Stage Briefs

Sydney Theatre Audiences Shrinking

Sydney Theatre Companies are coming to terms with new restrictions on the number of people allowed into indoor venues.

The NSW Government has announced that that indoor spaces must have only one person per four square metres.  which means that many theatres will not be able to legally sell 100% of their tickets.

The producer of Hamilton has announced that it will be running at 50% capacity from June 23 until 30.  

Cinderella and Her Prince

Shubshri Kandiah as Cinderella and Ainsley Melham as Prince Topher, speak to David Spicer about their fairy-tale reunion - being cast in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, after previously riding a magic carpet together.

DS: Shubshri, when you were in the musical Aladdin, you noted that Aladdin was the first movie you saw as a child where the Disney Princess looked like yourself. How does it feel be in a musical where the Disney representation did not look like yourself?

Audience Splattered with Stage Blood

Front row members of the audience attending American Psycho the Musical at the Sydney Opera House got an unexpected immersive theatre experience when they were splattered with fake blood.

Avid theatregoer and Stage Whispers subscriber Louis Vella was attending a preview of the musical on June 4 when he got soaked.

“The shower curtain, instead of going up behind the actor it went in front. This caused a malfunction. It was everywhere. The lady next to me said we have blood all over us,” he said. “The seats copped it as well.”

Victorian Theatres Closed

Major theatres in Melbourne will remain closed for at least another week following the announcement (Friday June 16) that venues can still only have 75 people.

The update regulations are as follows.

Tommy Cast Apology

The Victorian Opera has issued an apology for its casting of the The Who's Tommy that it will stage in August.

It follows complaints on social media about the lack of diversity in the cast announced.

Here are some examples from their Facebook Page.

Melbourne Theatre Company Goes Digital

With all entertainment venues closed in Melbourne due to the lockdown, the Melbourne Theatre Company is expanding its digital offerings.

Audiences around Australia now have the opportunity to watch the  Company’s production of Joanna Murray-Smith’s brand new play, Berlin, via MTC Digital Theatre.

It arrives as part of MTC Digital Theatre following the success of the Company’s inaugural filmed production, Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes.

INTACT

Discovery is not always a journey embarked on willingly

New physical theatre company Fuser Production debuts with INTACT  at Woodburn Creatives, Redfern until 27 June 2021. The tangibly intense performance of few words, is driven by themes of inward exploration and re-invention. A dream-like and surreal performance piece, INTACT is grounded in reflection on the limitations of body and mind.

West Side Story Brisbane and Perth Cast Announced

The line up on stage in Brisbane for Opera Australia and GWB Entertainment’s production of West Side Story at QPAC in July and August 2021 features a line-up of local Queensland talent, including leading ladies Sophie Salvesani (Maria) and Angelina Thomson (Anita) alongside Jade Coutts, Grace Driscoll, Sebastien Golenko and Jake O’Brien will join the next generation of musical theatre stars in the production which will open in Brisbane on 24 July, following a season at Crown in Perth.

Surviving Zombie Apocalypse in Brisbane

The current times have revived interest in apocalyptic stories, and the zombie theme isn’t far behind. What should one do when that rare zombie attack does happen? Everyone needs to be prepared to face the worst, and training always comes to the rescue, no matter what.

Entertainment company Dark Stories is presenting its comic seminar How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse, an interactive theatre event, in hallowed ground in the heart of the Brisbane CBD – Saint Andrews Uniting Church - opening on the 24th of June.

Queenie van de Zandt to Lead New Production of Next to Normal.

James Terry Collective has announced it will be bringing the Tony Award winning musical Next to Normal to Chapel Off Chapel for a limited season in July 2021.

The production will star Queenie van de Zandt in the leading role of Diana Goodman, the matriarch of a modern-day family traumatised by loss and the unpredictable effects sparked by her Bipolar diagnosis. Queenie’s credits include King Kong (Global Creatures), Thoroughly Modern Millie (The Production Company), and Into The Woods (Victorian Opera).