The Canberra Theatre 2017 season has something for everyone – there will be sing-alongs, tears and lots of laughter throughout the year.
What should you see at the Canberra Theatre this year? We have pulled together some of the highlights from the 2017 Collected Works season, and with the theatre year about to begin, it is a good time to get your friends together and pick your top picks.
Launching the season is Ladies in Black (27 March – 2 April) – taking you back to Sydney in 1959, this musical follows the adventures of school leaver Lisa, as her eyes are opened to a new world of working in a prestigious Department Store. This Queensland Theatre Company production features the music of Tim Finn.
Get ready to party in your seats
MAMMA-MIA
Image supplied by Canberra Theatre
Did someone say MAMMA MIA!? The big news for the 2017 season is that Canberra is hosting the launch of the Australian season of this feel-good musical. This is the first time a national touring company has launched a full-scale production in Canberra. MAMMA MIA! is a timeless musical, set to the songs of ABBA; it is pure escapism. Get your friends together and get ready to party in your seats from 24 November–10 December. We will see you there!
Bell Shakespeare brings two dark works of Shakespeare to the stage. Delve into some English history with a contemporary (and distorted) performance of Richard 3 (6 – 15 April) with actress Kate Mulvany in the leading role; followed by the lighter empathy and compassion of the Merchant of Venice (13–21 October).
For those that enjoy the comedic words of Shakespeare, The State Theatre Company brings in the clowns with The Popular Mechanicals (1-4 November). This witty stage show will be sure to amuse even the toughest of teenage audiences.
Kate Mulvany as Richard 3
Photo: Prudence Upton | Canberra Theatre
The stage will be filled with dance throughout the year. Redefining how the body moves, Sydney Dance Company’s Orb (25–27 May), includes the world premiere of Full Moon by Cheng Tsung-lung and Ocho by Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela and Nick Wales. We loved the Sydney Dance Company’s 2016 performances in CounterMove and are looking forward to seeing what Orb brings to the stage.
Bangarra Dance Theatre explores Australia’s history in Bennelong (3-5 August). Choreographed by Artistic Director Stephen Page; the piece is inspired by the story of Eora, elder of Woollarawarre Bennelong. Blending traditional with contemporary, Bangarra performances are always deeply moving.
The cast of Corranderrk
Image Patrick Boland supplied by Canberra Theatre
Also, exploring our history, Ilbijerri Theatre Company and Belvoir, bring Coranderrk to the stage (14-15 June) – the story of men and women living on the Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve in 1863, taking on the Aboriginal Protection Board. The preview we saw for Coranderrk was striking, a story we had not heard before, and we quickly added it to our short-list.
The cast of 1984
Photo: Headlong | Canberra Theatre
The George Orwell literary classic, 1984 will be onstage from 25-29 July. Produced by UK company Headlong, this adaptation has received rave reviews on the West End and the season sold out in Melbourne.
Talk (31 May–3 June) explores how journalism, fits into the world of 24 hour-news-cycle and social media. With John Waters in the lead role as popular talkback-radio host, John Behan, we think this talk-fest will be a crowd pleaser.
We have shared our highlights from the Canberra Theatre 2017 season; yet there is a lot more scheduled throughout the year, see the full program on the Canberra Theatre website.
Tips:
- Some performances include pre-show forums or post-show Q&As which add an extra element to your theatre experience.
- Interested in seeing four or more performances? Consider a subscription package to save some money and get the best seats.
- Accessible theatre – some productions include audio described or live captioned performances, as well as tactile tours for vision impaired patrons.
- If you are under 27, the theatre offers special ticket pricing.
