Sunday Arts Magazine

In a way, the roots for Sasha Hadden’s directorial debut A Stitch in Time can be traced back more than thirty years, to when he first saw Driving Miss Daisy (Bruce Beresford, 1989).

“I was nineteen, and I found it really inspiring,” he told FilmInk. In the West, he says, stories of the aged and the aging tend to focus on struggle, grief, the tragedy of a life coming to an end.

As in the famous Oscar winner, Hadden wanted to explore something quite different with his picture. “I particularly liked what Daisy had to say about love,” he said. Once youthful beauty is eliminated, he said ‘love’ becomes a richer canvas.

A Stitch in Time is a drama (with a lot of humour) set in a very pretty looking Sydney. It focuses on a former dress maker called Liebe (Maggie Blinco) who, after years of emotional neglect and putting her own dreams on hold, hits the ‘re-start’ button at eighty+ years of age.

An American In Paris – a ground-breaking collaboration between The Australian Ballet and GWB Entertainment – will open at Arts Centre Melbourne on Friday 18 March for a strictly limited season, after setting Brisbane alight with a season at QPAC that concluded on the weekend with packed houses and rave reviews.

Hailed as a tour de force for its inventive choreography, the four-time Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical tells the entrancing story of a young American soldier and a beautiful French girl, set against the iconic backdrop of the most romantic city in the world.

Inspired by the Academy Award®-winning MGM film, acclaimed director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon brings the enchantment and magic of Paris alive on stage with popular songs by George and Ira Gershwin, including I Got Rhythm, S Wonderful, But Not For Me and They Can’t Take That Away From Me.

Broadway and West End leads Robert Fairchild and Leanne Cope reprise their show-stopping turns as the American GI Jerry Mulligan and the young Parisian dancer Lise Dassin in Australia in An American In Paris, with two of the country’s leading lights Cameron Holmes and Dimity Azoury from The Australian Ballet, alternating in the lead roles.

Theatre royalty Anne Wood plays Madame Baurel, with David Whitney (The Merry Widow, West Side Story on Sydney Harbour) as Monsieur Baurel, Ashleigh Rubenach (Cry-Baby, Muriel’s Wedding: The Musical) as Milo Davenport, Jonathan Hickey (Sweeney Todd, Aspects of Love) as Adam Hochberg, and Sam Ward (The Ten Tenors, Jesus Christ Superstar) as Henri Baurel, plus a 33 strong ensemble of exceptionally talented dancers, singers and actors.

 

“It’s intoxicating, as is the ­genius of George Gershwin that propels all those soaring, swooning bodies.” The Australian

An American In Paris will open at Arts Centre Melbourne on Friday 18 March for a strictly limited season.

Shakespeare is back at Central Park this Summer!

Pack a picnic and get ready, Melbourne Shakespeare Company’s brand new musical production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is set to be the theatrical highlight of the Summer.

After their sell-out production of The Winter’s Tale in March 2021, Melbourne Shakespeare Company will be returning to Central Park for a limited season of just 12 performances, with audiences encouraged to book tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.

Audiences should expect to be blown away by the original musical arrangements from Musical Director Natalie Calia (Shrek) as she reworks their favourite pop songs including hits from Kylie Minogue, Missy Higgins, and Oasis, with hilarious effect.

Directed by Nicola Bowman (Bell Shakespeare) and featuring some of Australia’s finest actors including Anna Francesca Armenia (The Colour Purple), Annabelle Tudor (Puffs), Sebastian Li (New Gold Mountain) and introducing Briana Esme McGeary (WAAPA),  A Midsummer Night’s Dream is guaranteed to entertain audiences young and old with its laugh out loud comedy, beautiful choreography and musical medleys,

Audiences will be amazed at how the costumes from Madeline Nabali (Lear), and set by Hayley James (The Winter’s Tale) can transform trash into treasure with their clever, environmentally conscious designs that have been created using only recycled, reclaimed and reused materials.

The production also addresses some of the challenging ideas about gender in Shakespeare by using a predominantly female cast often in non-traditional roles. As well as adding an affirmative queer interpretation to the traditional lovers quadrangle.

“There has never been a better time to enjoy the magic of outdoor Shakespeare in the summertime,” said the company’s Artistic Director Jennifer Sarah Dean. “Packed full of magic, mirth and mayhem, This larger than life production is the perfect feel good show for the whole family.”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is family friendly and audiences are encouraged to bring a picnic to enjoy in the sunshine.

Opening at the Arts Centre Melbourne’s Fairfax Theatre in

March 2022, this entirely original stage adaptation of the iconic

and provocative short story Yentl, is the first since the 1975

Broadway play, and the first new adaptation since the pop culture

phenomenon that was Barbra Streisand’s 1983 musical film.

A new adaptation by Gary Abrahams, Elise Hearst,

Galit Klas and Evelyn Krape

Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne

12 March — 26 March 2022

www.artscentremelbourne.com.au

Kadimah Yiddish Theatre presents

Based on the original Yiddish short story “Yentl“ by

Isaac Bashevis Singer

“This production is a very purposeful re-claiming of the

short story, taking it back to its darker, more dangerous

roots,” says co-creator and director Gary Abrahams,

whose recent credits include acclaimed productions of

33 Variations with US actor Ellyn Burstyn at the Comedy

Theatre, and Kadimah Yiddish Theatre’s The Ghetto Cabaret

at fortyfivedownstairs. “Yentl is an incredibly transgressive

and irreverent story that was sanitized and made very PC by

the film. But Bashevis Singer’s story is so much stranger, so

much more unsettling, so much more rooted in a world full

of demons, dybbuks and ghosts.”

Set in a Polish shtetl in 1870, Yentl is the story of a young

woman who defies Jewish orthodox tradition by secretly

studying religious scripture, forbidden to females. When her

beloved father dies, Yentl runs away dressed in male guise,

determined to live as a man and continue her studies. She

meets Avigdor, a young Yeshiva boy, who – believing her to

be male – takes her under his wing where she convincingly

lives as the impressive male talmudic student, Anshl. But

when Avigdor introduces Anshl to the woman he loves,

Hodes, Anshl’s life takes a surprising and dangerous turn.

Soon, a fragile love triangle emerges when Yentl falls in love

with both Avigdor and Hodes, and Avigdor finds himself

attracted to the boy he believes is Anshl.

This bold and contemporary adaptation will be staged

both in English and Yiddish (with English surtitles translated

by internationally-renowned academic Professor Rivke

Margolis), continuing Kadimah’s mission to bring Yiddish

culture and language to a wide audience. This new

adaptation of Yentl leans into the work’s feminist themes,

examines its queer subtext, and explores its Yiddish roots

in surprising and unfamiliar ways. “There’s this wonderful

intersection between contemporary queer politics and oldworld

Yiddish culture,” says Abrahams. “It’s a story about

identity, and about the danger and bravery of creating one’s

identity when you have to fight against the status quo of the

world around you.”

Featuring emerging actor Jana Zvedeniuk as Yentl (whose

Russian/Israeli/Yiddish background made her an undeniable

choice for her first major role) alongside award-winning

actor Evelyn Krape (King Lear, The Ghetto Cabaret,

Female Parts), this stellar cast and creative team relish the

opportunity to explore Nobel Prize-winner, Bashevis Singer’s

story through a contemporary lens.

Yentl headlines a year-long calendar of events celebrating

Kadimah’s 110 years of continuous theatre, language and

cultural programs. Today, the Kadimah is Australia’s beating

heart of Yiddish culture, and home to the country’s largest

Yiddish library and archive. The Kadimah Yiddish Theatre, led

by Artistic Co-Directors Evelyn Krape and Galit Klas, presents

challenging and contemporary bilingual theatre.

Game Boys Comedy is a unique collaboration between brothers Eden and Joshua Porter,

and Melbourne based audiovisual designer Kinetic Screen. For the past 7 years Game Boys

Comedy have been delighting audiences with their festival shows. They’re known for

seamlessly combining technology and live performance in increasingly complex ways.

They have multiple award wins and nominations under their belt, including Best Comedy

nominations at Melbourne Fringe Festival for the last four years. Their award nominations

continued throughout 2020 and 2021 despite covid pushing them online. Two award

nominated Melbourne Digital Fringe shows later, they’re ready to hit the stage again.

Game Boys Comedy have become known for their ability to push the envelope of what’s

possible with technology and live performance along with a healthy dose of pop-culture and

90s nostalgia. Their new 2022 show, Escape to the Megaverse, will be their most ambitious

show yet.

They’re currently in the process of developing a tour version of their 2019 show (Game Boys

Cinematic Universe) for performance across regional Victoria in 2022. It will be their first time

touring one of their festival shows outside of Melbourne. They plan to continue touring their

work in the future to reach new and diverse audiences across Victoria.

You can watch samples of their previous shows linked below on page 2.

Their latest work will be their most technically complex to date. With the arrival of covid and

the move to digital, they honed their skills with two Digital Fringe shows. They want to

explore what they learnt in the digital space and bring it to the live theatre experience. In

Escape to the Megaverse they’ll be using live video feeds, green screens, immersive sound

design and custom lighting to explore the intersection between technology and live

performance.

Press Quotes

‘One of my absolute highlights…incredibly inventive…it’s chaotic and funny and clever and

definitely recommended’

– Richard Watts 3RRR

‘Their seat-of-the-pants style was undeniably infectious…The kind of hilarity that made you

ache for reopening, and a time when performers and audiences can be together again.’

– Cameron Woodhead, The Age

‘Sharp and slick… See this brilliant, hilarious show’

– Squirrel Comedy

‘This is a show full of surprises… a masterstroke in comedy’

– My Melbourne Arts

‘An incredibly nuanced and pointed performance’ – ★★★★

– The Music

Awards

● 2017

Nominee Golden Gibbo (Melbourne International Comedy Festival)

● 2018

Nominee Best Comedy (Melb Fringe)

● 2019

Winner Sound & Technical Excellence (Melb Fringe)

Winner Tour Ready Award sponsored by RAV (Melb Fringe)

Nominee Best Comedy (Melb Fringe)

Nominee Golden Gibbo (Melbourne International Comedy Festival)

● 2020

Nominee Best Comedy (Melb Fringe)

● 2021

Winner Sound & Technical Excellence (Melb Fringe)

Nominee Best Work at Festival (Melb Fringe)

Nominee Spirit of the Fringe (Melb Fringe)

Some Happy Day is an independent feature film and a homage to St Kilda. It’s made with, and in, the community where the story is set. 

Some Happy Day follows Tina, a homeless woman in desperate search of a better life, who meets Frances, a social worker with troubles of her own. Over a single day their lives interweave, revealing unsettling connections that lead to change and redemption.

On World Day of Social Justice (Sun 20 Feb 2022), Some Happy Day will have its Melbourne premiere with a fundraiser for Sacred Heart Mission at Classic Cinemas as well as additional screenings on Mon 21 Feb 2022 and Wed 23 Feb 2022.

Some Happy Day is inspired by writer and director Catherine Hill’s 20-year experience working with rough sleepers.

“Every day I witnessed the strength, resilience, struggles and stories of people who have found themselves homeless, sleeping at the beach, in the park, under a stairwell or in a squat,” said Hill.

Some Happy Day was filmed in partnership with a range of local St Kilda groups and organisations. Many of the actors have lived-experiences of surviving without a home and other cast and crew work in social services.

The role of Tina was written for Peta Brady. She is not only a renowned Australian actor across theatre and television, but also works part-time as a drug and alcohol worker at The Salvation Army Needle and Syringe Program in St Kilda.

Sacred Heart Mission and the Salvation Army Statewide Crisis Centre supported Some Happy Day by providing in-kind assistance and access to different locations.

Cathy Humphrey, CEO for Sacred Heart Mission said Some Happy Day provides a realistic impression that contextualises homelessness, its impact on people and the importance of trauma informed practice, which is central to ending homelessness.

“It’s fantastic that Sacred Heart Mission is part of Some Happy Day’s Melbourne premiere and I hope it starts some important conversations about how to make a difference,” said Humphrey.

It is estimated that on any given night in Australia approximately 116,000 people will be homeless – 1 in every 200 Australians. Last year, over 420 homeless people died on Australia’s streets. The average life expectancy of rough sleepers is around 50 years of age, almost 30 years lower than housed populations.

Some Happy Day has been accepted into 6 international film festivals and Catherine Hill was nominated for Best Direction of a Feature Film (Under $1M) by the Australian Directors Guild.

Some Happy Day is also available to corporate businesses, community organisations, educational institutions, local councils and government agencies. The film aims to change perceptions of homelessness, raise awareness and celebrate hope and relationships.

Stephen talks to the Sunday Arts Magazine team about new film releases.

After 23 years of being hosted exclusively by northern hemisphere cities, in 2023 the largest Pride celebration in the world is coming to Sydney. Today, organisers have revealed key festival dates and a new look alongside the festival theme GATHER DREAM AMPLIFY. WorldPride 2023 will be one of the largest global events in NSW since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Among the landmark events being produced by Sydney WorldPride are the Opening and Closing Ceremonies (currently slated to take place in The Domain with 25,000+ attendees), First Nations Gala Concert, a world class Human Rights Conference, and the festival closing party at Bondi Beach (10,000+ partygoers). All events will feature local and international headline artists.

There will also be a Pride March across the Sydney Harbour Bridge with over 50,000 participants – the largest pride march to ever be held in Australia.

Sydney WorldPride spans 17 Feb – 5 Mar 2023, during the usual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras season. Mardi Gras Festival events will be held within the overall Sydney WorldPride program, including Fair Day, Parade, Party, Laneway and more. For more information including dates, visit www.sydneyworldpride.com/events.

The theme for the festival, GATHER DREAM AMPLIFY, “was developed with our extraordinary LGBTIQ+ community and represents our commitment to global equality and inclusion. It is a call to action,” says Sydney WorldPride Creative Director, Daniel Clarke.

“We want people to gather here, on the lands of the oldest surviving culture on the planet, to listen deeply. We want people to dream of the future they want and work together to make those dreams a reality. We want to ensure that new voices and perspectives are amplified,” continues Ben Graetz, Sydney WorldPride Creative Director, First Nations.

Sydney WorldPride’s new logo and festival artwork was directed by First Nations artist Jessica Johnson, also known as Nungala Creative. “Creation of the new logo and artworks for Sydney WorldPride was inspired by my belonging to a big, multigenerational queer First Nations community and our extended family. We embody intersectionality and I wanted the design to express that through the vibrancy, colours and textures,” she says. “Each and every aspect reflects a sense of movement like light and shadows cast through nature, the trees and water. The tactile, hands-on, textural aesthetic is a nod to the nostalgic tools of our predecessors and an era of people power and protest definitive in our existence today. The electric colour palette draws from the Rainbow Eucalyptus tree and all the wondrous magic our country has on offer.”

Sydney WorldPride CEO Kate Wickett says “Sydney WorldPride 2023 will bring together the world’s leading LGBTIQ+ artist and creatives, creating a truly once in a lifetime opportunity to celebrate. Sydney will shine in all its glory.”

NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres says “Sydney WorldPride 2023 will attract tens of thousands of visitors from around the world to our Harbour City to enjoy our rich history, art, culture and celebrate diversity and inclusion. It will showcase Sydney’s strengths to the world, from the 500,000 attendees to millions of supporters following from all corners of the globe, and create a wonderful legacy that aligns with our ambition to be the events capital of the Asia Pacific.”

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG) CEO Albert Kruger says, “In 2023, Sydney Mardi Gras and Sydney WorldPride will introduce the world to our glittering LGBTIQ+ communities, giving our diverse First Nations and Asia Pacific people the opportunity to share their pride on a global stage. The event will also take place on the 45th Anniversary of the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, giving us a much-needed cause for momentous celebration.

Anna’s work focuses on and celebrates the role of women in live music across a variety of genres and highlights the contribution women make to the music industry.

In an industry that has been historically male-dominated, Anna brings forward a powerful perspective as a female photographer.

The work features women from a diversity of musical styles and includes women from First Nations communities and people who identify as LBGTQI.

Melbourne Women in Film Festival (MWFF) will return for its sixth year from 10 – 14 February 2022, taking place

at ACMI, which is now an official partner of the festival. Through the theme Laugh Louder, MWFF will explore how

women and gender diverse filmmakers inject humour into their work, through screenings, conversations and skills

development programs.

The festival will focus on comedy, the lighter side of life, as well its potential to

challenge social and cultural stereotypes. MWFF will once again bring together

a dynamic program of feature and short films, web series, music videos, talks,

and workshops to delve into the theme of comedy. Award-winning comedian

Geraldine Hickey will MC the opening night event where a series of short films

will also be screened, taking place on Thursday 10 February.

Sian Mitchell, MWFF director said: “For our 2022 festival, we thought that we all

needed to come together and have a laugh. Lucky for us there are some cracker

films to screen that should tickle anyone’s funny bone whether it’s gross-out

humour, something a bit weirder or a more sentimental romantic comedy.

“ACMI is the centre of Melbourne’s film festival and screen culture scene and we

are so excited to be officially partnering with them for our 2022 event. It’s

wonderful to have the support of ACMI in helping us provide a platform for women

and gender diverse screen practitioners and their incredible work,” Sian added.

Minister for Creative Industries, Danny Pearson said: “We are proud to partner with the festival for its sixth year and

see it continue to champion the brilliant work of women and gender diverse filmmakers. This year has another

outstanding line up in store for everyone, and we can’t wait to see Melbourne abuzz with laughter in February as the

festival explores the hilarious and compelling ways comedy is injected into film.”

Program highlights include, Rhapsody of Love (pictured), written and directed by Joy Hopwood and produced by

Ana Tiwary, screening for the first time in Melbourne as part of MWFF. Rhapsody of Love is the interwoven story of

three couples, who are at different stages in their lives, trying to follow their dreams, while navigating the ups and

downs of romance. This film is about friendship, love and hope for the future.

Also screening is, Groundhog Night, directed by Genevieve Clay-Smith and Rawley Reynolds from Bus Stop Films.

Starring Emily Dash, Robyn Nevin, John Batchelor and Genevieve Clay-Smith, the film tells the story of dad Gary,

who is so used to caring for his disabled daughter Jess, he can do it in his sleep. But when the in-laws come to stay,

everyone will get a wake-up call.

Virginia Gay’s 2018 Tropfest short Paper Cut, will also screen. The film tells a flipped version of a true story;