Peter Garrett MP
Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Heritage and the Arts

7 August 2007

Peter Garrett today congratulated the many Australian winners at the annual Helpmann Awards for live performances.

It was particularly pleasing to see the phenomenally successful musical Keating! take the top award, alongside victories by Terry Serio (playing John Howard) and Neil Armfield (Best Director.) 

The Casey Bennetto satirical musical has performed beyond all expectations in a two year journey from its premiere in a 90 seat theatre in Melbourne in 2005. Keating is a 100% Australian production.

David Campbell (best performance in an Australian contemporary concert) and the newcomer iOTA (best male actor in a musical) also deserved recognition for their great performances.

The success of Keating!, and newcomers such as iOTA, shows us how vibrant our live performance industry is. We have amazing home grown talent and it should be given our support. They make a crucial contribution to our national life.

The awards, named in honour of Sir Robert Helpmann, recognise excellence in Australia’s live performance sectors including musical theatre, contemporary music, comedy, opera, classical music, dance and physical theatre.

For further information contact Ryan Heath 0449 141 398