Stage Briefs

Sarah Gaul: The Iron(ic) Lady

Sarah Gaul says she hasn’t been sleeping lately and it’s all because of the issues chasing each other around in her head. There’s Hyponchondria and of course, Happiness and what about Veganism and Christianity? Plus, there’s always Irony and also that biggie, The Debt Crisis.

BLOOD BROTHERS: Did you hear the tale of the Johnstone twins?

Melbourne audiences now have the chance to see a brand new production of Willy Russell’s musical Blood Brothers.

Set in impoverished 1960s Liverpool, Blood Brothers tells the tragic tale of Mrs Johnstone and her twins separated at birth and disastrously reunited.

[Disordered] Action of the Heart

After being evacuated from Gallipoli during the First World War, over fifteen hundred Australians were treated for shell-shock, neurasthenia, or an illness poignantly termed “disordered action of the heart”. The latter is now more commonly known as post-traumatic stress disorder. Some service personnel were treated and returned to their units, while others were sent home for discharge.

SUBTLENUANCE 2014 SEASON

Sydney based independent theatre company subtlenuance is dedicated solely to the production of original work, work that has been performed in Sydney, interstate and overseas.

In their first 5 years they’ve presented 16 new plays. In 2014, they present four more new works, and revive a favourite!

dateless.com at the Adelaide Fringe

This correspondent met her mate of over forty years by being quirkily computer-matched with him for attendance at a university ball back in the days when computers filled a room; certainly well before the internet existed.

Yours truly was therefore more than a little intrigued to hear of Matt Byrne Media’s 2014 Adelaide Fringe production, dateless.com, which runs from February 11 until March 16 at the popular Maxim’s Wine Bar, Norwood.

Macbeth by Foul Play

On its website Foul Play (S.A.) declares it is a professional theatre company dedicated to presenting challenging works in unexpected places. This company’s thought-provoking production of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a challenge indeed, even down to its venue, which has changed a short time before the season starts.

The Dream: 25 Years of Shakespeare in the Gardens

This summer marks a quarter of a century of Shakespeare in Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens. To celebrate the 25th Anniversary, the Australian Shakespeare Company has remounted A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the first play performed in 1988, that over the decades has proven to be Melbourne’s favourite Shakespeare under the stars.

Season dates run from 21 December - 15 March 2014, with tickets on sale from Ticketmaster and www.shakespeareaustralia.com.au

Strictly Ballroom: Children Cast

Global Creatures and Director Baz Luhrmann have announced the eight talented children who will alternate in the roles of ‘Kylie and Luke’ in Strictly Ballroom The Musical.

After months of auditions, Director Baz Luhrmann has announced that the search is over to find the perfect children to play the roles of ‘Kylie Hastings’ (Scott Hastings’ little sister) and ‘Luke’ will be played by eight extremely talented young people. Four pairs of children have been chosen who will alternate at various performances.

Slapdash Song Night!

It's the first Sunday of the month and the atmosphere is ripe for musical mischief... it's Slapdash Song Night!

Yes, that fun and flighty musical variety show from Sydney Fringe 2013 is now a regular gig, starting February 2nd.

Uncloaked: Satirical Cabaret Fantasy for Adelaide Fringe

Melbourne-based Rosie Rodiadis debuts her unique solo cabaret show at the Adelaide Fringe from 24th February until 1st March, 2014.

Rosie stars as Gracie, a cloak room attendant who longs for a better life and spends her time imagining what it would be like to wear other people’s coats.

Alone in the cloakroom, Gracie is surrounded by the magnificent coats and luggage of the people who leave the items there. The coats and bags represent the paper-thin façade of people such as politicians, as well as secretive lovers.