2020 would seem an unlikely time to launch a new theatre company, but Australia’s newest professional theatre, Fremantle Theatre Company (FTC), has its first opening night on October 17.
Stage Whispers had the pleasure of talking to Company Director, and founder, Renato Fabretti, in the lead-up to their first production, The Other Place by Sharr White.
Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA has announced that actor Emily Havea (Wentworth, Harrow, The Secrets She Keeps) has been cast as cowman Curly McLain in their forthcoming production of Oklahoma! The season will run from Saturday 28 November to Sunday 20 December, on the Heath Ledger Theatre stage.
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the Australian live entertainment industry, leaving thousands of gig-to-gig onstage and offstage professionals with unlimited unemployment. The crisis has not only been - and continues to - be financially crippling, but has also affected mental health.
The former semi-finalists in the Rob Guest Endowment Award have "categorically refuted" claims that the competition was cancelled in order to protect them from bullying or intimidation.
In a statement released today on their behalf from the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance the artists describe the "significant trauma" caused by the various actions and statements made by the Rob Guest Endowment - which saw this year's competition cancelled.
Hailed by the judges as a ‘blazing talent’, stage and screen writer/actor Kate Mulvany has won the coveted Mona Brand Award for 2020 — Australia’s only prize for women stage and screen writers.
A prolific playwright, screenwriter, poet and novelist, Kate Mulvany OAM was awarded the $30,000 Mona Brand Award for Women Stage and Screen Writers for her extensive body of work comprising more than 30 plays over a 25-year career.
Stage Whispers acknowledges the strong criticism on Facebook for posting this latest media release from the Rob Guest Endowment, announcing the cancellation of their 2020 scholarship, following the furore over the lack of racial diversity among this year’s semi-finalists.
It’s totally valid criticism. We rushed to post the sensational industry news, sharing the announcement quickly, verbatim from the organisers, without seeking any alternate comments from other parties involved.
For over a decade the Rob Guest Endowment (RGE) has provided vital support and encouragement to young emerging performers, musicians and technicians, awarding over $400,000 in scholarships to assist them in their pursuit of excellence in their chosen discipline within the commercial musical theatre genre.
The competition seeks out the best emerging performers and works to broaden their experience, contacts and knowledge of the industry so they are equipped to further engage confidently into the world of commercial musicals.
The Artists of Colour Initiative (AOC) has launched a scholarship competition designed to provide financial assistance and industry support to six exceptionally talented theatre performers based in Australia that identify as Bla(c)k, Indigenous or as People of Colour (POC).
Queensland Theatre will reopen the Bille Brown Theatre to audiences for the world premiere season of the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award (QPDA) 2018–19 winner The Holidays by David Megarrity, from 14 November through to 12 December.
“This is wonderful news for our performing arts landscape, and I am delighted the Queensland Theatre can celebrate its 50th anniversary with the much-anticipated QPDA 2018–19 winner,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
