W A G G A C I V I C
W A G G A T H E A T R E
S E A S O N
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Zindzi Okenyo as Beatrice in Bell Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing Photo by Pierre Toussaint
WE LCOM E Welcome to the 2019 Civic Theatre Subscription Season! The newly refurbished Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre has welcomed thousands of people in 2018 to performances out of the Subscription Season, Kids Season and Silver Circle Season, as well as Music at Midday and the Wagga Comedy Fest.
Every year I look around the country for great performances. Australia is so lucky to have many talented theatre makers and it is a great privilege to bring them to the Civic Theatre stage each year. The 2019 Season offers plays including Much Ado About Nothing, Sunset Strip and TWO, political satire with The Gospel According to Paul and The Wharf Revue, stunning music from Katie Noonan with the Australian String Quartet and The Sapphires, dance from The Australian Ballet’s CoppÊlia and 100 Years of the History of Dance and the year kicks off with urban circus from 360 ALLSTARS.
In 2019 the Civic Theatre will bring more great shows from all around Australia and will, for the first time, include a new show created here in the Riverina, The Hall Committee. This new play has been developed by our Civic Theatre team over the last two years, telling great local stories with local professional creative artists and will debut in 2019. I encourage everyone to visit a local hall to see the show.
In 2019 we have embarked on a new era in the life of the theatre where the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre will be working with talented theatre makers to develop new, local professional shows for the stage. The first of these is The Hall Committee which we have developed over the last couple of years with writer/director Damian Callinan. The show will bring to life the many stories we have collected from our local country halls and be performed in those same halls. I encourage you to come along, bring a plate, and enjoy a new Australian play made right here in Wagga Wagga.
Whatever your age or interest, the 2019 Civic Theatre Subscription is sure to please everyone. Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Greg Conkey OAM
Carissa Campbell Manager, Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre
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SU B SCRI B E R
B E N E F I T S
B ook now, pay l ate r
S ec ure the bes t seats
Secure your seats and receive your tickets without spending a dollar! By choosing to defer your payments, you can take your tickets with you when we process your subscription. Two days before each performance we will debit your credit card for the amount applicable for that performance, plus a small processing fee of $2 per ticket.
Want the best seats in the house? Theatre subscribers have access to a priority booking period, so you can lock in your seats before they become available to the general public! Relax in knowing that you already have your tickets when one of our season shows sells out.
E m ail upd ates Receive regular email updates and never miss out on a show again! Be informed when a new show goes on sale, have access to subscriber pre-sales and be the first to hear about any special offers or promotions that coincide with our shows! You’ll also receive a reminder email to any season shows you have tickets to.
5 0 /5 0 s plit Another payment option is to pay half the total cost of your tickets at the time of booking and the remaining half in the first week of May. This only incurs a small $5 processing fee added to the May payment.
Exch ange
Pos t S h ow S uppe r
Fill your diary at the start of the year with theatre dates, knowing that if something comes up, you can exchange your tickets for a different night, or completely different subscription show up to two business days before the performance.
Catch up with friends with a drink before the show and enjoy post-show supper on opening nights. Share the experience of the theatre with family and friends over delicious antipasto, meet and greet the cast and crew, and ignite conversation and debate.
D i scounts By subscribing to at least four shows in the season, you’ll get your tickets at a discounted rate. Pay the subscriber rate if you would like to see extra season shows throughout the year. Discounts are also available on other selected shows during the year.
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M A I N
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SE A SO N
36 0
ALL STARS
PRO D U CE D BY O N Y X PRO D U C T I O N S D I R E C T E D BY G E N E PE T E RSO N A phenomenal physical performance exploring all forms of rotation, 360 ALLSTARS connects the street with the elite to deliver a supercharged urban circus. Boasting a stellar international cast, including the two-time World Champion BMX Flatlander, two World Champion breakdancers, an internationally acclaimed basketball freestyler, and a World Record holding cyr wheel artist, 360 ALLSTARS is a spectacular fusion of the extraordinary artistry that emerges from street culture.
“A supercharged show… heart-pumping music, dazzling lights and video, and incredibly talented athletes and musicians.”
Saturday 30 March 7.30pm
Adult Concession Group 4+ Youth U25 Child U15 Adult Subscriber Concession Subscriber Youth U25 Subscriber
$40.00 $35.00 $35.00 $30.00 $20.00 $35.00 $30.00 $25.00
T H E AT E R M A N I A , N E W YO R K Add to this a stunning live soundtrack composed by award winning master musicians, coupled with spectacular video projections, 360 ALLSTARS is as aurally exciting as it is visually astounding. A magnificent, colourful & astonishing expression of a generation that has reinvented public performance, 360 ALLSTARS is a revolutionary production that will leave you dizzy with excitement!
70 minutes (no interval) Music Gene Peterson Lighting Design Geoff Squires Video Design Freddy Komp
Suitable for all ages Haze, strobe lighting
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Photo: Matt Loncar
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A N E N S E M B L E T H E AT R E PRO D U C T I O N
T WO BY J I M CA R T WR I G H T Directed by Ensemble Theatre Artistic Director Mark Kilmurry, Jim Cartwright’s timeless comedy TWO introduces fourteen colourful characters, all skilfully played by Brian Meegan and Kate Raison.
"Director Mark Kilmurry has chosen well in casting real life husband and wife Brian Meegan and Kate Raison who give something of an acting master class." SY D N E Y A R T S G U I D E Set in the local pub, you’ll meet all the regulars, a misfit crowd of eccentric and hilarious individuals. There’s Moth, who loves Maud (and every other woman) fervently; Mrs Iger, with her passion for quiet, strong men; possessive Roy, jealous of anybody who looks at Lesley (even the darts players); Alice and Fred and their Elvis obsession; and the publicans themselves – a married couple with an unspoken secret… By turns funny, heart-warming and poignant, TWO is a lively night at the theatre.
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Photo: Clare Hawley
Tuesday 2 April 7.30pm CSU Riverina Playhouse, Cross Street
Adult Concession Group 4+ Youth U25 Adult Subscriber Concession Subscriber Youth U25 Subscriber
$50.00 $45.00 $45.00 $35.00 $45.00 $40.00 $30.00
1 hour 30 minutes (no interval) Director Mark Kilmurry Set and costume designer Alicia Clements Lighting designer Matthew Marshall Sound designer Neil McLean Cast Brian Meegan and Kate Raison
Recommended for ages 15+ TWO contains references to domestic violence. If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can ring the Domestic Violence Line for help on 1800 656 463.
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SO F T T R E A D’S
T H E G OSPE L ACCO RD I N G
TO
PAU L
WR I T T E N A N D PE R F O R M E D BY J O N AT H A N B I G G I N S One of Australia’s favourite performers, Jonathan Biggins, is Paul Keating – visionary, reformer and rabble-rouser – in a highly anticipated new comedy, The Gospel According to Paul. Full of intelligence and wit, The Gospel According to Paul is a funny, insightful and occasionally poignant portrait of Paul Keating. The man that - as he tells it – single-handedly shaped contemporary Australia.
"...Paul Keating. Love him or hate him, he is universally recognised as a leader who not only had a vision for Australia but could articulate it, f ight for it and, most importantly, deliver it."
Friday 26 April 7.30pm
Adult Concession Group 4+ Youth U25 Adult Subscriber Concession Subscriber Youth U25 Subscriber
$45.00 $40.00 $40.00 $35.00 $40.00 $35.00 $30.00
J O N AT H A N B I G G I N S Jonathan Biggins’ performance as Paul Keating is well known from the long-running Sydney Theatre Company success story, The Wharf Revue. Beyond the canny impersonation, Jonathan, like so many Australians, has long been fascinated by Keating and what Keating means to Australia. Showcasing his eviscerating wit, rich rhetoric and ego the size of Everest, The Gospel According to Paul distils Keating’s essence into 75 minutes, focussing on key biographical milestones, landmark political achievements and personal obsessions. It shows the man who grew up in the tribe of the Labor Party and gained an education at the knee of Jack Lang, who treated economics as an artform, and demanded we confront the wrongs of our colonial past. Biggins asks the question - what can we learn today from this singular politician, and the momentous time in our country’s history he dominated?
1 hour 15 minutes (no interval)
Director Aarne Neeme Designer Mark Thompson Lighting Designer Verity Hampson Sound/AV Designer David Bergman
Recommended for ages 15+ Contains coarse language
This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.
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Photo: Brett Boardman
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T H E
SAPPH I RE S
H I T PRO D U C T I O N S The Sapphires is one of Australia’s best-loved stories. Winning multiple awards as a play, film and soundtrack album, there was one challenge left and that was to undertake a national tour of Australia. Bringing the raw energy, fun and emotion of this story directly to stages across the nation.
“A gem of a play. Brig gs mixes fact and f iction to lay bare and f lesh out his celebratory tale which, though political in patches, is focused on the personal. The Sapphires is heartfelt and joyous. Superb.” B RYC E H A L L E T T, SY D N E Y M O R N I N G H E R A L D
Friday 24 May 7.30pm Saturday 25 May 7.30pm
Adult Concession Group 4+ Youth U25 Child U15 Adult Subscriber Concession Subscriber Youth U25 Subscriber
$50.00 $45.00 $45.00 $35.00 $15.00 $45.00 $40.00 $30.00
Writer Tony Briggs will direct his work in a version he promises will be the most intimate telling of The Sapphires story yet. Four young Aboriginal women from regional Australia, who like singing country music, suddenly get the chance to change their tune and their lives. Wearing uniforms of sequins, armed only with microphones, they find themselves trying to spread joy in the hell that is the Vietnam War. The Sapphires is a funny, heart-warming tale inspired by the true story of writer Tony Briggs' mother. It tells of the incredible journey of a singing group of four Yorta Yorta Women, who sing Motown soul hits against the backdrop of personal change and massive social upheaval. It is an energetic, fun and engaging play that affirms life and the realisation of dreams.
Producer Christine Harris and HIT Productions Playwright & Director Tony Briggs Associate Director Kylie Bracknell [Kaarljilba Kaardn] Musical Director Nathaniel Andrew Set & LX Designer Mark Howett Choreographer Leonard Mickelo
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Approximately 2 hours 20 minutes (including interval) Suitable for ages 7+ Some adult themes, simulated warfare and a small amount of coarse language
Photo: Jodie Hutchinson
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CO PPÉ L I A: T H E RE G I O NAL
TOU R
T H E AU S T R A L I A N BA L L E T Comedy, intrigue and fantasy come alive. Ballet’s most charming comedy, live on stage: The Australian Ballet’s Regional Tour presents Coppélia. Swanilda and Franz are in love … until a beautiful stranger, the daughter of the magician Dr Coppelius, appears in town. But she is not what she seems, and Swanilda must rescue Franz from the magician’s sinister workshop – with the help of some fancy footwork!
“Nothing short of breathtaking.” SY D N E Y M O R N I N G H E R A L D
Tuesday 6 August 7.30pm Wednesday 7 August 7.30pm
Adult Concession Group 10+ Student Child U15 Adult Subscriber Concession Subscriber Youth U25 Subscriber
$62.00 $53.00 $55.00 $42.00 $32.00 $59.00 $50.00 $59.00
This sparkling tale of magic and mischief, with its irresistible melodies and ‘living dolls’, is amusing fun for the whole family. Inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s stories, Coppélia features exquisite costumes by master designer Kristian Fredrikson. Laughter and love, lively dancing and vivid colour – treat the family to Coppélia.
Original Choreography Arthur Saint-Léon Revised by Marius Petipa and Enrico Cecchetti Additional Choreography Paul Knobloch Music Léo Delibes Set and Costume Design Kristian Fredrikson Lighting Design Francis Croese
2 hours 20 minutes (including 2 intervals)
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Photo: Justin Ridler
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10 0 YE ARS O F T H E H I S TO RY O F DAN CE A S TO L D BY O N E M A N I N 6 0 M I N U T E S WI T H A N E N E RG E T I C G RO U P F I N A L E PRO D U CE D BY J O S E PH S I MO N S A N D N CM Following up from his hit solo show First Things First which toured Australia in 2015, dance and comic maverick Joseph Simons returns with his next solo adventure exploring the last century of developments in dance.
"Joseph Simons instinctively understands timing , the real surprise, and the right humour - he is a kind of magician! ” A N N A VO L K S L A N D This one-man play follows Jacob: a schoolboy challenged with presenting a school report on the history of dance. Exploring the lives of influential choreographers including Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Bob Fosse, Rudolf Nureyev, Pina Bausch, Lloyd Newson, Gene Kelly and Paula Abdul, Jacob not only talks about them, but demonstrates their signature styles at the same time! Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern and Contemporary dance are all addressed, as Jacob questions the difference between ‘influence’ and ‘plagiarism’, and begins to question his own legacy. Original music for the show is composed by Italian film score composer Enrico Melozzi.
Friday 23 August 11am + 7.30pm CSU Riverina Playhouse, Cross Street
Adult Concession Group 4+ Youth U25 Child U15 School Group Adult Subscriber Concession Subscriber Youth U25 Subscriber
Written and Performed by Joseph Simons Commissioned by R. Martin Chavez Development supported by Queensland Theatre and Mad Dance House Original music will be composed by Italian film score composer Enrico Melozzi
60 minutes (no interval) Recommended for ages 13 years+
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.
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$40.00 $35.00 $35.00 $30.00 $20.00 $20.00 $35.00 $30.00 $25.00
Photo: Joel Devereux
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A WAG GA WAG GA C I V I C T H E AT R E O R I G I N A L PRO D U C T I O N
T H E
HALL
COMM I T TE E
WR I T T E N A N D D I R E C T E D BY DA M I A N CA L L I N A N The Rummage South Memorial Hall has seen better days. With white ants in the walls, possums in the roof and pigeons in the projection booth, the local wildlife are getting more use out of the hall than the town's residents. Due to the stringent restrictions enforced by Brenda, the intractable hall committee president, many residents have given up even trying to book the place. However, when tree changer Penny manages to inveigle her way onto the committee, the community gets a shake-up. When she reveals that a hall grant is within their reach, the fractured committee ultimately join forces to outbid nearby rival, the Glenwarren Community Hall. However, unbeknownst to the committee, the hall is also inhabited by the spirits of the hall’s past who weave their subtle magic to help the hall and the community heal.
"…The Merger [written by Damian Callinan] is enjoyably quaint, with an easygoing vibe that might distract viewers from the considerable thoughtfulness in its writing and execution.’ LU K E B U C K M A S T E R , T H E G UA R D I A N Written by Damian Callinan, writer and star of the AACTA nominated, hit film The Merger, The Hall Committee will include a cast of local Wagga Wagga and Sydney actors to bring to life the folk of Rummage South past and present. Devised to be performed in the small country hall environment, audiences will have their own hall transformed in front of them as the cast usurp their residing committee to bring this interactive, immersive, hilarious play to life. The Hall Committee is a nostalgic celebration of the role halls have played in the fabric of small town Australia but challenges us to look forward to the next phase of community life in the ever changing landscape of rural Australia.
North Wagga Hall Wednesday 4 + Thursday 5 September 7.30pm Oura Community Hall* Friday 6 September 7.30pm Ganmain Hall* Saturday 7 September 7.30pm Uranquinty Community Hall* Wednesday 11 September 7.30pm Ladysmith Memorial Hall* Thursday 12 September 7.30pm The Arts Centre Cootamundra* Friday 13 September 7.30pm Downside Hall* Saturday 14 September 7.30pm
One price $30.00 Group 4+ $25.00 Subscriber $25.00
Approximately 1 hour 50 minutes (including interval)
Writer Damian Callinan Director Damian Callinan
* Subject to grant funding
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Photo: Michael Frogley
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CR I T I CA L S TAG E S & T H E U N CE R TA I N T Y PR I N C I PL E PR E S E N T
SU N SE T
STRI P
BY SUZI E M I L L E R An Australian dramatic comedy about love, family dysfunction and making the best of lousy situations. At Sunset Strip the only people left are those who couldn’t leave. Arriving home after a bout of chemotherapy to this once thriving summer hot-spot, Caroline finds the lake completely dried up, the holiday-makers long gone.
"Miller dangles the prospect of happiness like a lure on a f ishing line...Tenderly gripping , frequently funny. A tender exploration of love, loyalty and patience."
Saturday 28 September 7.30pm Adult Concession Group 4+ Youth U25 Adult Subscriber Concession Subscriber Youth U25 Subscriber
$45.00 $40.00 $40.00 $35.00 $40.00 $35.00 $30.00
JA S O N B L A K E , SY D N E Y M O R N I N G H E R A L D Yet her younger sister, the ever-optimistic Phoebe, remains doggedly hopeful. Between a stint in rehab, caring for her father (Lex Marinos) whose dementia is only alleviated by training his goldfish, and losing her kids temporarily to DOCS, Phoebe has managed to find love in Teddy, a local fallen fella with a big heart. And now that Caroline is back, Phoebe is determined to make life fabulous. Suzie Miller (Caress/Ache) examines all manners of love, family dysfunction, making the best of shitty situations and prosthetic breasts. Directed by Anthony Skuse, Sunset Strip finds the humour in tragedy and creates an unlikely path for humanity to triumph.
Writer Suzie Miller Director Anthony Skuse Performers Emma Jackson, Lex Marinos, Georgina Symes, Simon Lyndon Producers Kate Armstrong Smith, Laurence Rosier Staines Designer Emma Vine Lighting Designer Verity Hampson Sound Designer Benjamin Freeman
1 hour 30 minutes (no interval) Recommended for adults (but suitable for ages 15+). Contains use of theatrical haze, smoking of herbal cigarettes and reference to drug use
This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.
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Photo: Patrick Boland
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B E L L S H A K E S PE A R E’S
MUCH AD O ABOU T N OT H I N G Claudio and Hero are deeply in love. Beatrice and Benedick would rather swap sassy insults than sweet nothings. Much Ado About Nothing is a saucy and razor-sharp battle of wits between the bickering Beatrice and Benedick, who wield words as weapons, their banter betraying their love and loathing of each other. However Claudio is quickly seduced by envy and this idyllic world threatens to come tumbling down as he humiliates Hero. Beatrice and Benedick must join forces to defend true love – even if they can’t recognise it in themselves. But will truth and honesty win the day, and does love really conquer all?
Tuesday 8 October 7.30pm
Adult Concession Group 4+ Youth U25 Child U15 Adult Subscriber Concession Subscriber Youth U25 Subscriber
$55.00 $50.00 $50.00 $40.00 $15.00 $50.00 $45.00 $35.00
"The Sydney-based company have been dazzling audiences around Australia for the past 27 years." ARTSHUB Directed by Bell Shakespeare’s Associate Director, James Evans (Julius Caesar) and starring Zindzi Okenyo (Antony and Cleopatra, MTC’s An Ideal Husband) as Beatrice, this Much Ado About Nothing will be a powerful exploration of the struggle for identity and self-knowledge in a male-dominated world. The pursuit of love is framed in a social context that enhances the darker themes in this timeless comic gem. Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare’s contemporary comedies where romance is thwarted by dastardly plots, misinformation, false accusations, broken promises, and bumbling cops. Or is it? Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes (including interval)
By William Shakespeare Director James Evans With Zindzi Okenyo
Recommended for ages 13 years +
This project has been assisted by the Australian government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.
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This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.
Photo: Pierre Toussaint Photo: Pierre Toussaint
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T H E
G L AD
TOMO RROW
K AT I E N O O N A N WI T H T H E AU S T R A L I A N S T R I N G Q UA R T E T (A SQ) For the first time ever Australian powerhouse and 5 x ARIA Award Winner Katie Noonan will be performing with The Australian String Quartet.
"As a f iercely proud Queenslander and in a project that is celebrating an extraordinary Queensland woman, I am immensely proud to share in this World Premiere with these four wonderful and world class musicians."
Friday 8 November 7.30pm
Adult Concession Group 4+ Adult Subscriber Concession Subscriber
$60.00 $55.00 $55.00 $55.00 $50.00
K AT I E N O O N A N Setting the words of the uniquely Australian poetry of Queenslander Oodgeroo Noonuccal to music, Katie Noonan has commissioned ten stellar Australian contemporary composers to create a song cycle based on Oodgeroo’s poetry, to be performed with the brilliant Australian String Quartet (ASQ). Katie and the ASQ will be performing pieces written for them by Carl Vine, Elena Kats Chernin, Richard Tognetti, Iain Grandage, David Hirschfelder as well as Queensland composers Thomas Green, Robert Davidson, Connor D’Netto, William Barton and Katie herself. The Glad Tomorrow project brings together four distinct worlds – Contemporary Australian and Queensland Composers, the searing poetry of Queenslander Oodgeroo Noonuccal, ASQ and Katie Noonan’s unique voice and innate musicality. For the Oodgeroo Noonuccal project – Katie Noonan and ASQ will be performing together for the first time in Australia. Such a unique combination of creative powerhouses will result in some spectacular and spine tingling performances.
Approximately 2 hours 10 minutes (including interval)
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Photo: Cybele Malinowski
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A SY D N E Y T H E AT R E CO M PA N Y PR O D U C T I O N
T H E
WHARF
RE VU E
2 019
W R I T T E N A N D C R E AT E D BY J O N AT H A N B I G G I N S , D R E W F O R SY T H E A N D PH I L L I P SCOT T
Back with a bang. The all-singing, all-dancing, side-splittingly funny solution to all the world’s problems returns for another year of satirical genius. The West is crumbling, democracy is besieged and the world is run by morons with funny hair. You have to laugh. And that’s exactly what The Wharf Revue delivers. The indefatigable team is back once more to dig through the year’s political dirt and unearth comedy gold.
"The Revue is an equal opportunity satire – no political party is lef t unstoned, nor cultural shibboleth unmauled."
Saturday 30 November 7.30pm Adult Concession Group 4+ Youth U25 Child U15 Adult Subscriber Concession Subscriber Youth U25 Subscriber
$55.00 $50.00 $50.00 $40.00 $15.00 $50.00 $45.00 $35.00
S TAG E N O I S E From the movers to the shakers, from the winners to the losers, the stage will be filled with uncanny impressions of the year’s most memorable characters and the moments they’d prefer to forget. Stalwart performer Drew Forsythe returns with special triple-threat guests including the hilarious Simon Burke. The choreography is tight, the wigs are loose, the punchlines are loaded. Everything is ready for a big night of laughter and mayhem.
1 hour 30 minutes (no interval)
Cast Simon Burke and Drew Forsythe
This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.
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Photo: Rene Vaile
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PACK AG E S T h e Pe r fe c t Pa ck a ge
Cl a s s i cs w i t h Cl a s s
360 ALLSTARS
The Sapphires
TWO
Coppélia
The Gospel According to Paul
Bell Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing
The Sapphires
Katie Noonan with the Australian String Quartet
Coppélia 100 Years of the History of Dance
Mo v e i t , Mo v e i t
The Hall Committee
360 ALLSTARS
Sunset Strip
100 Years of the History of Dance
Bell Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing
Coppélia
Katie Noonan with the Australian String Quartet
The Wharf Revue
The Wharf Revue
An E cl e c t i c Mi x
A S t o r y w i t h He a r t
TWO
TWO
The Gospel According to Paul
The Sapphires
The Hall Committee
The Hall Committee
Katie Noonan with the Australian String Quartet
Sunset Strip
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K I D S
SE A SO N
KIDS SEASON
CD P K I D S PR E S E N T S
B I LL I O NA I RE
BOY
A PL AY BY M A RYA M M A S T E R BA S E D O N T H E BO O K BY DAV I D WA L L I A M S Twelve year old Joe has everything a boy could ever want, from a golden underwater Ferrari to his very own cinema. Joe and his Dad have more money than you could imagine, but what Joe really needs is a friend. When Joe arrives at his new school, life really gets tough. Facing the school bully, his Dad’s new girlfriend and the world’s worst school canteen, Joe is about to learn that money might buy you a lot in Raj’s shop, but it can’t buy you everything.
“Shenanigans that deliver a positive message, Billionaire Boy reaches both funny bones and hearts.”
Wednesday 20 March 6pm Thursday 21 March 10am + 1pm
One price Groups 4+ Subscriber School group
$19.00 $16.00 $16.00 $14.00
A R T S P LO R E R S David Walliams’ best-selling book comes to life on stage for 6 to 12 year-olds - and their adults! Don’t miss this original Australian adaptation as the team behind Mr Stink and The 13-, 26-, 52- and 78-Storey Treehouses live on stage return with songs, laughs and yes, that cat sick and sweet potato mash from the canteen…
A play by Maryam Master based on the bestselling novel COPYRIGHT Billionaire Boy by David Walliams, published by HarperCollins Children’s Books. Cover Illustration © Tony Ross, 2010 Lettering on authors name © Quentin Blake, 2010
This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.
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Approximately 60 minutes (no interval) Recommended for 6-12 year-olds and their adults
LonIStVa E ge!
A play by Maryam Master based on the bestselling novel
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KIDS SEASON
A M O N K E Y BA A PRO D U C T I O N
POS SUM
M AG I C
BA S E D O N T H E BO O K BY M E M F OX A N D J U L I E V I VA S Grandma Poss loves making magic. She makes wombats blue and kookaburras pink. She makes dingoes smile and emus shrink. But one day, when danger arrives in the form of a snake, Grandma uses her most magical spell to make Hush invisible. Hush has many wonderful adventures. But being invisible isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and Hush longs to see herself again.
A brand-new stage adaptation of a magical Australian classic. For more than 30 years, Mem Fox’s Possum Magic has captivated and enchanted young people all over Australia.
Thursday 2 May 10am + 1pm
One price Groups 4+ Subscriber School group
$19.00 $16.00 $16.00 $14.00
One problem. Grandma Poss can’t find the spell to make Hush visible again. And then she remembers...this particular magic requires something more, something special, something to do with food…people food.. Possum Magic takes us on a whimsical journey to cities around Australia to find the food that makes Hush visible again. Joined by an extraordinary creative team, Monkey Baa brings to life the characters, journey and love that has made Possum Magic the most-loved and best-selling Australian picture book of all time.
Approximately 60 minutes (no interval) Based on the book by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas Adapted for the stage by Eva Di Cesare and Sandra Eldridge Director Sandra Eldridge
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Recommended for 3-8 year-olds and their adults
Text copyright © Mem Fox 1983 Illustrations copyright © Julie Vivas 1983
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KIDS SEASON
M E
&
MY
SHAD OW
BY PATCH T H E AT R E Me And My Shadow is about the fanciful escapades of a girl making friends with her shadow.
Tuesday 4 June 10am + 1pm
Children love to play with shadows, but making friends with your shadow can be a tricky business. There are things to sort out, problems to solve, adventures to have and laughter to be shared.
“A feast for the eyes that reaches straight, crystal clear to the hearts of all ages.”
One price Groups 4+ Subscriber School group
$19.00 $16.00 $16.00 $14.00
DAV I D O’ B R I E N – D B R E V I E W Me And My Shadow is a gentle magical visual poem for children, using paper, light, shadow, colour, water, music, sound and words to create a world of play where the imagined becomes real. With fantastical imagery, quirky physical performances and an intriguing score, Me And My Shadow ignites the imagination in a poetical experience that explores the trials and joys of friendship. Winner, Helpmann Award for Best Presentation for Children in 2011 Winner, Victor Award for Best Showcase Production IPAY 2013 Nomination, Sydney Theatre Award 2011 Best Production for Children
Collaboratively created by Zoë Barry, Dave Brown, Geoff Cobham, Roz Hervey, Nathan O’Keefe, Astrid Pill and Bob Weatherly Direction Roz Hervey, Dave Brown and Geoff Cobham Composer Zoë Barry Lighting and Set Designer Geoff Cobham
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45 minutes (no interval) Recommended for 4-8 year-olds and their adults
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KIDS SEASON
A M O N K E Y BA A T H E AT R E COM PA N Y PRO D U C T I O N
H I TLE R’S
DAUG H TE R
BA S E D O N T H E BO O K BY JACK I E FR E N CH The play begins early morning somewhere in the Australian countryside. Four children wait for the school bus and they decide to play a game; a simple game of story-telling. As they shelter in the bus stop from a raging storm Anna creates an intriguing story and simultaneously on stage we begin to hear the bombing of Berlin and we see Heidi crawl from a bunker. With a large birthmark across her face, we discover that Heidi is the disfigured daughter of Hitler. Caught in the turmoil of war, she is hidden away by her father, one of the most dreaded men in history.
Tuesday 30 July 10am + 1pm
One price Groups 4+ Subscriber School group
$19.00 $16.00 $16.00 $14.00
“…it was perhaps the most extraordinary moment of my life. To go into that theatre, to see the book I had written, to see the words I had written, the characters I had created so entirely transmog rif ied into something richer and dif ferent… to my utter surprise I found myself sitting there with the rest of the audience with the tears running down my face….” JAC K I E F R E N C H , AU T H O R O F H I T L E R’S DAU G H T E R Back at the bus shelter Mark becomes so engrossed in Anna’s story; he begins to wonder how it would feel to be the child of someone as evil as Hitler. As the play evolves, Mark’s search for truth in a world of half-truths becomes clearer and the story culminates in the bombing of Berlin, the fall of the Third Reich and the end of Heidi’s innocence. Hitler’s Daughter poses powerful questions and examines moral issues in relation to society’s fears and prejudices.
Based on the book by Jackie French Adapted for the stage by Eva Di Cesare, Sandra Eldridge & Tim McGarry Director Sandra Eldridge Lighting Designer Luiz Pampolha Set and Costume Designer Imogen Ross Sound Designer Jed Silver
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62 minutes (no interval) Recommended for ages 10 years +
Photo: Heidrun Lohr
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KIDS SEASON
CD P K I D S PR E S E N T S
SPOT BA S E D O N T H E BO O K S BY E R I C H I L L Spot is one of the most loved dogs in the world, and he’s coming to Australia! Spot and his friends are off on a new adventure to visit Spot’s Dad on the farm and meet the farm animals. But when they arrive, all the animals are lost! Can Spot and his friends find them all? They might need a little help from their new friends in the audience… Eric Hill’s beloved puppy comes to life on stage with puppetry, songs, and puzzles for children aged 2+ and their adults.
Friday 30 August 10am + 1pm Saturday 31 August 10am + 1pm One price Groups 4+ Subscriber School group
$19.00 $16.00 $16.00 $14.00
Presented by arrangement with Penguin Books Limited.
“I consider myself very fortunate indeed to have created a character which has captured the imagination and enthusiasm of so many children worldwide. They are my family, and Spot belongs to them all.” ERIC HILL
Approximately 50 minutes (no interval) Recommended for ages 18 months + and their adults
This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.
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13 – 16 June 2019 civictheatre.com.au
S I LV E R
CI RCLE
S I LV E R C I R C L E
Photo: Sanjeev Singh
P R AC T I C A L LY P E R F E C T – T H E MUSIC OF JULIE ANDREWS PR E S E N T E D BY J TM PRO D U C T I O N S For generations she has graced the stage and screen, and is fondly remembered for being Maria in The Sound of Music and of course, the wonderful nanny in Mary Poppins. Practically Perfect celebrates the life and music of the legendary Dame Julie Andrews in a glorious stage production starring Karla Hillam (originally from Wagga Wagga) and her Leading Man, Jonathan Guthrie-Jones. Featuring some of her best known songs from shows such as Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, Victor Victoria and more, interwoven with stories of her life both on and off the stage. Be taken on an all singing, all dancing journey from the West End to Broadway and onto Hollywood. With beautiful costumes, extraordinary dancing, together with some of the most memorable music ever written and sung, this is an exquisite musical tribute to a living legend which will thrill and delight audiences of all ages. 42
Tuesday 26 February 11am Free morning tea from 10am All tickets $22
80 minutes (no interval) Writer and Producer Margaret Fisk Director James Cutler Choreographer Jeremy Hinman Design Christina Logan-Bell Lighting Design Brooke Van Eerden Musical Arrangements Martine Wengrow
WHAT’S
N E W
PU S SYCAT?
What’s New Pussycat? is a joyous, foot stamping, hand clapping celebration of the swinging sixties. It was the era of protest, civil unrest and undergarments being thrown inappropriately onto stage. Melissa Langton and Mark Jones by no means discourage these acts during the show!
Friday 26 July 11am Free morning tea from 10am All tickets $22
“Sensational! Cabaret at its very best.” T H E AG E
"A powerhouse comic performance." T H E SY D N E Y M O R N I N G H E R A L D
The show has it all; vocal pyrotechnics, breath-taking harmonies and off the wall humour. You’ll hear the hits of Tom Jones, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and The Papas, Petula Clark, Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, Carole King and The Fab Four performed by Australia’s favourite cabaret duo.
70 minutes (no interval) Starring Melissa Langton and Mark Jones
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S I LV E R C I R C L E
JA M E S
B LU N D E LL
There are many terms people use when describing James Blundell. Icon. Legend. Controversial. Rebel. The truth is - James Blundell is all of these things. He is unashamedly honest and comfortable in his own skin. He radiates an enthusiasm for everything that life has to offer and it’s this authenticity that makes him one of the most instantly likable and recognisable artists in Australian music.
Wednesday 18 September 11am Free morning tea from 10am All tickets $22
His early career was nothing short of phenomenal: a string of platinum albums and top 10 pop chart success turned the former cattle hand into a household name. He has since won ten golden guitars at the Tamworth Country Music Awards, been nominated three times for the APRA Awards winning once, and nominated for five ARIA Music Awards winning one. James Blundell is one of only a handful of today’s country artists who live the authentic life of a country singer. When he’s not touring - he’s managing his family owned property in Stanthorpe QLD. He is an artist of substance and longevity thanks to his unique perspective showcased through song. 44
65 minutes (no interval)
MU S I C MU S I C
AT M I D DAY AN D I N T H E E VE N I N G
The Australian Army Band Kapooka provides musical support to the Army Recruit Training Centre and to the Riverina community. Part of their community contribution is presenting a daytime and early evening series of concerts proudly hosted by the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre. The 2019 Season of Music at Midday and Music in the Evening will be conducted by Captain Michael Fitzpatrick.
Wednesday 27 March 12pm + 6pm Wednesday 26 June 12pm + 6pm Wednesday 23 October 12pm + 6pm
Tickets are available three weeks before each concert both online or by contacting the Civic Theatre box office. Prior notification of group booking will be accepted. All unoccupied seats will be reallocated 10 minutes prior to the concert start time. FREE COMMUNITY EVENT For group bookings: Civic Theatre box office 6926 9688 boxoffice@civictheatre.com.au 45
L I FE
I S
WH E N
B E T TE R I T ' S
L IVE
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2 019
CALE N DAR
Fe b r u a r y
Ju l y
TUESDAY 26 FEBRUARY Practically Perfect
FRIDAY 26 JULY What’s New Pussycat? TUESDAY 30 JULY Hitler’s Daughter
Ma rch
FRIDAY 15 MARCH Class Clowns
Au g u s t
WEDNESDAY 20 + THURSDAY 21 MARCH Billionaire Boy
TUESDAY 6 + WEDNESDAY 7 AUGUST Australian Ballet’s Coppélia
WEDNESDAY 27 MARCH Music at Midday + Music in the Evening
FRIDAY 23 100 Years of the History of Dance
SATURDAY 30 MARCH 360 ALLSTARS
FRIDAY 30 + SATURDAY 31 Spot
Ap r i l
September
TUESDAY 2 APRIL TWO
WEDNESDAY 4 – SATURDAY 14 SEPTEMBER The Hall Committee (8 performances)
FRIDAY 26 APRIL The Gospel According to Paul
WEDNESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER James Blundell
Ma y
SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER Sunset Strip
THURSDAY 2 MAY Possum Magic
October
FRIDAY 24 + SATURDAY 25 MAY The Sapphires
TUESDAY 8 OCTOBER Bell Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing
Ju n e
WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER Music at Midday + Music in the Evening
TUESDAY 4 JUNE Me & My Shadow
No v e m b e r
THURSDAY 13 – SUNDAY 16 JUNE Wagga Comedy Fest
FRIDAY 8 NOVEMBER Katie Noonan and the Australian String Quartet
WEDNESDAY 26 JUNE Music at Midday + Music in the Evening
SATURDAY 30 NOVEMBER The Wharf Revue
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Wollundry Lagoon
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Visitor Information Centre
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B A Y L IS
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Civic Centre
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C Theivic at r e
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Museum of the Riverina
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Victory Memorial Gardens
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CSU Riverina Playhouse
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Entrance foyer
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I N F O RM AT I O N
Wheelchair spaces are available and we can assist with other mobility issues. If you require wheelchair access or other assistance at the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre please indicate on the booking form or inform the box office team at the time of your booking. The Civic Theatre is fitted with a hearing loop. The system is accessible via hearing aids with a telephone setting. Please note, reception quality and levels may vary according to the age and type of hearing aid.
A carer is entitled to a free ticket when accompanying a paid Companion Card holder to the theatre. Parking is available in close proximity to the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre. Car parks are located in Cross Street, entry via Cross Street and at the corner of Morrow and O’Reilly Streets, entry via O’Reilly Street. The Civic Theatre foyer is a designated area for people to safely recharge their electric mobility scooter or wheelchair battery free of charge.
“ I C A N S E E H E ' S N O T I N YO U R G O O D B O O K S," SA I D T H E M E S S E N G E R. " N O, A N D I F H E W E R E I W O U L D B U R N M Y L I B R A R Y.” WI L L I A M S H A K E S PE A R E, M UCH A DO AB O U T N OT H I N G
C I V I C T H E AT R E . C O M . A U WA G G A WA G G A C I V I C T H E AT R E I S A FA C I L I T Y O F T H E C O U N C I L O F T H E C I T Y O F WA G G A WA G G A