THE ART OF CONNECTION
2022 Experience the heart of arts and culture in Penrith
THE ART OF CONNECTION It’s time to rediscover, to return, explore, experience. We love art in all its forms and welcome everyone to the creative heart of Penrith. Whether you’re seeing a show, making a show, having a drink and a laugh, reflecting on some art, learning something new, or out for a change of scenery and connection with friends; we’re here for you. In 2022, we’re going beyond the art to bring you a reimagined experience; a place to reconnect and relax, with more locallyfocused, casual and regular events in the Borland Lounge; atmospheric evenings in the Salon, big laughs, shows that enchant and performances that stir the soul. We’ll explore the big ideas, the stories behind the art and music; and where we can, we’ll give you the option of Zooming in when you can’t get out, just in case.
Front and back cover photos by Lyndal Irons Design by RaCreate (RA1028a)
OPEN FRIDAYS The Borland Lounge will be open, walk-ins welcome. The entertainment will have an emphasis on fun and most of the time it’ll be free. Add tapas and it’s Friday night magic. Expect a new calendar of events every month – with a few surprises! From 5pm.
OPEN FRIDAYS
SALON Intimate, sometimes experimental, always beautiful. From classical, jazz and world music with a twist to new theatre and arthouse or cult film. In the Mullins Studio, a small but perfectly formed space with a special atmosphere. Early evenings, possibly late nights.
SALON
COMEDY Regular local stand-up nights, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow, political satire in the form of The Wharf Revue, home-grown entertainment from Penrith Musical Comedy Company, and occasional mischief from touring comedians. Evenings.
COMEDY
MUSIC All kinds of music. Everyone has their favourite artists, songs and musical styles and we love them equally. We’ll have laid back lounge gigs with local musicians, a big and bold Easter choral celebration, monthly Morning Melodies, Penrith Symphony Orchestra concerts, touring artists and tribute shows. Evenings and matinees.
MUSIC
KIDS AT THE JOAN We present the perfoming arts for kids and families, schools, early childhood and vacation care groups. Shows, stories, concerts, handson workshops and fun. The good kind of drama that adds colour to life. Early evening performances, daytime shows and matinees.
ART AT PENRITH REGIONAL GALLERY A place of creativity and welcome. With its garden designed as a living work of art, a café serving artisan treats, modernist architectural highlights and a stunning purposebuilt Gallery, the setting is perfect for visitors to enjoy an everchanging mix of exhibitions and activities. Open daily.
TALKS & IDEAS Provocation, humour, panel discussions, presentations and Q&A. Low or no cost, casual atmosphere. Mornings and evenings, various venues. Entry ticketed by donation/pay what you feel, with the exception of a couple of special events.
TALKS & IDEAS
KIDS AT THE JOAN ART
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WHAT TO EXPECT
WHAT’S INSIDE Open Fridays
6
Salon 7 Comedy 25 Kids at The Joan
61
Art
73
Talks & Ideas
84
Photo by Lyndal Irons
Music 34
PENRITH ARTS LOVER We have a passion for bringing creativity, arts and fun to Western Sydney. Our Penrith Arts Lover (PAL) membership program connects members and partners together for discounts and deals on drinks, meals, gifts and loads of special offers.
PAL has an annual $40 joining fee for members with benefits including: • 10% discount off tickets for PAL FRIENDLY shows
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Let’s be PALS!
• Discounted drinks at The Joan’s Q and Borland Lounge bars • Invitations to Exhibition Openings at Penrith Regional Gallery • 10% discount on purchases over $20 at the Penrith Regional Gallery gift shop • Special offers from our growing list of PAL partners, including The Very Bazaar, Mr Watkin's, Quest Penrith Apartment Hotel, Cafe at Lewers, Beefy’s Burgers, Nugan Estate Wines, Tins & Wood and Avli Greek Restaurant – and more.
THE ARTS?
Photo by Christina Mishell
BE A MEMBER, A PARTNER OR BOTH – WE CAN’T WAIT FOR YOU TO BE OUR PAL!
A fresh monthly calendar of events to complement the atmosphere of The Joan’s Borland Lounge. Unwind in our lounge after the working week with a quiet drink under the fairy lights. Appreciate all the comforts of home, but the pleasure of being out to gather, share and connect with others. Join in the trivia, listen to the music, or just sit back and appreciate the atmosphere and company. And enjoy some fine tapas while you’re at it.
OPEN FRIDAYS Keep your eye on our website and social media for our rolling monthly calendar of events. Lounge opens at 5pm, entry is free unless events are specially ticketed.
OPEN FRIDAYS
Open Fridays Photo by Michelle Stead
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SALON
Photo by Phyllis Photography
Photo by Diane Picchiottino, Unsplash
January Thursday, Friday, Saturday 13 – 22
February Thursday & Friday 17 – 18
March
SLOW BURN Q Theatre in association with Sydney Festival presents.
Q THEATRE LAB Q Theatre Lab is an intimate night of new experiences from leading independent artists.
This new work by Deborah Pollard tracks the silent legacy of extreme weather events long after the news crews have moved on.
Q Theatre’s artist-in-residence program provides space and support for artists to develop work in progress. At the end of each residency the artists offer two 30-minute preview performances, giving audiences the chance to peek behind the curtain and see two plays, fresh off the page, performed back-to-back.
FASHION ON FILM To complement the Gallery’s Pattern and Print: Easton Pearson Archive exhibition, from 22 January – 17 April, we’ll bring you some of cinema’s most memorable moments in fashion in this boutique film screening.
Featured on pages 12 – 13.
Keep an eye on our website and social media for further details.
Keep an eye on our website and social media for further details.
MULLINS STUDIO Standard $45 | Concession $40
SALON
MULLINS STUDIO Standard $25 | Concession $20
MULLINS STUDIO Standard $10
May Friday 6, 7pm
May Thursday, Friday and Saturday 19 – 21
LATIN AMERICAN LOUNGE
JAZZ JOINT
ORIGINATE
CONCIERTOS DESTILADOS A celebration of the guitar, Latin America and Australian music-making.
SIMON TEDESCHI PLAYS GERSHWIN Acclaimed pianist Simon Tedeschi presents a suite of Gershwin favourites including this iconic work, Summertime, I Got Rhythm and more, alongside music of composers from Gershwin’s world, such as Rachmaninov, Chopin, Debussy and Fats Waller.
ORIGINATE IS WHERE IDEAS START An ensemble of emerging theatre makers will collaborate to create a new show about the here and now. Guided by director Shy Magsalin, the group moves through a workshop process to generate a new performance from the ground up.
Featured on pages 16 – 17.
A performance based on the thoughts, beliefs, hopes and fears of the ensemble.
Featured on pages 14 – 15.
Keep an eye on our website and social media for further details.
MULLINS STUDIO Standard $35 | Concession $30 | Under 30s $25
SALON
MULLINS STUDIO Standard $35 | Concession $30 | Under 30s $25
MULLINS STUDIO
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April Friday 1, 7pm
Photo by Adolfo Felix, Unsplash
June Friday 10, 7pm
July
July Friday 1, 7pm
SILVER SCREEN THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE
TRAVEL FILMS While the Gallery’s Sunrise, Sunset exhibition, on from 3 May – 15 August, takes audiences on a captivating journey to places that do not exist; our July Travel Films Screening will transport you to very real places you may have dreamt of near and far, in a welcome post-lockdown cinematic adventure.
JAZZ JOINT
FILM & PIANO A restored print of the iconic Australian film, showing Sydney in its early days. With live piano accompaniment, an original score written and performed by Ian Munro. Duration: 110 minutes.
SALON
Featured on pages 18 – 19.
Keep an eye on our website and social media for further details.
MULLINS STUDIO Standard $35 | Concession $30 | Under 30s $25
ANDREW DICKESON TRIO The epitome of classic, swinging jazz at its very best!
MULLINS STUDIO Standard $10
MULLINS STUDIO Standard $35 | Concession $30 | Under 30s $25
September Friday 2, 7pm
December
PIANO ADVENTURE
LATIN AMERICAN LOUNGE
ANDREA LAM Award-winning pianist Andrea Lam throws open the doors to an interactive, everchanging experience where the audience chooses its own [musical] adventure.
CANTO LATINO Sweeping across the world from Spain and Portugal to Latin America, Canto Latino spins poetry and folklore into music and song.
FESTIVE FILMS Seasonal classics, from the kitsch to the sentimental, to the fabulous. Keep an eye on our website and social media for further details.
Featured on pages 22 – 23.
Featured on pages 20 – 21.
MULLINS STUDIO Standard $35 | Concession $30 | Under 30s $25
SALON SALON
MULLINS STUDIO Standard $35 | Concession $30 | Under 30s $25
MULLINS STUDIO Standard $10
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Photo by Rodion Kutsaev, Unsplash
August Friday 5, 7pm
SALON
SLOW BURN Thursday 13 7.30pm Opening Night Limited tickets available
Saturday 15 2pm & 7.30pm Friday 21 6pm Saturday 22 2pm & 7.30pm
Every year more and more people experience the impacts of bushfire devastation. This is the story of one such family who lost their home during the 2003 Canberra bushfires.
PRODUCED BY Q THEATRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH SYDNEY FESTIVAL
Nineteen years on they still remember, they can’t forget, but they can carry on.
DEVISOR/PERFORMER Deborah Pollard
With wry wit, compelling storytelling and song, Deborah Pollard conjures into being a theatrical portrait of the very human face of climate change catastrophe.
OUTSIDE EYE Chris Ryan
This new work tracks the silent legacy of extreme weather events long after the news crews have moved on. Part stand-up, part home movie night, part gritty realism, this dynamic one-woman show presents an hour of intimate, raw and bitingly honest performance.
LIGHTING DESIGNER Benjamin Turner SOUND DESIGNER Phil Downing STAGE MANAGER Emma Paterson
Q THEATRE SALON
Duration: 60 minutes.
Standard $45 | Concession $40
Photo by Carlos Gomes
Friday 14 6pm
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January
“Musical escapism at its finest...” Limelight Magazine, 2021 SALON
LATIN AMERICAN LOUNGE April
CONCIERTOS DESTILADOS A celebration of the guitar, Latin America and Australian music-making. With Daniel Rojas bringing his composer's ear and charismatic flair to Andrew Blanch's captivating skill at the guitar, the duo offer an exciting new take on iconic Spanish and Australian works – from one of the best-loved concertos of all time, to the brand new.
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Friday 1 7pm
GUITAR Andrew Blanch PIANO Daniel Rojas
MULLINS STUDIO
SALON Duration 60 minutes (no interval).
Standard $35 | Concession $30 | Under 30s $25
Photo by Live Photography Photo by Mike Chesworth
Headlining the program is Rojas' new Guitar Concerto No.1, along with Joaquin Rodrigo's classic Concierto de Aranjuez, one of the best-loved concertos of all time: distilled into their duo versions for guitar and piano, the instrument closest to an orchestra in itself.
“It’s always thrilling to hear this piece [Rhapsody in Blue], but to experience it performed live by Tedeschi is something few ever forget.” Canberra CityNews, 2020
SALON
JAZZ JOINT May
SIMON TEDESCHI PLAYS GERSHWIN Extraordinary concert pianist, Simon Tedeschi, is one of Australia's foremost classical musicians. Perhaps more than any other classical pianist, Simon is renowned for his performances of the music of the legendary George Gershwin, who has in many ways been a musical 'accompaniment' to Tedeschi's life.
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Friday 6 7pm
PIANO Simon Tedeschi
MULLINS STUDIO
SALON Duration 60 minutes (no interval).
Standard $35 | Concession $30 | Under 30s $25
Photo by Cole Bennetts
With three celebrated albums of Gershwin’s music and countless acclaimed performances of Rhapsody in Blue under his fingers, Simon presents a suite of favourites including this iconic work, Summertime, I Got Rhythm and more, alongside music of composers from Gershwin’s world, such as Rachmaninov, Chopin, Debussy and Fats Waller.
SALON
JAZZ JOINT July
DRUMS Andrew Dickeson
Andrew Dickeson – one of the Australian jazz scene’s foremost drummers – is joined by longtime collaborators and jazz stalwarts, pianist Peter Locke and double bassist Brendan Clarke for this very special concert. They’ll play arrangements of classic tunes by jazz greats including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Fats Waller, and other famous standards from The Great American Songbook.
PIANO Peter Locke DOUBLE BASS Brendan Clarke
Andrew Dickeson is one of Australia's most prominent, prolific and accomplished musicians, and has been a fixture on the Australian Jazz scene for over 25 years. During his career he’s performed with many international jazz greats as well as Australia’s finest jazz musicians, playing on over a hundred albums – many of which are award-winners.
MULLINS STUDIO
SALON Duration 60 minutes (no interval).
Standard $35 | Concession $30 | Under 30s $25
Photos by Aaron Blakey, Kyle Powderly
ANDREW DICKESON TRIO The epitome of classic, swinging jazz at its very best!
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Friday 1 7pm
SALON
PIANO ADVENTURE August
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Friday 5 7pm
ANDREA LAM The way we listen to music is ever changing with technology. More than anything, music is a way to connect us and to make us feel and think differently. To explore this, award-winning pianist Andrea Lam throws open the doors to an interactive, ever-changing experience where the audience ‘chooses its own [musical] adventure’ according to what they wish to hear in that moment – from J. S. Bach to Bill Evans. Interwoven through the concert will be Schubert’s breathtaking Sonata in A major, D. 959 that reveals and revels in all of life – encapsulating beauty, warmth, grandeur, intimacy, nostalgia, joy, melancholy and whimsy – all elements explored in some way through the audience’s choice of offered works, whichever they will be.
MULLINS STUDIO
SALON Duration 60 minutes (no interval).
Standard $35 | Concession $30 | Under 30s $25
Photo by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco
The list of works from which the audience can choose will be available online at thejoan.com.au
SALON
LATIN AMERICAN LOUNGE September
CANTO LATINO Hailing from the Blue Mountains, Canto Latino blends the expertise of Amanda Handel in tango, flamenco and Art music, Jane Andino in Latin and South American music, Gary Daley in jazz and contemporary and Matt Handel in jazz, funk and soul.
CANTO LATINO QUARTET
Sweeping across the world from Spain and Portugal to Latin America, Canto Latino spins poetry and folklore into music and song, with a concert program woven from the threads of traditional Argentinean tango, Portuguese fado, Mexican ranchera and sones, South American and Spanish folklórico.
SAXOPHONE Matt Handel
VOICE Amanda Handel PIANO Jane Andino
ACCORDION Gary Daley
MULLINS STUDIO
SALON Duration: 75 minutes (no interval).
Standard $35 | Concession $30 | Under 30s $25
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Friday 2 7pm
Q THEATRE LAB Q Theatre Lab is Q Theatre's artist in residence program. The residency is designed to make creative space and time for the development of dynamic projects at an early stage of their conception. Projects are selected through an open callout process and successful applicants will receive financial assistance, space to develop the work, as well as technical and dramaturgical support for dedicated creative development. The two successful applicants will present their work (approx. 30 min) as a double bill in a two-night season as part of the Salon program, on February 17 and 18.
EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED Everything You Ever Wanted, by Rachel Roberts was a Q Theatre Lab development project that became part of The Joan's mainstage season in 2018.
SALON
KEY DATES APPLICATIONS OPEN: November 15, 2021 APPLICATIONS CLOSE: December 8, 2021 RESIDENCY: January 31 till February 18, 2022
Photo by Katy Green Loughrey
Keep an eye on our website and social media for updates.
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COMEDY
COMEDY
Fridays monthly
COMEDY @ THE JOAN
21 January 7.30pm 18 February 7.30pm
22 April 7.30pm 20 May 7.30pm 24 June 7.30pm 22 July 7.30pm 19 August 7.30pm 16 September 7.30pm 28 October 7.30pm 18 November 7.30pm
A stand-up comedy season in the Q Theatre with a monthly gig featuring six comics in quick succession over a side-splitting 70-minutes.
PRODUCED BY THE JOAN AND BLACKLIST
Host Frida Deguise is a rising talent on the Sydney comedy scene. Australia’s first (and only) hijab-wearing Muslim Australian stand-up comedian, Deguise has built a reputation for breaking stereotypes and a fearless pursuit of comic material. The mother of four has featured on such prestigious shows as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala and Nazeem Hussain’s Stand Up for Christchurch and is a regular fixture in iconic comedy clubs across the country. Controversial, sassy and with a brashness tempered perfectly with effortless, joyful charisma Frida and her line-up will have you laughing with them and despite yourself until your cheeks hurt. Check website for line-up.
16 December 7.30pm
PAL FRIENDLY
COMEDY Duration: 70 minutes.
Standard $35 | Concession $30 | PAL and Under 30s $25
Q THEATRE
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18 March 7.30pm
“So hysterical that twice I was brought to tears – an activity usually reserved for funerals, Puccini and hitting my thumb with a hammer.” Sydney Morning Herald
COMEDY
THE WHARF REVUE Thursday 10 7.30pm Friday 11 7.30pm Saturday 12 2pm Saturday 12 7.30pm
The Wharf Revue is setting out to sea again on a journey of satirical discovery – but this time under its own steam.
A SOFT TREAD PRODUCTION
All hands on deck for a daring adventure as they navigate the dire Straits of Covid, sail round the treacherous Horn of Scomo, steer well clear of the empty Cape of Pauline, only to be becalmed in the Nationals Bermuda Jacket Triangle before stumbling across a New World, filled with hope and promise! Or not.
WRITERS Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott CO-DIRECTORS Jonathan Biggins and Drew Forsythe MUSICAL DIRECTOR Phillip Scott
Join the regular crew of creatives Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phil Scott – along with their figurehead of talent Mandy Bishop – as they bravely voyage to the bottom of the barrel.
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March
LIGHTING DESIGNER Matt Cox VIDEO AND SOUND DESIGNER David Bergman COSTUME DESIGNERS Hazel and Scott Fisher
COMEDY
Audience info: may contain strong language and adult themes. Duration: 90 minutes (no interval).
PAL FRIENDLY Standard $70 PAL $63 | Concession $65 PAL $58.50
Q THEATRE
Photo by Brett Boardman
PERFORMED BY Jonathan Biggins, Mandy Bishop, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott
COMEDY
GREASE March Friday 25 7.30pm
Sunday 27 1.30pm Thursday 31 7.30pm
April Friday 1 7.30pm Saturday 2 1.30pm Saturday 2 7.30pm Sunday 3 1.30pm
COMEDY
GREASE IS THE WORD AT THE Q THEATRE! Penrith Musical Comedy Company is proud to present the rockin’, rollin’, musical classic, Grease. Since its Broadway and West End debuts in the early 1970s, Grease has remained one of the most popular and enduring musicals. All of your favourite characters will come to life on stage (Danny, Kenickie and the gang, together with the Pink Ladies, Patty, Eugene, and more) along with the songs you know so well (including Greased Lightnin’, Summer Nights, Beauty School Dropout, You’re The One That I Want – and many others).
PENRITH MUSICAL COMEDY COMPANY Beginning back in 1978 as the Penrith Youth Musical Society, and growing out of a community’s love for musical theatre, Penrith Musical Comedy Company produces two shows per year and is considered The Joan’s resident community Musical Theatre Company.
Don’t miss out on the rollicking fun of Grease – book your tickets now. A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop a-wop-bam-boom!
Audience info: adult themes, coarse language, sexual references. Duration: 130 minutes.
Q THEATRE
Standard $45 | Concession, Student, Child $39 | Groups 10+ $38
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Saturday 26 7.30pm
COMEDY
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL ROADSHOW June PP&VA | 2022 | 33
Tuesday 21 7.30pm
THE ULTIMATE COMEDY ROAD TRIP RETURNS IN 2022! Strap yourself in Penrith! The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow is hitting the highways to home-deliver the freshest and funniest from the 2022 Festival to our neighbourhood. For 24 years the Roadshow has presented an all killer, no filler line-up of Australian stars and talented newcomers to comedy fans far and wide.
Duration: 135 minutes (including 20-minute interval). Recommended for people aged 15 years or older.
COMEDY
Audience info: Contains course language, adult themes, sexual references and material that may offend. Smoke machine/hazer may be used during this performance.
PAL FRIENDLY
CONCERT HALL
Standard $45 PAL $40.50 | Concession $40 PAL $36
Photo by Jim Lee
Buckle up for a night of stand-up, sketch, satire, silliness and song in this rip-roaring road trip designed to satisfy all your post-pandemic comedy cravings!
MUSIC
MORNING MELODIES Monthly
For over 30 years Morning Melodies has entertained a loyal community of followers who have become a vital and ongoing part of The Joan’s history. CONCERT HALL Pre-booked $22* | On the Day $25^ *Pre book and pay 1 week prior to the concert. ^ Purchase on the day of the concert.
MUSIC
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Wednesdays 11am
January Wednesday 19
February Wednesday 23
March Wednesday 23
LIVERPOOL TO LONDON Jacques Renay, Linda Knight and Kylie Reid and the Mersey Boys Quartet.
GET THIS PARTY STARTED Nathan Foley, Belinda Marks, Chris Gable and the Greg Hooper Quartet.
Celebrating a decade of 60s UK hits.
Three of Australia's award-winning cabaret acts take the stage.
THE SONG CATCHERS Monique Montez (Shirley Bassey) Donna Campbell (Dolly Parton) Sharon Calabro (Karen Carpenter) and the Greg Hooper Quartet. A tribute to iconic recording artists and household names.
MUSIC
May Wednesday 25
June Wednesday 22
PETER COUSENS & FRIENDS Peter Cousens, Susannah Mirana, Amber Jade and the Greg Hooper Trio.
NSW POLICE BAND – EUROPEAN JOURNEY NSW Police Band with soloist Belinda Adams.
SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES Stephen Fisher King, Jo Elms, Bob Howe and the Greg Hooper Trio.
A feast of musical delights, music from the 50s to the 90s and big band favourites.
MUSIC
Enjoy a musical travelogue.
A showcase of hits from the 70s – the decade that brought us flower power and flares.
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April Wednesday 27
July Wednesday 27
August Wednesday 24
September Wednesday 28
TALK OF THE TOWN Danny Elliot, FABBA, Belinda Marks and the Greg Hooper Trio.
LEADING MEN & A LEADING LADY Darryl Lovegrove, Derek Metzger, Scott Irwin, Daniel Barnes and the Greg Hooper Trio.
An eclectic feast of musical delights, music from ABBA and more.
Featuring the best of Australia's stage and screen talents.
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY BAND – CONCERT SPECTACULAR Be prepared for a big, celebratory, ceremonial sound, with plenty of familiar favourites.
MUSIC
November Wednesday 23
December Wednesday 21
I’VE GOT THE WORLD ON A STRING Ian Cooper (Violinist), Grace Rizzo, Brian Lorenz and the Greg Hooper Trio.
OH BOY – BUDDY’S BACK WITH FRIENDS Paul McCann and Steven George with a six-piece band. Bringing you the music of Buddy Holly and artists from the 50s.
WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS Michael Montgomery, Christine Tyrrell, Paul Cincotta and the Greg Hooper Trio.
Music from an award-winning violin virtuoso and stellar performers.
MUSIC
Celebrate the spirit of Christmas with favourites like It's the Most Wonderful Time of The Year and Joy To The World.
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October Wednesday 26
MUSIC
“It takes a rare skill to be very silly, thoughtful, and sing in perfect harmony, but the Spooky Men’s Chorale manage to achieve just that.” Robin Denselow, Guardian live review
THE SPOOKY MEN'S CHORALE February Friday 11 7.30pm
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Saturday 12 2pm
Sometimes silly and humorous, sometimes blissfully tender-hearted, the Spooky Men strike a deeply human chord. Armed only with their voices, a sly collection of hats and facial hair, and a twinkle in the eye, the Spooky Men’s Chorale commentates on the absurdity and grandeur of the modern male. Find out why the group has won over audiences internationally with its blend of beautiful ballads, Georgian table songs and tongue-in-cheek anthems like Don't stand between a man and his tool.
PAL FRIENDLY
MUSIC Duration: 105 minutes.
Q THEATRE
Standard $60 PAL $54 | Concession $55 PAL $49.50 | Seniors Matinee $40
MUSIC
THE MELL-O-TONES February Saturday 19 2pm
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Saturday 19 7.30pm
Sydney’s finest jazz and swing musicians come together to perform a sparkling repertoire of classics from the swing era. Music from the Golden Age of Broadway and Hollywood, Latin-American cha-cha, rumba and mambo evergreens; and big band versions of the great songs associated with legends like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Fred Astaire. The 15-piece big band, led by conductor and vocalist Phillip Sametz (a name ABC Classic FM listeners will recognise), is a fixture on the Sydney arts and entertainment scene, performing everywhere from glittering opening night parties, to the Opera House New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Archibald Prize Preview and in annual concert seasons at the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Cremorne. Their ABC Classics album, Non-Stop Flight was nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Jazz Album.
PAL FRIENDLY
MUSIC Duration: Matinee 90 minutes. Evening 120 minutes.
Q THEATRE
Standard $60 PAL $54 | Concession $55 PAL $49.50 | Seniors Matinee $40
MUSIC
MELINDA SCHNEIDER: LOVE SONGS March
Come and celebrate love with Golden Guitar Award winner, ARIA Award winner and chart-topping singer and songwriter, Melinda Schneider, in an intimate two-hour concert production.
A SIXTEEN LEGS PRODUCTION
This emotional and soulful performance will feature Melinda, backed by a pianist, performing a range of your favourites, from her Golden Guitar winning hits, to a selection of her own original love songs spanning her 40 years in entertainment, together with timeless romantic cuts from the likes of Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton and more. Plus, she will preview some new songs from her forthcoming studio album, due to be released in March 2022. Don’t miss this captivating performance from one of Australia’s music icons.
Q THEATRE
MUSIC Duration: 120 minutes.
Standard $59
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Friday 4 8pm
MUSIC
ROCKARIA: THE ELO EXPERIENCE March
Rockaria – The ELO Experience is a captivating live concert recreating the unforgettable sound of Jeff Lynne’s The Electric Light Orchestra.
AN URBAN RUSH ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION
Formed in 1970 in Birmingham England, ELO was formed out of Jeff Lynne’s and Roy Wood’s desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones. During the 1970s and 1980s, ELO released a string of Top 10 albums and singles, including two LPs that reached the top of British charts: the disco inspired Discovery (1979) and the science fiction themed concept album Time (1981). In 1988, Jeff Lynne together with George Harrison formed The Traveling Wilburys with fellow members Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. Performing all the classic hits including Evil Woman, Living Thing, Don’t Bring Me Down, Telephone Line, Sweet Talkin’ Woman, Strange Magic, Do Ya, Rock n Roll Is King, Hold On Tight, Roll Over Beethoven, Can’t Get It Out Of My Head, Rockaria plus many more. Including legendary songs by Jeff Lynne’s The Traveling Wilburys such as Handle Me With Care, End Of The Line, Last Night. This is a tribute concert not to be missed. CONCERT HALL
MUSIC Duration: 120 minutes.
Standard $69 | Concession $63
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Saturday 12 8pm
PENRITH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Penrith Symphony Orchestra – The Joan's Orchestra-in-Residence – is thrilled to present its 2022 Season, with programs celebrating great classics and exciting young talent. This much anticipated return to the concert hall of the full orchestra culminates in a concert performance of Puccini’s La Bohème.
MUSIC
Photo by Fiora Sacco
The orchestra collaborates with distinguished conductors and soloists, and is recognised as one of Australia’s leading 'pro-am' community orchestras.
May Sunday 15, 3pm
July Saturday 30, 7.30pm
PROKOFIEV & TCHAIKOVSKY SYMPHONIC SERIES In a program of mirth and melancholy, Prokofiev’s most popular piano concerto shines bright, alongside Tchaikovsky’s grand yet poignant fifth symphony.
CINEMA CLASSICS SYMPHONIC SERIES Be swept up by the magic of the Silver Screen. Revel in an evening of great moments and familiar themes from the world of cinema.
BRAHMS & TCHAIKOVSKY SYMPHONIC SERIES The grand Romanticism of one of the great violin concertos, alongside Brahms’ joyous third symphony.
CONCERT HALL ALL SHOWS Standard $62 Subscription Discount (5 shows)* Standard $55.80
MUSIC
Concession $55 Subscription Discount (5 shows)* Concession $49.50 Child/Youth $30 | Family of 4 $154 | Groups of 10+ $47
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March Saturday 26, 7.30pm
September Saturday 10, 7.30pm
November Saturday 12, 7.30pm
December Sunday 4, 3pm
LA BOHÈME OPERA Simple feelings and powerful drama, PSO brings a Puccini masterpiece to the concert hall stage.
MENDELSSOHN & BEETHOVEN SYMPHONIC SERIES A pair of the best-known works in the repertoire combined with an exciting new composition from an emerging artist.
MESSIAH A timeless classic and Christmas favourite, Handel’s Messiah returns in 2022 in this co-production with Penrith City Choir. *
Messiah not included in subscription discount.
CONCERT HALL Messiah Early Bird (until 31 December 2021) Standard $55.80 | Concession $49.50
MUSIC
Standard $62 | Concession $55 Child/Youth $30 | Family of 4 $154 | Groups of 10+ $47
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Penrith Youth Orchestra (PYO) is a professional orchestral training program for young musicians in the heart of Western Sydney that helps to build ensemble skills in a dynamic and supportive environment. Led by tutors from Penrith Symphony Orchestra (PSO), Penrith Conservatorium of Music at The Joan and the world-renowned Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO), PYO rehearses and performs four times per year under the guidance of PSO's Artistic Director, Dr Paul Terracini. On occassion, the orchestra also performs in public concerts alongside Penrith Symphony Orchestra. Entry into PYO is merit based, and financial assistance for successful applicants is available.
Visit pyo.org.au to apply and be part of PYO. For enquiries contact:
MUSIC
pyo@penrith.city 02 4723 8686
Photo by Fiora Sacco
FOR MORE INFORMATION
MUSIC
April
EASTER ORATORIO A beautiful lead-in to Easter, be spellbound and transported as the Bach Akademie Australia sweeps you away with the luscious sounds of Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach Akademie Australia welcomes the internationally renowned American countertenor Reginald Mobley to Australia in this musical celebration of Easter.
BACH AKADEMIE AUSTRALIA FULL PROGRAM BWV 82 ‘Ich habe genug’ BWV 42 ‘Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats’ BWV 249 ‘Easter Oratorio’
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Saturday 9 7.30pm
Finally, Bach Akademie Australia presents one of Bach’s best loved and most jubilant works, the Easter Oratorio. Its message of pure joy and celebration continues to uplift, inspire and comfort us all these many hundreds of years later.
CONCERT HALL
MUSIC Duration: 120 minutes.
Standard $60 | Concession $55
Photo by Jonathan Dick, OSFS on Unsplash
Reginald’s astonishingly beautiful voice will feature in Bachs’ heartbreaking Cantata BWV 82 ‘Ich habe genug’ alongside Australia’s own Emma Black on baroque oboe. Cantata BWV 42 follows with a message of hope and comfort for all.
MUSIC
April
REMEMBER THE DAYS OF CAT STEVENS Remember the days of Cat Stevens? The name brings back a thousand memories – dark eyes, a winning voice and songs the whole world sang along to; Moonshadow, Wild World, Peace Train, Where Do the Children Play?, Father & Son, Morning Has Broken, they have become bookmarks in our lives, deeply personal, as if they were written especially for us.
A COGNOSCENTI ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION STARRING Darren Coggan
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Friday 29 8pm
Re-live the voice of a generation, in a celebration of one of the most inspiring and prolific singer songwriters of our time, sung with remarkable authenticity by one of Australia’s most exciting artists, Darren Coggan.
Get on board the Peace Train and Remember The Days of Cat Stevens as Darren Coggan traces the path of a man who never stopped wondering about how to make the world a better place. Q THEATRE
MUSIC Duration: 120 minutes.
Standard $65 | Concession $60 | Groups 8+ $60
Photo by Robin Reidy
Star of the critically-acclaimed production, Peace Train – The Cat Stevens Story, Darren Coggan, has spent the past ten years inspiring audiences with this portrait, in the most prestigious theatres across Australia, including the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall and most recently playing to standing ovations in concert halls throughout the United Kingdom.
“A brilliant evening of Capital E entertainment. An outstanding hand-picked dance troupe, a fabulous orchestra that keeps the joint jumping and Kermond, that rare endangered species – a song and dance man, a guy who can keep you entertained all night.” The Sunday Mail, Adelaide
MUSIC
June
CANDY MAN
Friday 3 7.30pm Saturday 4 2pm
Join the multi-talented Mo Award winner Wayne Scott Kermond for a high energy, sophisticated Song & Dance experience celebrating the life and music of Sammy Davis Jr, the ultimate entertainer.
STARRING Wayne Scott Kermond CONCEIVED AND WRITTEN BY Wayne Scott Kermond
Candy Man blends Wayne Scott Kermond’s unique talents with his musical heritage to push the boundaries of contemporary Musical Theatre Cabaret, exploring Sammy Davis Jr’s career through Vaudeville, Las Vegas nightclubs, concert halls, musicals, film and television.
DIRECTOR Katie Kermond
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Saturday 4 7.30pm
ORIGINAL DESIGN Stephen Wickham ASSOCIATE DESIGN Matthew Tunchon
Featuring a live band, a cast of musical theatre dancers, a local ensemble and junior choir, Candy Man will capture your imagination and lift your spirits.
MUSICAL SUPERVISOR Mark Taylor
PAL FRIENDLY
MUSIC Duration: 125 minutes (including interval).
Standard $60 PAL $54 | Concession $55 PAL $49.50
Q THEATRE
Photo by Michael Anderson
MUSICAL DIRECTOR Jamie Castrisos
MUSIC
LEAVING JACKSON – THE JOHNNY CASH AND JUNE CARTER SHOW July
Fall into the Ring of Fire in this unforgettable concert dedicated to the music, love and lives of Johnny Cash and June Carter.
A JEFF CARTER PRODUCTION
For more than 40 years, Johnny Cash and June Carter enthralled audiences around the world with their songs of life, love and heartache. A love story played out through some of the greatest songs ever written.
MUSIC
CONCERT HALL Standard $62 | Concession $55 | Groups 6+ $55 | Student/Child $25
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Saturday 2 7.30pm
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KIDS AT THE JOAN
KIDS AT THE JOAN
AMPHIBIAN
February Friday 25 10am
A WINDMILL THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION CREATED AND WRITTEN BY Duncan Graham
Saturday 26 12pm
CREATIVE TEAM
Based on the real-life testimonies of refugees, Amphibian sees past, present and dreams collide in an epic story of displacement, loss and adapting to different worlds. Chloe and Hassan are sent out of class under suspicion for stealing money while feeding the class axolotl. As the unlikely pair work out who’s responsible, Chloe hears the heartbreaking story of an Afghan boy who has travelled alone, across land and sea, for a better life. Poignant, powerful and bubbling with humour, Amphibian is a sparkling teen drama that brings one of the most urgent issues of our time roaring onto the stage.
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Saturday 26 10am
DIRECTOR Sasha Zahra DESIGNER Meg Wilson COMPOSER AND SOUND DESIGNER Ian Moorhead LIGHTING AND AUDIO VISUAL DESIGNER Mark Pennington CULTURAL CONSULTANTS Muzafar Ali Elyas Alavi CAST Rami Saaid Julia Vosnakis
Suitable for ages 12 and over. Audience info: this production contains coarse language, adult themes and the use of theatrical haze.
KIDS AT THE JOAN
Duration: 55 minutes (no interval plus 15-minute Q&A following the 12pm weekday performance). Amphibian has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.
Q THEATRE Standard $25 | Family of 4 $90 | Schools $20 per student and additional teachers (1 free teacher per 10 students)
Photo by Shane Reid Art Direction by Carnival Studio
Friday 25 12pm
KIDS AT THE JOAN
GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU
April Wednesday 13 12pm* Wednesday 13 2pm
Thursday 14 12pm
“I love you right up to the moon – and back.”
CDP KIDS PRESENTS
Join the enchanting adventure of Little and Big Nutbrown Hare these Easter School Holidays as they discover the magic and colour of the seasons in a dazzling new adaptation of Sam McBratney’s timeless children’s books.
A PLAY BY Richard Tulloch
This playful story of love and nature unfolds on stage in an exciting show jam-packed full of exquisite puppetry and music. Brought to life by the team behind the Australian tours of The Gruffalo, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Spot, this all-time favourite will excite, educate and entertain new readers and first-time theatre goers. A must-see for fans of the book, hop to it and book your tickets now to avoid missing out!
*
Relaxed performances. Check thejoan.com.au for details.
ADAPTED FROM THE BOOKS BY Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram DIRECTOR Liesel Badorrek DESIGNER Isla Shaw PLAYWRIGHT Richard Tulloch LIGHTING DESIGNER Benjamin Brockman SOUND DESIGNER Gail Priest
Duration: 55 minutes (no interval plus 15-minute Q&A following the 12pm performance on Thursday). Suitable for ages 3 and and their families.
KIDS AT THE JOAN
Guess How Much I Love You™ and © Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram 2021. Licensed by Walker Books Ltd. Guess How Much I Love You is a registered trademark of Walker Books Ltd, London UK. Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund – an Australian Government initiative. This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.
Q THEATRE Standard $25 | Family of 4 $90 | Childcare, OOSH, Vacation Care and Home School Groups: $20 per child and additional supervisors (1 free supervisor per 10 children)
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Thursday 14 10am*
KIDS AT THE JOAN
BEEP
May Friday 6 10am* Friday 6 12pm
The award-winning team behind Grug and the Rainbow return with this interactive, charming tale of unexpected friendship, finding your place in the world and learning to mix things up a little bit. In Mort’s village everything has its place, every day is the same and everyone likes it that way. Mort is content living in a tree that produces molly melons for him to eat when it rains and playing with fluffy yellow balls called ‘fuzzles’. Until, one morning, Beep the robot lands in town – ‘Crash! Boom! Bang!’ Who is this noisy stranger that has interrupted Mort’s breakfast molly melon? How will Beep find her way home? Featuring Windmill’s trademark design, gentle storytelling, music and puppetry, Beep is a beautiful introduction to theatre, guaranteed to spark the imaginations of young audiences. *
Relaxed performance. Check thejoan.com.au for details.
DIRECTOR AND CO-CREATOR Sam Haren DESIGNER AND CO-CREATOR Jonathon Oxlade WRITER AND CO-CREATOR Katherine Fyffe TECHNICAL DESIGNER Chris Petridis COMPOSER AND SOUND DESIGNER Luke Smiles PUPPET MAKER AND CONSULTANT Tamara Rewse PUPPET MAKER Marshall Tearle CAST Rachel Burke Ezra Juanta
Duration: 35 minutes (no interval). Suitable for ages 2–7 and their families.
KIDS AT THE JOAN
Audience info: This production contains the use of strobe lighting, theatrical haze and smoke effects. Windmill Theatre Co is supported by the Government of South Australia and the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.
Q THEATRE Standard $25 | Family of 4 $90 | Schools $20 per student and additional teachers (1 free teacher per 10 students)
Photo by Shane Reid Design by Carnival Studio
Saturday 7 12pm
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A WINDMILL THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION
Saturday 7 10am
KIDS AT THE JOAN
July
THE BOX SHOW
Friday 8 10am Friday 8 1pm
Workshops Friday 8 2.30pm Saturday 9 2.30pm
In the hands of Junkyard Beats, ordinary household items are transformed into extraordinary musical instruments and unwanted junk comes alive in exciting and surprising ways!
JUNKYARD ORCHESTRA WORKSHOP
The Box Show excites the imagination of children and adults alike. Follow four characters during their daily activities in a world made of cardboard boxes and junk. The contents of an abandoned kitchen and wheelie bins become the greatest drum set in the world; plastic bags are an amazing musical instrument and the human body becomes a unique sound machine.
Suitable for Ages 5 – 12.
Tag along for a day in the life of a bunch of musical misfits as they reinvigorate the junk that the world has forgotten. Learn about sustainability with this high energy, imaginative and interactive performance combining drumming, dance, theatre and comedy. With a language of gibberish and rhythm, this show is accessible to any age and nationality.
See the show, then join the team from Junkyard Beats for their award-winning workshop to learn basic body percussion skills and how to turn recycled materials such as buckets, PVC pipes, broomsticks, plastic bins and drums into musical instruments, so you can create your own Junkyard Orchestra.
JUNKYARD BEATS AND CRITICAL STAGES TOURING CREATED BY Junkyard Beats CREATOR AND CO-WRITER Oded Prior DIRECTOR AND CO-WRITER Nigel Turner-Carroll
Limited places available. Book early to avoid the disappointment of missing out!
Duration: 60 minutes (no interval plus 15-minute Q&A following 10am performances). Workshop: 45 minutes (no break). Audience info: this production contains loud noises and music.
KIDS AT THE JOAN
Please Note: Supervisors and parents of children participating in the workshop are welcome to stay and watch, but must book a free workshop ticket when booking for the show.
Q THEATRE Standard $25 | Concession $20 | Family of 4 $90 | Childcare, OOSH, Vacation Care and Home School Groups: $20 per child and additional supervisors (1 free supervisor per 10 children). Show and Workshop Package | Child $35
Photo by Boaz Nothman
Saturday 9 1pm
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Saturday 9 10am
KIDS AT THE JOAN Illustration by Rod Clement
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EDWARD THE EMU
November Tuesday 22 6pm
A MONKEY BAA THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION
Wednesday 23 10am*
BASED ON THE BOOKS BY Sheena Knowles and Rod Clement
Wednesday 23 12pm
The award-winning team behind Possum Magic return to bring a unique imagining of two beloved Australian picture books, Edward the Emu and Edwina the Emu, to life on stage in a heartfelt, clever and funny new tale. Edward is bored with his lot. Being the only emu at the zoo leaves him feeling glum and under the impression that the grass is greener in another animal’s enclosure. Convinced that the other creatures are more popular, Edward breaks ranks in search of fun and finds Edwina along the way! Come on an adventure with the emus as they hilariously navigate their own feathered existential crises, seeking to find their place in the world. Meanwhile, the zoo keepers are in hot pursuit to restore order to the zoo. Featuring exceptional, world-class puppetry, an original score and inventive storytelling, the emus’ journey of hijinks and tenderness leads them to discover that the best thing you can be is… you!
*
KIDS AT THE JOAN
Relaxed performance. Check thejoan.com.au for details.
Duration: 50 minutes (no interval plus 20-minute Q&A following all performances). Suitable for ages 4–10 and their families.
WRITTEN FOR THE STAGE AND DIRECTED BY Eva Di Cesare SET AND COSTUME DESIGNER Isabel Hudson PUPPETRY DIRECTOR Alice Osborne COMPOSER AND SOUND DESIGNER Nate Edmondson LIGHTING DESIGNER Matt Cox DRAMATURG Sandra Eldridge ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Warwick Doddrell PUPPETRY DESIGNER AND MAKER Bryony Anderson
Q THEATRE Standard $25 | Family of 4 $90 | Schools $20 per student and additional teachers (1 free teacher per 10 students)
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Tuesday 22 12pm
PENRITH REGIONAL GALLERY
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ART
ART
22 January till 17 April
A celebration of the internationally acclaimed Brisbane fashion house Easton Pearson, a leader in the fashion world from 1998 to 2016 with Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson – and their unique creative partnership – at the helm.
AN EXHIBITION BY MUSEUM OF BRISBANE (MOB)
Featuring a specially curated selection of garments and fashionrelated objects, Pattern and Print: Easton Pearson Archive showcases the daring design, technical innovations, bespoke fabrics and bold prints Easton Pearson became renowned for over its 28-year history.
ARTIST Easton Pearson A TOURING EXHIBITION ORGANISED BY Museum of Brisbane (MoB), toured by Museums & Galleries Queensland
As well as creating original textile designs, Easton Pearson also worked with individual artists, producing vibrant Indian hand beading, bold digital prints of original artworks, and hand-painted designs. The garments are complemented by a custom mural by Brisbanebased painter, illustrator and long-time Easton Pearson collaborator, Stephen Mok, who created window designs for the label’s flagship store, and collaborated on garment and runway design. His playful aesthetic presents the fantastical world of Easton Pearson, where both simplicity and detail shine, and artistry triumphs.
The Designers’ Guide: Easton Pearson Archive 2018. Photo by Carl Warner. Illustration: Stephen Mok. Donated by Dr Paul Eliadis AM through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program 2017. Easton Pearson Archive, Museum of Brisbane Collection. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government’s Visions of Australia program.
ART
The Easton Pearson Archive gift to Museum of Brisbane has been made possible by the generous support of Dr Paul Eliadis, a Brisbane-based philanthropist and patron of contemporary art and design. The Archive consists of more than 3,300 garments donated by Dr Eliadis through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2017. It is supported by more than 5,000 accessories, specification sheets, range plans, look books, photographs and other supporting material donated by Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson, 2018.
GALLERY FREE
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PATTERN AND PRINT: EASTON PEARSON ARCHIVE
ART
A TANGLED BANK A Tangled Bank brings together contemporary artists who draw on organic materials – often found, recycled or repurposed – to create works that act as vessels for ecological and cultural knowledge. The exhibition considers the stories within the unique qualities of the materials.
ARTISTS Lorraine Connelly-Northey Mehwish Iqbal Jumaadi
The artists included in A Tangled Bank use traditional techniques within a contemporary context, referencing experiences of environmental crises, histories of forced migration, and the displacement and dispossession of First Nations land.
Shivanjani Lal Léuli Eshrāghi Sera Water and Sairi Yoshizawa
Ultimately, these disparate experiences and narratives come together, often in uncomfortable ways, to speak to the entanglement of our shared history and contemporary climate. One that heaves with the strain of our past, yet also offers a chance for us to bind ourselves, and to mend.
ART
Mehwish Iqbal, Oscillation of Memorabilia, 2018, Silk Screen, Etching, Collagraph, Embroidery. Courtesy the Artist.
LEWERS HOUSE GALLERY FREE
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15 January till 17 April
ART
STUDIO NOTANDA 15 January till 17 April
Tuesdays 9:30 – 12 February 13 till April 3 Sundays 9:30 – 12
ARTIST Liam Benson
FREE TEXTILE ART WORKSHOPS FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY Join artist Liam Benson in a free 8-week experimental textile workshop at Penrith Regional Gallery. Local makers, artists and curious beginners with an interest in textiles and creative practice are encouraged and welcome to participate. Workshop participants will come together and collaborate within an open, playful and creative environment to share new and experimental process focused on developing textile-based artwork. The group will investigate and experiment with how to transform waste clothing material into tactile functional art, using techniques that rethink and repurpose materials to imbue them new meaning. Inspired by the Gallery, garden and exhibitions, the experiments will be used to create a communal picnic mat and cushion set that will welcome visitors to future programs in the garden and galleries.
LOUNGEROOM GALLERY
ART FREE
Photo by Jacquie Manning, courtesy Parramatta Artist Studios
February 8 till March 29
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Workshops
ART
SUNRISE, SUNSET Blue Mountains based artists Todd McMillan and Sarah Mosca come together in this captivating exhibition about sharing and retelling stories.
ARTISTS Todd McMillan & Sarah Mosca
Featuring newly commissioned works in the form of 16mm film, photography and installation, Sunrise, Sunset is McMillan and Mosca’s response to writer and journalist, Italo Calvino’s story, Invisible Cities. Jam-packed full of whimsy, wonder and melancholy, the tale follows an ageing emperor seeking to learn of the cities in his vast kingdom. Told from the accounts of a travelling merchant, the text is a travelogue to places that do not exist. Sunrise, Sunset evokes the idea that recollection is often hazy at the edges and shifts in the changing light.
ART
Todd McMillan, Albatross (film still), 2012, 16mm film loop, 15:40. Courtesy the artist and Sarah Cottier Gallery. Sarah Mosca, Fall, 2021, pigment print on glass, steel, 160 x 75 cm. Courtesy the artist and Sarah Cottier Gallery.
LEWERS HOUSE GALLERY FREE
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7 May till 15 August
ART
FROM THE COLLECTION From The Collection is an ongoing series of displays and short term residencies that are presented within the spirit of Margo Lewers and her wish that her home and collection of artworks be gifted to the people of Penrith, and Western Sydney. This program invites artists, musicians, writers and members of the local community to engage with the Gallery’s Collection in new and exciting ways, providing fresh perspectives on a cultural asset that continues to grow and inspire. Each display will be presented in our historic Ancher House Gallery, and provide opportunities for students to learn more about Modern and Contemporary Australian Art, with particular importance for our local region.
From The Collection X Stephen Wickham, installation view, 2020, Ancher House, Penrith Regional Gallery. Courtesy the artist and Silversalt Photography.
ART
Penrith Regional Gallery, Home of The Lewers Bequest award-winning heritage garden. Photo by Lyndal Irons.
THE GARDEN Penrith Regional Gallery, Home of The Lewers Bequest is situated within the award-winning heritage garden, designed and planted by the original owners, Gerald and Margo Lewers. Unique in its design, the garden features a combination of native and introduced species, such as those from South East Asia. As the Garden was being planned and implemented, Gerald Lewers began placing his own sculptures across the site. Made from organic materials such as sandstone and timber, they express a harmonious connection with their natural environment. Today, the Garden is home to a number of outdoor sculptures by Gerald, as well as Margo Lewers, Margel Hinder and Lyndon Dadswell.
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PERMANENT DISPLAYS
Provocation, humour, panel discussions, presentations and Q&A. Low or no cost, casual atmosphere. Mornings and evenings, various venues.
TALKS & IDEAS Entry ticketed by donation/pay what you feel, with the exception of a couple of special events.
ART PETER MCNEIL Easton Pearson: An Australian Fashion Tale In 1989, fashion designers Pam Easton and Lydia Pearson began to create a range of garments that were deliberately nostalgic and feminine, with an air of retrospection. Within ten years their female clothing‐ line, manufactured in Brisbane but made of textiles garnered from Vietnam and India, as well as Italy and France was retailing globally: in Browns, London; Neiman Marcus, USA; and Alta Moda, Kuwait. What was the appeal of Easton Pearson and how was their design distinctive? This talk reflects on McNeil’s involvement as writerresearcher in the landmark Easton Pearson exhibition, held at the Queensland Art Gallery – Gallery of Modern Art.
April Wednesday 13, 2pm (Talk)
Wednesday 13, 3.45pm (Masterclass)
MUSIC SIMON TEDESCHI Australia’s favourite pianist, Simon Tedeschi, has performed worldwide for global leaders, royalty and audiences young and old, from the Sydney Opera House to Carnegie Hall. Join Simon as he shares some of his secrets to learning piano music and the different ways he practises for the different kinds of performances, and in particular, how he prepares and performs George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue – a work he has, arguably, performed more than any other musician on earth.
April Thursday 28, 6.30pm IDEAS BOUNCING BACK Since 2019 we’ve faced bushfires, floods and COVID-19. What did we learn from these challenging times? What is resilience and how do we develop it? What can we do to emerge from such challenges stronger as individuals and a community? Duration: 60 minutes (includes Q&A). Proudly sponsored by Celestino.
Duration: 75 minutes followed by optional Masterclass.
Duration: 60 minutes (includes Q&A).
TALKS & IDEAS
MULLINS STUDIO
BORLAND LOUNGE SPECIAL EVENT Talk $15 | Talk + Masterclass $30
Q THEATRE
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March Wednesday 9, 6.30pm
May Wednesday 11, 6.30pm
June Wednesday 8, 11am
June Thursday 16, 6.30pm
ART
MUSIC
IDEAS
LORRAINE KYPIOTIS Inspiring Women Artists of the Renaissance
ANDY BROMBERGER Music of World War I
There were great women artists in the Renaissance though we have rarely heard of them. During this time art played a critical role in bringing fame to an artist. Portraiture, a new and burgeoning genre was important in defining the role of the Renaissance virtuosa. It is testament to the artistic passion of these Renaissance women that they managed to work as artists at all and now their stories are more and more being revealed and revered.
"When the guns talk, the muses fall silent" is an old Russian saying which perfectly sums up music during World War I. Between 1914 and 1918 barely one lasting opera was written, the symphony was almost abandoned, and literature went unwritten. The miseries of mass mobilisation, trench warfare and millions of fatalities left artists bereft of creativity. But what music was written during this time reflected the changing attitudes of society and a new vulnerability which came about from the tragedies of war.
THE ART OF LEARNING Home learning, teacher shortages, the national curriculum, online workshops. How have our experiences during lockdown shaped our ideas of education? What does education in the 21st century look like? What are we teaching and how are we learning?
Lorraine Kypiotis is a senior lecturer in Art History and Theory at the National Art School in Sydney, and a popular guest on ABC Radio.
Proudly sponsored by Celestino.
Duration: 45–55 minutes (up to 60 with Q&A).
Duration: 90 minutes (includes Q&A).
TALKS & IDEAS
Duration: 60 minutes (includes Q&A).
MULLINS STUDIO
MULLINS STUDIO
Q THEATRE
August Wednesday 10, 11am
August Thursday 25,6.30pm
ART
MUSIC
IDEAS
ABDULLAH M.I. SYED Unframing Sight: A Cross Cultural Reading of Australian Modern and Contemporary Art
ANDY BROMBERGER Music of World War II
MICRO GREEN Think global, act local: from micro farms, to native bees; upcycling to indigenous foods. We will zoom in on practices which foster sustainability, self-reliance and local knowledge.
In 2021, Pakistani-Australian artist Abdullah M.I. Syed undertook a research residency at Penrith Regional Gallery, to explore the works of Margo Lewers. Margo was well known for a distinctive approach and style that drew on traditions of craft and design, as much as hard edge abstraction. With a background in design and fine art, Abdullah identified in Margo’s work a shared interest in the formal qualities of light, colour and reflection. This talk draws on the Australian landscape, Bauhaus philosophies and Islamic Art to paint a cross-cultural picture of our contemporary culture.
World War II was the first conflict to take place in the age of mass electronically distributed music. Radios were bought en mass throughout America, England and Europe. Never before could a single song, sung by a single performer be listened to by so many; across countries and on different sides of the war. Music was seen as part of the propaganda machine to encourage those fighting and reassure those at home. Music was also used in concentration camps by inmates as a way to try and normalise their lives and express their suffering but also as a form of humiliation by the Nazis.
Duration: 60 minutes (includes Q&A). Proudly sponsored by Celestino.
Duration: 60 minutes (includes Q&A).
Duration: 60 minutes (includes Q&A).
TALKS & IDEAS
MULLINS STUDIO
MULLINS STUDIO
Q THEATRE
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July Wednesday 13, 6.30pm
September Wednesday 14, 6.30pm
October Wednesday 12, 11am
October Thursday 27, 6.30pm
ART
MUSIC
IDEAS
DR ANDREW YIP Visualising the past, envisioning the future: using immersive technologies to explore art and culture
DR PAUL SMITH Musical neoclassicism: everything old is new again
COMMUNITY BUILDING What is the role of community in our wellbeing? What makes a community? Has social media been beneficial or detrimental to community building?
Dr Andrew Yip will explore how digital technologies such as virtual reality worlds, immersive visualisation and interactive exhibitions can be used to protect and preserve important works of art and culture. You’ll learn how artists and researchers use technologies such as 3D scanning and particle accelerator imaging to interpret the past, as Andrew applies these techniques to the works of Australian modernist artists Margel Hinder and Sidney Nolan. How might new generations of students learn the skills to build communities of artists and citizen scientists interested in cultural heritage? This talk will offer an exploration of possibilities for the future. Duration: 60 minutes (includes Q&A).
TALKS & IDEAS
Within the broad world of classical music, the classical period refers to compositions and composers from the 18th century. At its inception, classical music was governed by looking backwards, taking inspiration from the time of antiquity and Ancient Greece. In the early 20th century, ideals of classicism were again favoured by composers who were seeking a retreat from the indulgent and heavily layered sounds of late romanticism. Moving forward to the last 20 years, we’ll explore music that has found its newness in adapting ideas of old – again, looking backwards to find something fresh. This talk will focus on the music of Dobrinka Tabakova, Ottorino Respighi, Sergei Prokofiev, and Maddalena Sirmen.
We explore some of the ways that shared interests and values bring us together from community gardens to Panther Pride to Facebook groups. Duration: 60 minutes (includes Q&A). Proudly sponsored by Celestino.
Duration: 60 minutes (includes Q&A).
MULLINS STUDIO MULLINS STUDIO
Q THEATRE
COMING SOON…
Photo by Zan Wimberley
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Keep an eye on our website and social media as we get ready to announce more in our Talks & Ideas program throughout the year.
WOMEN OUT WEST A series of panel discussions exploring important topics through the lens of Western Sydney women from economic to cultural to social. Join us as we come together to listen and learn and to be inspired and influenced.
TALKS & IDEAS
IN CONVERSATION AT THE GALLERY Delve further into the Gallery’s exhibitions with captivating discussions between the exhibiting artists and guest curators, in the Gallery or the garden. Sue Pedley, Line work: Rivers of the Basin #6 2021 casuarina seeds, mandavilla seeds, mandavilla pods, willow leaves, banana flowers, glass containers and platters.
CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS Specialists in music, theatre, poetry, creative writing, screen studies and history will engage with audiences in presentations that profile current projects, questions and investigations into the arts.
Photo by Blake Patrick
Join our speakers in a relaxed after-work setting to learn about their research and be inspired, piqued and challenged as our presenters explore the changing nature of arts and culture in Australia.
PRESENTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND CULTURAL AND CREATIVE ARTS NETWORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JOAN.
TALKS & IDEAS
MULLINS STUDIO
Presentations will be 45 minutes followed by a Q&A session with the researcher where audiences can dig deeper and find out more about the themes and discoveries of the talk.
ANNUAL YOUTH THEATRE FESTIVAL 2022
GREASE
SLOW BURN
AMPHIBIAN
GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU
THE BOX SHOW
BEEP
IDEAS
THE MELL-O-TONES
CANDY MAN
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL ROADSHOW
THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE
COMEDY @ THE JOAN
THE SPOOKY MEN'S CHORALE
PATTERN AND PRINT: EASTON PEARSON ARCHIVE Project Partner
THE WHARF REVUE
CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS Touring Partner
EASTER ORATORIO
EDWARD THE EMU
Easton Pearson Archive Education Partner
Publication Sponsor
Easton Pearson Archive Dress Circle
An exhibition by Museum of Brisbane (MoB), toured by Museums & Galleries Queensland. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government's Visions of Australia program. The Easton Pearson Archive gift to Museum of Brisbane has been made possible by the generous support of Dr Paul Eliadis AM, a Brisbane-based philanthropist and patron of contemporary art and design. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program. The Archive is complemented by supporting materials gifted by Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson.
PENRITH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Penrith Performing & Visual Arts acknowledges the unique status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the original custodians of lands and waters, including the land and waters of Western Sydney.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ATTENDING OUR VENUES
For more information on how you can keep our community safe, please visit ppandva.com.au/covid-safety KEEPING IN TOUCH Stay in the loop with our latest news, stories and special offers by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and head to our websites to sign up for our regular newsletters.
Penrith Performing & Visual Arts is committed to ensuring access for all people. Our Box Office and Front-of-House staff will be happy to assist with any needs. • Wheelchair spaces • Accessible seating • Companion Card accepted • Lift to all levels of the theatre INFANTS ATTENDING PERFORMANCES Infants aged under two years do not require a paid ticket to attend performances at The Joan provided they can sit on a parent’s lap, however for capacity purposes their attendance will need to be registered with our Box Office or Front of House staff. The Joan has baby change facilities and a lift available. STORAGE FOR PRAMS AND STROLLERS For all Kids at The Joan performances in the Q Theatre, you can store prams and strollers in the holding room. Other performances in the Concert Hall, please store them via the side stage.
GETTING TO THE JOAN You can find us at 597 High Street, close to the Penrith City Council building and Westfield Penrith. We’re a short walk through Westfield Penrith from Penrith train station, and if you’re coming by car we’re just off Mulgoa Road, past the roundabout on High Street. There are several parking options nearby. Our Box Office is on the ground floor, at the Westfield Penrith end, near the bar and the lift.
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At Penrith Regional Gallery ramps and walkways provide access to all exhibition and workshop spaces and viewing areas of the surrounding gardens. Please note, some areas of the heritage garden and car park have uneven and rough terrain.
ACCESS INFORMATION
GETTING TO THE GALLERY Penrith Regional Gallery is at 86 River Road, Emu Plains and is best accessed by car. There is street parking available and accessible parking onsite.
Photo by Lyndal Irons
The Joan and Penrith Regional Gallery are registered COVID Safe venues and we operate under strict new guidelines. Your health and safety is our priority.
ONLINE Booking online is easy! Simply go to our website browse our program and click through to book. thejoan.com.au or penrithregionalgallery.com.au VISIT THE JOAN BOX OFFICE Check our website for the most up to date Box Office opening hours. VISIT GALLERY RECEPTION Our Gallery Shop and Reception is open seven days per week, with the exception of some public holidays. Please check our website for the most up to date opening hours.
PENRITH ARTS LOVER Become a PAL of the arts and local business! For a $40 annual fee members receive benefits including 10% off tickets to many Joan performances and offers at a range of local businesses. For more information see: thejoan.com.au/penrith-arts-lover PAYMENT Credit Card (Visa or Mastercard), Cheque made out to Penrith Performing & Visual Arts Ltd, Cash (please do not post). BOOKING FEE A $5 booking fee applies to all transactions (regardless of the number of tickets bought or payment type).
CONCESSIONS We love our audiences young and old(er). Concession pricing is available for any type of pensioners, Australian Government Health Care Card and Seniors Card holders as well as full time tertiary, TAFE and school students. For more detailed information including ticketing terms and conditions, ticket exchanges and our privacy statement please visit our website. Please Note: Details are correct at time of printing. We reserve the right to alter without notice program, performers, dates, times and/or prices as may become necessary.
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EASY WAYS TO BOOK
PENRITH PERFORMING & VISUAL ARTS LTD ABN 97 003 605 089
Box Office 02 4723 7600 Administration 02 4723 7611 @joansutherlandperformingartscentre @the_joan @_the_joan ppandva.com.au thejoan.com.au
Q Theatre PO Box 2 Penrith NSW 2751 597 High Street Penrith
Penrith Conservatorium PO Box 2 Penrith NSW 2751 597 High Street Penrith
02 4723 7611
02 4723 7611
@qtheatre @qtheatre_ qtheatre.com.au
@penrithcon @penrithconservatorium penrithconservatorium.com.au
Penrith Regional Gallery, Home of The Lewers Bequest 86 River Road Emu Plains NSW 2750 Administration 02 4735 1100 Fax 02 4735 8334 @penrithregionalgallery @penrithregionalgallery @prgtlb penrithregionalgallery.com.au
Photo by Lyndal Irons
Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre PO Box 2 Penrith NSW 2751 597 High Street Penrith
