Illawarra Theatre - Detailed Listing
November 2008 - January 2009

Alice in Wonderland
Are You Being Served
Cinderella - Roo Theatre's Summer Pantomime
A Double Bill Classical Production
Dramatic Exploration of Love & Hate
everyone&no-one
MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL
Nuncrackers (The Nunsense Christmas Musical)
Once Upon A Time
Peace Train - The Cat Stevens Story
Santa and the Smog
"SANTA in SPACE" - Christmas Pantomime
Silent Laughter
Sin, Sex and the CIA
That's Showbiz
The BFG
The Nutcracker
The Red Shoes
Treasures from The Vault

A dynamic theatrical mash-up of Nietzche's monumental philosophical text, Thus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and None. What could be more rock 'roll?

Conceived and written by the 7-ON Playwrights' Collective: t Noelle Janaczewska, Catherine Zimdahl, Vanessa Bates, Hilary Bell, Verity Laughton, Donna Abela and Ned Manning.

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Following the success of his Moonshadows production, DARREN COGGAN is to star in a brand new show on the life and times of the legendary singer/songwriter CAT STEVENS.

He will take us on the same journey of discovery and enlightenment as travelled by Cat himself, with unique insights into the heart and mind of one of the greatest singer/songwriters of our time.

During the '70's almost one in two people owned a Cat Stevens album. Yet at the very height of his career in the mid 1970's, Cat Stevens completely disappeared- why?

In a style reminiscent of Looking Through A Glass Onion, John Water's classic portrayal of the life of the late John Lennon., Peace Train - the Cat Stevens Story features all the songs the whole world sang along with, including; Father & Son, Lady D'arbanville, Morning Has Broken, The Old School Yard, On The Road To Find Out, Wild World, Where Do The Children Play, Moonshadow, Matthew & Son, Hard Headed Woman, Sad Lisa, Longer Boats and many many more.

Cast: DARREN COGGAN

Technical:

The VoiceworX Performers Showcase will take audiences on a magical journey through the colourful and exciting heartland of musical theatre: Broadway.

Beneath the bright lights, the talented performers in That's Showbiz will transport you back to the heady excitement in the golden era of 1940's and 50's Broadway, then travel through the edgy, risque and ground-breaking territory that followed. All this before bursting onto stage with the beloved hits from the Broadway Revival of the past 20 years!

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RPM/SONO Theatre Company

Now in its fourth year, Treasures From returns for its annual revelry, showcasing some of the most provoking and electrifying performances from Port Kembla's infamous Vault Cabaret. Take in acts as diverse as contemporary sideshow, new vaudeville, music, comedy and of course circus.

Acts include* Lil Piggy Lil, Circus Wow with Drew Fairly, Edith Sweet Cakes, Pepi Guiseppi, Rose Turtle Ertier, Larry Olive and Miles Merrill

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West Australian Ballet

Based on the Hans Christian Andersen tale and the 1948 movie which starred Sir Robert Helpmann.

The Red Shoes is one of the greatest dance stories of our time and tells the tale of a beautiful ballerina torn between her two passions - ballet, and the man she loves. Although essentially a love story, The Red Shoes has become a favourite of dance lovers of all ages as the quintessential celebration of the artform.

Cast: Leading Artists: - Benjamin Marett, Jennifer Provins, Jayne Smeulders
Guest Artist:
Carole Hill

Technical: Costumes: Leon Krasenstein, Sets: Leon Krasenstein, Lighting: Joseph Mercurio,

Booking essential

Technical:

Features mostly obvious humour based on sexual innuendo, misunderstandings, and mistaken identity, as well as sight gags generated by outrageous costumes the characters are sometimes required to wear for store promotions, and gaudy store displays frequently featuring malfunctioning robotic mannequins.

Characters tinclude the effeminate Mr Humphries, who lives with his mother; Captain Peacock, the haughty floorwalker who allegedly fought Rommel in the North Africa Campaign of World War II; and the snobbish and boisterous Mrs Slocombe of the ever-changing hair colour.

Cast: Brian McGinn, Diana Brown, Dale Watts, Linda Corrin, Tim Baker, Ben Verdon, Kilmeny Adie, Brett Osseweier , Sam Ford, Tom Hadley, Erin Bubb, Alan Collis, Gillian Vickers, Bruce Polonis, Olav Lehmann

Technical: S.M. - Linda Corrin, Set: Bruce Polonis, Lighting: Luke Berman, Artwork: Matt Jones, Light & Sound Op: Lajos Hamers, Megan and Gabi Harding, Luke Berman

The title is an apt description of this assemblage of zany characters that meet up in a CIA 'safe house in the backwoods of Virginia. A high level meeting of two Governments is to lake place when a storm knocks out any and all communication with the outside world.

The cast includes a bumbling recent graduate from CIA school, a very amorous female, a retired military man, a disguised OPEC negotiator, an incompetent non-chef, and an 'over the top' Bible thumping preacher and his innocent' Assistant.

Cast:

Technical:

This spectacular production showcases the dancing, singing and acting talents of the Rhythmic Moves students.

There are lots of surprises in store as they present a musical comedy version of the ballet The Nutcracker. When the children receive their presents at the Staulbahm's Christmas Eve party, Clara doesn't like her nutcracker doll. She would rather travel the world like grown-ups. But she changes her mind when the nutcracker magically springs to life! This is a must-see night of fun-filled entertainment for the whole family.

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The timeless tale of a young girl named alice who chases a white rabbit down a rabbit hole into a 'wonderland' of her own imagination. Join alice as she encounters an unbirthday tea party with the mad hatter, a battle between tweedledum and tweedledee, the cheshire cat and a host of other delightful characters. Will she ever find her way back home again? Or will the queen of hearts, who delights in chopping off heads, have her way and keep alice in wonderland forever?

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In this show my team of sisters and I bring to you our Christmas radio broadcast. We also have Father Virgil Manly Trott (Sister Mary Leo’s brother) helping us out.

As usual, we have many difficulties to overcome, such as Sister Robert Anne’s constant desire to show off, Sister Mary Paul’s apparent ease at getting the words wrong, Sister Mary Leo still trying to be the first Nun ballerina, and of course, my second-in-command, Sister Mary Hubert who is just a bit too opinionated for my liking. But there you go, we are a crazy lot of nuns who want to raise funds for our Mt St Helen’s School, so of course we have the students involved too and they do a wonderful job - the little cherubs!

So if you want to spend an evening with us and find out exactly why Santa Ain’t Coming to Our House, and should I mention the Nutcracker Ballet….. perhaps not. Hope to see you at the Miners’ Lamp Theatre.

Cast: Mother Superior: Pat Green, Sister Mary Hubert: Neryl East, Sister Mary Paul: Jennifer Bond, Sister Robert Anne: Amy Wyatt, Father Virgil:Michael Bond
The Holly Team
Natasha Bussoletti (Louise), Scott Darrand (John), Tiah Duckitt (Patti, new character), Elise Hofman (Maria), Mathew Varga (Billy)
The Ivy Team
Jack Arnold (John), Tanniah Kwan (Maria), Hannah Rodwell (Louise), Darcy Scrine (Patti, new character), Matthew Shorten (Billy)

Technical:

'Santa and the Smog' follows the adventures of Rudolph and Santa as they head off on the Christmas Eve present delivery run. But why won't the sleigh go? It seems that the evil Smog has his own plans, plans to ruin Christmas for everyone.

Help Santa and Rudolph as they travel to the Australian bush. You will meet new friends, sing some songs, discover what Christmas is all about and learn how to defeat Smog by saving some energy!

'Santa and the Smog' has lots of audience participation plus heaps of songs, some new and some familiar, with tunes by local musician Malika Elizabeth.

Cast: Incuding Stephen Jones, Shannon Faith

Technical:

Discover all of the fun and adventure under the sea as the students from Joanne Grace School of Dance tell the story of Ariel, the fun-loving and mischievous mermaid. You will be taken underwater to a world of fantasy and watch as Ariel triumphs to become part of the human world. Come and be a part of this end-of-year celebration for 2008.

Technical:

The BFG is no ordinary bone-crunching giant. He is far too nice and jumbly, and it's lucky for Sophie that he is. Had she been snitched from her bed by Fleshlumpeater, Bonecruncher, Bloodbottler or any of the other giants, she wouldn't have stood a chance, and would have been guzzled like a whiffswhiddle before you could say 'rack jobinson'. Whisked off to giant land, Sophie is shocked and horrified by the BFG's repulsive neighbours. When she hears that they are flushbunking off to England that very night to swollomp a few nice little English chiddlers, she decides she must put a stop to them at once! Sophie and the BFG cook up an ingenious plan to rid the world of trogglehumping, bogthumping giants for ever!

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Pratfalls, pranks and pies in the face. Sultry vamps, little tramps and a conundrum of Keystone Cops. This comic tour de force stars a dashing hero, down and out-of-luck tramp Billy, who overcomes gaols, poverty, World War I and dastardly villain Lionel Drippinwithit, to win the heart of Ruth, the girl of his dreams. Inspired by Charlie Chaplin and the legends of the pre-talky film, this 1917 silent slapstick is a tribute to the silent movie era.

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Cast members will be performing the prologue of Chapel Perilous, a play about acceptance, individuality and repression in Australia during the 30’s. It a very moving piece and explores the many relationships a talented teenage girl faces from boyfriends, parents, friends, her priest and her teachers.

The group will also be performing the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet, and two of local writer, Alan Mackay’s, one act plays, The Ghost and All My Love Paul.

All the pieces look at love in it’s different forms from love at first sight to long lasting passionate love and loss.

Bookings Essential

Technical:

Elite Syncopations:
A completely stripped back theatre bursts into life as dancers in brilliantly coloured costumes gather to dance. Vibrant Ragtime favourites from Scott Joplin accompany a string of sketches that are witty, dazzling and touching as each dancer takes their turn.

The Adventures Of Snugglepot And Cuddlepie:
This Ballet brings the enchanting world of May Gibbs and her charming bush creatures to audiences of all ages. The Gumnuts, childlike creatures of the Australian Bush, share a series of adventures with their animal friends Mrs Kookaburra and Mr Lizard while avoiding the evil Banksia Men.

Technical:

Come along and join Dame Dangle, Captain Dick Daring and their merry band of heroes as they go beyond the final frontier to rescue Santa from the clutches of the evil Vileun the Vile!

Join us on opening night with a complementary glass of wine and cheese for the adults and an ice block for the children.

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HIT Productions

The hilarious celebration of women and The Change! Do you think that 500,000 Australian women could be wrong? We don’t think so. After all, that is the number who have seen this hilarious show over the last two and a half years. And they love it! So much so, many of the audience members have come back time and time again to join with their sisters in this 90 minute, one act laugh-a-thon!

Maybe the attraction is the songs that everyone grew up with - The Great Pretender, Only You, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Stand by Your Man, I Will Survive and twenty more - all sung with gusto and all with their ‘new’ lyrics. Or maybe it is the realisation that there is a wonderful life waiting after ‘The Change.’

Make it a girls' night out! Stay for drinks after the show, the bar will be open. All group bookers will receive a free drink on arrival.

Cast: Dubbo Housewife: Angela Ayers, Soap Star: Vivien Davies, Power Woman: Maria Mercedes, Earth Mother: Cindy Pritchard

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