The Flying Fruit Fly Circus won a major national industry prize in Sydney last night.
Albury Wodonga’s training and performance school won the ‘Best Presentation for Children’ category for its most recent work ‘The Promise’ at a star-studded event at the Sydney Opera House. The award was presented to Artistic Director Markus Michalowski before the cream of Australian’s performing arts community including Cate Blanchett, Jimmy Barnes, Lucy Bell Michael Chugg, Diesel, Nancye Hayes, David McAllister, Todd McKenney, Molly Meldrum, Robyn Nevin, Pamela Rabe, and Jackie Weaver.
The Promise, the story of a boy and his elephant that showcased 25 members of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, was one of four productions under consideration. It faced stiff competition from an international production and a Bell Shakespeare work. The other nominees were Just Macbeth! by Bell Shakespeare, Angelina's Star Performance performed by the English National Ballet and The Clockwork Forest by Windmill and Brink Productions.
“This is an enormous coup for the company”, says General Manager Chris Pidd. “The Helpmann Awards celebrate the finest achievements in the fields of creative live performance art in our country. They’re voted on by members from the entertainment industry, a sort of Australian version of the Tony awards in America or the Olivier awards in Britain. We’re over the moon!”
The award comes during the circus’ 30th year of operation, and during the middle of the organisation’s temporary relocation to Lavington as it prepares to rebuild its training space in Albury, a project which will double its training capability.
According to Mr Michalowski The Promise represented a change in artistic direction for the Fruit Flies. “
The Promise was directed by Sally Richardson and performed at the Sydney Festival in January, and the Albury Entertainment Centre in February 2009. The production was nominated by the Sydney Festival committee after its acclaimed season at the Riverside Theatre, Parramatta.
The Helpmann Awards was established in 2001 and is hosted by Live Performance Australia