September's 'Animal Farm'
Challenging, Entertaining & Delightful Civic Theatre Season 2020 WORDS CLAIRE BRADSHAW
On December 12th, 2019, Newcastle’s iconic Civic Theatre celebrated its most significant milestone yet: the 90th anniversary of its opening. For almost a century, the Civic has hosted performances for hundreds of thousands of theatre-goers, standing proud at the centre of the Novocastrian entertainment scene. And there it is sure to remain as its diverse Season 2020 program kicks off this February.
Officially unveiled on the venue’s 90th birthday, the 2020 Subscriber Season incorporates 19 shows from February to November. Some are brand-new to Newcastle audiences, while some are returning favourites, back by popular demand. It’s a genre-spanning program that ranges from dance, drama and physical theatre to music, comedy and kids’ shows – meaning there really is something for every kind of theatre-goer. “We are delighted to offer a diverse range of shows which we hope will challenge, entertain and delight our audiences,” says Theatre Manager Leonie Wallace. “We look forward to evolving the [Civic] precinct as an even more integral component of the cultural fabric of the city, as we deliver a program ‘Beyond the Stage’ to further increase accessibility for all.” “Season 2020 is as diverse as our ever-growing theatre audiences and is sure to be a highlight of the 2020 cultural calendar,” adds Newcastle’s Lord Mayor, Nuatali Nelmes. So what does this diverse new program of entertainment involve, exactly? Let’s dive in and take a look… It all begins in February as Bangarra Dance Theatre, Australia’s leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performing arts company, brings its award-winning 14 | www.intouchmagazine.com.au
production Bennelong to Newcastle audiences. “The season could not be kicked off in a better way than with Bangarra Dance Theatre’s powerful production,” Leonie says. Bennelong explores the life and legacy of one of history’s most iconic Aboriginal figures: Woollarawarre Bennelong, a senior man of the Eora who guided his community through a clash of cultures in the late 1700s. Pairing striking dance performances with stunning design and immersive soundscapes, Bennelong is an unmissable experience that’s sure to stay with audiences long after they leave the theatre. If dance-based theatre is your particular jam, you’ll also want to check out Mixed Bill by Newcastle contemporary dance company, Catapult. Mixed Bill showcases the world premiere of four new works, created by renowned Australian choreographers and performed by local dancers. Running for two nights in March, the show is a bold, breathtaking display of contemporary dance. Feats of physical theatre continue in April with Backbone, a jaw-dropping new work by internationally renowned Australian circus company, Gravity & Other Myths. Dubbed ‘contemporary circus with a twist’, Backbone celebrates human connectedness and strength throughout this incredible acrobatic performance.
The human experience is explored further throughout Season 2020’s dramatic lineup. One particularly powerful work undoubtedly set to become a season highlight is Man with the Iron Neck, heading to Newcastle in July after a critically acclaimed season at last year’s Sydney Festival. Through stunning aerial performance and arresting sound and stage design, Man with the Iron Neck tackles the increasing rate of suicide among young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. But it’s a hopeful production, exploring the notion of embracing life after grief and painting a moving portrait of survival through feats of daring physicality. Fans of classic literature should mark their calendars for September – spring kicks off at the Civic with Shake & Stir Theatre Co.’s stage adaptation of Animal Farm, George Orwell’s allegorical fairy tale. Orwell’s enduringly relevant political commentary receives a new lease on life in this critically acclaimed production, which promises to be shocking and hilarious by turns. Bearfoot Theatre’s Do Your Parents Know You're Straight? is an equally timely addition to the 2020 program. Set in an alternate reality where kids have to come out as straight, the production runs for five performances in August, exploring the prejudice faced by members of the LGBTQI+ ⊲
