The hunt is on for a new artistic director of The Sydney Theatre Company following confirmation that Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton are stepping down at the end of next year.
It’s not unexpected – Cate Blanchett told Stage Whispers last year that she always intended that her joint role with her husband to be a short term appointment with a departure date on the horizon.
The pair have been joint directors of the company since 2008, when they succeeded Robyn Nevin. A new artistic director will take over in 2014.
Pete Malicki, Artistic Director of the short play festival Short+Sweet currently running at King Street Theatre Newtown, received a call on Monday from panicky director John Wood. An actor in his play "Just the Ticket" - set to preview the next night - had come down with pneumonia and was in hospital. Pete (ever the optimist) eventually talked him into finding a replacement and performing it with one day's rehearsal time.
When the 60th (Diamond) Anniversary Australian Tour of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap officially opens in Sydney, on July 4 the season will be well on the way to selling out.
Griffin Theatre Company as a part of Sydney Festival 2012 will host a special talk featuring creative artists from the three major stage and film incarnations of The Boys: playwright Gordon Graham, 1991 stage director Alex Galeazzi, lighting designer and production manager of the 1991 stage production and producer of the 1998 film Robert Connolly, and director of Griffin’s latest production Sam Strong. The Forum will take place Saturday 21 January, 4:45pm at the SBW Stables Theatre.
Sydney’s New Theatre launched their new brand, developed in collaboration with Principal Partner, Interbrand, on January 17, along with the productions that will make up their 80thAnniversary year season.
Season 2012 includes three Australian premieres and the World premieres of two new Australian works both by emerging female playwrights, together with a selection of modern classics from Ireland, England and Australia.
Big ideas. Bold themes. Beautiful singing. Graeme Murphy’s grand vision of Ancient Peking is back, with American soprano Susan Foster heading an international cast for Puccini’s late, great masterpiece Turandot. This production, which is now considered a classic in the Opera Australia repertoire, features spectacular choreographic chorus moves, sculptural stagecraft and larger than life costumes.
Simon Gleeson plays Raoul in the Australian production of Love Never Dies, now playing at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre following its success in Melbourne. He spoke to Neil Litchfield prior to the Sydney opening.
After working in London for several years, Love Never Dies sees the WAAPA graduate back in his first substantial musical theatre performance since returning to the Australia.
Time hasn’t been kind to poor dashing Raoul since the first installment of Phantom, I suggested.
