Green Room: Sweeney Todd on tour, hot tickets

national tour for Sweeney Todd

The State Opera South Australia will return Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street for a tour along the east coast of Australia in 2023 after receiving $570,000 in RISE funding from the federal government.

“This production is special,” says State Opera Artistic Director Stuart Maunder of Stephen Sondheim’s musical thriller. “Sweeney Todd is without a doubt the most powerful, dramatic and theatrical horror tale ever set to music.

“It is also a fitting tribute to mark the passing of Stephen Sondheim late last year to show this glorious production to more people. Stephen was a musical theater legend, and with Sweeney Todd he created a scary delicious; dark, sinister…and exciting story that directors like me are lucky enough to work with.

Funding for the tour was secured through the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) fund, which the federal government established to help arts businesses reactivate after the pandemic. The production will visit locations across New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the ACT.

Read our State Opera review Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street of the May 2021 Adelaide season here.

Shows are now selling out at full capacity

The state government’s announcement of increased theater capacity as part of the latest easing of COVID restrictions has allowed arts companies and venues to offer additional tickets for on-demand shows during and after the peak festival season.

With venues now operating at full capacity, Adelaide Festival has freed up more seats for Dorian Gray’s photoBangarra Dance Theater Wudjang: not the pastand the dance and drum show manifestoamong others.

The Adelaide Festival Center has also announced that it will release more tickets for the 2022 Adelaide Cabaret Festival Variety Gala on March 25, which had previously sold out at 75 per cent capacity. The gala is presented this year before the Cabaret Festival in June, with additional seats now available for early-streaming events, including the festival’s artistic director Tina Arena’s signature show. Songs my mother taught me.

Adelaide Cabaret Festival executive producer Alex Sinclair welcomed the increased capacity at the theatre.

“This is heartening news for our audiences, our artists and the arts in South Australia and a vote of confidence in the future of our industry, which like many others has been deeply impacted by COVID,” said Sinclair said. “We are thrilled to be one of the first festivals in the state to be able to operate at 100% audience capacity and know that the release of more tickets to our previously sold-out Variety Gala will be picked up by our loyal Cabaret Fans. .”

The full line-up of the Cabaret Festival will be launched at the Variety Gala, hosted this year by Australian comedian Paul McDermott.

Breaking Ground apps are now open

South Australian visual artists from regional regions are now invited to apply for Country Arts SA’s 2023 Breaking Ground Award.

Since its launch in 2012, the prize has offered visual artists a valuable opportunity to broaden their professional experience and develop their practice.

The Breaking Ground winning artist will receive $10,000 over the next year to support the development of a body of work for a solo exhibition. This exhibition will be held in an Adelaide CBD gallery as part of the SALA 2023 festival. A mentorship opportunity, valued at $5,000, is also available as part of the award.

The 2021 winner, artist Adnyamathanha and Luritja Juanella McKenzie (featured in this SALIFE article) described the award as a life-changing opportunity that allowed him to explore his identity and artistic practice as a First Nations visual artist.

Breaking Ground is a collaboration between Country Arts SA and SALA. Nominations close at midnight May 18 and the winner will be announced at the SALA launch and awards night in July 2022. More information is available on the Country Arts SA website.

ActNow Theater Bids Farewell to Executive Director

Rhen Soggee.

South Australia’s ActNow Theater has announced that executive director and co-CEO Rhen Soggee will step down from his role to focus on the next stage of his career.

Soggee has been part of the ActNow team since 2018, previously fulfilling the roles of Managing Director and International Producer. Under their leadership, ActNow has been able to implement an ambitious program throughout the pandemic, maintaining continued financial support and strengthening relationships with other organizations.

“ActNow has given me an incredible space in which to grow and generate meaningful opportunities that support a more representative and relevant South Australian arts industry,” says Soggee. “As I prepare to hand over the reins, I know I couldn’t leave the business in better hands.”

The recruitment process for a new Managing Director and Co-CEO will begin soon.

Green Room is a regular column for InReview, providing fast-paced news for those interested or involved in South Australian arts and culture. Contact us by writing to us at [email protected]

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This article is supported by the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas.

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