News

Co-Artistic Directors Sandra Bates and Mark Kilmurry announced the Ensemble Theatre’s 2013 season on Tuesday August 28, 2012, launching the season a with video presentation at the harbour-side theatre in Kirribilli, Sydney.

Eight of the ten plays in the season are new to Sydney, including World Premieres of three new plays from David Williamson, Geoffrey Atherden and Gary Baxter, and five Australian Premieres, alongside new productions of Bombshells (with Sharon Millerchip) and The Glass Menagerie.

Lee Lewis has been appointed as Griffin Theatre Company’s new Artistic Director, set to take over from Sam Strong on 1 January 2013. 

Wagner and Verdi are the highlights of season 2013 for Opera Australia in Sydney and Melbourne.

The season was announced on the stage of the Sydney Opera House amidst rousing arias and fireworks.

The prospects for Opera Australia appear bright.

Already the Ring Cycle in Melbourne is all but sold out.

We were told at the launch of the gruelling preparation for the singers involved. They have to learn their own parts and cover for others in what must be a fiendishly challenging learning exercise.

In August, Brisbane audiences are being treated to some of the finest German Opera, Music and Ballet from the nation’s second largest city, Hamburg. Australian conductor Simone Young is wielding the baton for a concert performance of Wagner’s Das Reingold with the Hamburg State Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra. Peter Pinne caught up with Simone Young on the eve of her return.

Peter Pinne: The Hamburg Seasonis an exciting time for Queensland and opera in Australia. How did it come about?