News

Brand New Jersey Boys.

Those Jersey Boys are back in Melbourne for 14 weeks at the Princess Theatre. Coral Drouyn speaks with the new cast members and takes a trip down memory lane.

Romeo and Juliet, Possums and Picnics.

Shakespeare’s great romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet is being played out nightly at Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, where the star-crossed lovers regularly share their picturesque setting with furry guest artists and other festive distractions.

Claire Nicholls, playing Juliet’s mother, Lady Capulet, speaks to Neil Litchfield about the joys and challenges of playing the Bard under the stars.

Leading Theatre Producer Puts Company into Liquidation.

EXCLUSIVE

STOP PRESS -  Hit Productions is back seeking Government funds for tours in 2014. Industry appears to be giving Christine Harris a second chance.

Christine Harris, who runs Australia’s largest privately run theatre touring company, has placed her company Follow Your Dreams ( Aust ) Pty Ltd into liquidation, citing debts of $1.7 million.

A meeting was held on January the 9th in Melbourne, chaired by Liquidator David Loftus of SV Partners, to begin the process of winding the company up.

Mainstage Theatre Seasons 2013

All the season brochures for mainstage theatre companies in Australia now out. Of course you can’t see everything. Who has the time or the money? To help, Stage Whispers asked the theatre companies to select shows for different theatre ‘types’.

Theatre Tragics. For someone who goes to the theatre often, and wants to see a stand out production.

Something Edgy. For theatregoers whose priority is challenging and innovative theatre.

Just Entertain Me. Lots of laugh please.

Younger Audiences. I’m 21 or younger; speak to my generation.

International Broadway: South American Style

Broadway is like an octopus, with tentacles that reach to the far corners of the earth. Peter Pinne discovered there is a lot to enjoy away from the Great White Way.

To see a familiar Broadway show in a foreign language is something every musical theatre tragic should experience at least once. It was my luck to see two on a recent trip to Lima, Peru.

In Conversation: Brett Sheehy

Well known across Australia as the successful Artistic Director for Festivals in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne, Brett Sheehy has launched his first season as the Melbourne Theatre Company’s new Creative Director. But not everyone is excited by the prospect, as Coral Drouyn discovered when they talked theatre.

Blockbuster Plays 2013

Australia will see some blockbuster plays in 2013. For those who want star-power there is a lot to get excited about.

War Horse.

The most breath-taking drama event of 2013 will no doubt be War Horse. At the launch in Melbourne Lucy Graham reports the media pack were literally gasping when the life size puppet of Joey made his entrance.

Musicals in 2013 and Beyond

Click here to visit our update - Musicals in 2014 and Beyond

The big musical event of 2013 is already shaping as Global Creatures' production of KING KONG Live On Stage, which has its World Premiere at Melbourne's Regent Theatre in June 2013.

An extraordinary team has been assembled, combining live performers, aerial circus, puppets and animatronics, which Global Creatures has mastered in its famous Dinosaur and Dragon shows.

10th Annual Australian Cabaret Showcase: Winner and Runner Up

The judges of the 10th Annual Australian Cabaret Showcase faced the unenviable task of deciding between a field of eleven rising local cabaret performers.

So challenging did the task prove, that they decided to substantially narrow the gap between the reward offered to the winner and the runner-up. Coming from the various cabaret festivals around the country, the judges decided to produce the runner-up at the full range of cabaret festivals around the country.

All Roads Lead to Forum

A funny thing happened to the Stephen Sondheim musical ‘Forum’ on its way to Broadway success. It looked very shaky until a hit song was added. Fifty years on Geoffrey Rush has joined the show’s history by starring in a new production at  Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre. Coral Drouyn reports on how all roads have led to Rome for the show and the star.

One of the most delicious elements of life is that we never know the road we will travel until we’re actually on it; and the destination is rarely where we think it will be.

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