As the city gears up for its annual Fringe Festival, Melbourne’s theatre-makers are preparing to tackle some Herculan challenges – the least of which is getting noticed (and covering costs) in a fiercely-contested marketplace where only the strongest (or the richest) survive. The ‘nothing to lose’ mindset that has long fuelled the key players in Melbourne’s creative democracy is possibly no more in evidence at this time of year than during a sit-down with Peta Hanrahan – the Artistic Director of the celebrated The Dog Theatre.
From the celebrated Broadway and classical composer Leonard Bernstein (West Side Story, Candide), the Adelaide Festival will present a new production of Bernstein’s large-scale masterpiece Mass as part of the 2012 program on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 March, 2012.
Writer, broadcaster and entertainer Pam Ayres will tour Australia with her latest show A Fun-Filled Evening with... Pam Ayres from Monday 7 November to Friday 2 December 2011. Her return to Australia coincides with the publication of her autobiography, The Necessary Aptitude and a DVD, Pam Ayres Word Perfect Tour.
Playwright Alana Valentine spoke with Cathy Bannister about her new Australian play, MP., opening in Canberra on October 1, scriptwriting, and the notion of seeing the good in politicians.
Cathy Bannister: So, without giving too much away, what is the synopsis of MP?
Opera Queensland has announced its 2012 season, featuring a concert rendition of Verdi’s Macbeth, a new production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado and the Queensland première of Francesca Zambello’s production of Bizet‟s Carmen.
As Ensemble Theatre enters its 54th year, Co-Artistic Directors Sandra Bates and Mark Kilmurry today September 12, 2011) announced the 2012 season of 11 plays.
Notable features are two David Williamson plays, one an Australian premiere, the other a Sydney premiere.
