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2021 SYDNEY THEATRE AWARD WINNERS

Image: Marty Alix, Jason Arrow, Victory Ndukwe and Shaka Cook - Hamilton, Australia. Photo: Daniel Boud

The winners of the 2021 Sydney Theatre Awards were announced last night at a star-studded ceremony, with 29 Awards presented, shared between 18 productions which played on Sydney stages during 2020 and 2021. Almost 400 members of the Sydney theatre community gathered at the Seymour Centre to celebrate what was termed a “family reunion” after two devastating years due to Covid-19.

Post Pandemic Blues

As Debora Krizak prepares to return to the stage in Packemin's Mamma Mia! this month, she reflects on the challenges facing performers in her column Behind the Scenes.

How have performers coped with the crushing disappointment of cancellations during the pandemic, and now going from ‘zero to 100’ with the return of live theatre? Can they just bounce back?

From Bust to Boom

A raft of commercial and independent theatre producers are sharing the spoils from the Federal  Government’s 200 million dollar RISE program. They range from funding for new musicals and plays, supporting productions disrupted by the pandemic, to more than one million dollars for a Guns N’ Roses tour. Is all the money being well spent? David Spicer reports.

Indigenous Sunshine

Indigenous plays look set to provide many of the highlights of our 2022 mainstage seasons. David Spicer reports.

A heady mix of comedy, musical theatre, dance and in-your-face drama will be included in a remarkable year of productions. Artists range from leading creators of the last 20 years like Wesley Enoch and Stephen Page, to newer voices including Meyne Wyatt and Nakkiah Lui.

Sunshine Super Girl by Andrea James.

Times Are A-Changin’ for McCune and Dylan

Image: Lisa McCune.

Lisa McCune talks to Coral Drouyn about her role in Girl From The North Country, life and theatre at 25 and 50, and plans for the future.

2021 Sydney Theatre Awards Nominations

Nominations have been announced for the Sydney Theatre Awards for 2021, which will be presented at an industry gala ceremony on Monday 31 January 2022 at 7pm at the York Theatre, Seymour Centre.

Aussie Saves Broadway Come from Away

Australian actress Marika Aubrey has made her Broadway debut in extraordinary circumstances - flying into New York to save a production of Come From Away with just a few hours to spare.

The production got to the stage this week with eight of the 12 actors filling for regular cast members struck down by COVID-19.

Marika Aubrey was on the national tour of Come from Away in the key role of pilot Beverley, when she received an emergency call to get to Broadway as soon as possible.

Theatre on Thin Ice.

Image: An American in Paris

The Performing Arts is holding its breath about whether the latest surge of infections will close the industry again. David Spicer looks at how companies which were devastated by the Delta variant are bouncing back, along with the setbacks they are encountering along the road back.

Breaking: The Australian premiere of an American in Paris - due to open in Brisbane - has been postponed due to an outbreak of Covid-19. Seasons in Perth and Adelaide have also been postponed.

Musicals in 2022

After two years of disruptions, 2022 promises blockbuster new musicals, classics staged in spectacular new ways and many intimate shows making their way to stages across Australia.