Adelaide actor Paul Blackwell wins Helpmann Award for final performance
Adelaide actor Paul Blackwell has won a posthumous award for his final performance, five months after his death.
Late Adelaide actor Paul Blackwell has won a Helpmann Award for his final performance, while Adelaide Festival opera The Magic Flute picked up two honours.
Blackwell, who died aged 64 in February after a battle with cancer, was awarded best male actor in a supporting role in a play for his part in the acclaimed Judy Davis-directed production Faith Healer.
The award was one of 20 gongs presented during Act One of the Helpmann Awards, Australia’s version of the Tonys, in Melbourne last night.
Barrie Kosky and Suzanne Andrade won best direction of an opera for The Magic Flute. Tom Erik Lie was named best male performer in a supporting role in an opera for his performance in the production.
It’s the third straight year an Adelaide Festival opera has won multiple Helpmann awards. Act Two of the awards will be held tonight.