Editing Robert Helpmann (section)

==Honours, reputation and legacy==
In 1954 Helpmann was appointed to the [[Royal Order of the Polar Star]] (Sweden) and in 1957 he was created a [[National Order of the Cedar|Knight of the Cedar]] (Lebanon).<ref name=adb/> He was appointed [[CBE]] in 1964, named as [[Australian of the Year]] for 1965, and was created a [[Knight Bachelor]] in 1968.<ref name=adb/>

In ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', de Valois wrote in an obituary tribute:
:To work with Robert Helpmann was always an inspiration. There was at work an alert intelligence with an acute sense of perception. ... Bobby had a sense of humour that surmounted everything. Sometimes it was expressed by word of mouth, sometimes by an outburst of "mime"; at other times by just a look – and the latter could prove to be the most potent of all, for his timing on such occasions was as faultless as it was fatal.<ref>''Quoted'' in Sorley Walker (1998c), p. 444</ref>
An unsigned obituary in ''The Times'' caused upset by calling Helpmann "A homosexual of the proselytising kind, [who] could turn young men on the borderline his way."<ref>"Sir Robert Helpmann", ''The Times'' 29 September 1986, p.&nbsp;14.</ref> It was quickly pointed out that Helpmann kept his professional and private lives firmly separate.<ref>Kersley, Leo, "Sir Robert Helpmann", ''The Times'', 7 October 1986, p. 17</ref> An assessment in ''[[The Guardian]]'' ranked him as capable in "princely" roles in classic ballets, but "peerless" in dramatic parts, and best of all in comic roles.<ref>Kennedy, James. "The prince of Sadler's Wells", ''The Guardian'', 29 September 1986, p. 13</ref> The ''[[Australian Dictionary of Biography]]'' (ADB) describes Helpmann as "the complete man of the theatre", but adds that in some people's view he worked in too many fields to achieve supremacy in any one of them. Malcolm Williamson observed, "he never became a Gielgud, Olivier or Redgrave, or an Ashton, Balanchine or Petit because he was the most pluralistic of the lot"; the ADB quotes the dancer [[Moira Shearer]]: "he wasn't a great dancer – he wasn't a great actor – but he was most certainly a great mime, the perfect bridge between the two".<ref name=adb/> ''[[The New York Times]]'' said of him:
:While some critics question whether he would measure up to today's rigid standards for great classical dancers, Sir Robert was a dancer who could act and an actor who could dance. His personality and talent played a vital part in building the fledgling British ballet.<ref>Basler, Barbara. [https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/29/obituaries/sir-robert-helpmann-is-dead-a-dancer-actor-and-director.html "Sir Robert Helpmann is Dead"], ''The New York Times'', 29 September 1986, p. 14</ref>

The [[Helpmann Academy]] in South Australia was named in his honour; it is a partnership of the major visual and [[performing arts education]] and training institutions in South Australia offering award courses for people seeking professional careers in the arts.<ref>[https://www.helpmannacademy.com.au/about/what-we-do/ "History"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306203452/https://www.helpmannacademy.com.au/about/what-we-do/ |date=6 March 2019 }}, The Helpmann Academy. Retrieved 1 June 2019</ref> The [[Helpmann Awards]] were instituted 2001, and recognise distinguished artistic achievement and excellence in Australia's live performing arts sectors.<ref>[http://www.helpmannawards.com.au/about/ "About the Helpmann Awards"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325135232/http://www.helpmannawards.com.au/about/ |date=25 March 2019 }}, Helpmann Awards. Retrieved 1 June 2019</ref> The Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre is named after him at his birthplace in Mount Gambier.<ref>[https://www.mountgambierpoint.com.au/attractions/sir-robert-helpmann-theatre/ "Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416120941/http://www.mountgambierpoint.com.au/attractions/sir-robert-helpmann-theatre/ |date=16 April 2018 }}, Mount Gambier Point. Retrieved 1 June 2019</ref> Onstage, Helpmann has been commemorated in the play ''LyreBird (Tales of Helpmann)'', by [[Tyler Coppin]].<ref>[https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/theatre/lyre-bird-tales-of-helpmann-7434949.html "Lyre Bird-Tales of Helpmann"], ''Evening Standard'', 5 July 2000.</ref>