TimeOut Fall in love with a classic

Cleo & Tony show will introduce audiences to a typical Shakespeare play

l EDGE

Hill

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

AN all-inclusive cast is retelling the classic tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra in a fun and exciting 1930s noir adaptation full of glamour and decadence, Cleo & Tony this month.

The Tanks will be home to everything 1930s, with Tropical Arts’ Cleo & Tony taking the stage from June 15-17. Tropical Arts president and Cleo & Tony director Douglas Robinson said the play promised to make audiences fall in love with Shakespeare all over again and its mature love story.

“We have a cast of 35 performers, 10 creatives and 10-15 volunteers, and we will show opulence that money can’t buy,” he said.

“With an all-inclusive cast, audiences will experience Shakespeare in a completely different way.

“Shakespeare can be very dry, and we wanted to make it modern with a 1930s noir version with gangsters in the prohibition era, where there’s a lot of turmoil but also a lot of uniqueness when fashion was becoming a place for you to express yourself.

“It’s a great love story more mature than Romeo and Juliet, the characters have lived their lives, and now that they’ve matured, they still have that desire.”

Lead actress Amy Rhodes, who plays Cleopatra, said it had been a fantastic experience working with such a diverse cast.

“I play Cleopatra, and she’s an amazing character. Everybody should get to play Cleopatra once in their lives,” she said.

“She’s opulent, she’s the queen of the world, she’s multidimensional and is not afraid to let her emotions fly, but she’s never been fortunate in love, and now she’s with Tony who’s this great soldier, and she’s hoping that things will work out.

“Working with this cast, it’s been a tonic.

“It’s beautiful to see an allinclusive cast work together, all abilities, all bodies, all backgrounds come together and support one another, which is beautiful to be a part of.”

Mr Robinson encouraged an all-inclusive audience to participate in the Cleo & Tony experience.“Audiences can expect a great love story, a spectacle,” he said.

“We’ve got Cuban dancers, 1930s adaptations of famous songs, an inclusive cast and it just makes you smile.

Back to the 80s at the casino

l CAIRNS CBD

DUE to popular demand the Back to the 80s show is returning to the Reef Hotel Casino.

Casino entertainment manager Bruce Wilson said the event was proving to be a hit.

“The casino jumped Back to the 80s in March following the massive successes in 2022,” he said.

“So much feedback online for the June shows so it’s looking pretty good,” he said.

“Working closely with the band, the casino production team jointly produced a sight, sound and visual experience for anyone who came along.

“The ‘bigger badder’ Big Noise repackaged themselves for the shows to a four-piece with Adrian Cartwright taking to the front of the stage as a true 80S style frontman.

“Most people will walk away thinking, “If that group could do it, why couldn’t I get involved with community theatre”.

“There won’t be a dull audience member; I think everyone will love what we’ve created.”

To buy tickets, visit tanksartscentre.com

“Rolling out hit after hit, this band with members Jock Williamson, Dale Monaghan and Brad Townsend cover all those 80s genres and unique 80s sounds from Brit new wave to American anthem to NZ pop and Aussie rock,” Mr Stewart said.

Back to the 80s is on June 16 and 17 from 8.30pm to late at BAR36 at The Reef Hotel Casino