News

1984! The Musical!

A new Australian musical comedy - 1984! – which takes Orwell’s timeless classic and promises laughter in the darkest places, premieres at New Theatre, Newtown during January 2020, featuring tap-dancing in torture chambers and rats with razzle-dazzle.

As well as taking a comedic spin on the original, this version reimagines the classic for modern audiences with a majority female cast and ensemble.

Co-librettist Diana Reid chats to Stage Whispers about the musical.

What is 1984! The Musical! about?

Sting Like A Butterfly

Lesley Reed previews Butterfly Theatre’s January 2020 production of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? If you miss this one, you’ll be out for the count!

STAGE WHISPERS MAGAZINE: JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 EDITION OUT NOW!!!

 

IN THIS EDITION

Shrek The Musical

Beyond the green make-up of Shrek The Musical in Australia

David Suchet – Inside Out

Hercule Poirot and his best-known exponent chat with Coral Drouyn

A Horse of Another Colour

National Theatre of Great Britain’s International hit War Horse returns

Aussies On and Off Broadway

Finding Billy

Imagine being eleven or twelve years old and playing the most intense lead role imaginable, in a musical that is touring the country. Four boys playing Billy Elliot (pictured left - Jamie Rogers, River Mardesic, Omar Abiad & Wade Neilsen- phptograher James Morgan) carry the weight on their slight shoulders. The role is compared to Hamlet, such is in intensity of the time on stage and physical demands. With Billy Elliot the Musical open in Adelaide and soon in Melbourne  David Spicer speaks with members of the cast.

Musicals in 2020

As of March 2020, most current productions have been postponed or cancelled due to COVID19,

Shrek the Musical

Based on the much-loved DreamWorks movie, Shrek the Musical opened on Broadway complete with a dragon portrayed by a large animatronic head.

This production has less technology and more old-fashioned show business schtick. Instead of a robot, Australian audiences will have the star power of Marcia Hines as the dragon.

Director’s Diary with Sam Strong

As Queensland Theatre prepares for its milestone 50 years of operation in 2020, it ends 2019 by celebrating the tenure of artistic director, Sam Strong, who leaves the company after four years.

HOME at HOTA

Coral Drouyn looks at HOTA on the Gold Coast, where the arts are thriving.

At a time when Government has decided there is no need for a Ministry of The Arts, some regional Arts Centres are wondering “where to?” next.

2019 Sydney Theatre Awards Nominations

Nominations have been announced for the Sydney Theatre Awards for 2019, which will be presented at a gala ceremony on Monday 20 January 2020 at 7pm at the York Theatre, Seymour Centre.

Griffin Appoints New Artistic Director

Griffin Theatre Company has announced playwright, director and dramaturg Declan Greene as the next Artistic Director of the Company.   

Aussie’s Return After Wowing West End

Fresh from a prestigious Olivier Award nomination in London, Bernadette Robinson is returning to Australia for a new tour of her one woman show Songs for Nobodies, written by Joanna Murray-Smith, in which she portrays five ordinary women, the “Nobodies” of the title, and the iconic vocalists (Judy Garland, Edith Piaf, Patsy Cline, Billie Holliday and Maria Callas) who inspired them. Bill Stephens reports.

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