News

Australia Council Cut

Acclaimed theatre and film director Neil Armfield has expressed alarm at the decision by the Federal Government to cut ten percent of the budget from the Australia Council in this week's budget.

 

Instead the Minister for the Arts George Brandis has created a new $100 million dollar fund which his Ministry will administer called the National Programme for Excellence in the Arts. This is expected to focus on more popular programs and international touring.

The Importance of Being Miriam Margolyes

Popular character actress Miriam  Margolyes, currently touring Australia in her brand new one-woman show The Importance of Being Miriam, chats with Coral Drouyn.

Miriam Margolyes shares her initials with one of the great stars of the 20th Century, Marilyn Monroe, but that’s where the similarity ends. Miriam is a brilliant character actress, but she would be the first to concede she is no sex symbol.

Les Misérables On Tour

Victor Hugo, the author of Les Misérables, wrote that “The realities of life do not allow themselves to be forgotten.” The cast and crew of the musical, half way through a national tour, know that all too well. David Spicer discovered that families are crucial to keeping them marching to the beat of the drum. He spoke with Simon Gleeson, playing Jean Valjean, and ten year old Harry Herbert, playing Gavroche.

Simon Gleeson started heavy duty training for his role six months before the production opened.

Blood Brothers: Hit Sydney Production Heads To Melbourne

Enda Markey will present his acclaimed production of Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers at Melbourne’s brand new theatre complex - Alex Theatre St Kilda - for a strictly limited three-week season beginning 14 July, following an extended season at Sydney’s Hayes Theatre early this year, which sold-out at every performance.

Singin’ In the Rain Splashes Into Melbourne In 2016

The 'splash-hit' West End stage production Singin’ In the Rain will open at Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre in May 2016 starring an all-Australian cast including Adam Garcia, produced in Australia by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, David Atkins Enterprises, Michael Cassel Group and Dainty Group International.

Tickets will go on sale this coming Friday 8 May.

STAGE WHISPERS MAGAZINE: MAY / JUNE 2015 EDITION OUT NOW!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In This Edition

• Caroline O’Connor returns for Anything Goes

• A new wave of Australian plays excite audiences

• Rocky Horror’s new Brad and Janet

• Talking to Australia’s top Musical Directors

• Barry Humphries’ first Adelaide Cabaret Festival

• Bendigo’s Stunning New Prison Theatre

THE MORMONS ARE COMING TO MELBOURNE!

The Book of Mormon – the musical written by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q co-creator Robert Lopez – is coming to Australia. 

The Tony®, Olivier®, and Grammy® award-winning show will begin performances at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre from January 2017.  

The ticket waitlist is now open at BookOfMormonMusical.com.au. Sign up to receive priority-booking information for your chance to see The Book of Mormon first in Australia. 

MATILDA: FULL COMPANY ANNOUNCED

Full casting for the Australian Premiere Season of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Matilda The Musical has been announced, with rehearsals commencing in Sydney next week.

Green Room Award Recipients 2015

On Monday, April 20, the Green Room Awards Association announced this year’s recipients of 60 awards made across the performing arts industry for outstanding works seen on Melbourne stages during 2014.

Big winners on the night were Once, which dominated the Music Theatre category with eight awards, and Opera Australia’s Eugene Onegin, with six of the nine Opera awards.

AUSTRALIA’S MATILDAS REVEALED

The young actresses who will share the title role in the Australian Premiere Season of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Matilda The Musical were announced today (April 14, 2015). They are (in alphabetical order) Molly Barwick, Sasha Rose, Georgia Taplin and Bella Thomas.

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