Eisteddfod comedy

■ For aspiring young performers, eisteddfods (performing arts competitions) are a great way to hone their performance skills and compete against other talented singers, musicians, actors or dancers, just as their peers do in athletic competitions.

The process can be a lot of fun, and young performers often make longstanding friendships, but if performers or parents lose the spirit of generosity and support, they can develop into cutthroat competitions.

quality theatre to Melbourne’s West. Rees has assembled a cast of six featuring Lansy Feng, Madeleine Magee-Carr, Megan Mitchell, Sass Pinci, Anthony Pontonio and Eva Rees.

The set will be created using recycled materials with lighting and set headed up by Oliver Ross (Trophy Boys) and Moya Lucy (Dogfight).

Performance Details:

■ June 22 - July 1 at 7.30pm at the Bluestone Church Arts Space, 8A Hyde St., Footscray. June 25 at 3pm, Relaxed and Auslan interpreted show. ■ July 14 at 7.30pm at The Bowery Theatre, 33 Princess Street, St Albans. Bookings: www.witinc.com.au

- Cheryl Threadgold

Animal Farm

■ Darebin Arts Speakeasy presents Animal Farm by independent theatre company Bloomshed, from July 12 - 23 at the Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre.

Bloomshed's iteration of the famous Orwell fable Animal Farm has been fine-tuned and redeveloped, mixing big political ideas with entertaining and accessible storytelling, all combined to create a satirical mix of dance breaks, physical comedy, and confetti.

The original tale by George Orwell is set on Manor Farm near Willingdon, England where the farm animals are ripened for rebellion against Farmer Jones after many years of neglect.

Taking inspiration from the tale, Bloomshed’s adaptation of Animal Farm is set in rural Australia. The farm animals have reneged on a contract with the government and the complexities of our political system come to light in this reanimated comedic classic.

Lead by Creative Director, James Jackson, Animal Farm by Bloomshed brings a lighthearted quality to the traditionally dark tale while addressing the larger issues at hand within the Australian political system.

Since its inception in 2014, Bloomshed have created 11 new and adapted works, presenting at DarebinArts Speakeasy, Common Rooms x Melbourne Fringe, Theatre Works, Blue Room Theatre, Old 505, Platform Arts, The Butterfly Club, The Wedge, and La Mama Theatre.

Bloomshed examines major political issues that attend our era: climate change, class inequality, and corporate greed.

They are continually in a dialogue about new ways to reach our audience and empower communities to enact positive change.

Performance Details:

Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre

July 12-23

Wed .– Sat. 7.30pm, Sun. 5pm

- Cheryl Threadgold

Playwright Noel Fidge had a wealth of experience of being taken to piano, singing and acting eisteddfods as a child by his ambitious mother, and this has given him great raw material to develop his new play, called, of course, The Eisteddfod, which he has directed and is co-produced by eminent mezzosoprano Sally-Anne Russell

So what’s the plot? A group of aspiring young singers of ‘serious’ music, particularly Art songs, visit Tanya and Robert Gibson to rehearse songs written by a deceased composer.

Robert is regarded as the premier expert performer of these songs, and a close associate of the composer, whilst Tanya, his wife, is by far the composer’s favourite accompanist, and is recognised as the candidates’ best chance to advance in the eisteddfod featuring his songs.

What starts off as a simple rehearsal session turns into a tale of revelations, revenge and intrigue, and bombshells await.

Starring classical singers Sophie Bissett, Alex Owens, Lucy Schneider and Raymond Khong, they are accompanied at the piano by Elyane Laussade.

Author Fidge says the play with songs is meant for people who would relate to the experience of an eisteddfod, but also for people who enjoy a decent play and song in the Art Song or Lieder style.

“Audiences will love it because The Eisteddfod is a bitter sweet comedy involving four actor singers and a virtuoso pianist actor. The songs are all refreshingly new in the genre of art song accompanied by some challenging music,” Fidge says.

The Eisteddfod is playing from 14 to 17 at Studio One, 34 Little Turner St, Abbotsford Book tickets at trybooking.com

Julie Houghton

The Dress

■ Essence Theatre Productions present a return of The Dress, on June 29, July 1 and July 2 at historic Werribee Park Mansion.

The Dress is set in 1899. Mrs Hannah Bryden, a widow, enjoys nothing save for the occasional company of her dressmaker, the flamboyant Mr Bertin.

But when massive advances in the fashion industry jeopardize Bertin's livelihood, he hatches a plan to save both of them from obscurity.

Hannah must launch herself once more as one of Melbourne's leading socialites at an upcoming masquerade ball in the most jaw-dropping fashion statement Berlin has ever created. Two unlikely allies racing to regain their spark of life.

Performers include Alaine Beek and Scott Jackson, with cellist Patrick Schnur.

Performance Details: June 29 - July 1 at 8pm, July 2 at 7pm

Location: Werribee Park Mansion, K Road, Werribee South.

Bookings: www.essencetheatre. productions

- Cheryl Threadgold