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Sunday, 7 July 2013
Sunday, 7 April 2013
See what hides within at the 2013 Adelaide Cabaret Festival
Adelaide Cabaret Festival Artistic Director Kate Ceberano has upped the ante at this year’s Festival with not one, not two, not even three leading ladies making their Adelaide Cabaret Festival debut but four divas will reign supreme, including both the good and bad witches of Broadway smash hit Wicked, Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel as well as Cassandra Wilson and Molly Ringwald.
The 2013 program features 411 artists in 161 performances over 18 days and nights. 52 international artists from across the USA and the UK and the best from Australia with 369 Australian artists, 250 of those South Australian performers. Showcasing 17 world premieres, seven Australian premieres and 17 Adelaide premieres, the vibrant program also features 12 international shows.
Kate Ceberano says, “I am borderline hysterical over the program. Who could have believed the juggernaut this festival has become? What an honour it is to be presenting some of the most talented and diverse artists from all over the world!"
"Cabaret becomes a bigger and more recognised art form every year, taking it beyond its humble beginnings and yet maintaining its up close and personal branding."
"Cabaret becomes a bigger and more recognised art form every year, taking it beyond its humble beginnings and yet maintaining its up close and personal branding."
This year’s Festival explores the theme of See What Hides Within and that’s exactly what the program does, going beyond the realm of performers on stage. It provides audiences with a unique look at the artist and the ever evolving art form.
From the satirical, nostalgic, contemporary, to the traditional, magical and vagabond, fresh-faced Cabaret artists and industry stalwarts all go to extreme lengths to share their inspiring journeys showcasing their incredible talent on very different platforms.Headlining the opening weekend is Tony and Emmy Award winning performer Kristin Chenoweth. A true cabaret artist who has won hearts on stage and screen, best known as the original Glinda in Wicked, she won a Tony Award for her role in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Kristin has appeared on television in Glee, Pushing Daisies, GCB & The West Wing.
From the satirical, nostalgic, contemporary, to the traditional, magical and vagabond, fresh-faced Cabaret artists and industry stalwarts all go to extreme lengths to share their inspiring journeys showcasing their incredible talent on very different platforms.Headlining the opening weekend is Tony and Emmy Award winning performer Kristin Chenoweth. A true cabaret artist who has won hearts on stage and screen, best known as the original Glinda in Wicked, she won a Tony Award for her role in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Kristin has appeared on television in Glee, Pushing Daisies, GCB & The West Wing.
Molly Ringwald star of 80s hit films, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink and The Breakfast Club makes her Australian stage debut in An Evening with Molly Ringwald - an opportunity to see this iconic performer as you’ve never seen her before.
Two-time Grammy Award winning jazz singer and composer Cassandra Wilson, renowned for her ability to cover everything from British pop to American country, will appear with her incredible sextet made up of some of the best musicians in the USA.
Headlining the closing weekend of the Festival is Tony Award Winning performer, Idina Menzel, star of Broadway’s Wicked and the original stage production of Rent, demonstrating why she is one of the great vocal performers of our time.The 2013 program continues to build on the Festival’s reputation for excellence, presenting a star studded line-up of international artists. They include the UK’s Barb Jungr, the spellbinding songstress returns in Stockport to Memphis. New York Cabaret icon Joey Arias is pure cabaret gold, Arias on Holiday will showcase his channeling of legendary jazz and blues singer Billie Holiday.
It’s no secret Kate made plenty of friends during South Pacific, therefore it’s not surprising that some of those fellow performers are in this year’s program. Michael Lindner performs Mark Campbell’s off-Broadway hit musical for one actor Songs from an Unmade Bed.
Acclaimed tenor Daniel Koek returns home with his eight-piece band from London to present A Decade Down the Road. And in what is destined to be a Festival show-stopper, Kate herself will take to the stage with Teddy Tahu Rhodes in Meet Me in the Middle - a collaboration that merges opera, musical theatre and rock’n’roll.
It’s no secret Kate made plenty of friends during South Pacific, therefore it’s not surprising that some of those fellow performers are in this year’s program. Michael Lindner performs Mark Campbell’s off-Broadway hit musical for one actor Songs from an Unmade Bed.
Acclaimed tenor Daniel Koek returns home with his eight-piece band from London to present A Decade Down the Road. And in what is destined to be a Festival show-stopper, Kate herself will take to the stage with Teddy Tahu Rhodes in Meet Me in the Middle - a collaboration that merges opera, musical theatre and rock’n’roll.
Tributes are a-plenty in this year’s Festival: Tommy Bradson pays homage to Australian stage legend Reg Livermore in Reg as he performs a retrospective on his illustrious career; and soul sensation and star of last year’s hit TV series The Voice, Darren Percival, brings his phenomenal celebration of a musical legend A Tribute to Ray Charles.
Paul Capsis Australia’s charismatic Cabaret King is back presenting the Paul Capsis Revue, Cult musical UK duo Bourgeois and Maurice make their Australian premiere with their critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe hit Sugartits!, and Virginia Gay is a little bit naughty in Songs to Self-Destruct To which explores the motto “Take your tragedy and make it marvellous!”. Purr-fect post-post-modern diva Meow Meow returns with her unique brand of kamikaze cabaret and performance art exotica.
Paul Capsis Australia’s charismatic Cabaret King is back presenting the Paul Capsis Revue, Cult musical UK duo Bourgeois and Maurice make their Australian premiere with their critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe hit Sugartits!, and Virginia Gay is a little bit naughty in Songs to Self-Destruct To which explores the motto “Take your tragedy and make it marvellous!”. Purr-fect post-post-modern diva Meow Meow returns with her unique brand of kamikaze cabaret and performance art exotica.
Paul McDermott’s highly acclaimed 2013 Fringe exhibition The Dark Garden is now a stage show, TV’s favourite funny man has created a world premiere especially for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Cabaret Survivor is pianist, singer, writer and satirist Phi Scott’s personal, idiosyncratic and at times hilarious take on his mid-life cabaret career.
Those who missed the sold-out critically acclaimed Australian tour of Songs for Nobodies will be able to see Bernadette Robinson as she returns to the Adelaide Cabaret Festival with a concert of songs by her favourite performers and songwriters.
Compositions: A Musical Close Up is a theatrical and visual masterpiece concert that brings together the celebrated musical theatre talents of Tyran Parke, with the astounding images by his brother, one of Australia’s most acclaimed photographers, Trent Parke.
No stranger to the Cabaret Festival is Australia’s stunning soprano siren Ali McGregor in her new hit show Alchemy, Performance Partner Investec Specialist Bank. She transforms into a 1940s siren creating some unique mash-ups. Australian brother and sister duo Emma and Thomas Hamilton perform La Musique, an intoxicating blend of jazz-pop standards sung in both French and English.
Those who missed the sold-out critically acclaimed Australian tour of Songs for Nobodies will be able to see Bernadette Robinson as she returns to the Adelaide Cabaret Festival with a concert of songs by her favourite performers and songwriters.
Compositions: A Musical Close Up is a theatrical and visual masterpiece concert that brings together the celebrated musical theatre talents of Tyran Parke, with the astounding images by his brother, one of Australia’s most acclaimed photographers, Trent Parke.
No stranger to the Cabaret Festival is Australia’s stunning soprano siren Ali McGregor in her new hit show Alchemy, Performance Partner Investec Specialist Bank. She transforms into a 1940s siren creating some unique mash-ups. Australian brother and sister duo Emma and Thomas Hamilton perform La Musique, an intoxicating blend of jazz-pop standards sung in both French and English.
It was only a matter of time before local media identity Matt Gilbertson’s alter ego Hans took to the Cabaret Festival Stage, along with his band The Ungrateful Bastards and dancers The Lucky Bitches. The boy wonder of Berlin is back for the world premiere performance of Like A German. Matt can also be seen hosting the final night of the Backstage Club.
Cabaret traditionalists won’t be disappointed. A selection of Irving Berlin’s songs will be delivered with style by Lucy Maunder in Irving Berlin: Songs in the Key of Black. She will also embrace Jacques Brel along with John O’May and Helen Morse in Love. War. Death. BREL. Robyn Archer the Doyenne of Cabaret is back; Que Rest-T’il? explores the classic cabaret traditions of Paris and Vienna.
For more information and full programme details, visit: www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au
Cabaret traditionalists won’t be disappointed. A selection of Irving Berlin’s songs will be delivered with style by Lucy Maunder in Irving Berlin: Songs in the Key of Black. She will also embrace Jacques Brel along with John O’May and Helen Morse in Love. War. Death. BREL. Robyn Archer the Doyenne of Cabaret is back; Que Rest-T’il? explores the classic cabaret traditions of Paris and Vienna.
For more information and full programme details, visit: www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au
A Clockwork Orange
Following rave reviews in London, Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange is set for its Australian season in the 50th anniversary year of the book’s original release, a testosterone fuelled, electrifying theatrical adaptation of the best-selling novel, which was adapted into Stanley Kubrick’s cult film in 1971.
Both the original literary source and film adaptation of A Clockwork Orange have become seminal icons in popular culture and remain as relevant today as when they first entered the cultural psyche.
Both the original literary source and film adaptation of A Clockwork Orange have become seminal icons in popular culture and remain as relevant today as when they first entered the cultural psyche.
An unapologetic, visceral exploration of humanity in a “fictional” world full of violence, corruption and redemption, A Clockwork Orange mirrors society past-and-present and the human condition through the glorious glass-edged nastiness of Manchester’s underworld.
Written and narrated in Nadsat - an Anglo-Russian concoction of colloquialisms that are used by the “youth of tomorrow” in a near Shakespearean lexicon of funny phrase making and jazzy-riffs. Alex and his Droogs in their battle against the tedium of adolescence choose violence and sexual desire in a dangerous cocktail as the young men battle through the difficulties of youth.
The vicious plot of Burgess’s novel follows the disturbing life of Alex and his obsession with violence, eventually resulting in his imprisonment and participation in the distressing Ludovico experiment that claims to decriminalise convicts in two weeks through drastic psychological conditioning.
Alex is traumatised and is confronted by past friends and enemies who isolate him further from society. Driven to attempted suicide by a side-effect of the treatment that left him unable to bear classical music, Alex’s experience is used as a weapon against government conditioning until he regains his previous love of violence and music.
A Clockwork Orange was one of the most important works of fiction of the 20th Century with prophetic sentiments that are increasingly relevant in the world today. It is a warning of an encroaching state and the dangers of having our independence robbed. It is also an optimistic view on humanity and suggests that, if given the chance, we humans have the choice to divert to goodness and a path of redemption.
The ensemble lead by actor Martin McCreadie (as Alex) is breathtaking in its treatment of the ultraviolent and highly sexual text. As in Kubrick’s film version, which uses music from Beethoven to Singin’ in the Rain, this production also heightens the atmosphere of menace with a strong soundtrack.
A mesmerising clash of musical cultures with artists including David Bowie, Gossip, Scissor Sisters, Placebo, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Pink Floyd are counterpointed with Alex’s beloved Beethoven.
A Clockwork Orange opens this week at the Malthouse Theatre ahead of an Australian tour. For more information and performance dates, visit: www.clockworkorange.com.au for details.
Image: Simon Kane
Thursday, 21 March 2013
The Production Company Launches 2013 Season
Caroline O'Connor star of Chicago (Broadway and Australia), returns from Broadway to create the role of Rose for The Production Company. In Britain the critics hailed her performances in this role.
The award winning director Gale Edwards directs this
jewel of American musical theatre. GYPSY was
inspired by the memoirs of the famous burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee, and
charts the story of her outrageous mother, Rose, who is determined to live out
her own dreams of stardom through her two daughters.
GYPSY features the all time favourites from the legendary Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim, Everything's Coming up Roses, You Gotta Have a Gimmick, Let Me Entertain You, Some People and Rose's Turn.
Caroline O'Connor's performance as Rose will be a 'must see' for all lovers of musical theatre, and will be presented at Melbourne's State Theatre 10 - 14 July 2013.
One of the great musical romances, Singin' in the Rain is set in Hollywood in the last days of the silent screen era. With all the charm, romance, comedy and glamour of a bygone Hollywood era, Singin' in the Rain features a glorious score with the classics Good Morning, Make 'em Laugh, All I Do Is Dream Of You and the legendary Singin' in the Rain.
Rohan Browne stars as the matinee idol Don Lockwood, Matt Lee is his sidekick Cosmo Brown, Alinta Chidzey is aspiring actress Kathy Selden, and Christie Whelan-Browne is Lockwood's leading lady, Lina Lamont. A super star of the silent movies, Lina Lamont's less-than-dulcet vocal tones make her an unlikely candidate for stardom in the new talking pictures!
Gary Young will direct this stylish new production with choreography by Kelley Abbey and Melbourne's favourite conductor, John Foreman is musical director. Singin' in the Rain is presented at the State Theatre 21 - 25 August 2013.
30 years ago this swashbuckling Broadway version of The Pirates of Penzance rocked Hamer Hall. Now Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular musical comedy returns with all the laughs, songs and romance that made it a long running Broadway smash,
Dean Bryant and Andrew Hallsworth stage this colorful extravaganza, while Mathew Frank conducts a score that includes many of Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular numbers: Poor Wandering One!, When the Foreman Bares his Steel, With Cat-Like Tread and Away, Away! My Heart's On Fire.
Starring a dashing young cast including Gareth Keegan as Frederic, Adam Murphy as the Pirate King and Brent Hill as the Sergeant of Police. The hilarious Virginia Gay is Ruth and Wayne Scott Kermond is Major General Stanley. The Pirates of Penzance returns to Hamer Hall from 30 October to 3 November 2013.
In launching the 15th Anniversary season, Jeanne Pratt, Chairman of The Production Company said, “It is hard to believe that it’s fifteen years since I started this company. My dream in 1999 was twofold: to provide professional opportunities for local artists and to entertain Melbourne audiences with the best shows from Broadway and beyond. Our success has been beyond my wildest dreams. Thank you, Melbourne!”
For more information, visit: www.theproductioncompany.com.au for details.
Image: Caroline O'Connor in Gypsy
GYPSY features the all time favourites from the legendary Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim, Everything's Coming up Roses, You Gotta Have a Gimmick, Let Me Entertain You, Some People and Rose's Turn.
Caroline O'Connor's performance as Rose will be a 'must see' for all lovers of musical theatre, and will be presented at Melbourne's State Theatre 10 - 14 July 2013.
One of the great musical romances, Singin' in the Rain is set in Hollywood in the last days of the silent screen era. With all the charm, romance, comedy and glamour of a bygone Hollywood era, Singin' in the Rain features a glorious score with the classics Good Morning, Make 'em Laugh, All I Do Is Dream Of You and the legendary Singin' in the Rain.
Rohan Browne stars as the matinee idol Don Lockwood, Matt Lee is his sidekick Cosmo Brown, Alinta Chidzey is aspiring actress Kathy Selden, and Christie Whelan-Browne is Lockwood's leading lady, Lina Lamont. A super star of the silent movies, Lina Lamont's less-than-dulcet vocal tones make her an unlikely candidate for stardom in the new talking pictures!
Gary Young will direct this stylish new production with choreography by Kelley Abbey and Melbourne's favourite conductor, John Foreman is musical director. Singin' in the Rain is presented at the State Theatre 21 - 25 August 2013.
30 years ago this swashbuckling Broadway version of The Pirates of Penzance rocked Hamer Hall. Now Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular musical comedy returns with all the laughs, songs and romance that made it a long running Broadway smash,
Dean Bryant and Andrew Hallsworth stage this colorful extravaganza, while Mathew Frank conducts a score that includes many of Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular numbers: Poor Wandering One!, When the Foreman Bares his Steel, With Cat-Like Tread and Away, Away! My Heart's On Fire.
Starring a dashing young cast including Gareth Keegan as Frederic, Adam Murphy as the Pirate King and Brent Hill as the Sergeant of Police. The hilarious Virginia Gay is Ruth and Wayne Scott Kermond is Major General Stanley. The Pirates of Penzance returns to Hamer Hall from 30 October to 3 November 2013.
In launching the 15th Anniversary season, Jeanne Pratt, Chairman of The Production Company said, “It is hard to believe that it’s fifteen years since I started this company. My dream in 1999 was twofold: to provide professional opportunities for local artists and to entertain Melbourne audiences with the best shows from Broadway and beyond. Our success has been beyond my wildest dreams. Thank you, Melbourne!”
For more information, visit: www.theproductioncompany.com.au for details.
Image: Caroline O'Connor in Gypsy
Monday, 18 March 2013
Adelaide Fringe Award Winners 2013
As the sun sets on another successful festival, the 2013 Fringe Awards were awarded to the best shows, artists and venues at this year’s Adelaide Fringe.
80 arts industry judges spent the past 4 weeks seeing hundreds of Fringe shows from all genres and visiting over a hundred art exhibitions.
Adelaide Fringe Director Greg Clarke congratulated all of the winners and nominees saying that the plethora of amazing shows this year had made all of the judge’s jobs incredibly difficult.
Mr. Clarke said “This year’s Adelaide Fringe saw a wealth of talent unlike anything we’ve ever experienced before, from both returning Fringe artists and those performing and exhibiting in the Fringe for the first time, there were so many worthy winners.”
The coveted BankSA Pick of the Fringe Award ended up being given to two circus productions, Circolombia andLimbo.
“We really want to thank all those who contribute to the prizes given as part of the awards, particularly to BankSA who contribute so much and to Underbelly who make it possible for one show to go over to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe,” Mr. Clarke said.
Artists receive cash prizes totaling $25,000 thanks to the generous support of Principal Partner BankSA, Adelaide Fringe, Underbelly, Erin Svigos Award, Adelaide Festival Centre and the Melbourne Fringe. Please see below for the full list of awards and winners.
ADELAIDE FRINGE AWARD WINNERS 2013
BankSA Pick of the Fringe Award
Circolombia – Arts Projects Australia
BankSA Pick of the Fringe Award
Limbo – Strut & Fret, Underbelly Productions & Southbank Centre
BankSA TalkFringe Award
3 – MindBlown Productions
BankSA Best Cabaret
Tommy Bradson: Sweet Sixteen or The Birthday Party Massacre – Better Bradley Productions
BankSA Best Circus & Physical Theatre
Fright or Flight – The Birdcage & 3 is a Crowd
BankSA Best Comedy
Kitty Flanagan: Hello Kitty Flanagan – A-List Entertainment
BankSA Best Comedy – Emerging
Wolf Creek: The Musical – SPUR
BankSA Best Dance
Life in Miniature – Anything Is Valid Dance Theatre
BankSA Best Music
Idea of North – The Idea of North
BankSA Best Theatre Performer
Lucy Hopkins – Le Foulard
BankSA Best Theatre Production
The Book of Loco – Alirio Zavarce & Sasha Zahra in association w/ Loose Canon Art Services
BankSA Best Presentation for Children
Squaring the Wheel – Jens Altheimer
BankSA Best Visual Art & Design
TAR – Tony Kearney
BankSA Best Venue
Birdwood Exhibition Centre
Adelaide Festival Centre inSPACE: Development Award
The Book of Loco – Alirio Zavarce & Sasha Zahra in association w/ Loose Canon Art Services
Eran Svigos Award for Best Visual Art
Jess Dare – The Nature of Memory
Underbelly Edinburgh Award
Breaker – Solid Svid Theatre Company
Tour Ready Award – supported by Melbourne Fringe
Homage to Uncertainty – Emma Beech
John Chattaway Innovation Award
Leo – Arts Projects Australia
The Adelaide Critics Circle Best in Fringe Award
Glory Dazed – Holden Street Theatre Co Inc. & Second Shot Productions
For more information, visit: www.adelaidefringe.com.au for details
Image: Glory Dazed (photo by Alex Brenner)
BankSA Pick of the Fringe Award
Limbo – Strut & Fret, Underbelly Productions & Southbank Centre
BankSA TalkFringe Award
3 – MindBlown Productions
BankSA Best Cabaret
Tommy Bradson: Sweet Sixteen or The Birthday Party Massacre – Better Bradley Productions
BankSA Best Circus & Physical Theatre
Fright or Flight – The Birdcage & 3 is a Crowd
BankSA Best Comedy
Kitty Flanagan: Hello Kitty Flanagan – A-List Entertainment
BankSA Best Comedy – Emerging
Wolf Creek: The Musical – SPUR
BankSA Best Dance
Life in Miniature – Anything Is Valid Dance Theatre
BankSA Best Music
Idea of North – The Idea of North
BankSA Best Theatre Performer
Lucy Hopkins – Le Foulard
BankSA Best Theatre Production
The Book of Loco – Alirio Zavarce & Sasha Zahra in association w/ Loose Canon Art Services
BankSA Best Presentation for Children
Squaring the Wheel – Jens Altheimer
BankSA Best Visual Art & Design
TAR – Tony Kearney
BankSA Best Venue
Birdwood Exhibition Centre
Adelaide Festival Centre inSPACE: Development Award
The Book of Loco – Alirio Zavarce & Sasha Zahra in association w/ Loose Canon Art Services
Eran Svigos Award for Best Visual Art
Jess Dare – The Nature of Memory
Underbelly Edinburgh Award
Breaker – Solid Svid Theatre Company
Tour Ready Award – supported by Melbourne Fringe
Homage to Uncertainty – Emma Beech
John Chattaway Innovation Award
Leo – Arts Projects Australia
The Adelaide Critics Circle Best in Fringe Award
Glory Dazed – Holden Street Theatre Co Inc. & Second Shot Productions
For more information, visit: www.adelaidefringe.com.au for details
Image: Glory Dazed (photo by Alex Brenner)
Thursday, 7 March 2013
The Golden Age of Colour Prints
The Golden Age of Colour Prints: Ukiyo-e from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston features the art of three of the most important artists in Japanese history: Torii Kiyonaga, Kitagawa Utamaro and Tōshashūsai Sharaku, along with a selection of work by their contemporaries.
Each of these artists were masters and key innovators in the medium of the ukiyo-e print. Focusing on what is known as the golden age of nishiki-e colour prints, the Tenmei and Kansei eras (1781-1801), it showcases 96 ukiyo-e prints and offers a rare opportunity for Australians to appreciate the gorgeous colour aesthetic that is the essence of nishiki-e, or ukiyo-e printed in multiple colours.
In common with other radical moments in art, these images were considered to be crude and unsophisticated when they first appeared. The superficial world of beauty and entertainment of the pleasure quarter and the theatre were considered to be both remote from everyday life and not appropriate subjects for art. However the art form rose to great popularity in the metropolitan culture of Tokyo during the second half of the 17th century.
The imagery of ukiyo-e has had a powerful and enduring influence on Western art and may seem familiar to many visitors. Movements such as Impressionism, Art Noveau and Pop Art are all indebted in various ways.
The work of Australian artists as diverse as Charles Conder, Sydney Long, Brett Whitely and Brent Harris reveal an interest in Japanese art of this time. In contemporary culture the striking images of Japanese Manga comics and Anime films are everywhere. These are direct artistic descendents of the Golden Age artists in this exciting exhibition.
In the Australian context, this will be the first major exhibition of Japanese prints in three years and one of the largest ever held. None of the works in The Golden Age of Colour Prints have previously been seen in Australia, and no exhibition featuring these particular key artists together has previously been staged here.
Each of these artists were masters and key innovators in the medium of the ukiyo-e print. Focusing on what is known as the golden age of nishiki-e colour prints, the Tenmei and Kansei eras (1781-1801), it showcases 96 ukiyo-e prints and offers a rare opportunity for Australians to appreciate the gorgeous colour aesthetic that is the essence of nishiki-e, or ukiyo-e printed in multiple colours.
In common with other radical moments in art, these images were considered to be crude and unsophisticated when they first appeared. The superficial world of beauty and entertainment of the pleasure quarter and the theatre were considered to be both remote from everyday life and not appropriate subjects for art. However the art form rose to great popularity in the metropolitan culture of Tokyo during the second half of the 17th century.
The imagery of ukiyo-e has had a powerful and enduring influence on Western art and may seem familiar to many visitors. Movements such as Impressionism, Art Noveau and Pop Art are all indebted in various ways.
The work of Australian artists as diverse as Charles Conder, Sydney Long, Brett Whitely and Brent Harris reveal an interest in Japanese art of this time. In contemporary culture the striking images of Japanese Manga comics and Anime films are everywhere. These are direct artistic descendents of the Golden Age artists in this exciting exhibition.
In the Australian context, this will be the first major exhibition of Japanese prints in three years and one of the largest ever held. None of the works in The Golden Age of Colour Prints have previously been seen in Australia, and no exhibition featuring these particular key artists together has previously been staged here.
This exhibition is drawn from the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, one of the most significant collections of Japanese prints in the world. The exhibition has previously only been seen in Japan, where it toured four venues in 2010/11. The Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) is the sole and exclusive venue for the current tour, after which the works will return to Boston.
The Golden Age of Colour Prints
Exhibition: 7 March - 2 June 2013
Venue: Shepparton Art Museum
Address: 70 Welsford St Shepparton Victoria
Note: entry fees apply
For more information, visit: www.sheppartonartmuseum.com.au for details.
Image: The Chofu Jewel River (Chofu no Tamagawa), Utagawa Toyokuni I (Japanese, 1769–1825), publisher: Izumiya Ichibei (Kansendo) (Japanese), Japanese, Edo period, about 1795–1801 (late Kansei era), woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper. William Sturgis Bigelow Collection 11.24991, image 2012 © Museum Fine Arts, Boston
Exhibition: 7 March - 2 June 2013
Venue: Shepparton Art Museum
Address: 70 Welsford St Shepparton Victoria
Note: entry fees apply
For more information, visit: www.sheppartonartmuseum.com.au for details.
Image: The Chofu Jewel River (Chofu no Tamagawa), Utagawa Toyokuni I (Japanese, 1769–1825), publisher: Izumiya Ichibei (Kansendo) (Japanese), Japanese, Edo period, about 1795–1801 (late Kansei era), woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper. William Sturgis Bigelow Collection 11.24991, image 2012 © Museum Fine Arts, Boston
Animal Farm
Animal Farm is one of the most controversial and studied political commentaries. George Orwell's simple yet intensely powerful fairy tale illustrates how greed and absolute power corrupts absolutely and, with devastating consequences, can change the course of history.
Revolution has taken place at Manor Farm. The pigs have assumed control and under the principles of 'Animalism' a better life free from human service is promised to all.
Guided by a simple set of rules and an unrelenting respect for authority, it is not long before the rules that promised freedom become the chains that bind the animals once again.
This brand new adaptation, directed by Michael Futcher and brought to life by shake & stir theatre co combines physical theatre, animation and multi-media. Animal Farm promises to be one of the most shocking, exciting, relevant and wickedly funny theatre events of 2013 and beyond.
Animal Farm was the Winner of Best Independent Production, Best Direction at the 2012 Matilda Awards and is currently touring Nationally.
For more information and performance schedule, visit: www.shakeandstir.com.au for details.
The Pillowman
In a nameless totalitarian state, a writer finds himself the subject of interrogation over a series of gruesome child-murders that seem to mirror the plots of his own stories. As the investigation delves deeper, shocking truths are revealed when the writer's twisted tales begin to come to life, blurring the line between fiction and fact.
The Pillowman is a suspenseful and wickedly funny psychological thriller that explores the dark corners of the human imagination and the thrilling power - and danger - of storytelling itself.
This viciously funny and seriously disturbing play from Martin McDonagh - award-winning playwright (The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Lieutenant of Inishmore) and filmmaker (In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths) - walks the very fine line between comedy and cruelty. The Pillowman is as black as comedy gets.
New Theatre is very pleased to welcome back Luke Rogers (Waiting for Godot), after graduating from the NIDA Directing course in 2012, to take charge of this production.
“In a totalitarian dictatorship, the seemingly innocent act of telling a story is never that simple. The play explores the nature, freedom and responsibility of artists and asks to what extent is an artist responsible for the actions of others in response to their work”, says Luke.
“It’s the blurring of the lines between reality and fiction, comedy and violence, that make this a fascinating and gripping piece of theatre. The Pillowman weaves an extraordinary range of images into its theatrical vocabulary: from a gritty police-cell drama to Brothers Grimm-style fantasy."
"It’s a violent comedy of manipulation, misinformation and miscommunication where art itself is under interrogation and the legacy of what we leave behind is under threat.”
“Ultimately, this play is about the power of storytelling and our need to find meaning and answers within the worlds we create for ourselves. Sometimes there are many, often there are none."
"As Katurian says: ‘It’s puzzle without a solution’. Herein lies the suspense, the intrigue and the imaginative wonder of The Pillowman, where the sheer innocence of the words ʻOnce Upon A Time…ʼ become something so much more powerful, dangerous and threatening.
“I am delighted to be returning to New Theatre to work with a dynamic team of artists, to create an exciting new production of this fantastic play for this stage.”
The Pillowman
Season: 16 March - 13 April 2013
Venue: New Theatre
Address: 542 King St, Newtown NSW
Bookings: 1300 347 205 or online at: www.newtheatre.org.au
Image: Bob Seary
For more information, visit: www.newtheatre.org.au for details.
Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Turner from the Tate
J. M. W. Turner (1775–1851) is one of Britain’s greatest artists, a key figure of the Romantic generation. He is celebrated as a highly modern painter, his work much admired for its experimental character.
Turner’s paintings and watercolours are highly coveted by museums and collectors, and widely dispersed internationally. Only at the Tate can we gain a full sense of Turner’s aims and achievements.
The artist’s gift to the British nation was originally limited to the finished paintings exhibited in his lifetime, many of which he retained or re-acquired with a view to his donation to the national collection. The larger settlement, after the artist’s death, meant these paintings were supplemented by the contents of his house and studio.
Turner’s paintings and watercolours are highly coveted by museums and collectors, and widely dispersed internationally. Only at the Tate can we gain a full sense of Turner’s aims and achievements.
The artist’s gift to the British nation was originally limited to the finished paintings exhibited in his lifetime, many of which he retained or re-acquired with a view to his donation to the national collection. The larger settlement, after the artist’s death, meant these paintings were supplemented by the contents of his house and studio.
Turner from the Tate reflects the diversity of this unique collection. It provides a comprehensive overview of Turner and his artistic development, while offering extraordinary insights into his working life and practices.
The exhibition consists of 40 oils complemented by 70 works on paper, from large watercolours to intimate sketches. It includes ambitious early works such as Buttermere Lake, with part of Cromackwater 1798 and the spectacular The fall of an avalanche in the Grisons 1810.
Elsewhere in the exhibition we see how Turner set himself up as the heir to the European landscape tradition. Turner from the Tate also features remarkable paintings of Turner’s late career including the exquisite Venice, the Bridge of Sighs 1840.
The exhibition culminates with powerful seascapes: A disaster at sea c.1835, for example, shows a notorious shipwreck of a convict ship bound for NSW in which many women drowned. The nearly monochrome Peace – Burial at sea 1842 and its striking companion, War. The exile and the rock limpet 1842, provide a dramatic final note.
The exhibition consists of 40 oils complemented by 70 works on paper, from large watercolours to intimate sketches. It includes ambitious early works such as Buttermere Lake, with part of Cromackwater 1798 and the spectacular The fall of an avalanche in the Grisons 1810.
Elsewhere in the exhibition we see how Turner set himself up as the heir to the European landscape tradition. Turner from the Tate also features remarkable paintings of Turner’s late career including the exquisite Venice, the Bridge of Sighs 1840.
The exhibition culminates with powerful seascapes: A disaster at sea c.1835, for example, shows a notorious shipwreck of a convict ship bound for NSW in which many women drowned. The nearly monochrome Peace – Burial at sea 1842 and its striking companion, War. The exile and the rock limpet 1842, provide a dramatic final note.
As well as many of Turner’s most famous paintings, Turner from the Tate highlights works never shown previously. The exhibition offers fresh perspectives on an artist who was valued as a master in his own time and whose impact was felt as far away as Australia.
Turner from the Tate is organised by Art Exhibitions Australia, and presented by the Tate in association with the Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, and the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
Turner from the Tate
Venue: Art Gallery of South Australia
Address: North Terrace, Adelaide SA
Exhibition: 8 February - 19 May 2013
For more information: www.artgallery.sa.gov.au
Venue: National Gallery of Australia
Address: Parkes Place, Canberra ACT
Exhibition: 1 June - 8 September 2013
For more information: www.nga.gov.au
Image: J.M.W. Turner A Disaster at Sea c.1835 Tate, Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Photo: © Tate, 2013
Monday, 25 February 2013
I Love Todd Sampson
I Love Todd Sampson is a multi-disciplinary theatre work integrating architecture, music, light and performance. The work encompasses the creative involvement of more than nine professional architectural teams including nine registered architects, three university architectural teams, jazz composers, sound designers, installation artists, choreographers and performers.
The central character to the story is an incessantly lonely, middle-aged woman named Laura, supported by the “friends” who live inside her. Laura’s “friends” have manifested from paintings, furniture and walls to help her overcome traumatic childhood experiences, forming the anchors, which ultimately bring her back from taking her life over the edge.
In search of a new comfort, Laura immerses herself in the life of Todd Sampson (CEO of Leo Burnett Australia, co-creator of the Earth Hour initiative and commentator on The Gruen Transfer and The Project).
The reassuring and charming voice of the Canadian-born ad-man is played throughout the performance, the sound of which consumes Laura as she pieces together fragments of his life to construct her relationship with him.
The experiential nature of the work has the audience physically following Laura through the set as her “friends” seek to bring her back from her perilous obsession with Todd Sampson.
The Pier 2/3 setting at Walsh Bay was specifically selected due to its historic beauty and disquieting nature, which also becomes a metaphor for the lead character’s state of mind. The audience literally travels through her reality across two floors of this immense and haunted space.
Written, directed and performed by Michelle St. Anne, founder of The Living Room Theatre, I Love Todd Sampson is a sensory-rich play that deals with the community issues of mental health and loneliness in an engaging and unexpected way.
“Our work gives a voice to those vulnerable in our community. It’s about framing the everyday into beautiful artistic works so we can allow others to see into this world through a less confronting platform" says St. Anne.
“In I Love Todd Sampson, the audience becomes a part of the action – as they enter rooms to explore and discover images, atmospheric sounds and repeated moments. And yes, Todd Sampson does know about it."
I Love Todd Sampson
Season: 28 February - 10 March 2013
Venue: Pier 2 / 3
Address: Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, Sydney
Bookings: www.moshtix.com.au
For more information, visit: www.livingroomtheatre.org for details.
The central character to the story is an incessantly lonely, middle-aged woman named Laura, supported by the “friends” who live inside her. Laura’s “friends” have manifested from paintings, furniture and walls to help her overcome traumatic childhood experiences, forming the anchors, which ultimately bring her back from taking her life over the edge.
In search of a new comfort, Laura immerses herself in the life of Todd Sampson (CEO of Leo Burnett Australia, co-creator of the Earth Hour initiative and commentator on The Gruen Transfer and The Project).
The reassuring and charming voice of the Canadian-born ad-man is played throughout the performance, the sound of which consumes Laura as she pieces together fragments of his life to construct her relationship with him.
The experiential nature of the work has the audience physically following Laura through the set as her “friends” seek to bring her back from her perilous obsession with Todd Sampson.
The Pier 2/3 setting at Walsh Bay was specifically selected due to its historic beauty and disquieting nature, which also becomes a metaphor for the lead character’s state of mind. The audience literally travels through her reality across two floors of this immense and haunted space.
Written, directed and performed by Michelle St. Anne, founder of The Living Room Theatre, I Love Todd Sampson is a sensory-rich play that deals with the community issues of mental health and loneliness in an engaging and unexpected way.
“Our work gives a voice to those vulnerable in our community. It’s about framing the everyday into beautiful artistic works so we can allow others to see into this world through a less confronting platform" says St. Anne.
“In I Love Todd Sampson, the audience becomes a part of the action – as they enter rooms to explore and discover images, atmospheric sounds and repeated moments. And yes, Todd Sampson does know about it."
I Love Todd Sampson
Season: 28 February - 10 March 2013
Venue: Pier 2 / 3
Address: Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, Sydney
Bookings: www.moshtix.com.au
For more information, visit: www.livingroomtheatre.org for details.
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