To celebrate the 2009 centenary of Robert Helpmann’s birth, University of Queensland Press (UQP) has recently published Robert Helpmann: A Servant of Art by Anna Bemrose.
Dr Bemrose, an honorary research adviser in the UQ School of English, Media Studies and Art History, has brought to life the enduring and charismatic story of one of Australia’s most notable international performers.
She felt compelled to write the book after completing her PhD on Helpmann, as very little had been written about him.
The book, which contains more than 100 images, profiles one of our greatest performers from dancer to mime, choreographer, stage and film actor, director of operas, make-up artist, co-artistic director and later sole director of the Australian Ballet and director of the 1970 Adelaide Festival of Arts.
Dr Bemrose said a lot of people assumed Helpmann went to England to learn his craft, but her research discovered he had already choreographed his first ballet and was involved in experimental theatre in Adelaide before he went overseas at the end of 1932.
She writes about Helpmann’s 17-year partnership with Dame Margot Fonteyn, his choreographic works for the Australian Ballet and his pivotal role in showcasing home grown talent to the rest of the world.
“The multi-faceted talents which Helpmann displayed during his early career in Australia could be developed and perfected in the United Kingdom owing to its established and newly formed theatrical institutions,” Dr Bemrose said.
“One of the most important patterns that emerges in Helpmann’s development as an artist was his driving ambition to learn as much as possible about every facet of the performing arts and to be taught by the best teachers in each discipline.”
Dr Bemrose’s research took her on a whirlwind journey through the Helpmann Papers and other collections in the National Library, public collections in Australia and overseas and personal interviews with many of Helpmann’s professional collaborators including Peter Sculthorpe, Bill Akers, Richard Bonynge, Justin Fleming, John Waters, Michael Pate, Dame Alicia Markova and Dame Ninette de Valois (then 100 years old), founder of the Royal Ballet.
“He was such a theatrical phenomenon and made a very valuable contribution to Australia and overseas,” Dr Bemrose said.
“I loved every moment of writing the book, it’s been very exciting.”
The book’s launch coincides with a travelling exhibition - “Bobby Dazzler! Celebrating the Helpmann Centenary” which was initiated and researched by Dr Bemrose.
Curated by the Queensland Performing Arts Museum, the exhibition will travel from Brisbane to Adelaide, Mount Gambier (where Helpmann was born), Sydney and Melbourne.
It will be at QPAC’s Tony Gould Gallery, South Bank, until March 8, open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm.
Robert Helpmann: A Servant of Art is available from the UQ Bookshop, Cremorne Theatre, QPAC, and most well known bookshops.
Media: Eliza Plant at UQ Communications (07 3365 2619)
