Stages With Peter Eyers

Shane Jacobson is one of Australia’s most loved, award-winning actors, presenters and entertainers.  His incredible and varied career spans over 40 years both here at home and internationally. The successful film Kenny brought Shane world-wide recognition in 2006 as well as an AFI Award for best lead actor.  Shane’s subsequent credits include Cactus, Charlie & Boots, the animated Santa’s Apprentice, Surviving Georgia and Hollywood blockbuster The Bourne Legacy, the hugely popular Oddball, The Dressmaker and, more recently, The BBQ, That’s Not My Dog!, Guardians of the Tomb, Brothers’ Nest, Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black, The Very Excellent Mr Dundee and Never Too Late.  As a TV host, presenter and actor, Shane’s appearances have been numerous and varied. Some of his shows have included hosting and presenting at the Australian Film Institute Awards, Top Gear Australia, The Great Australian Bake Off, The Logies, Little Big Shots, Australia Now & Then and Inside Central Station, as well as telemovies 

To celebrate the 500 milestone we give you a highlights package - just a few of the stand-out moments from 7 years of the STAGES podcast.It is by no means ALL of the wonderful moments, but just a few that stand out for me - joyous moments along the way.The podcast has featured on-stage and off-stage roles from a variety of genres - Musical theatre, Theatre, Dance, Opera, Vaudeville, Drag, Television, Film, Variety and Arts Education have all been explored.We’ve celebrated shows - such as the 40th Anniversary of the Australian production of CHICAGO (w Nancye Hayes & Geraldine Turner) and 50 years on THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW in Oz. And we chronicled the evolution of new shows, in documentations of Noelle Janaczewska’s THE END OF WINTER - and Robyn Kennedy’s commission for World Pride - CAMP - both produced by Siren Theatre Company and directed by Kate Gaul.We’ve featured a TONY Awards episode each year - and looked at the highlights from Broadway and The West End with regular theatre pilgrims Iain Phipps and S

To celebrate reaching this milestone of 500 … the podcast will be dropping an episode a day for the next week.It’s a stellar line up and I cannot wait to share each episode with you.Episode 502 is a highlights package featuring some of my favourite moments from the seven seasons of the show.Episode 503 features funny man and all round nice guy Shane Jacobson, currently on stage in Sydney in Neil Simon’s THE ODD COUPLE.In Episode 504 we talk with Playwright Melanie Tait. Her new play THE QUEEN’S NANNY takes to the stage in September at The Ensemble Theatre.For Episode 505 I was thrilled to talk with Australian choreographer Fabian Aloise. Fabian has recently opened his first show in the West End theatre district of London as Director, with the musical KATHY & STELLA SOLVE A MURDER.Fabian is also the choreographer for the exciting new take on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s SUNSET BOULEVARD. The production directed by Jamie Lloyd and starring Nicole Scherzinger won 7 Olivier awards and opens on Broadway in October.Ne

After many requests and prompts, I’ve given in. The A-listers were not available for this milestone episode of the STAGES podcast, so you get me in the chair. But who to fire the questions and prod the guest? There was only one person in my mind; longtime listener and champion of all things theatre, Mark Humphries. The talented Mr Humphries is urbane, informed and care personified. What else could one ask for? And yes!!! It is an old headshot. I know. It’s from the attic! Thankyou Mark. And thank you listeners. Episode 500! Here we go! Peter Eyers is a graduate of the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. He is presently the Head of Drama at an Independent School in Sydney.  Peter is a passionate advocate for the Arts in education and a keen proponent of Australia’s rich Arts heritage. These qualities have contributed to the evolution of the STAGES podcast and a quest to record oral histories from the artists, the creatives and the ancillary roles that have contributed so vividly to what we relish on st

Warwick Fyfe is an Australian opera singer, considered to be one of Australia’s leading exponents of the Wagnerian repertoire and is the recipient of Helpmann and Green Room awards.Warwick has performed throughout Australasia and internationally. Most recently, he has sung the rôles of Wotan / Wanderer (MO, OMM and Alberich, OA). Other Wagner rôles include Heerrufer (OA); Beckmesser (OA); Klingsor (OA); Hunding (WASO); Dutchman (OA), Daland (VO); Wolfram (OA); Fasolt (SOSA).Other major work encompasses Amonasro (Aida-FNO, OA); Pizarro (Fidelio-MO, OA,WASO); Athanaël (Thaïs-FNO); Peter (Hansel and Gretel- OA),OMM); Four Villains (Tales of Hoffmann-ETO); Falstaff (OA); Rigoletto (OA, NZO); Sancho Panza (Don Quichotte- OA); Paolo (Simon Boccanegra- OA); Leporello (NZO) (OA); Fra Melitone (Forza del Destino- OA); Scarpia (WAO, OA); Tonio (I Pagliacci- NZO); Faninal (Der Rosenkavalier- OA); Schaunard (La Boheme- OA); Dr Schon /Jack the Ripper (Lulu- OA); Germont (La Traviata- OA); Mandryka (Arabella-OA). Warwick h

Edward Dick trained as a theatre director with Cheek by Jowl, and has directed acclaimed theatre and opera productions across the UK and abroad. Edward’s first short film, An Act of Love, starring Stephen Mangan and Gina McKee, premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival in 2010 and has played at festivals around the world. His second short That Woman was also successful on the festival circuit and led to his first project for television, A Little Cracker for Hillbilly / Sky 1. In 2016 he was invited to take part in the BBC’s continuing drama training scheme, which has seen him direct multiple episodes of BBC One dramas Holby City and Doctors, receiving an RTS nomination for outstanding new talent for his work on the latter.  He is a member of BFI NETWORK x BAFTA Crew 2021 and was recently named by the BBC as one of its ‘broadcasting stars of the future.’In 2020 he took part in the Directors UK High End Drama training programme on Silent Witness, directing 2nd Unit and working across all aspects of the productio

The annual TONY Awards ceremony celebrates the best and brightest of the Broadway season. And I’m delighted that one of our favourite performers, who has graced the great white way, is the STAGES guest for our TONY episode.Caroline O’Connor is one of the foremost interpreters of musical theatre in the world. Projects have taken her from Sydney to Paris to London and the bright lights of Broadway in a vast array of leading roles, that are coveted by musical theatre performers at their peak.At 17 she won a scholarship to the prestigious Royal Ballet School in London. The discipline and routine of such classes instilled in her a fierce work ethic that allows her characterisations to be delivered with boundless energy, masterful timing, consummate skill and infinite joy.Her career continues to reward her with great stories, mesmerising performances and a loyal audience. She commenced the year returning to Jerry Herman’s Mack & Mabel, this time in the role of Lotte, in a fully staged concert season in Los Ange

Neil Armfield AO is a leading Australian director of theatre, opera and film. Alongside Rachel Healy, Neil was Artistic Director of Adelaide Festival between 2017 and 2022. Prior to that, Neil was the inaugural Artistic Director of Belvoir St Theatre, which he also co-founded, for 17 years.   As Artistic Director of Belvoir, and for other companies, Neil has directed well over 100 productions, with a focus on new and Indigenous writing, Shakespeare, David Hare and Patrick White.  Some highlights include; The Tempest, Hamlet, Up the Road, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Keating!, Toy Symphony, Dallas Winmar’s Aliwa, Angels in America, A Cheery Soul, Signal Driver, The Blind Giant is Dancing and Things I KnowTo Be True. Neil’s production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman opened in late 2023 to glowing reviews. Produced by GWB Entertainment and Red Line Productions at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne, it starred Anthony LaPaglia and Alison Whyte. After the success of the Melbourne season, the play will be

Genevieve Lemon has appeared in many premiere Australian productions in a 40-plus year career including Steaming, Steel Magnolias, Seventeen, Miracle City, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Billy Elliot, which she also played in London’s West End.Other performances include Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Death of a Salesman, Summer Rain, The Venetian Twins, Summer of the 17th Doll and North by Northwest. Screen performances include Sweetie, The Piano, Top of the Lake and The Power of the Dog (among others with Jane Campion); Ticket to Paradise, Colin from Accounts, Prisoner, Here Out West, The Dressmaker, Suburban Mayhem, Rake, The Tourist, Acute Misfortune, Population 11 and the upcoming feature film Runt. Awards include Helpmann, Green Room and Sydney Theatre Critics awards for Best Actress in a Musical for Billy Elliot and Best Actress in a Feature Film from the Sydney Film Critics’ Circle for Sweetie.Genevieve Lemon returns to the musical theatre stage as the Mother Superior in Sister Act which opens at

Genevieve Lemon has appeared in many premiere Australian productions in a 40-plus year career including Steaming, Steel Magnolias, Seventeen, Miracle City, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Billy Elliot, which she also played in London’s West End.Other performances include Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Death of a Salesman, Summer Rain, The Venetian Twins, Summer of the 17th Doll and North by Northwest. Screen performances include Sweetie, The Piano, Top of the Lake and The Power of the Dog (among others with Jane Campion); Ticket to Paradise, Colin from Accounts, Prisoner, Here Out West, The Dressmaker, Suburban Mayhem, Rake, The Tourist, Acute Misfortune, Population 11 and the upcoming feature film Runt. Awards include Helpmann, Green Room and Sydney Theatre Critics awards for Best Actress in a Musical for Billy Elliot and Best Actress in a Feature Film from the Sydney Film Critics’ Circle for Sweetie.Genevieve Lemon returns to the musical theatre stage as the Mother Superior in Sister Act which opens at

Dillie Keane is one-third of iconic Cabaret trio Fascinating Aida. She is presently in Australia for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, where alongside her partners in song, Liza Pulman and Adèle Anderson, Fascinating Aida will present a 40th anniversary show. Since their first performance together in 1983, the trio have racked-up millions of internet followers, performed in the world’s most prestigious venues and have been showered with awards and plaudits galore. Proving they’re still in their glorious prime, these mistresses of their craft ring in this four-decade milestone with their trademark diamond-sharp satire, lyrical wit and belligerent sass.  The bare bones of Dillie’s life are these. Born Portsmouth 1952. Father a GP. Three much older, very nice siblings who have done nothing but grace the name of Keane and distinguish themselves in every way. Family despaired of Dillie ever conforming.  Educated at Portsmouth High School (very happy) and then at successive Convents of the Sacred Heart (first Hove, wh

Extensive experience throughout Australia in theatre, film, radio and television, over several decades, established Robert van Mackelenberg as one of our leading actors.Studying in New Zealand, Robert’s journey through the theatre was as a stage manager first but he soon found his true place was in assuming the great roles in classical and contemporary theatre.He has worked with many companies throughout Australia and New Zealand in over 150 productions, including leading roles in such modern classics as The Elephant Man, Amadeus, Equus, Chinchilla, Long Day’s Journey into Night, The Cherry Orchard, The Seagull, and Break of Noon.His formidable list of leading roles in the great classics of world theatre include Antony and Cleopatra, Hamlet, The Country Wife, The Recruiting Officer, and Romeo and Juliet.Modern Australian classics include Emerald City, Sons of Cain, Away, and The Man from Muckinupin. The list of musicals to his credit include Hello Dolly, Pal Joey, Company, Cole, and Happy End.Television and f

The STAGES podcast is now in its Seventh year. Over that time we’ve garnered a vast number of insightful and glorious conversations with a broad range of artists.Some of these have recorded fascinating histories with the elders from various disciplines - theatre, dance, opera, musical theatre, television - the list goes on.We’ve also been able to record reflection and story from various younger talents, commencing careers in an industry that can often be precarious.One of the delightful opportunities in entering our seventh season is catching up again with some of those emerging creatives and performers …. A re-cord record STAGES intends to pursue in coming seasons.This could be considered STAGES ‘7-up’ series of discussions. A unique chance to check in with young artists at 5 -year intervals perhaps?In 2019, STAGES recorded with Lighting Designer and Director, Alexander Berlage. He was in rehearsal for the musical - AMERICAN PSYCHO. We also spoke to Music Theatre performer Todd Jacobsson, who was about to co

As one of our finest actors, Keith Robinson carved a career on stages around the country. As a  wit and treasured talisman, he kept us informed and in stitches with his regular postings on social media.Keith’s repertoire of characters included the great clowns of Shakespeare. He was admired for his tremendous physicality in realising these endearing fools and jesters …. and for his dependability in affecting an audience.As a member of the ensemble at Belvoir Theatre, he contributed to the success of milestone productions such as Hamlet, The Tempest, The Alchemist, Night On Bald Mountain and Picasso at the Lapin Agile. Keith’s extensive theatre credits also included the Dickensian epic Nicholas Nickleby with the Sydney Theatre Company ……  and ventures into musical theatre with the premiere Australian production of Les Miserables. As performer and playwright -  Keith co-authored (with Tony Taylor) the silly, comic romp The Popular Mechanicals - a fond valentine to the determined amateur acting troupe of Shakesp

Entertainer Doug Lucas has been delighting audiences around the country for several decades as a comic, a creative and much loved drag performer. Chiefly his performance stage has been found in various Melbourne venues. Doug is a pioneer of these establishments, commencing Melbourne's first gay disco in 1975 and the legendary show evening, Pokeys, in 1977. “It was only going to be a little Sunday night show but it grew and grew”, Lucas recalls. “We started without any sets or props, then started doing little simple sets”. As its popularity grew, those simple sets became increasingly elaborate, as did the costumes and staging. “We used to do a massive, massive show. They were the biggest drag shows Melbourne has seen.” Doug has been performing and running events ever since. Most recently with the very popular Broadside entertainments.He is a legend of the Melbourne scene and a most charismatic fellow. You’ll quickly discover in this terrific conversation with the fabulous Doug Lucas.The STAGES podcast is a

Iain Sinclair is one of Australia’s finest, award winning theatre directors specialising in new writing and contemporary international work. Iain established the critically acclaimed theatre company Elbow Theatre in Canberra, where he received four Critics Circle Awards. He received a Sydney Theatre Award for his production of The Seed by Kate Mulvaney and is also an AWGIE Award nominated director. He has directed a number of highly praised main stage productions in Sydney including Our Town  by Thornton Wilder for The Sydney Theatre Company, which was described as “a triumph”. His production of Arthur Miller’s, All my Sons was described as “A rock solid production of a play that makes you shake your head in wonderment”.  Iain has also directed for The Melbourne Theatre Company, The Ensemble, The Queensland Theatre Company, Belvoir and Sport for Jove with celebrated productions of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? By Edward Albee, The Caretaker by Harold Pinter, A View From The Bridge by Arthur Miller, Mojo by

Tim Draxl is an actor and singer with a career spanning more than two decades.Most recently he was seen in the SBS anthology television series Erotic Stories, for which he has received an AACTA Nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama series, and the lead role in ABC’s four-part musical drama In Our Blood, for which he has received both an AACTA Nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series and TV WEEK Logie Award Nomination for Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series.On stage, Tim was most recently seen in Belvoir’s Into The Woods as ‘Cinderella’s Prince/ Wolf’ and in the role of ‘Steve Healy’ for the first overseas tour of Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill produced by GWB. Other theatre credits include critically acclaimed Only Heaven Knows, Catch Me If You Can and Evie May (all for Hayes Theatre), Torch Song Trilogy (Darlinghurst Theatre Company), Lip Service, Mothers and Sons (Ensemble Theatre), Freeway – The Chet Baker Journey (Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Festival, Brisbane Festival), N

Happy Anniversary to the original Australian company of The Rocky Horror Show - the production opened at the New Art Cinema, Glebe on April 19th, 1974. This outrageous musical has a book, musical and lyrics by Richard O’Brien, and is a  tribute to the B-grade Science Fiction and Horror films of the 1930s to early 60s. It’s premiere production was produced and directed by the brilliant Australian creative Jim Sharman, upstairs at the Royal Court Theatre on 19th June, 1973.The iconic Australian production was produced by the legendary impresario Harry M. Miller and directed by the brilliant Jim Sharman.A veritable who’s who of actors filled the roles throughout its first Australian productions. The musical continued to host extraordinary talents in the flamboyant roles through the decades since, and the show has morphed through different production approaches to realise the camp tale of Dr Frank N. Furter and the disturbed, disruptive and decadent inhabitants of his isolated castle.The show awakens a sexuality

Vivid Sydney is an annual celebration of creativity, innovation and technology, which transforms Sydney for 23 days and nights.  In 2024, for its 14th year, Vivid Sydney will fuse art, innovation and technology in collaboration with some of the most boundary-pushing artists, musicians, thinkers and culinary experts of our time. Mark the dates 24 May – 15 June 2024 in your calendar and explore the program of Light, Music, Ideas and Food, united by this year’s artistic direction, "Vivid Sydney, Humanity”. Vivid Sydney 2024 explores what makes us human and how we can make a better world, together. Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government's tourism and major events agency. At the helm of this creative fusion and imagination is Artistic Director, Gill Minervini.For over 35 years Gill has produced some of Australia’s most engaging and successful international events and festivals, creating unforgettable, immersive experiences for diverse audiences. In her time at V

In this Vale episode of the STAGES podcast, we remember Arts Historian - Frank van Straten, who passed away in April. Frank was the inaugural archivist at the Performing Arts Museum (now Australian Performing Arts Collection at Arts Centre Melbourne) and later its founding Director. Renowned as a theatre historian of supreme knowledge, Frank was the author of many publications which celebrated theatres, artists, practitioners and productions. His historical perspectives of plays and musicals were a regular feature of programs for commercial producers. Between 1986 and 2001, he researched and presented ABC Local Radio’s Nostalgia segment, broadcast on Melbourne’s 774 and the ABC Victorian Regional Network. He was the Historical Consultant for Graeme Murphy’s ‘dance musical’ Tivoli, performed by the Sydney Dance Company, and given his tremendous knowledge, he frequently accepted invitations to contribute information to considerable books, speeches, biographies, performance and exhibitions.  In recognition of hi