Stage Briefs

Fringe World 2021 Reviews

Our correspondent Kimberley Shaw has been busy sampling the theatrical fare at Perth's Fringe World.

Click on the links below to read a review.

The Underground

Antigone

Troy Story

Behind the Wheel

Sydney Festival Reviews 2021

Our reviewers have been busy sampling the theatrical fare at the 2021 Sydney Festival.

Rapture: a Song Cycle of Desire and Ecstasy, Murder and Mayhem

2021 Adelaide Fringe Program Guide Hits Streets

The festival season is one step closer with the launch of the official Adelaide Fringe program guide.

Lazarus Musical Streamed this weekend

To remember David Bowie on his birthday and to mark the fifth anniversary of his untimely death, producers Robert Fox and RZO Entertainment Inc are exclusively releasing the stream of the London production of Lazarus, captured live on stage. The streaming will be available for three performances only. This will be the UK premiere of the filmed version of this remarkable show.

Lazarus includes songs from Bowie’s iconic catalogue as well as new songs written for the stage including the title song, Lazarus.

STC Announces 2021 Resident Artists and New Design Associates Program

Image: Courtney Stewart and Shari Sebbens are STC's newest Resident Artists. Photographer Shara Parsons.

Sydney Theatre Restrictions

The big theatre re-opening in Sydney is under threat, due to the outbreak of COVID-19 on the northern beaches.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced today that until Wednesday evening, December 23, 2020, no indoor hospitality venues can have more than 300 patrons.

The State is also reverting to the one person for every four-square metre rule and restrictions on singing have been re-introduced.

This follows confirmation that 30 people contracted COVID-19 on Saturday, and a further 15 on Sunday through community transmission.

Adelaide Fringe Launches 2021 Program and Announces Ambassadors

The countdown to the 2021 Adelaide Fringe has begun, unveiling its program for the 2021 festival.

Tickets are now on sale for close to 800 events across 13 different genres in 285 venues, including a variety of open-air and outdoor amphitheatre performances and a number of digital experiences for people to enjoy from home.

Tickets available from: www.adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix

McLachlan Cleared Of Assault

A Melbourne Magistrate has cleared actor Craig McLachlan of 13 assault and indecent assault charges relating to his behaviour during the Melbourne season of The Rocky Horror Show.

According to ABC news Magistrate Belinda Wallington described the four women complainants as “brave and honest witnesses.”

"I was not persuaded that there was evidence of collusion between the complainants. I was not persuaded that there was evidence of motive or that the complaints were made for reasons for career ambition or for any other such reason."

The New Boy Next Door

Another lead role has been scored by a WAAPA graduate from Perth - this time for Platinum Entertainment's season of The Boy From Oz in the Crown Theatre.

Ethan Jones is taking on the role of Peter Allen, the role which made Todd McKenney famous and scored Hugh Jackman a Tony. 

The triple threat and pianist scored the role - just months after suffering the disappointment of losing work, when the Sydney production he was cast in (9 to 5) was cancelled.

Hedwig Casting Debate

The cancellation of the Sydney production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch due to a casting controversy generated more than 500 comments from the readers of Stage Whispers.

A debate raged for over a week about whether actors should be cast according to their gender, sexuality or race.

We were saddened to read a report in the Daily Mail that Hugh Sheridan  - the star of the cancelled production -  spent a few days in hospital due to stress.