The Production Company Launches 2013 Season

Melbourne's theatrical jewel, The Production Company has announced a star-studded 2013 program to celebrate its 15th Anniversary Season that includes Gypsy, Singin' in the Rain and The Pirates of Penzance.

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

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)

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.

 

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

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

"A great man once said ‘The first duty of a storyteller is to tell a story'. Or was it ‘The only duty of a storyteller is to tell a story'? ..."

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.
 

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 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.

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

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.

De Novo

From the frontlines of dance comes a program of three revolutionary works – a suite of playful, subversive and inspired pieces that push at the boundaries of performance.

This is dance that doesn’t play it safe. From the minds of three esteemed choreographers, channelled through the exquisite dancers of Sydney Dance Company, comes a trio of works that break new ground.

Whether they’re mashing up pop culture or poking fun at the sacred cows of dance, these are pieces that throw caution to the wind and hurl themselves into the void of the new.

From an inspired collaboration with internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Sarah Blasko and composer Nick Wales comes Emergence, a new dance work by Rafael Bonachela, Artistic Director of Sydney Dance Company.

A breathtaking cross-genre leap, Emergence sees the entire company ensemble take to the stage as a stunning soundscape take sensual, physical form. Featuring the alluring costume creations of Australian fashion designer Dion Lee, the world premiere of Bonachela’s latest work is bound to be a highlight of the 2013 dance calendar.

Irreverent, humorous and brilliant, Cacti is the critically acclaimed brainchild of Swedish dance prodigy Alexander Ekman. At just 28 years old, Ekman is already in high demand internationally, and this piece, devised for the legendary Nederlands Dans Theater 2, shows exactly why.

Cacti is not only a subversive, entertaining commentary on the pretentions of contemporary dance, it is also a brilliantly conceived and bracingly physical piece of choreography.

From Australian rising star Larissa McGowan comes Fanatic, a hilarious pop-culture collision that pits Alien vs Predator in an interstellar dance throwdown between two titanic sci-fi film franchises.

The hit of the Spring Dance 2012 Contemporary Women program, this tongue-in-cheek exploration of fan culture is back for more pulse-pounding, chest-busting dance action.

Inspired and unexpected, De Novo promises a very different evening of entertainment, as it unleashes three fresh wily dance works on an unsuspecting Australia.

De Novo
Season: 1 - 23 March 2013
Venue: Sydney Theatre
Address: 22 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, Sydney
Bookings: (02) 9250 1999 or online at: www.sydneytheatre.org.au
Image: Photo by Ellis Parrinder

For more information, visit: www.sydneydancecompany.com for details.

The Prophet

Joseph Tawadros collaborates with The Song Company for The Prophet, a stunning musical work based on excerpts from the much loved book The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran.

The Prophet, the best-known book by Lebanese poet, philosopher and artist Kahlil Gibran, is one of the most widely read books around the world and is still beloved by young and old alike. First published in the 1920s, The Prophet was credited with founding the New Age movement in the 1960s, and is now an intrinsic part of Western spirituality.

Joseph Tawadros has risen to prominence in Australia by successfully developing the ancient traditions of Arabic music in a Western environment. His engagement with the writings of Gibran resulted in his 2009 solo release for oud also titled The Prophet, as well as a number of works recorded for Concerto of The Greater Sea, recently released to great acclaim.

This new collaboration with the singers of The Song Company delves into the origins of musical expression, guided by the writings of Gibran, and is a stirring exploration of The Prophet’s themes of love, pain, work, reason and passion, children and friendship.

A virtuoso of amazing diversity and sensitivity, Joseph tours to concert halls worldwide, dazzling audiences with his brilliant technique, his passionate musicianship and his joyous style of performance.

Always willing to push the boundaries and challenge traditional music forms and rhythms, his efforts have led him to many unique collaborations with artists including Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Slava Grigoryan, Neil Finn, Lior and many others.

The Song Company is one of Australia’s leading vocal ensembles. It embraces music from across ages and around the world, and has a strong commitment to presenting music to the whole of Australia. In collaboration with artists of the highest calibre, it aims to create a distinctive and dynamic new voice, relevant to the audiences of today and tomorrow.

The Prophet
Season: 4 - 5 April 2013
Venue: Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre
Address: King Willian Street, Adelaide
Bookings: 13 12 46 or online at: www.bass.net.au

For more information, visit: www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au for details.

Paul McDermott - The Dark Garden

For the first time Paul McDermott will display his artwork to the public in a free three-part exhibition, The Dark Garden, as part of the 2013 Adelaide Fringe Festival.

Paul’s work is comprised of various mediums including paintings, prints, banners, soundscapes and films with more than 100 pieces being displayed across three immersive environments.

Being shown in the basement of an abandoned building now turned into Fringe venue, The Tuxedo Cat, Paul’s dark and mysterious creatures will fill its void, taking audiences on an adventure of light, scale and sound.

Audiences will move through the space by the glow of their own torch light, with a unique soundscape accompanying each environment created by Mat Blackwell (comedy writer and Good News Week artist) and Stu Hunter (Musical Director of Paul Sings).

This exhibition has been a very personal journey for Paul, so personal that he is not prepared to part with his work and has taken over 20 years to show the public this side of his creativity.

The works were created in a very small room under his home in Sydney, a room which will be entirely recreated as part of the exhibition, enabling audiences to take a glimpse into his creative processes and dark imaginings.

The Dark Gardens - is a nouveau-colonial vision of a post-apocalypic future: a bleak black Eden, ravaged by avarice, diseased, destroyed and, yet, thriving. In The Dark Gardens mega-cute mega-fauna battle and consume other absurd hybridised lusus naturae.

Emile Kirst - is a boy who attends a new school. On his first day he notices he’s different from the other students. They are all Monsters. Emile is at a school for monsters. How incredibly cool! At first he’s frightened by the other students but he finds, over the course of the day, even monsters can be the best of friends.

Short Films:
The Girl Who Swallowed Bees - is the story of a confused and upset child who only sees one way out of her emotional turmoil. She settles on bizarre method to hasten her demise. Instead nature conspires to affect her in a life-altering and ultimately, a life-affirming way.

 

The Scree - five strange friends set out on an adventure in a tiny boat. They discover a mysterious island, an island filled with bizarre vegetation and deadly creatures. Are they doomed in this alien environment? Or will they survive the island and its most frightening resident - The terrifying Scree?

 

The Dark Garden
Exhibition: continues to 17 March 2013
Venue: The Tuxedo Cat
Address: 199 North Terrace, Adelaide
Image: courtesy of Paul McDermott

For more information, visit: www.adelaidefringe.com.au for details.