Golden year season launches for Canberra Theatre Centre

Posted on 20 October, 2014

Canberra Theatre Centre tonight announced a season worthy of the Centre’s 50th birthday year in spectacular fashion with music, theatrics and good old fashioned hospitality.

The event, officially launched by ACT Minister for the Arts Joy Burch, saw an evening hosted by Ghosts in the Scheme performers Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen, plus a surprise performance from the star of multi-award winning production of Sweet Charity Verity Hunt-Ballard.

Director of Canberra Theatre Centre, Bruce Carmichael says the 2015 Season isn’t just about the shows but the chance to be part of something bigger.

“It’s our 50th Birthday year and Canberra’s opportunity to celebrate with us by experiencing some amazingly moving and heart-warming performances that we know will enrich the cultural landscape of our city in 2015.”

“My team and I are extremely proud of the exciting collection of shows we have brought together from nationally and internationally revered arts companies. Collected Works 2015 will showcase 16 very different productions and two bonus shows.

“Every year, we have something different and this year is no exception. With a diverse range of companies on the bill and some of the nations, if not the world’s best performers, there’s definitely something for everyone.”

Kicking off Collected Works 2015 with a laugh is Mother & Son. Fresh from the world premiere season at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre, Noeline Brown (Blankety Blanks) and Darren Gilshenan (The Moody’s, Rake, Full Frontal) take on roles made famous by Ruth Cracknell and Garry McDonald in this nostalgic trip down loss-of-memory lane from the series’ original writer. The laughter continues with Sydney Theatre Company’s The Wharf Revue returning for an extended two week season of irreverent, anarchic political satire, plus the internationally renowned Miriam Margolyes personifies some of literature’s best known colourful characters in The Importance of Being Miriam.

For drama lovers, Queensland Theatre Company brings two shows in 2015. First the powerfully moving, untold story of WW1’s Black Diggers almost 100 years after many Aboriginal soldiers courageously joined the fight at Gallipoli. The second show centres on a nation changing fight of a different kind with Kelly, a fast-moving, action-packed story, portraying the infamous cult hero in a totally new light. The drama unfolds as State Theatre Company of South Australia return with Harold Pinter’s famously moving and probing Betrayal starring Canberra’s own Alison Bell. Finally, Canberra Theatre Centre’s resident arts company Big hART, culminate their three year residency at the Theatre with a story about the Cooma underbelly that will see members of the Snowy community take to the stage in the world premiere of Ghosts in the Scheme. 

Dancing their way into the season are three revered companies including The Australian Ballet, making a timely return to the Canberra Theatre Centre stage in 2015, fifty years after they became the first company to perform at the Theatre’s opening in 1965. Also returning are Sydney Dance Company with Frame of Mind and Bangarra Dance Theatre with lore, both double billed, contrasting performances that are sure to inspire.

It’s also a year for family fun with two familiar stories re-imagined on stage for all to enjoy. Remember 70s cult classic Monkey Magic? Theatre of Image presents a high-energy adaptation of the classic Chinese story in Monkey…Journey to the West, a show filled with comedy, music, song and spectacular martial arts in April. Midyear, Sydney Theatre Company and Barking Gecko bring a moving adaptation of Colin Theile’s Storm Boy in a timeless story about growing up. But Wait…There’s More, literally, as that’s the name of the new Circus Oz rollercoaster of a family show. It leaps onto the stage with an astonishing mix of stunt jumping tumbles, cutting-edge juggling, elegant trapeze flying and ridiculous knockabout multi-skilled human physical exuberance.

Canberrans are treated to a different kind of Circus in February as Brisbane’s Circa return for the third year with the risqué new, Beyond. Featuring dazzling acrobatics, a surreal atmosphere and a pinch of cheeky animal fun, it’s a visual spectacular, filled with plenty of awe-inspiring feats.

Season stalwarts Bell Shakespeare are back with As You Like It starring Zahra Newman (The Government Inspector, Private Lives) as Rosalind and the legendary John Bell as Jaques. Bell also brings one of Shakespeare’s most infamous tragedies, Hamlet to finish the year.

In 2015, season ticket holders also have the chance to receive a special price on two bonus shows; three-time Helpmann Award winning production of Sweet Charity in February and The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra in May.

Collected Works 2015 tickets go on-sale tonight from 6pm tonight to current Season 2014 ticket holders who will have priority access to the best seats in the house. New season ticket holders will be processed from Monday 10 November and will have priority access until Monday 4 November, when single tickets go on-sale*.

For full details on Collected Works 2015, call the Canberra Theatre Centre box office on 02 6275 2700 or visit Canberra Theatre Centre online.

*Bell Shakespeare single tickets go on sale later on Monday 8 December.