Stage Briefs

La Traviata for State Opera South Australia

State Opera South Australia’s new production of La Traviata will open at Her Majesty’s Theatre on August 25.

One of the most passionate and tragic love stories of all time, Verdi’s opera is a crowd favourite and loved by audiences everywhere.  

Slava’s Snowshow Returns for Australian Summer

Seen by over 7,000,000 people worldwide, producers Live Nation and ATA Entertainment have announced that Slava’s Snowshow will return to Australia from December 2022 onwards for a limited season.

Madama Butterfly Returns to Sydney Harbour in 2023

Opera Australia has announced that its Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production of Madama Butterfly, which premiered in 2014, will return to the overwater stage at Mrs Macquaries Point in March and April 2023.

Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini AM is thrilled to be bringing this production back to Sydney Harbour.

The Heartbreak Choir Premieres on MTC Digital Theatre

Following its season on Melbourne Theatre Company’s stage, The Heartbreak Choir premieres on MTC Digital Theatre from Friday 5 August.

From the playwright behind The Architect, Aidan Fennessy, and directed by Peter Houghton this funny and uplifting celebration of music, friendship and community is an ‘absolute must-see’ (The Age) that can now be enjoyed at home.

Cast Announced for Ghost Stories

Realscape Productions has announced the Australian cast for Ghost Stories, ahead of the two-time Olivier Award nominee’s opening.

Ghost Stories will be led by playwright and actor Steve Rodgers (Savage River, Kenny) in the role of Professor Phillip Goodman. Joining him are Jay Laga’aia (Star Wars, Play School, Once), actor-magician Darcy Brown (Peddling, Animal Farm) and Nick Simpson-Deeks (Winners and Losers, The Circuit, Falsettos).

2022 Maksim Oceania Tour

He is back! The world-renowned Cross-over pianist Maksim is returning to Australia after 3 years!

After 3 years of waiting, the first post-epidemic world tour project comes to Oceania. The ground-breaking Maksim is recognised as the world’s biggest-selling crossover pianist, having sold over 4 million copies of his albums throughout 57 countries, and is returning to Australia and New Zealand this September.

SIX The Musical Returns to Sydney at Theatre Royal

The Australian producers of SIX, the Tony Award winning musical by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, have announced Sydney audiences have another chance to experience the pop musical SIX as it’s never been seen before with enhanced theatrical design. SIX returns to play a limited 5-week season at Theatre Royal Sydney commencing in just 3 weeks on August 26.

Gilbert and Sullivan Festival for Adelaide in 2023

A festival celebrating the founding fathers of British comedy opera, Gilbert & Sullivan, has been announce for Adelaide in May 2023.

Presented by State Opera South Australia, The G&S Fest will bring together some of the best bits of very British humour and song in an action-packed program over two weekends in May.

Gilbert & Sullivan or “G&S” as they are universally known created British comedy-opera in the 19th century.

Telephone – World Premiere

What happens when you’re on hold?

Continuing their partnership with PICA that has resulted in productions including New Owner (2016), The Irresistible (2017), and Lé Nør [the rain] (2019), the multi-award winning Western Australian theatre company The Last Great Hunt returns on August 30 with a rollercoaster of a show, Telephone, that takes analogue technology, lo-fi light refraction and 90’s trance music to create an intimate piece of the theatre.

Madagascar Musical for Western Sydney

The Australian premiere of the international touring production of Madagascar - The Musical will take place in Greater Western Sydney in December 2022, at the 2,000 seat Sydney Coliseum Theatre.

Adapted from the DreamWorks animated motion movie, this family musical has been performed across the UK and New Zealand. It is brought to life by colourful sets, puppets, action-packed adventure and new songs.