Trucks Band, Trombone Shorty & Bluesfest Touring - Coldplay Mylo Xyloto Tour - Coldplay & Chugg Entertainment - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Wrecking Ball 2013 - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band & Frontier Touring Company in association with Jacobsen International - Barry Gibb Mythology Tour - Barry Gibb & Live Nation Australasia BEST CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL - The 24th Annual Bluesfest Byron Bay - Bluesfest Touring - The Falls Music & Arts Festival - The Falls Music & Arts Festival - Laneway Festival 2013 - Lunatic Entertainment & Chugg Entertainment - Vivid LIVE 2012 - Sydney Opera House Presents BEST AUSTRALIAN CONTEMPORARY CONCERT - Gotye - Gotye & Chugg Entertainment in Association with Lunatic Entertainment & Eleven Music - Into the Bloodstream: Archie Roach - Archie Roach, Jill Shelton, Sydney Festival, Perth International Arts Festival & Adelaide Festival - Neil Finn & Paul Kelly - Neil Finn, Paul Kelly & Live Nation Australasia by arrangement with Artist Voice - Keith Urban The Story So Far - Keith Urban, Chugg Entertainment & Nine Live BEST REGIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION - Of Earth & Sky - Bangarra Dance Theatre - CIRCA - Toured by Performing Lines for Road Work - The Land of Yes & The Land of No - Sydney Dance Company - The Disappearances Project - Version 1.0 BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION - Antony Hamilton - Black Project 1 & 2, Arts House & Antony Hamilton Projects - Antony Hamilton - Keep Everything, Chunky Move - Stephanie Lake - Dual, Arts House & Stephanie Lake - Frances Rings - Terrain, Bangarra Dance Theatre BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A MUSICAL - Tony Bartuccio - Chess, The Production Company - Christopher Gattelli - South Pacific, Opera Australia in association with John Frost - Jerry Mitchell - Legally Blonde The Musical, Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost for Gordon Frost Organisation - Sergio Trujillo - The Addams Family, Rodney Rigby together with Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL - Jerry Mitchell - Legally Blonde The Musical, Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost for Gordon Frost Organisation - Simon Phillips - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, John Frost - Bartlett Sher - South Pacific, Opera Australia in association with John Frost - Jerry Zaks - The Addams Family, Rodney Rigby together with Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical BEST DIRECTION OF AN OPERA - Gale Edwards - Salome, Opera Australia - Ludger Engels - Semele Walk, Kunstfestspiele Herrenhausen, Presented by Sydney Festival - Rodula Gaitanou - L'isola Disabitata, Hobart Baroque & Royal Opera House - Alex Olle - Un Ballo in Maschera, Opera Australia BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY - Neil Armfield - The Secret River, Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival - Lee Lewis - The School For Wives, Bell Shakespeare - Rosemary Myers - School Dance, Windmill Theatre - Anne-Louise Sarks - Medea, Belvoir in association with Australian Theatre For Young People BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL - Russell Dykstra - The Addams Family, Rodney Rigby together with Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical - Chris Ryan - King Kong, Global Creatures - Hugh Sheridan - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, John Frost - Mike Snell - Legally Blonde The Musical, Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost for Gordon Frost Organisation BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL - Helen Dallimore - Legally Blonde The Musical, Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost for Gordon Frost Organisation - Erika Heynatz - Legally Blonde The Musical, Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost for Gordon Frost Organisation - Katrina Retallick - The Addams Family, Rodney Rigby together with Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical - Jennifer Vuletic - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Tim Lawson BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY - Patrick Brammall - Death of a Salesman, Belvoir - Colin Moody - The Secret River, Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival - Rory Potter - Medea, Belvoir in association with Australian Theatre For Young People - Hayden Spencer - End of the Rainbow, Queensland Performing Arts Centre & Queensland Theatre Company BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY - Valerie Bader - Australia Day, Sydney Theatre Company & Melbourne Theatre Company - Lynette Curran - Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Belvoir - Amber McMahon - School Dance, Windmill Theatre - Miranda Tapsell - The Secret River, Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival BEST MALE PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN OPERA - Jose Carbo - Die Tote Stadt, Opera Australia - Samuel Dundas - La Boheme, Opera Australia - Wolf Matthias Fredrich - L'Orfeo, Brisbane Festival & Australian Brandenburg Orchestra - Douglas McNicol - Fidelio, The State Opera of South Australia BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN OPERA - Nicole Car - Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour - Carmen, Opera Australia - Jacqueline Dark - Salome, Opera Australia - Jessica Dean - Fidelio, The State Opera of South Australia - Taryn Fiebig - La Boheme, Opera Australia BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK - The Happiest Refugee - Anh Do, A List Entertainment - King Kong - Book by Craig Lucas, original music composed by Marius de Vries, featuring songs and original compositions by 3D from Massive Attack, Guy Garvey, Sarah McLachlan, Justice and The Avalanches, with additional lyrics by Michael Mitnick and Richard Thomas, Global Creatures - Midnight Son - Gordon Kerry & Louis Nowra, Victorian Opera - Medea - Kate Mulvaney & Anne-Louise Sarks, Belvoir in association with Australian Theatre For Young People - The Secret River - Kate Grenville, adapted for the stage by Andrew Bovell, Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival - School Dance - Matthew Whittet, Windmill Theatre BEST COMEDY PERFORMER - Wil Anderson - Wil Anderson, GoodWil Token Events - Hannah Gadsby - Hannah Gadsby, Happiness is a Bedside Table, Token Events - Kitty Flanagan - Hello Kitty Flanagan, A List Entertainment - Julia Morris - Julia Morris - No Judgement, Fox in the Snow BEST CABARET PERFORMER - Robyn Archer AO - Robyn Archer in Concert: Que Reste-t-il at the Famous Spiegel Garden and Toulouse-Lautrec Cabaret and Curator Dinner at The National Gallery of Australia, Robyn Archer, Michael Morley (Piano), George Butrumlis (Accordian) - Tommy Bradson - The Men My Mother Loved, Adelaide Festival Centre's Adelaide Cabaret Festival - Christopher Green (as Tina C) - Tina C: Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word, A Malthouse Theatre, Christopher Green, Julia Holt & Melbourne International Comedy Festival Presentation - Mark Nadler - I'm a Stranger Here Myself, Adelaide Festival Centre's Adelaide Cabaret Festival BEST PRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN - Cautionary Tales for Children based on the verse by Hilaire Belloc - Arena Theatre Company - The Yard - Caprivate and Shaun Parker & Company - How High the Sky - Polyglot Theatre - School Dance - Windmill Theatre BEST VISUAL OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION - Concrete & Bones Sessions - Branch Nebula, Performing Lines & Sydney Festival - It's Dark Outside by Tim Watts, Arielle Gray & Chris Isaacs - Perth Theatre Company - Murder - Erth Visual & Physical Inc, Produced by Intimate Spectacle, Presented by Adelaide Festival, Sydney Festival & Ten Days on the Island - S - Circa BEST MALE DANCER IN A DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION - James O'Hara - Faun - In the Spirit of Diaghilev, Strut Dance & Eastman (Belgium) - Daniel Gaudiello - Don Quixote, The Australian Ballet - Alisdair Macindoe - Dual, Arts House & Stephanie Lake - Alisdair Macindoe - Keep Everything, Chunky Move BEST FEMALE DANCER IN A DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION - Deborah Brown - Terrain, Bangarra Dance Theatre - Victoria Hunt - Copper Promises, Performance Space - Lauren Langlois - Keep Everything, Chunky Move - Amber Scott - Swan Lake (Baynes), The Australian Ballet BEST MALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA - Giorgio Caoduro - Lucia Di Lammermoor, Opera Australia - Dmytro Popov - Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour - Carmen, Opera Australia - Byron Watson - Midnight Son, Victorian Opera - John Wegner - Salome, Opera Australia BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA - Cheryl Barker - Salome, Opera Australia - Tamar Iveri - Un Ballo in Maschera, Opera Australia - Sarah Macliver - L'Orfeo, Brisbane Festival & Australian Brandenburg Orchestra - Emma Matthews - Lucia Di Lammermoor, Opera Australia BEST MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL - David Harris - Legally Blonde The Musical, Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost for Gordon Frost Organisation - Geoffrey Rush - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, John Frost - Wayne Scott Kermond - The Producers, The Production Company - John Waters - The Addams Family, Rodney Rigby together with Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL - Chloe Dallimore - The Addams Family, Rodney Rigby together with Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical - Lucy Durack - Legally Blonde The Musical, Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost for Gordon Frost Organisation - Esther Hannaford - King Kong, Global Creatures - Silvie Paladino - Chess, The Production Company BEST MALE ACTOR IN A PLAY - John Bell - Henry 4, Bell Shakespeare - Nathaniel Dean - The Secret River, Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival - Colin Friels - Death of a Salesman, Belvoir - Colin Moody - Forget Me Not, Belvoir BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A PLAY - Alison Bell - Constellations, Melbourne Theatre Company - Alison Bell - Hedda Gabler, State Theatre Company of South Australia - Christen O'Leary - End of the Rainbow, Queensland Performing Arts Centre & Queensland Theatre Company - Helen Thomson - Mrs Warren's Profession, Sydney Theatre Company BEST BALLET OR DANCE WORK - Black Project 1 & 2 - Arts House & Antony Hamilton Projects - Cacti - Sydney Dance Company - Keep Everything - Chunky Move - Terrain - Bangarra Dance Theatre BEST OPERA - Die Tote Stadt - Opera Australia - L'isola Disabitata - Hobart Baroque & Royal Opera House - Salome - Opera Australia - Un Ballo in Maschera - Opera Australia BEST PLAY - Death of a Salesman - Belvoir - Hedda Gabler - State Theatre Company of South Australia - Medea - Belvoir in association with Australian Theatre For Young People - The Secret River - Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival BEST MUSICAL - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - John Frost - Legally Blonde The Musical - Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost for Gordon Frost Organisation - South Pacific - Opera Australia in association with John Frost - The Addams Family - Rodney Rigby together with Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical