Weimar Cabaret for Sydney

It is 1933, in divinely decadent Berlin. Feisty, sassy and always provocative, Erika Stern’s show embodies the excess and daring of her time. But as the Nazis rise to power, tonight’s performance will be her last. The lights go down and the audience holds their breath.

The Reginald Theatre (formerly the Downstairs Theatre) at Sydney’s Seymour Centre will be transformed into a 1930s German underground bar for two weeks from August 3 for Alexis Fishman’s cabaret performance as Erika Stern, darling of the Weimar cabaret scene, in Der Gelbe Stern (The Yellow Star).

Germany enjoyed an explosion of intellectual output and creativity during the Weimar Republic (1918 and 1933) with the cabaret scene being one of its most vibrant and popular forms of entertainment.

Liberalism and political satire were key elements of Weimar cabaret and it didn’t take the Nazis long to start censoring artists and redirecting themes to suit their own ideology (the Nazis termed this ‘positive cabaret’). Jewish entertainers, many of whom were integral to the Weimar cabaret scene, were forced to pay an early price for their talent.

Direct from sell-out performances at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Melbourne Cabaret Festival, Der Gelbe Stern (The Yellow Star) is directed by Tanya Goldberg and written by James Millar and Alexis Fishman.

Chris King leads the three-piece band with Greg Jones playing the reed, Eric Hutchens playing the bass and original musical direction by Michael Lavine. Costume design is by David Fleischer and lighting design by Christopher Page.

Der Gelbe Stern is part of Berlin Sydney, a program of events inspired by 1920s Berlin held at various leading arts venues including Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Theatre Company,

Sydney Opera House, Museum of Sydney, Sydney College of the Arts, Goethe-Institut and the Seymour Centre. Visit www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/berlin-sydney for more information. 

Season: Wed 3 – Sat 13 Aug, 2011

Bookings 02 9114 1555 or www.thereginald.com 


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Competition over - congratulations to our winners Lisa Chamberlain and Jacqui Dark

Win a pair of tickets to the preview performance of DER GELBE STERNon Wednesday August 3 at 8pm (2 pairs available)

The Challenge: The Reginald Theatre Sydney’s Seymour Centre is being transformed into a 1930s German cabaret room. Describe the ambience of such a 1930s Berlin cabaret basement as you imagine it in a brief word picture (maximum 8 - 10 words).

Return to the competition on our Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/stagewhispers - and place your entry as a comment.

Likes will help us choose a winner.

Entries close 5pm tomorrow - July 27.