News

Geoffrey Rush Australian of the Year

Geoffrey Rush has been named Australian of the year - marking his extraordinary 40 year contribution to cinema and the performing arts.

He is pictured above reading the news in Stage Whispers Magazine. ( OK that is a joke)

But we at Stage Whispers salute him and laud the decision to recognise a leader in the performing arts for this honour.

The second Australian of the Year award in 1961 went to Dame Joan Sutherland.

Sir Robert Helpmann followed in 1965.

But since then many more sportsmen and woman have got the gong.

The Boys: The Women and The Playwright.

Griffin Theatre Company has revived Gordon Graham’s the play The Boys, 21 years on from its premiere production at Sydney’s Stables Theatre. The playwright, and the four actors who play the women in the play spoke to Neil Litchfield.

I began my conversation with Gordon Graham by asking what led him to write a play based on the brutal rape and murder of Anita Cobby.

Cate and Andrew exit Stage Left.

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.

The Show Must Go On...

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.

The Jinglists: Sydney Season for New Musical

A story about Love, Loss and Jingles

One room. Two jingle writers.

Catchy melodies and crippled emotions.

The Mousetrap to Tour Australia

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.

FORUM: WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE BOYS

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.

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