News

Sydney Theatre Company Launches Act 2 of 2022 Season

Sydney Theatre Company Artistic Director Kip Williams has unveiled Act 2 of the company’s 2022 season, nine shows from May to December to round out the year, which he says are the result of the perseverance and boundless dreaming our artists and creative teams have done during successive lockdowns”. 

Image above: Richard Roxburgh.The Tempest. Photo: Andrew Cowen.

Highlights:

Queenie van de Zandt and Matt Hetherington in Next To Normal

Pulitzer-winning musical returns to Melbourne following 2021 opening night COVID-19 shut-down

James Terry Collective’s production of Next to Normal, re-opening next month, will see Green Room and Helpmann Award winning actor, Matt Hetherington, reprise the role of Dan that he originated in the inaugural Australian production of the Pulitzer-winning musical with the Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC) in 2011.

Shane Jacobson in Hairspray

Shane Jacobson will star as housewife Edna Turnblad in a revival of the musical Hairspray at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne this August. David Spicer reports.

In an interview with Stage Whispers the star of stage and screen, best known for his breakthrough movie Kenny, revealed why he took the role.

"It is a musical with great music. Hairspray has fantastic music from start to finish. My kids are excited about me doing it because it is a family favourite," he said.

Cast Announced for The Phantom of the Opera on Sydney Harbour

Opera Australia has announced the cast who will bring Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera to Sydney Harbour.

One of the longest-running and most successful musicals of all time, the trio playing the leads will be Melbourne-born Joshua Robson as The Phantom, Brisbane performer Georgina Hopson as Christine and West End and Broadway musical theatre performer Callum Francis as Raoul Vicomte de Chagny (Image by Daniel Boud).

2021 SYDNEY THEATRE AWARD WINNERS

Image: Marty Alix, Jason Arrow, Victory Ndukwe and Shaka Cook - Hamilton, Australia. Photo: Daniel Boud

The winners of the 2021 Sydney Theatre Awards were announced last night at a star-studded ceremony, with 29 Awards presented, shared between 18 productions which played on Sydney stages during 2020 and 2021. Almost 400 members of the Sydney theatre community gathered at the Seymour Centre to celebrate what was termed a “family reunion” after two devastating years due to Covid-19.

Sondheim on Sondheim Cancelled

Due to inclement weather conditions in both Queensland and New South Wales which have subsequently affected audience numbers and ticket sales, producers of Sondheim on Sondheim have made the difficult decision to cancel the upcoming Australian tour.

All ticketholders will receive a refund.

This is sad news for the cast, crew and audiences, as it was going to be a special night in the theatre.

The original show announcement is below.

Post Pandemic Blues

As Debora Krizak prepares to return to the stage in Packemin's Mamma Mia! this month, she reflects on the challenges facing performers in her column Behind the Scenes.

How have performers coped with the crushing disappointment of cancellations during the pandemic, and now going from ‘zero to 100’ with the return of live theatre? Can they just bounce back?

From Bust to Boom

A raft of commercial and independent theatre producers are sharing the spoils from the Federal  Government’s 200 million dollar RISE program. They range from funding for new musicals and plays, supporting productions disrupted by the pandemic, to more than one million dollars for a Guns N’ Roses tour. Is all the money being well spent? David Spicer reports.

Indigenous Sunshine

Indigenous plays look set to provide many of the highlights of our 2022 mainstage seasons. David Spicer reports.

A heady mix of comedy, musical theatre, dance and in-your-face drama will be included in a remarkable year of productions. Artists range from leading creators of the last 20 years like Wesley Enoch and Stephen Page, to newer voices including Meyne Wyatt and Nakkiah Lui.

Sunshine Super Girl by Andrea James.

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