News

Set Designer Wins Top Theatre Post

A set designer has scored one of Australia’s most prestigious jobs, taking over as Artistic Director of Sydney’s Company B Belvoir Theatre from the end of 2010. Ralph Myers will succeed Neil Armfield from 2011.

Company B Belvoir’s Managing Director Brenna Hobson said the 30 year old stood out for his "intelligence, humour, capacity for inspiring leadership and understanding of the theatrical process.”

Choosing a Drama School

Some tips from Dean Carey, Creative Director of Actors Centre Australia.

US CRITICS LOVE AUSSIE STREETCAR

The Sydney Theatre Company's production of A Streetcar Named Desire, now playing in the Kennedy Centre in Washington, has won rave reviews in the US Press.

While most loved the production, not everyone was impressed with the Aussie cast's attempts at Southern American accents.

Here is a taste of what has been written

Peter Marks - Washington Post

Mamma Mia! - Andrew Lloyd Webber has just asked me to sing one of his songs.

Music Theatre star Michael Cormick has returned to the Australian stage as Sam in the 10th anniversary production of Mamma Mia! On the eve of commencing rehearsals, he shared scariest moment of his theatre career with Stage Whispers.

Avenue Q

Coming to a street in Australia and New Zealand near you.

By David Spicer

Geoffrey Rush for Melbourne and Sydney Stages

Geoffrey Rush will be seen on both Sydney and Melbourne stages in 2010. He appears in the MTC's Australian premiere of Broadway musical The Drowsy Chaperone in January, then revives his great Company B collaboration with Neil Armfield with a return of Diary of a Madman at Belvoir Street in December.

Geoffrey Rush told Stage Whispers that he first became aware of The Drowsy Chaperone during his Tony Award winning season of Exit the King on Broadway.

Don’t call me an Understudy Witch … I am a Standby Witch.

Only a few years after being in chorus of the Gosford Musical Society Jemma Rix is flying high as the standby Green Witch in the Stephen Schwartz musical Wicked which premieres in Sydney on September 12.

RADIO SHOCK WITH NO JOCK.

The behavior of another Sydney radio breakfast host has come under the spotlight - this time the ABC's 'squeaky clean' ADAM SPENCER.

In the current issue of Stage Whispers Magazine he reveals the details of a Naked Public Romp in the Belvoir Street Theatre in front of hundreds of people.

The pants down happened during a performance of Theatresports … and in fact has been nominated as the funniest moment in the 25 year history of the improvisation game.

It was during a sketch on Greek Gods.

Spencer and a partner came onto the stage naked.

The Show Must Go On …

Actress Cate Blanchett has been slightly injured on stage in Sydney after she was hit in the head with an airborne radio.

The Sydney Theatre Company's second performance of A Streetcar Named Desire was cut short last night (Wednesday) due to the incident.

In the scene her co-star is supposed to throw a radio out the window but it appeared to slip and hit the Oscar winning actress in the head

Several people said they could see blood streaming down the back of Blanchett's head after the incident.

Global Theatre Meltdown?

David Spicer surveys the damage wreaked by the Global Financial Crisis on professional and community theatre in Australia, New Zealand and Broadway. While some companies are struggling – others are booming.

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.