News

Matilda: First Australian Cast Announcements

The Royal Shakespeare Company, Louise Withers, Michael Coppel & Michael Watt today (March 19, 2015) announced four of the principal cast for the Australian Premiere Season of Matilda The Musical, which commences performances from July 28 in Sydney.

They are (in alphabetical order), Marika Aubrey (Mrs Wormwood), Daniel Frederiksen (Mr Wormwood), Elise McCann (Miss Honey) and James Millar (Miss Trunchbull).

The complete Australian Cast, including the four young actresses sharing the role of Matilda, will be announced next month.

English National Opera on Screen

The English National Opera (ENO) will present a season of performances in the Australian premiere season of ENO Screen – a unique cinematic experience that will screen in Australian capital and regional cities throughout 2015.

Birthday Presents from Chapel

Melbourne’s iconic Chapel off Chapel turns 20 this week, and Coral Drouyn discovered that the presents are being given to us.

Wizard Helps New Pirates Stars

For thirty years updated versions of The Pirates of Penzance have delighted Australian audiences. Now two recent graduates from the musical theatre course at Griffith University have scored the plum roles of Frederick and Mabel in Harvest Rain’s new production of Essgee’s Pirates. Green with envy is the Wizard of Penzance himself, Simon Gallaher. He will direct the production whilst appearing in Wicked at the same time. Peter Pinne jumped on board for a chat.

Stuart Wagstaff

Stuart Wagstaff AM, the legendary entertainer whose multi-faceted career was a pinnacle in the Australian landscape of theatre, television and music passed away peacefully on March 10, 2015, at Greenwhich Hospital aged 90.

A public memorial service to celebrate his life was held at the Theatre Royal, MLC Centre, King St, Sydney on Tuesday 31st March. A bucket collection was taken to support the Actor’s Benevolent Fund at Mr Wagstaff's request..

Politics to the Max

Max Gillies brings his new show to the Melbourne Arts Centre from 13th - 28th March 2015, and Coral Drouyn caught him during some time out to talk about satire.

Max Gillies is a National Treasure – but he is not a comedian; he is at great pains to thank me for recognising that. Gillies is an actor, and a fine one, who has specialised in Political Satire.

A Peach of a Play

Debra Oswald, author, playwright and Creator and writer of TV’s Offspring, talks to Coral Drouyn about The Peach Season and how she works.

STAGE WHISPERS MAGAZINE: MARCH / APRIL 2015 EDITION OUT NOW!!!

In This Edition

• Les Misérables on Tour

• Theatre celebrates the year of Gallipoli

• Guy Edmonds: Hyper Actor

• Wizard Simon Gallaher Helps New Pirates Stars

• Interview with Miriam Margolyes

• School Performing Arts Resource Kit

• Technical Tips for Schools

• Perfectionist Performers

PLUS

Regular features including Broadway and West End, CDs, What’s On, Reviews and Community Theatre.

Sweet Verity’s Rhythm of Life

From a perfect in every way nanny to a dance hall hostess, Verity Hunt-Ballard has triumphed in some of the most demanding roles in musical theatre. As she prepared for a re-mount of the award winning production of Sweet Charity at the Sydney Opera House, Canberra Theatre, Melbourne Arts Centre and IPAC in Wollongong,she told David Spicer that even exhausting lead roles have nothing on the demands of becoming a mother.

Gravity-Defying Physical Theatre for Adelaide Festival

French Physics graduate and student of architectural acoustics Aurélien Bory was on his way to a career in science when he joined the circus and acrobatics entered his life, but his scientific background still influences his current career as a celebrated artistic director. His work is driven by an exploration of our relationship with space.

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