Stages With Peter Eyers

Grace Barnes started her directing career as an assistant director at Sydney Theatre Company on Into the Woods and has since been a staff director at Opera Australia, and an associate or resident director on War Horse, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, Sunset Boulevard, My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof.  Originally from Scotland, she ran her own theatre company Skeklers Theatre Company for five years and her work as a playwright has been produced throughout Scotland including at the Citz in Glasgow, the Royal Lyceum and the Traverse in Edinburgh, and at Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Grace has written the book for two musicals, Nevermore and Crossing, which premiered at the Tony Award winning Signature Theatre in Arlington.  A third musical The Blue Poppy should have premiered at Signature in 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic.  Grace has a PhD from the University of Technology Sydney, and has published academic analysis on musical theatre in the journal Studies in Musical Theatre, and has contributed a

Passionate about interrogating, developing and devising new Australian work, Tim trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and works as a writer, director, dramaturge and a devising theatre maker. Tim is currently a commissioned writer for Riverside Theatres, Parramatta and The Art House Wyong to create a write a new play based on Colleen McCullough’s award-winning novel Tim due to hit the stage in 2023. Most recently Tim saw his 2019 commission by Queensland Theatre to create a theatre script based on Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe come to life with a sold out production which premiered at the 2021 Brisbane Festival. In 2019 he was also commissioned by the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) to write and direct a new work based on Margaret Wild’s There’s a Sea in My Bedroom which is due to hit the stage in July 2022. In 2018 Tim stepped in as interim Director on Caleb Lewis’s Maggie Stone for the Eternity Playhouse, and wrote and directed Music for the Dreaming, a collaboration betwee

Damon Herriman was born in Adelaide and has been acting since the age of eight. His extensive credits are a testament to his versatility and standing. Damon’s Australian television credits include the upcoming series for Disney+ The Artful Dodger, Thai Cave Rescue for Netflix, The Tourist (AACTA 2022 Nominee) for STAN/BBC/HBO Max, alongside Jamie Dornan and Danielle MacDonald, The Commons for STAN, Lambs of God for Lingo Pictures, Mr. Inbetween (Series 1 - 3) for FX directed by Nash Edgerton, Riot (2018 AACTA Award Winner - Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama, 2018 Logie Award Nomination; Most Outstanding Actor), No Activity S2 for STAN, Top of the Lake: China Girl, Secret City for Matchbox Pictures and Foxtel (2017 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Supporting Actor and the 2016 AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Drama), Never Tear Us Apart as INXS manager Chris Murphy for the Seven Network, The Outlaw Michael Howe in the titular role of Michael Howe, The Elegant Gentleman’s Guide to Knife

Doug Kingsman now retired (or resting), has navigated an exciting career as a theatre actor, designer and director. Following a lengthy stint in showbiz, he subsequently carved a career as an Interior designer for 25 years on the Gold Coast, Queensland.Known as an all-round entertainer in the true sense, he could turn his hand to many crafts, whether it be singing, dancing, acting or designing sets and costumes. Born and educated in Sydney, he was studying singing and dancing at 14 and sought early experience at The Independent Theatre. He made many appearances on Channel 7 programmes. Later work in television included The Mavis Bramston Show and a lengthy stint responsible for the sets on The Mike Walsh Show.For the Tivoli Circuit he toured in variety shows, played juvenile leads in Fade Out, Fade In and Instant Marriage, and the title role in the Tivoli Pantomime, Robin Hood. For The Phillip Theatre he played Tony in a celebrated production of The Boyfriend.At Menzies Theatre Restaurant he played lead roles

Sheila Bradley is one of the country's most experienced and best-loved music theatre stars, with a career that has spanned 70 years working all over the world. Born in Essex, U.K., Sheila was brought to Australia in the 1950s by J.C. Williamson's to play the lead in Grab Me a Gondola. She had an established career as a lead singer with the George Mitchell Singers and playing Lalume in Kismet opposite Alfred Drake in the West End. Sheila quickly decided on Australia as home, and so begun a litany of leading roles in plays and musical theatre around the country. Sheila was the nation’s original Nancy in Oliver, playing opposite Johnny Lockwood as Fagin. Celebrated turns include Princess Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress, Anna Leonowens in The King and I, Sharon Mclonegran in Finian’s Rainbow, Vera Charles in Mame, and Mrs Peachum in The Threepenny Opera. Performances in revue at the Phillip Street theatre, alongside colleagues Gordon Chater, Johnny Ladd and June Salter, confirmed her position as a fine

Denise Drysdale began her career at GTV-9 when she was 10 years old, performing in the Tarax Happy Show. She has worked in and around television ever since, providing a host of magical moments through the live medium. The longevity and brilliance of her career in television confirms she is one of the best and few have replicated her golden talent. Her life has paralleled the growth of television. In the 1960’s Denise appeared regularly on Graham Kennedy’s In Melbourne Tonight as a dancer, and performed many comedy sketches on that popular late night show. Denise worked on The Ernie Sigley Show in the 1970’s and won Gold Logies in 1974 and 1975 for the Most Popular Female Personality on Australian television. She is affectionately known as ‘Ding Dong’, a moniker given to her by Sigley.  As well as appearing on The Ernie Sigley Show twice weekly throughout 1975, Denise also appeared on Celebrity Squares, Young Talent Time, Countdown, the Norman Gunston Show.Denise has worked all over Australia in radio, commerc

Julie Moncrieff Anthony (nee Lush) was born on a farm at Galga, South Australia. The population of the location was 15 and by necessity cultivated a vivid imagination in young Julie and a talent to amuse.  She began singing in her teens with a local band, an engagement instigated by her enthusiastic father.  In 1970 Julie won an amateur television talent quest which led to regular appearances on Ernie Sigley’s Adelaide Tonight. She moved to Sydney, making television appearances and performing on the club and cabaret circuit, eventually extending her music-making to international tours. An engagement at the Hong Kong Hilton in 1973 was followed by lead role in the Australian production of the musical Irene. Julie was keen to diversify her talents, so without any acting credits presented herself to J.C. Williamson’s to extend her performance repertoire. Guided by the legendary Betty Pounder, Julie Anthony became Irene O’Dare and three years after the Australian production, she starred in the West End at the Ade

imon Hall (Yon) is best known for his work in comedy band Tripod. His solo projects include Second Wedding Singer, commissioned by the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and the Green-Room award-winning Mandaddy: Songs of Love and Love. More recently, Yon has also written songs for Dragon Lady starring Fiona Choi, Musical Fictions for the Sydney Writers’ Festival and for upcoming video game musical, Stray Gods. As part of Tripod, Yon has performed on stage in the Edinburgh Festival, Montreal Comedy Festival and Melbourne Comedy Festival as well as with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Tripod have made countless TV appearances, including Just for Laughs Montreal, the Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala, (Network Ten and ABCTV), Skithouse (Network Ten) and The Sideshow (ABCTV). Tripod have written songs for Monster Beach (Cartoon Network) and the video game Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate (Ubisoft).2023 sees the release of Simon’s six-episode podcast series: Minuscule Musical. Minuscule Musical is a show where the hosts have wr

Peter Cooke, AM PhD, is an internationally recognised performing arts educationalist, administrator, researcher and practitioner. Born in Brisbane, Australia and educated in Kuala Lumpur, Canberra, Southport and Sydney, Peter was the first graduate of the Theatre Design Course at Australia’s premiere theater school, the National Institute of Dramatic Art [NIDA] in Sydney, Australia. He earned his PhD at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Peter was appointed Professor and Head of Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama in January 2009. He was subsequently appointed a University Professor in 2019. Peter stepped down as Head of School in September 2020, after 12 years in the position. Prior to his appointment he was Deputy Director and Head of Design at NIDA, a role he held for twenty-two years. Peter is a member of the NIDA Foundation Trust and of the governing NIDA Company. Peter has taught and lectured extensively throughout Southeast Asia – including leading design master classes an

Bernadette Robinson’s acclaimed performances in multiple sell-out seasons of the one-woman musical plays Songs For Nobodies and Pennsylvania Avenue have confirmed her standing as one of Australia’s leading singer/actresses.Audiences and critics alike loved both shows: “The audience is on its feet with a standing ovation” (The Age), “Bernadette Robinson’s performance is theatrical alchemy” (Herald Sun), “Beyond virtuosity to the sublime” (The Australian).  After he saw Songs For Nobodies for the second time, Barry Humphries announced that “Bernadette is a major talent and a spellbinder”. Like Humphries, Australia’s general theatre-going public had discovered Bernadette’s virtuosic acting skills and her uncanny ability to inhabit the voices of famous singers such as Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf and many others.Bernadette played the role of Beatrice in Nick Enright and Terry Clarke’s The Venetian Twins, and has appeared in lead roles with Chamber Made Opera and Wellington City Opera. She

Lindy Hume, AM, is one of Australia’s leading directors, acknowledged internationally for fresh interpretations of a wide variety of repertoire, and for progressive artistic leadership of a number of Australian arts organisations, including Opera Queensland (2012-2017), Sydney Festival (2010-2012) and Perth International Arts Festival (2004-2007). She was also the first Artistic Director of West Australian Opera (1992-96), Artistic Director of Victoria State Opera and then OzOpera (1996-2001). Lindy has most recently been Creative Director of the Four Winds Easter Festival, Bermagui and is currently Artistic Director of the 10 Days on the Island Festival, Tasmania 2019-2023. In 2021 Lindy Hume was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the performing arts, particularly to opera. After a hugely successful year in 2021, during which Lindy directed The Marriage of Figaro for New Zealand Opera, Madama Butterfly for Welsh National Opera and The Barber of Seville for State Opera Sou

Australian conductor Paul Fitzsimon has been Chorus Master at Opera Australia since 2019, and has worked as repetituer and conductor with the company since 2012, most recently conducting performances of La Boheme and Don Giovanni at the Sydney Opera House. He was Assistant Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 2008/09 and has conducted most of the symphony orchestras in Australia, and in Europe has conducted the Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Ensemble Intercontemporain in Paris, and the Hamburg Ballet at the Baden Baden Festival. Highlights in recent years include conducting the national tours of The Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute, and Madama Butterfly for Opera Australia, Dvorak’s Symphony no. 7 with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, as well as a new production of Brian Howard’s Metamorphosis for Opera Australia in 2018. Paul majored in piano performance at The University of Melbourne and later completed his orchestral conducting studies at the Universität der Künste in Berlin and through the Symph

Hailed by the New York Times as a soprano of “gleaming sound, free and easy high notes, agile coloratura runs and lyrical grace,” Jessica Pratt is considered one of today’s foremost  interpreters of some of bel canto’s most challenging repertoire.She returns to Opera Australia to sing all the female leads in Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann. The production was in rehearsal in 2021 when it succumbed to the force of the Covid pandemic. Fortunately for us, the production is back on track, opening at the Sydney Opera House on July 11th.In August of 2021 STAGES shared an episode featuring the magnificent Jessica Pratt. We share it with you once again, along with a recent catch-up as she commenced rehearsals for take-2 of Offenbach’s great work.Jessica Pratt will also take the stage in Delirio - a mind-blowing evening of cliffhangers presented in a repertoire of classic mad scenes from Opera’s great narratives.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever

Kanen Breen is one of Australia’s most sought-after operatic tenors and a renowned concert and cabaret artist. He made his international debut, in 2003, in the role of Rodolfo, in Baz Luhrman’s Broadway production of  LA BOHEME in New York. He has been a principal artist for OPERA AUSTRALIA over many years singing an extensive range of roles including Camille in THE MERRY WIDOW , Nanki Poo in THE MIKADO, Truffaldino in THE LOVE FOR THREE ORANGES, Florville in IL SIGNOR BRUSCHINO, Alfred in DIE FLEDERMAUS, Monostatos in THE MAGIC FLUTE and Ralph Rackstraw in HMS PINAFORE, Sellem in THE RAKE’S PROGRESS, Marco Palmieri in THE GONDOLIERS, Dr. Caius and Bardolf in FALSTAFF, Pong in TURANDOT, Andres/Cochenille/Pittinaccio/Frantz/Nathanael in THE TALES OF HOFFMANN, Pirelli in SWEENEY TODD, Almaviva in THE BARBER OF SEVILLE, Rinuccio in GIANNI SCHICCHI, Nadir in The Pearlfishers, The Duke and Borsa in RIGOLETTO, Almaviva in THE BARBER OF SEVILLE, Count Albert in DIE TOTE STADT, the title role in ALBERT HERRING and Re

Anthony Costanzo's career as a performer spans more than 20 years. His theatre credits: How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, Mack & Mabel, The Music Of Andrew Lloyd Webber – Masterpiece, Pinocchio, Hair, The Witches Of Eastwick, CATS – World tour – Asian Tour, We Will Rock You, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Seriously – The Petshop Boys Reinterpreted, Wicked – Australian tour Strange Bedfellows and Chess. Anthony studied at Monash University, majoring in Classical Piano and Musical Theatre. In 1995 he won The International Year of Tolerance song writing competition and the ASA National Songwriting Contest in 1998, 2000, 2003. In 2002 Anthony was commissioned to compose additional songs for the Australian Production of The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. He has collaborated twice with Mary Anne McCormack, writing John & Sarah, which was short-listed for the Pratt Prize and on BOXED-IN which was produced by the VCA. Anthony also collaborated with Peter Fitzpatrick on Life’s a Circus, whi

With nearly 30 years’ experience and nominations for his work as both a performer and choreographer, Nathan is a driving force in the performance industry. After 14 successful years as a performer, Nathan began his transition into choreography and direction in 2006. He has since made a name for himself as a highly acclaimed and sought-after Artistic Director and Choreographer with an impressive portfolio that highlights the scope of his skill-set.Nathan has a knack for breathing new energy into classic productions while maintaining a respectful nod to the timeless choreography that audiences love. His passion for storytelling has led him to large-scale productions where he has embraced the opportunity to create something powerful and impactful on an international platform. His talent for finding the tempo that best fits the style of the production makes him an asset to any project.Showcasing experience in theatre, large-scale events, film and television, a few of his career highpoints include Head of Choreogr

Stuart Green has been a fixture around theatre foyers for over 5 decades - as the genial bar manager who attends to your cocktail pre-show and at interval …. or sometimes even post-show if the theatre allows (a disappearing culture).Stuart commenced his career serving the clientele of Sydney Theatre in 1972 with his first shift being Opening Night of JCW’s A Little Night Music at Her Majesty’s Theatre - a treasured venue now demolished and replaced by an apartment block. Stuart has subsequently catered for patrons at a host of Sydney venues - the Theatre Royal, The Cremorne Orpheum Picture Palace and the State Theatre, where he now manages bar operations and leads tours of the venue. These appointments have brought a series of close encounters, witness to a changing theatre culture and opportunities to observe an abundance of shows over a 50 year period.An avid fan of stage and screen, Stuart is a font of knowledge about all things show. His laser memory and obvious glee in sharing such information is substan

Robyn Archer AO FAHA is a singer, writer, artistic director and public advocate for the arts. Winner of the Helpmann Award for Best Cabaret Performer 2013 and named Cabaret Icon at the 2016 Adelaide Cabaret Festival, she currently performs highly acclaimed recitals of French (Que Reste-t’Il) , German (Dancing on the Volcano) and American (The Other Great American Songbook) song, wrote and directed The Sound of Falling Stars (2017/18) and released her album Classic Cabaret Rarities in 2019.  In July 2022 Robyn premiered Robyn Archer: an Australian Songbook with a two-week season for Queensland Theatre. Working with long term accordionist George Butrumlis, actor and guitarist Cameron Goodall and pianist Enio Pozzebon the show was an audience and critical success and will tour in 2023. Robyn is recognised internationally for her expertise in the repertoire of the Weimar Republic (Brecht and his musical collaborators and others from 1920s and 30s Germany) which she has been performing through Australia and worldw

Joel Fenton is a contemporary dance theatre artist. Born in Tasmania, he completed a Master of Dance at the Victorian College of the Arts in 2017 and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) at Queensland University of Technology in 2010. His masters explored the process of creating and crafting contemporary dance theatre through his SITCOMS task based improvisation practice.Joel received a JUMP mentorship in 2013, where he was mentored by Shaun Parker. This mentorship has been ongoing with Joel currently developing his skills in the roles of Project Coordinator, Tour Manager and Rehearsal Director for Shaun Parker & Company.Since joining the company in 2015, Joel has performed in KING, Happy as Larry, Trolleys, Hover, The Box, Axle & Spin, touring extensively across Australia and internationally to Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Austria and Germany.Joel has also performed, taught or choreographed for Tasdance, Devize Co, Brand X, Lyric Opera, Phluxus2Dance Collective, QL2, Stompin, Arts Tasmania and several inde

It’s TONY time once again - the annual celebration of the Broadway community via their awards ceremony - The Tony’s - named after Antoinette Perry, an actress, producer and theatre director who was co-founder and secretary of the American Theatre WingThe 2023 awards have been surrounded by some controversy as producers negotiated with the striking writers guild of America for cooperation to present the ceremony. Happily, the awards will proceed as scheduled featuring live performances but in a non-scripted format.The televised performance is an essential marketing tool that can boost sales for those shows nominated and those that are awarded prizes. The ceremony will be broadcast on American network CBS on June 11th. The awards were postponed for approx. 18months in 2020 during the Covid pandemic which made such an event impossible. Audiences have yet to return to prepandemic levels, so such a telecast is understandably needed.Australians are an ever growing presence on the Broadway stage and this year were a