Most reviewers might give you a “best of 2017” but it’s that time of year when Performing Arts organizations announce their new seasons. Here’s my purely personal “can’t miss 2018”. In the city only … still exploring Riverside and the Joan and Miranda and Casula Powerhouse and Pymble and Manly and Chatswood … and and and … I need a good lie down.
JANUARY Theatre: Sydney Festival THE TOWN HALL AFFAIR Why? Because I have to pick one and it is a bumper Sydney Festival to take all of January. Less traffic, warm days, arts for all. https://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/2018/the-town-hall-affair
FEBRUARY Queer Culture: Mardi Gras MUSEUM OF LOVE AND PROTEST Why? Because I have to pick one. Again! http://www.mardigras.org.au/events/museum-of-love-protest Theatre: Genesians TRAVELLING NORTH Why? An iconic theatre company in an iconic premises, for the moment. Nostalgia for when I worked there as a tiny techie. http://www.genesiantheatre.com.au/index.php?mode=next
MARCH Dance: Carriageworks/Meg Stuart SOLO WORKS Why? “movements not chosen” what the hell does that mean. This obviously needs to be experienced. http://carriageworks.com.au/events/meg-stuart-evening-solo-works/ Theatre: Sydney Theatre Company/ Melbourne Theatre Company THE CHILDREN Why? Because Sarah Goodes is back. https://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/whats-on/productions/2018/the-children Theatre: Bell Shakespeare ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA Why? How do you bring a woman who loses an empire up to date? https://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/whats-on/antony-and-cleopatra/ Theatre: Ensemble SORTING OUT RACHAEL Why? I missed David Williamson when he went away and now I see everything of his. This is a new one! https://www.ensemble.com.au/shows/david-williamsons-sorting-rachel/
APRIL Theatre: Red Line Productions THE WOLVES Why? Just part of their commitment to strong women’s work. Sporty women here. https://www.redlineproductions.com.au/the-wolves Theatre: ATYP PATRICE BALBINA'S CHANCE ENCOUNTER WITH THE END OF THE WORLD Why? I saw it last time. It’s a dynamic work and I want to see how it has changed … and if our world has changed. Sadly, I think maybe not. http://www.atyp.com.au/patrice-balbinas-chance-encounter-the-end-the-world-0 Theatre: Old 505/Dino Dimitriadis/ Apocalypse Theatre Company RAPID READS Why? Call me shallow … I like to see stuff first. https://old505theatre.com/shows/rapid-reads-1510962258.html Theatre: Darlinghurst Theatre Company THE SOUND OF WAITING Why? A tiny wooden boat and roaring seas... Oh still my beating technical theatre heart. Not just the visuals, a relevant and important story. http://www.darlinghursttheatre.com/whats-on/2018-season
MAY Theatre: Griffin GOOD COOK, FRIENDLY, CLEAN Why? Social messaging with intelligent engagement … that’s what it looks like to me. http://www.griffintheatre.com.au/whats-on/good-cook-friendly-clean/ Dance: Sydney Dance Company ab [intra] Why? Bonachela always creates work of athleticism and excitement. https://www.sydneydancecompany.com/productions/ab-intra/#.Wh0cX0qWbDc Books: Sydney Writers Festival:Details not yet announced Why? I’m proud to say I’m a volunteer. You can too. https://www.swf.org.au/ Theatre: Red Line Productions STALKING THE BOGEYMAN Why: Neil Gooding directs. True story. Male POV. https://www.redlineproductions.com.au/stalking-the-bogeyman Musical/Cabaret: Hayes Theatre CARLOTTA QUEEN OF THE CROSS Why? Just because … so there! https://hayestheatre.com.au/event/carlotta-queen-of-the-cross/ Musical: Hayes Theatre GYPSY Why? Blazey Best, Blazey Best, Blazey Best https://hayestheatre.com.au/event/gypsy/
JUNE Storytelling: Giant Dwarf THE MOTH LIVE Why? I listen to the podcast. Time I saw a show live. Might even out my name in the hat, I have a funny story about the time I .... Sorry, I digress. https://giantdwarf.com.au/events/the-moth/ Dance: Bangarra Dance Theatre DARK EMU Why? Soundscapes are where my heart lies. So are visual images made by humans. https://www.bangarra.com.au/whatson/productions/darkemu-2018 Theatre: Old 505/ Motimaru Dance Company TWILIGHT and MUT Why? Berlin and Butoh? Whatthe… https://old505theatre.com/shows/twilight-and-mut-1510965092.html Theatre: Depot Theatre DASH Why? I don’t have a sister but my friend does and I want to see her squirm. Is that too much information about me? http://thedepottheatre.com/dash
JULY Theatre: Belvoir A TASTE OF HONEY Why? I remember being thrilled when reading it as a young woman. Never seen it though, https://belvoir.com.au/productions/a-taste-of-honey/ Theatre: New Theatre STUPID FUCKING BIRD Why? There’s a production of THE SEAGULL on in town at the moment. It will be fun to compare. https://newtheatre.org.au/stupid-fucking-bird/ Theatre: Darlinghurst Theatre Company TORCH SONG TRILOGY Why? Because it's top shit fun and melancholy. http://www.darlinghursttheatre.com/whats-on/2018-season Theatre: Ensemble Theatre MARJORIE PRIME Why? Well.. Mitchell Butel obviously but it’s also my Nan’s name. Silly really but I’m sticking by it. https://www.ensemble.com.au/shows/marjorie-prime/ Theatre: PACT/Ten Tonne Sparrow LOVE SONG DEDICATIONS (WITHOUT RICHARD MERCER) Why? Go on. Call me a romantic and get it over with. Throw in long-time-listener, way-too-often-caller. Hope I used a pseudonym. http://www.pact.net.au/2018-program/
AUGUST (I'm going away) Musical: Depot Theatre/Louis Ellis Productions CARRIE THE MUSICAL Why? Seriously … this I have to see. http://thedepottheatre.com/carre-the-musical
SEPTEMBER Theatre: SYDNEY FRINGE FESTIVAL Why? Because I have horrible FOMO and want to see everything … nothing else happens in September as far as I am concerned! https://sydneyfringe.com/
OCTOBER Theatre: Belvoir AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE Why? Kate Mulvany … duh. https://belvoir.com.au/productions/an-enemy-of-the-people/ Theatre: Bell Shakespeare JULIUS CAESAR Why? Because nobody does it better. https://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/whats-on/juliuscaesar/ Theatre: New Theatre WHAT THE BUTLER SAW Why? Not many companies tackle a farce these days and with New’s wide stage there should be infinite possibilities for door slamming and inappropriate (ahem) entries. https://newtheatre.org.au/what-the-butler-saw/ Musical: Red Line Productions SHERLOCK AND ME Why? Never miss a new musical … just in case. https://www.redlineproductions.com.au/sherlock-and-me Musical: Hayes Theatre A TIVOLI STORY Why? My mum worked at the Tiv. https://hayestheatre.com.au/event/evie-may-a-tivoli-story/ Theatre: Old 505 LIE WITH ME Why? It looks grim. And insightful. https://old505theatre.com/shows/lie-with-me-1510971194.html
NOVEMBER Theatre: Sydney Theatre Company A CHEERY SOUL Why? My oldest mate and I played in this at Teachers College and if she was still here we would see it together. She played Miss Docker but I got an award for playing the Nurse. We were happy competitors all of our 60 year friendship. https://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/whats-on/productions/2018/a-cheery-soul Theatre: ATYP/Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre THE CLIMBING TREE Why? A rural story and I am a country girl at heart. http://www.atyp.com.au/the-climbing-tree Theatre: PACT/Ninefold Ensemble WYRD Why? It’s Halloween, silly http://www.pact.net.au/2018-program/
DECEMBER (Running out of puff now) Music: Ensemble Offering LONE HEMISPHERES Why? The composer is an architect and mathematician and form and the destruction of form is thrilling. http://carriageworks.com.au/events/lone-hemispheres/ Comedy: Griffin THE SMALLEST HOUR Why? It looks charming and the male/female dynamic is unusual and alluring. http://www.griffintheatre.com.au/whats-on/the-smallest-hour/ Dance: Sydney Dance Company/Carriageworks NEW BREED Why? Saves me running around to see lots of new works. They are brought together in one place. https://www.sydneydancecompany.com/productions/new-breed-2018/#.WhzmekqWbDc
I really do need a lie down and exciting companies like KXT Bakehouse http://www.kingsxtheatre.com/ and Tap Gallery http://www.tapgallery.org.au/ haven’t even announced their 2018 season yet!
Now that you know where to find me… what is your must see in 2018?
