Sunday Arts Magazine

Theatre Works 2022 Launch

50 Productions, 8 Works in Development, 7 Artist Development Programs, 7 Festival Seasons, and 1 additional multi-purpose new artist space.

After nearly two years of lockdowns, cancellations, funding cuts, and never-ending uncertainty, Melbourne’s iconic Theatre Works is moving forward into 2022 with their trademark innovation, tenacity, and unflinching dedication to Australia’s independent arts sector.

Running on the 28th of November from 7pm at the new Explosives Factory, this years’ Launch is a hybrid Live-Streamed and in-person event. With the in-person event already fully booked out, the wider arts community are encouraged to join the festivities online when they are Live-Streamed from 7:30pm.

Located around the corner from the much-loved Acland St venue on Inkerman St, the new Explosives Factoryis a versatile workshop and development space complete with accommodation, bathroom, and kitchen facilities. This exciting setting will house new programs and also act as a year-round rehearsal spot to partnering artists. During Festivals it will be activated as a versatile 60 seat performance venue and, if needed, also provide a smaller and more intimate space for works less suited to the Theatre Works main space. And yes, it was an actual Explosives Factory in its past life.

An artist first organisation, Theatre Works has long existed to support emerging, established, local, national, and international artists. This crucial new growth of the organisation, as they move into their 41st year, highlights how they have prevailed for over four decades – acting as a vital springboard for hundreds of thousands of artists and arts makers in that time.

From January, Theatre Works will storm into 2022 and act as a vibrant hub to 5 Festivals in the first 3 months of the year; Mullet Festival, Midsumma, First Stories, Radical Acts Festival and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival welcome audiences to the venues with a mix of reprogrammed work, First People led stories, and Victorian Arts Calendar favourites.

Following throughout the year, the organisation will support the creation of a vast array of works with new development and inhouse programming including (but not limited to) Associate Artists, She Writes, a Deakin University Partnership, Little Legends and Regional Arts Development and Accommodation Residencies.

Access and inclusion is also a constant driving force behind the creative programming and audience development focus at Theatre Works. They are in a frequent process of reassessing the venue (highlighted by their 20/21 Glasshouse), programming, and approach to embrace neuro-atypical audiences, people living with disability, mental illness, financial or social disadvantage. This also includes women, young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQIA+ and other community members.

Known for their endurance and ongoing commitment to Australia’s arts community, join Theatre Works this November as they smash open their 2022 program and move into the most exciting chapter in the evolution of the organisation.

Jude has always known she doesn’t want kids. Her sister Susie is unsure if her ovaries are twinging or if she just needs to wee. One day, in a café full of “yummy mummies”, Jude loses the plot and kicks a pram. Then gets arrested and is sent to anger management. Susie goes along for the ride and uses the opportunity to confess a secret…

Pramkicker tells the raucous and irreverent tale of two sisters on opposite ends of their 30’s grappling with the messiness of life, and the massive societal expectations surrounding motherhood.

In a climate where a woman’s right to make choices about her own body remains burningly relevant, Hasler’s hilarious and whip smart play is a bold love letter to women taking ownership of what they want, and what they don’t.

Dirty Pennies Artistic Director, Amy May Nunn says “Sadie Hasler’s fiercely funny, audacious script felt so timely and alive, I was chomping at the bit to get it on. The play’s ability to meaningfully tackle weighty feminist themes while also being gut achingly funny was central to its allure. Ultimately this work is a celebration of choice, and as a woman entering my 30’s, grappling with my own questions about having kids, reading this play made me feel less alone, less crazy and more human.”

Stephen talks to the Sunday Arts Magazine  team about Films.

The winner of the $60,000 Melbourne Prize for Literature 2021 is CHRISTOS TSIOLKAS for his

body of work, which has made an outstanding contribution to Australian literature and to cultural and

intellectual life. The Prize is supported by Major Partner, The Vera Moore Foundation.

SUMMER SHAKESPEARE RETURNS TO THE ROSE GARDEN AT THE ST. KILDA BOTANICAL GARDENS

Melbourne’s favourite Shakespeare Company returns to the St Kilda Botanical Gardens with their original musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s funniest farce The Comedy of Errors. This highly anticipated production will be the company’s 5th season at the Rose Garden where they have become a summertime staple gaining national and international acclaim for their larger than life family friendly productions.

Having developed what can only be described as a cult following, Melbourne Shakespeare Company has shown incredible resilience managing to produce three sellout seasons so far this year, despite a series of restrictions and lockdowns. With tickets for their productions selling out in minutes, this independent company has changed people’s perception of Shakespeare making accessible, engaging, hysterically funny productions that audiences can’t get enough of!

“Our shows combine all of the things audiences love about Shakespeare in the Summertime” explained Artistic Director Jennifer Sarah Dean (The Globe, Moulin Rouge! The Musical) “we give Shakespeare a young, fresh twist including all of your favourite contemporary music combined with exciting choreography, audience insteaction, beautiful costumes and all set in one of the most idyllic venues in Melbourne – the Rose Garden in St Kilda!”

With a star studded team including direction from Ben Adams (Pop-up Globe), original choreography from John Reed (West Side Story, Merrily We Roll Along) and Musical Direction from Benjamin Colley (Shrek!, Romeo & Juliet), the Comedy of Errors is set to be the must see production of the year.

Melbourne Shakespeare Company are proud to be an environmentally responsible company using only recycled, reclaimed and reused materials to create their incredible productions.  Audiences will be blown away at how the costumes from Aislinn Naughton (Frozen, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), and set by Hayley James (As You Like It, The Winter’s Tale) can transform trash into treasure with their clever, conscious designs.

The Comedy of Errors is family friendly and audiences are encouraged to bring a picnic to enjoy in the sunshine. Seating is provided at the venue and protective sun wear is recommended for matinee performances.

Performance of a Lifetime:LIVE:  On December 13 and 14, an all-star line-up of performers from across Melbourne’s live music, arts companies and theatre shows will join with the MSO for Performance of a Lifetime: LIVE, a heartfelt celebration of live entertainment’s triumphant return, as well as the resilience, tenacity, and community spirit of Melburnians.   Stars of the social media campaign Rhonda Burchmore OAM, Deborah Cheetham AO, Virginia Gay, Ali McGregor, Meow Meow and artists from The Australian Ballet will be joined by some of the biggest names in Melbourne theatre including Lucy Durack, Josh Piterman (The Phantom of the Opera), Alinta Chidzey & Des Flanagan (Moulin Rouge! The Musical), Jemma Rix & Courtney Monsma (Frozen The Musical) and Gillian Cosgriff (Harry Potter & the Cursed Child). Contemporary music stars including hip hop, indie artist Kaiit, ARIA Award nomineeMo’Ju, and singer songwriter Liz Stringer will each make their debut with the MSO alongside Tim Rogers, Kate Ceberano, Kylie Auldist & Lance Ferguson (The Bamboos), Emma Donovan, Paul Grabowsky AO, Lior and Felix Riebl premiering brand new solo material.  Conducted by Benjamin Northey with Zan Rowe hosting.

Classical Hits:  Classical music lovers will also return to Melbourne’s favourite outdoor venue on December 6 and 7 for Classical Hits at the Bowl, featuring a specially selected repertoire from the more than 80 shows the MSO had to cancel across 2021. Under the baton of hometown hero, Benjamin Northey, the Classical Hits at the Bowlwill feature an exclusive performance by 14-year-old violin sensation and MSO Young Artist in Association, Christian Li performing the first movement of Tchaikovsky’s magnificent Violin Concerto. The MSO will perform some of the most popular repertoire of all time by Holst (The Planets), Elgar (Enigma Variations) and Beethoven (Symphony No.6), culminating in Ravel’s Boléro.

 

Also at the Bowl on December 8 is the rescheduled screening of the James Bond hit film Skyfall in Concert with MSO’s live performance of Thomas Newman’s award-winning score, conducted by Nicholas Buc.

Sonya is a multidisciplinary performer, dramaturg, director, producer and arts activist; she has worked across film, television and theatre since her screen debut at 16. In 2012, she founded acclaimed Sondheim repertory company Watch This, realising a body of work that includes Assassins, Pacific Overtures, Company, Merrily We Roll Along, A Little Night Music and Sunday in the Park with George and has accrued a total of 21 Green Room Award nominations/ 2 wins. She’s also been nominated for her work as an actor in MTC’s Melbourne Talam and Polyglot Theatre & Papermoon Puppet Theatre’s immersive sensation, Cerita Anak. She shares a nomination for Best Direction of a Musical with Dean Drieberg for Sunday in the Park with George (2019) and for the realisation of the digital documentary series, The Art of Making Art (2020). In 2021, amongst several collaborations and developments, she is working with composer/ lyricist Vidya Makan and Hayes Theatre Co on The Lucky Country; The People on Cancel Bigots; and co-directing Into the Woods with Melanie Hillman for Watch This.

2021 NATIONAL JAZZ AWARDS FINALIST -James Bowers James Bowers is one of Melbourne and Australia’s most in demand keyboard players and pianists, in large part due to his versatility and musicality across multiple genres and instruments. His work with groups/artists such as Vaudeville Smash, True Live, Angus and Julia Stone, Dope Lemon, Elliott and Sex On Toast has seen him play across dozens of festivals and venues in Australia and abroad. James also works as a tutor, teacher and lecturer at the Australian Institute of Music.Most recently, he hasreleased his debut release “My Trio Album”, recorded in Tokyo featuring Marty Holoubek (Aus/Jpn) on bass and Shun Ishiwaka (Jpn) on drums. This album has been met with critical acclaim, including a 5 star review in the Weekend Australian as well as being featured be ABC Jazz as their “Album of the Week”.“Though fluent in many musical languages, he is still able to maintain a voice that is uniquely his own that permeates throughout his work.” -Barney McAl

Rohan returns with gossip about the Arts.

La Mama HQ is back with WAR-RAK/BANKSIA Festival featuring 400+ artists and 90+ acts over one long weekend 9-12 December 2021.

After fire, the WAR-RAK/BANKSIA flower comes back stronger and more beautiful than ever, blossoming with colour and life! Inspired by rebirth, La Mama’s WAR-RAK/BANKSIA FESTIVAL commemorates the return of her iconic home at 205 Faraday Street with a free four-day celebration!

This bold, immersive festival is the perfect opportunity to showcase the new and improved La Mama with every space across the two buildings and outside in the box office area and front forecourt utilised for performance, installation, and everything in-between. With over 400 artists involved in the festival there will be something for everyone including theatre, music, poetry, cinema, cabaret, roving performance, kids events, visual arts, live streaming direct from the theatre, workshops and much more.

WAR-RAK/BANKSIA festival will include an array of sensory installations and sublime happenings by a vast range of Independent Artists. The full festival line-up will be launched on the 11th of November, highlights include:

* A new play reading by Susie Dee & Patricia Cornelius called My Sister Jill

* A line up of First Nations music and dance curated by Songlines Aboriginal Music Corporation – Including TheMerindas, Izy and Djirri Djiri Dancers, plus more.

* An opening night set by Australia’s renowned songwoman of contemporary South Sudanese music Ajak Kwai &Co

* A La Mamica Takeover of Saturday night including music, cabaret, poetry and cinema

* A full kids program that includes workshops, performance, installation and roving by PO PO MO CO and TrashPuppets and multilingual shows and engagements by Aseel Tayah

* An interactive performance by Melbourne Playback Theatre, where ideas, moments and events from the lives ofindividual audience members are transformed and brought to life by a team of professional actors and musicians

* A bilingual new work in development combining robotics, live performance and streaming by internationalcollaborators Mainteater (Indonesia/Australia)

* Performances and events by theatre veterans and elders Lloyd Jones, Sue Broadway, Kevin Summers,Dennis Coard, Sandy MacGregor, Barry Dickins and more!

This will be the first time La Mama invites audiences back into the space after 3 and half years of fundraising, designing, and building. And of course, multiple lockdowns and a global pandemic!

The WAR-RAK/BANKSIA festival represents the resilience, hope, community, and strength of not only La Mama Theatre and those who love her but also Melbourne’s vibrant theatre and arts scene as it navigates this exceptional time in history.