STUDIO » Australian theatre

Raising the Curtain

jasmine — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 23:45:19 +0000

For the first time on television, the stories of the Australian stage will be brought to life in this landmark series commissioned by STUDIO.

This is the tale of how Australia has entertained, been entertained and used theatre to speak to the world. From the entrepreneurial risk-takers that brought the first Australian plays to life, to the struggle to define an Australian voice on the worldwide stage, Raising The Curtain is the first in-depth exploration of the people and tales of Australia’s live theatre.

Featuring interviews with Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Robyn Nevin, Andrew Upton, Jack Charles, John Bell, Louis Nowra and many more. This series uses archival footage and intimate interviews with a roll call of our lauded theatre professionals to illuminate hundreds of years of the Australian stage.

Wednesday 14 November 7.30pm – Ep. 1 – The Movers And The Shakers
From the convicts to the 20th Century trail-blazers, explore the entrepreneurs who helped create Australian theatre.

Wednesday 21 November 7.30pm – Ep. 2 Not The Queen’s English
This episode explores the struggle for free speech and the playwrights who defined the Australian voice in theatre.

Wednesday 28 November 7.30pm – Ep. 3 The Shock Of The New
Explore how vaudeville and circus influenced Aussie performance, and how we redefined old theatrical traditions.

Belvoir announce 2013 Season

admin — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 23:23:51 +0000

Belvoir have announced their 2013 season with 13 productions across both Upstairs and Downstairs. About growing up (or not) and finding your place in a chaotic world, next year’s season features some of Australia’s finest actors bringing incredible stories to the Belvoir stage.

Artistic Director Ralph Myers kicks off the year when he directs J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan, a work for adults and children alike, followed by Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, the Tenessee Williams classic directed by Belvoir wunderkind Simon Stone. Hot young star Toby Schmitz will take on one of theatre’s greatest roles when Simon Stone brings Hamlet to the Belvoir stage again, and Forget Me Not is a searing look into the British children who were resettled in Australia against their parents’ wishes.

Tony Kushner’s two part classic Angels in America gets an landmark revival starring Robyn Nevin and directed by Eamon Flack. Adena Jacobs reveals her stunning adaptation of Bergman’s film Persona, whilst Brendan Cowell brings us a new take on Miss Julie.

The Upstairs Theatre finishes off this year with Coranderrk, telling the story of all those, black and white, who fought for a better relationship between the country’s oldest and newest inhabitants.

The Downstairs Theatre will once again play host to some of the best new Australian writing around. These will include This Heaven by Nakkiah Lui and Small and Tired, written and directed by Kit Brookman. Lally Katz performs in her new play Stories I Want to Tell You In Person, while Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe tells the story of a group of African women who now call Australia home.

The 2013 Downstairs program finishes with Kyle J. Morrison directing the 1970’s classic The Cake Man, one of the first Indigenous plays ever performed in Australia.

For more information click here.

Perth Festival: Jack Charles V The Crown

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:54:29 +0000

Perth Festival 2012 presents Jack Charles v The Crown, a veteran actor, Koori elder, activist and – until recently – heroin addict and cat-burglar. It runs from 15-23 February at the State Theatre Centre of WA.

Watch more STUDIO ArtBreaks here.

Sydney Festival TV: Briefs

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:48:33 +0000

Jam-packed with gobsmacking circus tricks, zany vaudeville and outrageous dancing – Briefs is male burlesque at its best. Go behind the scenes with Australia’s beefcake troupe as they perform in the Idolize Spiegeltent as part of Sydney Festival 2012.

Watch more Sydney Festival TV videos here, or sign up to receive a daily fix of Sydney Festival TV straight into your inbox!

Sydney Festival TV: Thyestes

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:39:06 +0000

Fresh from his ‘Best Mainstage Production Award’ at the Sydney Theatre Awards for The Wild Duck, Simon Stone directs Thyestes at Carriageworks. The savagery of this Greek legend is reinterpreted into a shockingly funny, edge-of-your-seat and partially improvised new version. Catch the cast and crew rehearsing and improvising the tale of a King who unwittingly eats his sons.

Watch more Sydney Festival TV videos here, or sign up to receive a daily fix of Sydney Festival TV straight into your inbox!

Sydney Festival TV: I’m Your Man

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:39:43 +0000

I’m Your Man is an adrenaline-pumping boxing-ring drama set in Bankstown about contemporary masculinity and courage at Belvoir St Theatre.

Meet the actors working with a paper-less script in this Sydney Festival production, and director Roslyn Oades who recorded real boxers for 18 months.

Watch more Sydney Festival TV videos here, or sign up to receive a daily fix of Sydney Festival TV straight into your inbox!

Sydney Festival TV: The Boys

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:02:48 +0000

From its sold-out premiere twenty-one years ago to the award-winning film adaptation, The Boys is a controversial Australian classic. Go behind the scenes as it’s reimagined by Griffin Theatre for Sydney Festival 2012. See the story of one man’s return from jail, and meet director Sam Strong.

Watch more Sydney Festival TV videos here, or sign up to receive a daily fix of Sydney Festival TV straight into your inbox!