David Campbell to host Helpmann Awards

Live Performance Australia announced today that Australian cabaret star David Campbell will host the 2010 Helpmann Awards ceremony at the Sydney Opera House on Monday, September 6.

The ceremony will be broadcast live on the new subscription arts channel STVDIO for the first time, going out to viewers around the country on FOXTEL and AUSTAR.  It will air at 8.30pm AEST on Monday, September 6 in a two-hour special and is the first live broadcast on STVDIO, which premiered in April this year.

Campbell helped launch STVDIO with the world premiere of his documentary David Campbell on Broadway.  David is also Artistic Director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and it is fortuitous that this year’s Helpmann Awards have a new award category, recognising excellence in Cabaret Performance in Australia.

Campbell replaces Jonathan Biggins whose hosting efforts in recent years have been met with mixed reactions.

“I am thrilled to be hosting the Helpmann Awards, which are hugely important within the performing arts industry,” Campbell said.

“It is also exciting that FOXTEL, long time supporter of the Awards, will broadcast the Awards on STVDIO.”

Helpmann nominees are set to be announced in August.