News

Festivals for Sydney and Adelaide.

Hamlet headlines the theatre program of January’s Sydney Festival 2010, but not just any Hamlet. Schaubüne Berlin’s production, in German, sees all the characters portrayed by just six actors. UK’s Headlong Theatre’s acclaimed West End re-imagining of Luigi Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author and New Zealand’s Red Leap Theatre, with The Arrival, are other major international attractions.

SEASONS 2010 - Local and International Stars, Anniversaries and Farewells in 2010

The Sydney Theatre Company has announced a 2010 season bristling with local and international stars. The season begins with the Australian premiere of Broadway musical Spring Awakening, a musical adaptation of the minor 1891 classic by Frank Wedekind, about the challenges faced by adolescents.

Father Christmas.

Stage Whispers reviewer Peter Kemp reviews his latest role.

Moving Play about Cancer Wins Top Awards for Melbourne’s Encore Theatre.

The play was called W;t – but it dealt with the most harrowing of subjects … cancer. A stunning production of the play by the Encore Theatre (from the Melbourne suburb of Clayton) picked up eight awards at the Victorian Drama League’s night of nights in early December. The awards including Best Drama, Best Director, Best Play, Best Leading Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Actress, Best Actor in a Minor Role and Sound and Lighting awards.

Pictured here are the lead actress Juliet Hayday and Director Vicki Smith with their silverware.

Ballarat wins Musical of the Year.

Ballarat Lyric Theatre has scooped Victoria’s Music Theatre awards for the second time in three years. A production of Les Miserables was lauded at the annual Guild Awards held at the Frankston Entertainment Centre last Saturday … taking five Guild awards including Production of the Year. It was a night when regional theatres shone and Melbourne’s musical societies were left almost empty handed.

Too Close to Call on Newcastle’s Best Musical

The judges for Newcastle’s 31st annual CONDA (City of Newcastle Drama Awards), presented at the Civic Theatre on Thursday December 4th, were deadlocked on the question of the city’s best musical. Pantseat Productions’ Lucky Stiff, tied with Newcastle Theatre Company’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee for the best non-professional musical production. The two small cast musicals shared more than the award, with three cast members in common.

TV Star collapses during theatre awards.

Retired TV weatherman and radio host Brian Bury star fell off the stage during a drama charged theatre awards night held in Queensland this week.

He had only just started presenting the inaugural Gold Coast Area Theatre Awards when he fell two metres into the audience section of the Gold Coast Performing Arts Centre showroom.

Like many in the audience, Stage Whispers correspondent David Spicer feared a major health problem. But thankfully like the old pro he is Brian Bury brushed himself off and even joked - that he would do anything to get attention.

NIDA at 50

The National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney has been celebrating its 50th Birthday in 2009. Widely known for its alumni superstars including Mel Gibson and Cate Blanchett, NIDA’s behind-the-scenes graduates are snapped up by the industry even more eagerly than the actors.

SWITCH IT OFF! - Article and Forum

Peter Pinne asks have we lost the art of theatre etiquette?

Once upon a time audiences at a theatrical performance respected the actors and other audience members. They remained quiet at appropriate times, laughed at appropriate times, and applauded at the end of the show. These days it’s a different story.

Have Show: Will Travel

Ever wondered how plays get chosen to tour regional venues? David Spicer reports it’s a bit like Australian Idol. Producers get 10 minutes to perform – and then get voted on or off the short-list.

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