Melbourne Festival Creative Director Josephine Ridge’s first Festival program invites Melburnians and visitors to experience 105 events and activities, including contemporary and classical music, dance, theatre, visual arts, film, forums, conversations and encounters, with over a third of the events free of charge.
With 19 world premieres and 13 Australian premieres, the Festival runs for 17 days from 11 October 2013.
Off-Broadway phenomenon Blue Man Group is headed for Australia with their internationally acclaimed, genre-defying show. Neil Litchfield speaks to co-creator Phil Stanton.
Who would’ve imagined that bald blue men roaming the streets and bars of New York in the late 1980s would be the genesis of an innovative performance company that has evolved into an entertainment institution with a huge international rep.
Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical will have its World Premiere season at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre in 2014, previewing from March 25, with Opening Night on April 12.
Toby Schmitz can’t seem to put a foot wrong. As a writer, director and actor, he’s been described as “elegant, talented, witty and charming”, a “comic natural with a mobile, expressive face and eyes that do funny without any words being necessary”. Sam Whiteley spoke with him about another huge year.
The 13th Annual Helpmann Awards were being presented tonight (July 29, 2013) live at the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, in a ceremony co-hosted by Eddie Perfect and Christie Whelan Browne.
Three productions were equally big winners, with five awards each.
The Secret River received awards for Best Play, Best New Australian Work, Best Original Score, Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play and Best Direction of a Play.
Peter Pinne suggests there’s something jingoistic about Australia’s annual Live Entertainment Awards, which will be announced at the Sydney Opera House on Monday night. He accuses organisers of snubbing imported classics to promote local producers, with a bias towards subsidised theatre.
