Category: THEATRE

Melbourne theatre: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is on in August

Posted: 12/03/2019

If your childhood dreams of binge eating chocolate in a factory made of dreams never quite came true, then give it a second chance: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is coming to Melbourne in August. Playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre, it will follow a hugely successful season in Sydney. Tickets will go on sale on Friday 15 March at 1pm. Willy Wonka, the most amazing, fantastic, extraordinary chocolate maker the world has ever seen, is played by Paul Slade Smith. Slade Smith was part of the original Broadway cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, appearing as Grandpa George, and most recently appeared in the Broadway revival of My Fair Lady at Lincoln Center. Ninety and a half year old Grandpa Joe, an enthusiastic storyteller and eternal optimist, is played by Australian show business royalty Tony Sheldon. Sheldon is best known for playing the role of Bernadette in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert for over 1,900 performances in Australia, New Zealand, London, Toronto and on Broadway, winning the Theatre World Award and nominations for the Tony Award as Best Actor in a Musical, the Drama Desk Award, the Drama League Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award. In the role of Mrs Bucket, a kind, caring mother and a woman of few words, is Lucy Maunder. Most recently Lucy played songwriter Cynthia Weil in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and prior to that toured New Zealand, Adelaide and Perth in Matilda: The Musical, in which she played Miss Honey and was nominated for a Helpmann Award. Jake Fehily and Octavia Barron Martin play Augustus Gloop and Mrs Gloop, Karina Russell and Stephen Anderson are… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, LIFESTYLE, THEATRE

Tags: Australian theatre, Melbourne Charlie Chocolate Factory, melbourne theatre, Melbourne theatre review, THE F theatre, Theatre blog, Theatre reviews, Theatre website

The bard is back: Shakespeare by the Bay is on again in Sydney

by James Banham

Updated: 18/02/2019

Back by popular demand, Shakespeare By The Bay by Bard On The Beach, Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel and the Woollahra Council, brings world-renowned Shakespearean performances to life. Get your ‘tithers’, ‘whithers’, thines and mines and all your oxymorons ready as the magic of the words of William grace the beach to the stunning backdrop of Sydney Harbour. It’s kind of like the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, only Shakespeare. The troupe will be putting on classics like The Life and Death of King John as well as The Comedy of Errors all from Robertson Park in Watsons Bay. Performances will run during the evening over two weeks 1st March – 10th March, from Friday through to Sunday. And you can even bring your dog! This year will also introduce Bard & Bark for the performance on 3 March of “The Comedy of Errors”. A dog friendly evening for you to enjoy the works of Shakespeare with the WHOLE family. See the wonder of William’s work at: The Life and Death of King John: Friday 1st, Saturday 9th, Sunday 10th The Comedy of Errors: Saturday 2nd, Sunday 3rd, Friday 8th Time: 7:30pm – 10:15pm Get tickets at the website.

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, LIFESTYLE, THEATRE

Tags: Sydney Shakespeare, THE F Shakespeare, the f sydney, William Shakespeare

Who’s who? The cast of West Side Story on Sydney Harbour has been announced

by James Banham

Posted: 08/02/2019

They’re doing something different this year. Every year, Opera Australia puts on a grand outdoor performance of their headline act for the autumn-winter season, but this year, they’re trying something new. The Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour (HOSH) isn’t doing an opera this year, rather a modern production of West Side Story and the cast is epic. They’ll take to Opera Australia’s famous over-water stage and join opera/musical crossover stars Julie Lea Goodwin and Alexander Lewis, the role of the fiery Anita will be played by Melbourne-born Karli Dinardo, who is gaining attention as a rising musical theatre star in the U.S., with performances in Hamilton(National Tour), West Side Story (Carnegie Hall), and the starring role in Flashdance (National Tour). Karli will be joined on stage by her sister, Luca Dinardo, who will play the tomboy Anybodys, pitching the sisters against each other on opposing sides of the famous West Side Story gang rivalry. “I was blown away by the calibre of Australian performers that auditioned,” said Associate Director and Choreographer, Julio Monge. See it from 22 March to 21 April 2019, or for more, go to the Opera Australia website.

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, LIFESTYLE, OPERA, THEATRE

Saturday Night Fever is coming to Sydney with sparkling new cast

by James Banham

Posted: 04/02/2019

The lol-times movie from the 70s that glued John Travolta in our minds with those killer dance moves is making it stage debut in Sydney this year with a brand new line-up. Australian theatre producer John Frost recently announced the leading performers and the rest of the cast of the iconic hit musicalSaturday Night Fever, which will premiere in Sydney at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from 27 March 2019. The production’s lead role of Tony Manero has gone to rising star Euan Doidge, Helpmann Award nominated for his role in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, after performing in Les Miserables, A Chorus Line and the Gordon Frost Organisation’s Grease and Legally Blonde. Needless to say, he’s up to the part. As Stephanie Mangano, the best dancer at the nightclub, will be Melanie Hawkins. Melanie has previously appeared in Singin’ In The Rain, Strictly Ballroom the Musical, King Kong Live on Stage and Rock of Ages. Paying homage to the classic movie, Saturday Night Fever will be packed with disco classics, including the Bee Gees’ greatest hits Stayin’ Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Night Fever, Tragedy and More Than A Woman. Saturday Night Fever tells the story of 19-year-old Tony Manero, a Brooklyn youth whose weekend is spent at the local discotheque, where life lights up on the disco floor. There, Tony luxuriates in the admiration of the crowd and a growing relationship with Stephanie Mangano, and where he can temporarily forget the realities of his life, including a dead-end job in a paint store and his gang of deadbeat friends. See more at the production’s website.

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY, THEATRE

Tags: John Travolta, Saturday Night Fever, Saturday Night Fever Sydney Lyric Theatre, Sydney Lyric Theatre, THE F Saturday Night Fever, the f sydney, THE F theatre

Gay and Loathing in Bris Vegas: Coming to screens in 2019

by James Banham

Posted: 21/12/2018

There’s a 14-part web series coming to the internet in 2019 that everyone – especially the gays – needs to watch. It’s about Australia’s most fervently boringly brilliant city: Brisbane. But more notably, what exactly the marginal percentage of people who identify themselves as part of the city’s LGBTIQ community do to fill the time, and how that all unfolds. Set in the historic city of Brisbane, Australia, Gay and Loathing in Bris Vegas explores the lives of seven central characters over the course of two days in the cul-de-sacs of where they live. The blueprint for the characters are portrayed by local Brisbane actors Sean Dennehy, Leigh Buchanan, Paul Newlands, Michael Deed, Josh Walker, Peter Wood, Jake Orlando-Cowan is based on the comedy scripts written by John B. Uren and Craig Rossiter. It all explores what happens when the most exciting thing in town is a man-made beach. It tells the self-deprecating tale of a popular-with-the-gays city in a tracksuit where sequins come to die and how the Brisgays survive. They go to breakfast, they glare. They go to brunch, they loathe. They go to Instagram, they judge. They go to Grindr, they regret. They end up at Sporty’s and wonder why. Presented by Cloudland Pictures, “It’s the Kath and Kim of gay Brisbane. It’s suburban Australia brought to life with hysterical comedy”, says Leigh Buchanan, who portrays Garette, a bored homemaker who loves to drink and is the partner of Nathan (played by Sean Dennehy). Have a look at the cast talk about the new… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, BRISBANE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, THEATRE

Tags: australian gay news, brisbane gays, gay brisbane, gay loathing bris vegas, gay loathing web series, Gay news, the f bris vegas, the f gay loathing, web series

Nominees for the 2018 Sydney Theatre Awards are…

by James Banham

Posted: 19/12/2018

The Seymour Centre is about to play host to Sydney’s Theatre Awards for 2018 after the nominees were announced. It’s time to get excited. Nominations in the 33 categories were spread across 49 productions which played on Sydney stages during 2018. Sydney Theatre Company has a clean sweep in the Best Mainstage Production category with Blackie Blackie Brown, The Harp In The South, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui and Saint Joan all vying for the award, the first time one theatre company has dominated all nominations in this category. The nominees for Best Independent Production are The Flick (Outhouse Theatre Company in association with Seymour Centre), Metamorphoses (Apocalypse Theatre Company in association with Red Line Productions), Stupid Fucking Bird (New Theatre) and There Will Be A Climax (Red Line Productions in partnership with NIDA). The Sydney Theatre Awards are presented annually by a group of leading theatre critics to celebrate the strength, quality and diversity of theatre in Sydney. The panel consist of Elissa Blake (Audrey Journal), Jason Blake (Audrey Journal), Deborah Jones (The Australian), Jo Litson (Limelight), John McCallum (The Australian), Joyce Morgan (The Sydney Morning Herald), Ben Neutze (Time Out), John Shand (The Sydney Morning Herald) Diana Simmonds (Stagenoise), Cassie Tongue (Time Out) and Suzy Wrong (Suzy Goes See). Here are the nominees… BEST MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION Blackie Blackie Brown (Sydney Theatre Company) The Harp in the South (Sydney Theatre Company) The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Sydney Theatre Company) Saint Joan (Sydney Theatre Company) BEST INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION The Flick (Outhouse Theatre Company in association with Seymour Centre) Metamorphoses (Apocalypse Theatre Company in association with Red Line Productions) Stupid… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, THEATRE

Tags: sydney theatre, sydney theatre awards, sydney theatre awards 2018, sydney theatre awards nominees, sydney theatre company

Underground Cinema: HOTEL

by James Banham

Posted: 19/12/2018

The Secret Squirrel crew go above and beyond in setting the scene for Underground Cinema’s nights out at the movies. Previous highlights include recreating Casablanca’s Rick’s Café América in in a hangar (complete with World War II-era plane) and The Life of Brian’s Roman-occupied Judea in the sandy grounds of the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, featuring live camels. But a new standard was set in Underground Cinema’s latest offering, with Melbourne’s iconic Windsor Hotel turned into The Grand Budapest Hotel. Hotel guests decked out in their 1940s finest checked in and enjoyed the sumptuous feast, full bar and dancing in the Grand Ballroom. A quick walk down the hallway allowed guests to indulge their sweet tooth in the recreated Mendl’s Pâtisserie, complete with towers of pink pastry boxes, a chocolate fountain and plates of tiny desserts as if Agatha had made them herself. Lobby boys in perfectly-pressed purple uniforms later gathered guests to take us for stroll around the block to St Peter’s Church Hall, recreating the mountaintop monastery where Monsieur Gustave and Zero made their escape. Melbourne rain substituted alpine snow perfectly. Monks settled guests into their seats for the film and ensured our glasses were full. Kudos to the Underground Cinemas actors remaining in full character when I sneezed in the front row and a monk blessed me profusely; divine intervention which I’m convinced cured my hay fever. Wes Anderson’s witty, adventurous, cinematic romp which looks good enough to eat was the perfect end to Underground Cinema’s 2018 season. If the Secret Squirrel’s Immersive Cinema… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, MELBOURNE, THEATRE

Tags: new ugc, ugc, ugc melbourne, underground cinema, underground cinema hotel, underground cinema melbourne

Shaun Parker & Company present the world premiere of KING

by James Banham

Updated: 18/12/2018

Shaun Parker and Company are producing KING in a ploy to challenge what we consider ‘masculine’. Part of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras program for 2019.

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, LIFESTYLE, THEATRE

Tags: king, king sydney, shaun parker, shaun parker company, sydney dance, sydney theatre

When does Book Of Mormon Sydney close? Sooner than you think

by James Banham

Posted: 16/12/2018

The Book Of Mormon has had a good run in Sydney and around Australia, but for those who’re planning on seeing it before it goes for good, you’d better act quickly! Following a record-breaking season, The Book of Mormon will hold its final performance at the Sydney Lyric Theatre on Friday 8 February 2019. Sad times. The show will then move north to the Lyric Theatre, QPAC from 16 March followed by the Festival Theatre, Adelaide from 27 June 2019. Final Sydney tickets will go on sale on 17 December from BookOfMormonMusical.com.au After an epic run of 752 Australian performances since opening at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre in January 2017 for a one year run, before moving to the Sydney Lyric Theatre from 27 February 2018, it’s time for the book to close on the Sydney leg and carry the highly successful production north to share it with the rest of Australia. At the 2017 Helpmann Awards, The Book of Mormon was crowned winner of the coveted Best Musical award, while Trey Parker and Casey Nicholaw were awarded Best Direction of a Musical. Tickets are available from BookOfMormonMusical.com.au

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, LIFESTYLE, THEATRE

Tags: book mormon, book of mormon, book of mormon sydney mormon sydney

Evita the Musical in Melbourne: A review

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by THE F

Posted: 10/12/2018

If you had asked me – before the announcement of this production – which Australian performer would be best suited to play the role of Eva Peron in Evita, I doubt I would’ve been able to think of any. Yet, as soon as the casting was announced I was simultaneously surprised, excited, and relieved that the enormously talented Tina Arena had been cast. (Full disclosure – I am a huge Tina fan). With effortless delivery and commanding vocal range, Arena takes hold of the legendarily demanding role and delivers a multiple standing ovation-worthy performance; one that is sure to be remembered by all who bear witness. Setting the tone and direction of the story Kurt Kansley as charmingly sardonic narrator Che, captures the audience from the outset with cynical asides and humour and like Ms. Arena, delivers a pitch perfect performance imbuing Tim Rice’s simple lyrics with deep understanding. Paulo Szots’s gutsy Peron is grounded, rich and much more three-dimensional than other interpretations and is both refreshing and absolutely right. The powerhouse ensemble was the glue that brought the show together and effortlessly delivered a new standard in cohesiveness and unity that punctuated and allowed the score to flow with ease. The greatest privilege was to be able to see the original production design, choreography,and costume. With a strong reference to Brechtian staging and direction it allows the performances to be the focus of every moment and shows great restraint that perfectly balances the grandeur of the subject matter that led to the world’s fascination… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, MELBOURNE, THEATRE

Tags: evita, evita the musical, evite melbourne, melbourne evita review, review evita, tina arena in evita, where to see evita

ARTS & CULTURE

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Experience break dancing like never before this MAy

24/04/2024

By James Banham

Get ready to experience the ultimate celebration of hip hop culture, innovation, and artistry at Breakin’ Convention 2024. An international festival of Hip Hop dance theatre, it’ll be taking over Sadler’s Wells in Islington this coming May Bank Holiday. Enthusiastically helmed by the visionary UK hip hop maker and Breakin’ Convention Artistic Director Jonzi D, this festival has become a beacon for fans and creators of hip hop from around the globe. The excitement is palpable as we gear up for two days packed with jaw-dropping performances, interactive workshops, and live music that promise to electrify the Sadler’s Wells venues on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May. With an extraordinary lineup featuring international sensations like Femme Fatale (USA), Sons of Wind (France), and Jinjo crew (South Korea), alongside groundbreaking UK acts such as TRAPLORD, Boy Blue, and When Time Was New, this festival is set to showcase the dynamic and diverse world of hip hop dance theatre. Attendees of all ages can look forward to a vast array of activities including spectacular dance performances, bespoke graffiti workshops, freestyle sessions, and even live DJs sessions that guarantee to keep the energy high and the spirit of hip hop alive throughout the entire building. Not to mention, the festival coincides with the historic moment of breaking becoming an official Olympic sport at the Paris Olympics, adding an extra layer of exhilaration to the festivities. Beyond the performances, Breakin’ Convention 2024 invites audiences to engage directly with the hip hop community through unique events such as the Tiny… Read More

Opera Australia orchestrates a new era with Matthieu Arama as Concertmaster

24/04/2024

By James Banham

In a move that marks a significant milestone in its illustrious history, Opera Australia has announced the appointment of the renowned French violinist Matthieu Arama as the new Concertmaster of the Opera Australia Orchestra (OAO). This announcement follows an exhaustive global search, culminating in Mr. Arama’s selection, a testament to his extraordinary talent and leadership abilities. Set to join the OAO in August of this year, Arama brings with him a wealth of experience as the current Concertmaster of the Opéra National de Bordeaux, coupled with an impressive track record of performances with some of the world’s most distinguished conductors. View this post on Instagram A post shared by matthieu arama (@matthieu_arama) Arama’s role will be pivotal in steering the OAO towards achieving artistic brilliance across its broad annual repertoire, which spans over 250 opera, ballet, musical theatre, and concert performances for Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet. His recent engagements as Guest Concertmaster for Opera Australia on iconic productions such as La Traviata and Swan Lake, alongside The Australian Ballet, and a solo recital featuring opera and ballet excerpts, underscore his extraordinary versatility and musicianship. The enthusiasm within the OAO is palpable, with Acting Concertmaster Huy-Nguen Bui expressing excitement over welcoming Arama to the helm. “The OAO is excited to welcome an exceptional violinist and musician as our new Concertmaster. We look forward to reaching the highest levels of music-making through Mr. Arama’s artistic leadership,” said Bui. This sentiment is echoed by Opera Australia’s CEO Fiona Allan, Artistic Director Jo Davies, The Australian Ballet’s… Read More

Lauren Brincat When Do I Breathe 2024. Performer Jasmin Lancaster. Photographer Zan Wimberley. Courtesy of the artist

Public performance in Randwick Sydney by artist Lauren Brincat

22/04/2024

By James Banham

This week, the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct will experience an exceptional infusion of art and community spirit through a public performance by the celebrated multidisciplinary artist Lauren Brincat. Scheduled for one-night only, on Wednesday, 24 April 2024, Brincat’s performance marks the launch of the new Laneway Art Program. This initiative, commissioned by the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct and supported by Transport for NSW’s Safer Cities program, seeks to enhance perceptions of safety for women, girls, and gender diverse people navigating the streets and laneways of the Precinct. Brincat, along with Rochelle Haley, another leading Australian artist, has been entrusted with the mission to improve night-time connectivity and comfort within the precinct through performance-based and site-specific artwork. Both artists have engaged directly with health workers in the area to shape their projects, aiming to make the public spaces more welcoming and to strengthen the sense of community, safety, and inclusiveness across the site. The artwork, titled When do I breathe?, is an ambitious collaboration with sound artist Evelyn Ida Morris, UNSW Choral Director Sonia Maddock, and choreographer Charmene Yap. It invites the public to actively participate in shaping new paths across the precinct, offering a unique experience that encompasses three activation sites within the UNSW Kensington and the hospital precinct. The performance, beginning at 5:00 pm on the UNSW Scientia Lawn, is a reflection on the interconnectedness of local communities, especially those separated by differing work shifts and daily rhythms. Aiming to reclaim public space through collective action, When do I breathe? presents an… Read More

Good news for National Gallery London: Eva Gonzalès piece acquired

22/04/2024

By James Banham

On the occasion of the artist’s 177th birthday on Friday 19th April, the National Gallery has acquired La Psyché (The Full-length Mirror), about 1869-70, by Eva Gonzalès (1849-1883) thanks to three generous legacy gifts from Mrs Martha Doris Bailey, Miss Gillian Cleaver, and Ms Sheila Mary Holmes, and the National Gallery Trust. This is the first acquisition by the Gallery of a work by Gonzalès and the second acquisition of its Bicentenary year. La Psyché has not been seen in public for over seventy years and joins only one other painting by her in a UK public collection, The Donkey Ride, about 1880?2, at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. Gonzalès is the 20th female artist represented in the National Gallery Collection, marking a significant addition. The story of Gonzalès’s reputation, during and after her life, reflects some of the reasons why women artists are not well represented in the National Gallery. These include being offered fewer opportunities in life and the lack of interest shown, consciously or not, in works by women artists by collectors of the era and onwards, from whose acquisitions the National Gallery’s own collection was assembled. During her lifetime Gonzalès was an established artist who exhibited multiple times to acclaim at the official Paris Salon. She was the only official pupil of Edouard Manet (1832-83), with whom she studied from 1869. Gonzalès likely painted La Psyché around the same time that Manet was painting his portrait of her, Eva Gonzalès (1870). That work, in the Gallery collection, was the focal point of the recent exhibition, Discover Manet & Eva… Read More

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Shooshfest: Australia’s first ever silent short film competition

17/04/2024

By James Banham

Australia’s Shooshfest, an inaugural silent short film competition, invites diverse creators to innovate in storytelling sans speech. Promising an immersive experience, it will connect with audiences, honour silent film and catalyse cinematic culture.