Stage Briefs

Lloyd Webber's Cinderella Makes It To The Ball

David Spicer reports.

Andrew Lloyd Webber has had his first critical success in many a year, following the triumphant opening of his new musical adaptation of Cinderella.

As the Times reviewer noted, "We’ve reached the point where the making of this on-off show could almost be material for another musical. The postponements and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s increasingly anguished pronouncements have threatened to upstage his revamped version of the fairytale."

Victorian Theatres Smashed Again

Artists have reacted with depair at Victoria's latest lockdown with the timing of the restrictions coming at the worst time for many productions.

David Spicer reports.

Disney's Frozen had only just opened on Wednesday night (July 14, 2021), and like all other theatre is now closed until Tuesday night, when the five-day lockdown is scheduled (for now) to finish.

Performer Queenie van de Zandt wrote about her experience in an independent production of Next to Normal.

Bippity Boppity Behind You!

Polish off those glass slippers and discover the magic of British pantomime online.

With COVID-19 lockdowns a continuous reality, Aussie parents are looking for new ways to keep kids entertained at home. This winter you can give Netflix a night off and bring a new kind of live theatre into your home.

Adelaide Fringe Launches 2022 Poster Competition

Image: 2021 Adelaide Fringe poster winner Polina Tsymbal and Fringe director Heather Croall. Photorapher: Rebekah Ryan

The global search is now on for the 2022 Adelaide Fringe poster, supported by Principal Partner BankSA.

Sydney Theatre Gloom

The prospects of another month in lockdown in greater Sydney has left theatre producers - professional, not-for-profit, community and school - devastated. David Spicer reports.

The announcement by the New South Wales and Federal Governments of a funding package on July 13, is based on the assumption that the lockdown will continue at least for another four weeks.

Sydney Theatre Audiences Shrinking

Sydney Theatre Companies are coming to terms with new restrictions on the number of people allowed into indoor venues.

The NSW Government has announced that that indoor spaces must have only one person per four square metres.  which means that many theatres will not be able to legally sell 100% of their tickets.

The producer of Hamilton has announced that it will be running at 50% capacity from June 23 until 30.  

Cinderella and Her Prince

Shubshri Kandiah as Cinderella and Ainsley Melham as Prince Topher, speak to David Spicer about their fairy-tale reunion - being cast in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, after previously riding a magic carpet together.

DS: Shubshri, when you were in the musical Aladdin, you noted that Aladdin was the first movie you saw as a child where the Disney Princess looked like yourself. How does it feel be in a musical where the Disney representation did not look like yourself?

Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2021 Reviews

Click on the links below to read the 2021 Adelaide Cabaret Festival review of your choice.

Image: Robyn Archer - Photo by Claudio Raschella

The Variety Gala

Hear Me Roar - Unplugged

RocKwiz Salutes Eurovision

Audience Splattered with Stage Blood

Front row members of the audience attending American Psycho the Musical at the Sydney Opera House got an unexpected immersive theatre experience when they were splattered with fake blood.

Avid theatregoer and Stage Whispers subscriber Louis Vella was attending a preview of the musical on June 4 when he got soaked.

“The shower curtain, instead of going up behind the actor it went in front. This caused a malfunction. It was everywhere. The lady next to me said we have blood all over us,” he said. “The seats copped it as well.”

Victorian Theatres Closed

Major theatres in Melbourne will remain closed for at least another week following the announcement (Friday June 16) that venues can still only have 75 people.

The update regulations are as follows.