News

2012 Helpmann Award Winners Announced

The 2012 Helpmann Awards®, celebrating excellence and achievement in 41 categories of live performance in Australia, were announced at a Black Tie ceremony at the Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House, on September 24.

Elle’s Legally Blonde Sorority Sisters

After a brief media peek at some of the songs from Legally Blonde The Musical, just prior to the first preview performance on Friday September 21, Stage Whispers’ Neil Litchfield had the chance to chat with Renee Burleigh, Ashlea Pyke and Chloe Zuel, who play Elle’s sorority sisters Margot, Serena and Pila.

Forum Fever

It has officially started - Forum Fever. Three of its smiling victims, Mitchell Butel, Shane Bourne and Bob Hornery, diagnose their symptoms, and for Coral Drouyn the laughs prove infectious.

Summer Season 2012 / 3 at Arts Centre Melbourne

Arts Centre Melbourne will present a comprehensive Summer Season from December 2012 through February 2013, its first for many years. Summer at Arts Centre Melbourne will feature a program of local and international theatre, dance and live music performances and activities.

The theatrical highlight, the much anticipated Australian premiere of War Horse, is set to inspire other artistic and exhibition spin-offs, amidst a variety of theatrical and musical events.

OVO Ovation

Cirque du Soleil’s latest extravaganza has opened in Sydney – the second stop on its national tour.

David Spicer describes the production as elegant and stylish.

His favourite characters were the flying Butterflies.A pair combine hand-to-hand, ballet, contortionand an aerial flying act on a rope that allows them to swoop and land, leap and fly in perfect unison.

Keeping the insects in harmony is the Assistant Artistic Director Jennifer Bender. David netted this interview.

2013 Season at Belvoir

Belvoir (Sydney) has announced its 2013 Season of 13 productions across both upstairs and downstairs theatres.

Belvoir’s 2013 Season is about growing up, or not. About taking chances and attempting to right wrongs. It’s about finding your place in a messy, chaotic world.

Artistic Director Ralph Myers kicks off the year with Peter Pan, a work for adults and children alike with a team of fabulous clowns and headed by the funny/dangerous Meyne Wyatt (pictured left) as the boy who wouldn’t grow up.

Genevieve Lemon

On the eve of her return to the Melbourne stage for Fat Swan, with an imminent return season of Death of a Salesman to follow in Sydney, Genevieve Lemon is interviewed by Stage Whispers’ Coral Drouyn.

Malthouse Season 2013.

Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre announced its 2013 season on September 10, 2012.

Introducing the 2013 Malthouse Theatre season, Artistic Director Marion Potts said, “Different perspectives and styles give 2013 its particular character: epic Australian writing, contemporary dance, Indigenous languages, Soviet satire, and new musical composition are just some of the colours that give the season its vibrancy. They’re as provocative as they are fun, as visceral as they are affirming and always a little irreverent. 

Tough New York Schools Drama for Melbourne Festival

It’s hardly ironic that Nilaja's surname is Sun; she exudes warmth and sunshine – even over the telephone from New York City on a Friday night, as Tammy Shmerling discovered when they spoke.

Nilaja Sun is the writer and performer in the one-woman production, “No Child…”, premiering at the Arts Centre from 9-14 October as part of the 2012 Melbourne Festival. The one-woman tour de force depicts the US public education system as a battleground. 

STC 2013 Season Unveiled

Andrew Upton and Cate Blanchett have announced their final season as Co Artistic Directors of Sydney Theatre Company which will include exceptional on-stage partnerships directed by internationally lauded directors.

Cate Blanchett and legendary French actor Isabelle Huppert will play murderous sisters directed by Benedict Andrews in a fresh exploration of Genet’s The Maidsadaptedby Andrew Upton and Benedict Andrews.