News

Sam Strong Announces Griffin’s 2011 Season

Griffin Theatre Company Artistic Director Sam Strong unveiled both Griffin’s Main and Independent seasons together, for the first time, at the company’s 2011 season launch on September 13. The main Griffin 2011 program at Sydney’s SBW Stables Theatre comprises four Australian plays, including a revival of one of Australia and Griffin’s best, Andrew Bovell’s Speaking in Tongues. Griffin’s Independent season includes a further Australian play and three international works.

Stephen Sondheim - Oz Celebration In Three Courses.

If you were not already aware that Stephen Sondheim turned eighty on March 22 this year, where have you been? Celebrations in America include the New York Philharmonic's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert; the opening of Sondheim on Sondheim; and the renaming of the Henry Miller Theatre on West 43rd Street to the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. Across the Atlantic, the BBC held a Proms concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, but nothing much has happened in Australia - until now.

Mr Musicals Goes Fringe.

Meet Kris Stewart … the founder of the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), Australian resident director for Wicked, and now founding Director of the re-born Sydney Fringe Festival, in Sydney's inner west from September 10 to 26.

Canterbury Repertory Theatre – Update 8th September 2010

Following the bleak initial reports from Christchurch earlier in the week, after Earthquake damage to the delightful Art Deco Canterbury Repertory Theatre, we're delighted to hear from Treasurer Blair Kershaw that there's now a positive outlook for the theatre. 

Helpmann Awards 2010 - Avenue Q Almost Upstages Jersey Boys

Blockbuster musical hit Jersey Boys was in danger of being upstaged by Avenue Q right up until the very last award at Monday (6 September) night's 10th Annual Helpmann Awards, hosted by David Campbell. Nominated for ten awards, Jersey Boys had picked up just a single award for musical direction, before the evening’s final award, Best Musical, which the show took out.

Sydney Fringe Q & A

With the Sydney Fringe in full flight around Sydney’s inner west until September 26, Stage Whispers is speaking to the writers, directors and performers involved. All previous Fringe Q & As now follow directly after our latest Q & A.

In our final Sydney Fringe Q & A, Bethany Noble speaks about her play Deli Chicks, co-written with mother Paula Noble.

Silver Lining for Earthquake Damaged Theatre.

David Spicer reported yesterday (September 6, 2010)  that following severe damage to Christchurch's historic Art Deco Repertory Theatre during last weekend’s earthquake, which reached 7.1 on the richter scale, the theatre was set to be demolished.

An update from Christchurch Repertory Theatre’s Treasurer Blair Kershaw now paints a more optimistic picture.

WICKED celebrates one year in Sydney

WICKED today celebrated a year of performances in Sydney – it opened on September 5, 2009 – and last week reached the milestone of $50,000,000 of ticket sales in Sydney. Since it opened at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre last year, well over 500,000 people have seen the show.

Christie Whelan - Q & A

Christie Whelan-Browne is appearing as Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne from October 27, 2012 to January 6, 2013.

We spoke with Christie (pictured left with Hugh Sheridan) during the show's run.

What were rehearsals like for Forum, working not just with Geoffrey Rush, but a whole crowd of great comedians?

Australian Plays Dominate 2011 Ensemble Season

The eight play 2011 season at Sydney's Ensemble Theatre, announced yesterday (September 1) is dominated by Australian plays, with a hit New Zealand comedy thrown in for good measure.