Performing arts
Giant seagulls and a new, low-cost blues festival headed to Sydney
Director Olivia Ansell says next year’s Sydney Festival will have a particular emphasis on the harbour, which she hopes will impress even ‘the most jaded Sydneysider’.
- by Nick Galvin
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From singing rock songs in a bar to the top of the operatic world
All-time great tenor Juan Diego Florez, proclaimed by Pavarotti as his musical heir, is making his first Australian tour.
- by Barney Zwartz
Are the Melbourne v Sydney opera wars finally coming to an end?
Opera Australia’s new program is trying to restore some balance between Australia’s biggest cities.
- by Elizabeth Flux
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Arts
New harbourside theatre to bring 1920s vibes to Sydney
The proposed venue is part of multi-million dollar plan to create a major theatre hub district for the city.
- by Linda Morris
How to train a comedian: The stars creating pathways for a new generation
Wil Anderson, Chas Licciardello, Andrew Denton and Dan Ilic are passionate about the need to nurture the next generation of TV comedy talent.
- by Hannah Story
Bring back the silly: Phil Wang reckons comedy has got too serious
The 33-year-old comic intends to loosen up on stage when he visits Sydney.
- by Daniel Herborn
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Arts
The first Aussie novel Reese Witherspoon chose for her book club is hitting the Melbourne stage
Pip Williams’ acclaimed Dictionary of Lost Words is now a hit play – but that’s not all; there’s a TV series in the works too and even a “book-concerto”.
- by Hannah Story
‘A kind of death’: How brides in Hong Kong raged against their fate
Producer and songwriter Rainbow Chan explores the songs of her ancestors, the Weitou people, in her latest work.
- by Lenny Ann Low
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Arts
Award-winning play from American Beauty director to make Australian premiere
The Lehman Trilogy won five Tony Awards for its Broadway run, and five-star reviews for its premiere season in London.
- by Hannah Story
‘Dazzling’: Jose Navas’ homage is an exceptional night of dance
In other Fringe dance productions, Mechorstra shakes and shimmies, Shower Thots drips with sensual energy, Shian Law carries the weight of history, Leisa Prowd shows resilience and Joel Bray blurs gender and genre.
- by Andrew Fuhrmann, Vyshnavee Wijekumar, Cher Tan, Stephen A Russell and Lefa Singleton Norton
Car wrecks, drug binges and a naked Joni Mitchell: Jimmy Webb’s wild ride
At 77, the legendary singer-songwriter has cleaned up his act but he still loves to play his hits in Australia.
- by Bill Wyman