News

Vale Dame Joan Sutherland

Tributes are flowing in from around the world for Australia’s greatest Opera singer Dame Joan Sutherland. Dame Joan, known as La Stupenda, has died at the age of 83 at her home in Switzerland after a long illness. New Zealand diva Dame Kiri Te Kanawa said Dame Joan could never be equalled. "She's totally unique and you will never ever hear another voice like that," Dame Kiri told ABC Radio. "I certainly haven't heard one like that in the last 40 years.

Brand New Australian Production for Love Never Dies

Latest News - Sydney Season

Tim McFarlane, Managing Director of The Really Useful Company, and Producer of the Australian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s LOVE NEVER DIES, confirmed today (November 7, 2011) that the Sydney season of the musical, the continuing story of The Phantom of the Opera, will begin previews on January 8 and Premieres at the Capitol Theatre on Thursday January 12, 2012.

BELL SHAKESPEARE 2011 SEASON ANNOUNCED

2011 = LOVE + HELL + THE ODD UPRISING

Bell Shakespeare has announced its 2011 season, including Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Cæsar and Faustus.

After a momentous anniversary year for Bell Shakespeare in 2010, the 2011 season marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Company. Peter Evans has been appointed as the new Associate Artistic Director. Together with Artistic Director John Bell AO, Peter will be responsible for the artistic leadership and direction of the Company as it embarks on its next phase.

Additional Victorian Government Funding for New Circus Oz Home

Circus Oz, Victoria’s internationally acclaimed larrikin circus company, is somersaulting with joy at the announcement today (October 7, 2010)  by the Victorian Government that an additional $10 million has been allocated towards Stage Two of the development of its new home in Collingwood. The Circus Oz dream to establish the most creative and exciting circus arts centre in the Southern Hemisphere can now be realised.

Opera Queensland Celebrates 30 Years in 2011

Opera Queensland will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2011 with two Puccini dramas, The Girl of the Golden West and Tosca, forming the top and tail of its core season and Mozart comedy Così fan tutte delivering the light relief in between.

Hairspray - Do Stars Matter Anymore?

Ian Nisbet looks behind the scenes of Hairspray, the latest big musical to open in Melbourne. Producer Paul Dainty raised some eyebrows at the cast launch for Hairspray in June. "The big shows now don't have names in them [anymore]” he said. “[Hairspray will be] the most elaborate and expensive musical to be staged this year” (Herald Sun) and “the production… will cost about $1m more than [Dainty’s] current hit Jersey Boys" (The Australian).

Strictly Ballroom to Become Stage Musical

Global Creatures (Carmen Pavlovic, CEO) and Bazmark (the multi-media company founded and owned by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin) have announced a partnership to produce a stage musical adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s hit film Strictly Ballroom.

Baz Luhrmann will commence a creative workshop of the book, text, and music in December, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. The full production schedule and location of the premiere will be announced at a later date.

MACKILLOP - A new Australian Musical

Nuns are not new to musicalisation - take Nunsense and Sound of Music - but a new Australian musical chronicling the life of our own Mary MacKillop, premiering in Sydney and Melbourne in October to coincide with the canonisation of Australia's first saint, is probably set to become the first local addition to the sub-genre.

Written by newcomer Xavier Brouwer, MacKillop has a cast of 80 and a 25 piece orchestra.

The Glee Effect: TV Show boosts Live Theatre.

They’re calling it the “Glee Effect”. The TV show Glee is credited with increased audiences, bigger attendances at auditions and more musicals being performed. Kimberley Shaw reports.

Carrie Fisher On Stage Across Australia

Carrie Fisher will perform her play Wishful Drinking in Australia during October and November.

“If my life wasn’t funny it would just be true, and that is unacceptable.” Carrie Fisher

Wishful Drinking, Carrie Fisher’s hit autobiographical stage production, will be touring to five Australian cities from 19th October 2010, direct from a successful Broadway run - its first performances outside America.

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