Queensland Symphony Orchestra. QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane. 13-14 September 2024
An almost full-house, both upstairs and downstairs, greeted the QSO for this themed concert designed to connect the audience with the natural ecological world around us by including two contemporary works created by composers dedicated to the conservation of our planet and deeply concerned by the formidable destruction already caused by greedy, materialistic humans and their followers.
By Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin. Murray Music and Drama. Directed by Rp Van der Westhuizen. Pinjarra Civic Centre, WA. Sep 13-14, 2024
As Australia gets excited for the next professional production of Annie, Pinjarra has had its own little dose of Annie, with Murray Music and Drama Club’s very professional feeling production of Annie Jr. Featuring a cast aged 8 to 18, this young cast were focused, well-drilled and beautifully prepared to present a high-quality show.
Written by Andrew Bovell. Ad Astra Theatre, Brisbane. 5th September - 28th September, 2024
Intimate theatre can sometimes be quite stark in its presentation, somewhat minimalist, one being face-to-face with, almost a part of, the lives of the characters-in-portrayal. This is a very confronting play, delving deep into human psychology, its complexities and people's private lives, the Ad Astra theatre being the perfect setting for this kind of presentation.
By Mark O’Donnell, Thomas Meehan, Marc Shaiman, and Scott Wittman. HAMA Productions. Directed by Vincent Hoope. Crown Theatre, Perth, WA. Sep 7-28, 2024
It’s the biggest show in town and boasts the nicest kids in town. This big budget, big talent production is playing at Perth’s largest theatre and deserves all its positive buzz.
Featuring the best bright colours of the 60s, Matthew McVeigh gives us a bright and beautiful set, toning beautifully with the gorgeous bigger and brighter than life wigs and costumes designed by Producer Marina Del Basso. Lucy Birkinshaw has provided a spectacular lighting design that adds a healthy sprinkling of stage magic.
By Melanie Tait. Ensemble Theatre. Director Priscilla Jackman. 6 Sept – 12 Oct, 2024
Prince Harry took “Royal Memoirs” to a new, personal level in Spare, but how many people knew that the very first ‘inside the Royals’ story was told by a Scottish teacher who was hired to look after Harry’s grandmother and her sister in 1933.
By Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice and Andrew Lippa. Musical Theatre Crew. Leiz Moore and Jaime Mollineaux (Direction). Andrew Castles (Musical Direction). Mandy Lowrie (Choregraphy). Leiz Moore (Set). Helen Cronin (Props and Costumes). The Playhouse Theatre, Hobart. 12-21 September 2024
The Addams Family is a well written show, with great characters, great songs, and a great message. It never fails to please. In this Senior Performance Ensemble production by the Musical Theatre Crew, every aspect is perfectly realised.
By Lenny Donahue and Tibian Wyles. Presented by Queensland Theatre and BlakDance in association with Brisbane Festival. Directed by Isaac Drandic. Bille Brown Theatre, Queensland Theatre, 78 Montague Road, Brisbane 7th to 28th of September, 2024
By Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy. Pelican Productions. Arts Theatre, Adelaide. 12-15 September 2024
“Sex, suicide, mental health, not typically the thematic headliners of a youth theatre production.” So states director, Georgia Broomhall, in her excellent directors notes for Pelican Productions terrific production of Heathers: The Musical by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy. Yes – and no. Yes, because its subject matter is provocative and confronting; No – because these themes still matter to contemporary youth.
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Book by Winnie Holzman. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire. Produced by John Frost for Crossroads Live. Directed by Lisa Leguillou (based on Joe Montello). Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane. Opening night Sat 14th September, 2024
If you are a little jaded about a new production of Wicked, because you have seen the show before, then I have to tell you, you have NOT seen Wicked until you have seen the current remarkable production.
Beautifully cast and directed, opening night showed that there is always something new to discover in a classic musical, and Wicked reached the classic status some years ago.
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim. Book: Hugh Wheeler. A Victorian Opera and New Zealand Opera Production. Director: Stuart Maunder. Conductor: Phoebe Briggs. Set/Costume: Roger Kirk. Lighting: Philip Lethlean. Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne. 14-21 September, 2024
This may be the darkest most horrifying musical ever written but, in the week we have been hearing endlessly about pet eating from a US Presidential candidate, it may also currently be the funniest.
This polished, energetic and technically brilliant production of the Victorian Opera about a wronged and vengeful barber and a lonely chancer pie shop proprietor literally grabs you by the throat and mesmerises you.
