STAGES with Peter Eyers – Details, episodes & analysis

STAGES welcomes back passionate theatre historian Stuart Greene in an episode which details the life of some of the Sydney’s iconic  theatre venues.

It’s difficult to contemplate that the Sydney CBD once was home to approximately 28 theatres and movie houses - sacred temples in which audiences experienced an escape of the imagination through entertainments as diverse as vaudeville, musical theatre, burlesque, opera, cinema, circus, silver screen and legitimate plays. 

Disappointingly, many of these cherished venues have been demolished, making way for urban development and consequently losing much of a vibrant arts heritage.

Sydney saw its first theatre in 1796. Only a handful stand today, all housing commercial fare. These theatres include The Capitol Theatre in Haymarket, The Theatre Royal on King street, The Enmore Theatre in Enmore, The State Theatre on Market street and our newest addition, The Lyric Theatre at Star City. Optimistic news arrives occasionally, with the recent acquisition and (hopefully) salvation of the Metro (Minerva) Theatre in Kings Cross, purchased by arts patron Gretel Packer.

It’s a frustrating tale, but also one of fascination. Sacred arts spaces where the memory of them hovers like the theatrical ghosts that no doubt resided in them.

Stuart is a font of knowledge, identify where and when these theatres stood. We must not ignore this history and ensure we retain all of the great theatres that presently stand proud on Sydney streets,

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

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Arax Mansourian is one of the superstars of the Armenian Opera and classical music. She started her career in her native Armenia and continued in Australia with Opera Australia. Her beautiful voice and unique timbre, as well as her iconic beauty and regal stage presence, are unforgettable.

Arax was born in Beirut, Lebanon in a family of survivors of the Armenian genocide. Her family moved to Armenia when Arax was still an infant. Growing up in Armenia, music was a very important part of her life and she knew early on that she wanted to sing. 

Arax studied at the Romanos Meliqyan College of Music and later graduated from the Yerevan State Komitas Conservatory, where she was the only performer of modern classical atonal music by young composers. During her studies she participated in festivals throughout Russia and The Soviet Union. After graduation, she started to sing at the Yerevan State Opera and became one of its biggest stars.

Her repertoire encompasses more than 30 roles which include Verdi's- Aida, Leonora in La Forza del Destino, Desdemona in Othello, Elizabeth Valois in Don Carlos, Amelia in Simon Boccanegra, Leonora in Il Trovatore, Amelia in Un Ballo Di Maschera , Liu in Puccini's Turandot, Mimi in La Boheme, Tosca in Tosca , Santuzza in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana, Nedda in Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, Isolde in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, Elizabeth in Tannhäuser, Kundri in Parsifal, Katya in Janacek's Katya Kabanova, Kostelnichka in Janacek's Jenufa, Fata Morgana in Prokofiev's Love for Three Oranges, Anoush in Tigranian's Anoush and Shoushan in Tigranian's David Bek.

Arax’s recordings of medieval Armenian chants are an important part of the treasure vault of Armenian music. In the1990's, during a liturgical festival, she toured 14 cities in France with an all male Armenian choir.

She has had recitals throughout the world singing the music of European Masters, such as Schubert, Schuman, Mahler, Mozart, Fauré, Tchaikovsky, Glinka, Rachmaninoff while always including Armenian classics by Komitas, Kanachian, Berberian and her brother, composer Tigran Mansurian, in her repertoire. Arax is the first performer to sing many never before performed songs by Komitas, as well as his unfinished opera Anoush. 

After moving to Australia in the mid-nineties, she started her work with Opera Australia. Her first role with OA was of Liu in Turandot, followed by Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana in Melbourne (OA), Sydney Opera House (OA) and Brisbane for Opera Queensland. She also performed Tosca in Tosca (Opera Queensland), Desdemona in Othello (Opera Australia), Elisabeth de Valois in Don Carlos, Katya in Katya Kabanova (OA Sydney), and Fata Morgana in Love for Three Oranges (OA Sydney).

Arax Mansourian has appeared in concerts with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, "Beethoven's Ninth Symphony" at the Sydney Opera Concert Hall, Verdi "Requiem", Britten's "War Requiem", a series of concerts singing Hildegard von Bingen music, ABC "Swoon Concert" with Sydney Symphony Orchestra, John Haddock's "See My Children Fly" which the author wrote with Arax Mansourian in mind. As well as singing in Australia , Arax Mansourian has performed concerts in the USA, China, Egypt, Lebanon , Armenia and Japan. 

In 2015 she was awarded with the First Degree Medal of Armenia. In 2010 Arax was Awarded with the Medal of Komitas by the Ministry Of the Diaspora.

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

www.stagespodcast.com.au

Two of STAGES favourite Arts workers have recently returned from pilgrimages to London ….  and have inhaled the smorgasbord of musical and play offerings playing on West End stages. 

Publicist Ian Phipps and ‘Man-in-Chair’; Simon Parris, return to the STAGES podcast to share what they saw .. what they liked, what they didn’t …. and perhaps even to boast a little.

They provide first-hand insight of what we could expect, if finding ourselves in the Savoy, Dominion, National, Donmar, Old Vic or Barbican theatres over the coming months.

Simon Parris is a theatre reviewer based in Melbourne. His review blog ‘Man in Chair’ regularly reviews musicals, plays, opera and the arts. Access to these reviews can be found at simonparrismaninchair.com

Ian Phipps is one of Australia’s leading publicists, promoting theatre and its stars around Australia. If you know that a show is happening, no doubt it’s because Ian has communicated this to you via a myriad of masterful means.

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

www.stagespodcast.com.au

After graduating from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1971, Steven Tandy landed the role of Tom Sullivan in the iconic Australian television series The Sullivans. Subsequently, he has carved a career in a succession of film and stage roles. He returned to NIDA in 1995 to study directing.
With the Melbourne Theatre Company, Steven has appeared in productions of Translations, Three Sisters, The Winter’s Tale and The Maid’s Tragedy. 
For Queensland Theatre his credits include Bastard Territory, Happy Days, Romeo & Juliet, 25 Down, Loves Labours Lost, Who Cares?, Love For Love, The National Health, Juno and the Paycock, Expresso Bongo, The Badly Behaved Bunyip, The Man, The Spirit Fish and The Rainbow Snake. 
Steven’s other theatre credits include Oklahoma!, Guys and Dolls, Cats and Jesus Christ Superstar (Harvest Rain Theatre Company); Amigos, Last Drinks, Summer Wonderland, James and Johnno and The White Earth (La Boite Theatre Company); Dad’s Army, Run For Your Wife, The Rocky Horror Show, “ ‘Allo ‘Allo” (Twelfth Night); The Speakers (Nimrod Street); What If You Died Tomorrow?, See How They Run and When We Are Married (Marian Street Theatre); Who Was Harry Larsen? (New England); and The Threepenny Opera (Riverina). 
Television and film credits include Sons and Daughters, Mortified and Gettin’ Square. 
Steven is the Co-Founder of the Victorian Green Room Awards for Excellence in Theatre. 
The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Blake Erickson has worked throughout Australia, Asia, Britain, and the United States as a writer, actor, and singer. He studied drama and musical theatre at the University of Sydney and The Actor’s Connection New York. 

Previous to this, he studied Political Science and International Relations. He is the co-writer of the new Australian musical The Dismissal: An Extremely Serious Musical Comedy. Other writing credits include Pearls Before Swine and Hold Me Closer Logies Dancer (Gooding Productions, Hayes Theatre)

Acting credits include Shrek (GFO), the international tour of Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Misérables (Michael Cassel Group), Mamma Mia! (Packemin Productions), CRY-BABY, High Fidelity, Melba, and his acclaimed cabaret Hold Me Closer Logies Dancer (Hayes Theatre Co.); the Australia & New Zealand tour of Madiba, Of Thee I Sing at the Sydney Opera House; Grey Gardens, Title of Show, Forbidden Broadway, and Sondheim on Sondheim (Squabbalogic). 

Blake is presently on stage in Tina - The Tina Turner Musical at the Theatre Royal, Sydney.  The Dismissal: An Extremely Serious Musical Comedy plays The Seymour Centre, Sydney from August 26th.

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Anna O’Byrne has established an international career spanning opera, theatre, concert and film. 

Well known for her performance as Eliza Doolittle in Opera Australia’s My Fair Lady, Anna received the 2017 Helpmann Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. 

Andrew Lloyd Webber cast Anna as Christine Daaé in Love Never Dies, his sequel to The Phantom of the Opera. Anna made her West End debut as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London. 

Subsequent West End credits include The Woman in White, Strangers on a Train, Kings of Broadway, and A Little Night Music. 

Anna debuted with English National Opera in Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, starring Emma Thompson. 

She recently completed the Australian Tour of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap and touring with her one-woman show Becoming Eliza.

The show reflects on her unique experience and shares stories about working intimately with internationally adored icon Julie Andrews. 

Anna takes the show to Melbourne for a very special performance on August 26th.

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Passionate about interrogating, developing and devising new Australian work, Tim trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and works as a writer, director, dramaturge and a devising theatre maker.

Tim is currently a commissioned writer for Riverside Theatres, Parramatta and The Art House Wyong to create a write a new play based on Colleen McCullough’s award-winning novel Tim due to hit the stage in 2023.

Most recently Tim saw his 2019 commission by Queensland Theatre to create a theatre script based on Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe come to life with a sold out production which premiered at the 2021 Brisbane Festival. In 2019 he was also commissioned by the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) to write and direct a new work based on Margaret Wild’s There’s a Sea in My Bedroom which is due to hit the stage in July 2022.

In 2018 Tim stepped in as interim Director on Caleb Lewis’s Maggie Stone for the Eternity Playhouse, and wrote and directed Music for the Dreaming, a collaboration between ABC Classic FM and Sydney Opera House Presents. Tim also directed the ABC Classic FM/SOH Sounds like Australia earlier in 2018. He devised a new work for the SSO with Simon Tedeschi Who Needs A Conductor Anyway which premiered in March 2018. Tim was engaged by CDP to translate and write additional content for the Australasian version of Spot the Dog, set to tour nationally in 2019.

Between 2005-2017 Tim was a Creative Director and Producer at Monkey Baa Theatre Company, one of Australia’s largest touring companies for young audiences, where he co-wrote and produced nearly 20 new Australian works, including the critically acclaimed Goodbye Jamie Boyd, award winning Jackie French’s Hitler’s Daughter and Sonya Hartnett’s Thursday’s Child. Tim directed multi award winning The Peasant Prince – The True Story of Mao’s Last Dancer, which toured 36 theatres nationally. He assistant directed on Tim Winton’s The Bugalugs Bum Thief and was the remount Director on The Unknown Soldier, a new Australian play written by Sandra Eldridge. In 2017 he worked as dramaturgical consultant on Randa Abdel Fattah’s Where the Streets Had a Name.

In 2013 Tim was engaged by CDP Producers to write and direct several works for the Sydney Opera House Baby Proms Program including Swing Baby Swing featuring Wayne Scott Kermond and The Nutcracker (co directed with choreographer Adrian Burnett). He co-devised The Pirate Ship (script) for Urban Myth Theatre Company SA, A More Fortunate Life for Theatre Ink and EscapAIDS for the One Night Stand Theatre Company, a work which targeted both young people at risk and the WA prison population about HIV AIDS. He is devised a new work for the SSO Education with Simon Tedeschi called Who Needs A Conductor Anyway , which premiered in 2018.
The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Damon Herriman was born in Adelaide and has been acting since the age of eight. His extensive credits are a testament to his versatility and standing.
Damon’s Australian television credits include the upcoming series for Disney+ The Artful Dodger, Thai Cave Rescue for Netflix, The Tourist (AACTA 2022 Nominee) for STAN/BBC/HBO Max, alongside Jamie Dornan and Danielle MacDonald, The Commons for STAN, Lambs of God for Lingo Pictures, Mr. Inbetween (Series 1 - 3) for FX directed by Nash Edgerton, Riot (2018 AACTA Award Winner - Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama, 2018 Logie Award Nomination; Most Outstanding Actor), No Activity S2 for STAN, Top of the Lake: China Girl, Secret City for Matchbox Pictures and Foxtel (2017 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Supporting Actor and the 2016 AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Drama), Never Tear Us Apart as INXS manager Chris Murphy for the Seven Network, The Outlaw Michael Howe in the titular role of Michael Howe, The Elegant Gentleman’s Guide to Knife Fighting, Rake (ABC), Love My Way (Foxtel), Offspring (Network 10), Brides of Christ (ABC) and the series two co-lead in Laid (ABC).
Damon's film credits include the upcoming 20th Century Studios Bikeriders, The Portable Door alongside Christoph Waltz and Sam Neill, Run Rabbit Run starring alongside Sarah Snook and the Biopic on the life and experience of Robbie Williams; Better Man. Nude Tuesday (AACTA Nomination for Best Lead Actor) with Jackie Van Beek and Jemaine Clement, Judy & Punch, which premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival (2019 AACTA Award Winner - Best Lead Actor), The Nightingale, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival 2018, Down Under (AACTA Nomination for Best Supporting Actor), The Little Death (AACTA Nomination for Best Lead Actor), Son of a Gun, starring Ewan McGregor, Russell Crowe’s The Water Diviner, 100 Bloody Acres, The Square, Candy, Ned and The Big Steal. In 2008 Damon won the Best Actor award at the St Kilda Film Festival for his performance in the short film Len’s Love Story. He can next be seen in the upcoming film The Portable Door alongside Christoph Waltz and Sam Neill, Run Rabbit Run starring alongside Sarah Snook and the Biopic on the life and experience of Robbie Williams; Better Man.
Damon also works extensively in the US. Most recently on Once Upon A Time in Hollywood for Quentin Tarantino, playing infamous cult leader, Charles Manson. Other US film credits include Gore Verbinksi’s The Lone Ranger (Walt Disney Pictures), J. Edgar opposite Leonardo DiCaprio (dir Clint Eastwood for Imagine Entertainment/Warner Bros); Redbelt directed by David Mamet (Sony) and House of Wax (Warner Bros). 
On US television, Damon is best known for his recurring role as Dewey Crowe in the critically acclaimed FX series, Justified opposite Timothy Olyphant. His most recent credits include Barry Jenkins' Amazon Limited Series The Underground Railroad and Perpetual Grace, LTD, alongside Jacki Weaver and Ben Kingsley (Epix/Stan). His other international television credits include the UK BBC One series, The Serpent, David Fincher’s series Mindhunter (playing Charles Manson for the second time in a year), the recurring role of Mr. Jones in CBS’s Vegas opposite Dennis Quaid, Breaking Bad, Wilfred, The Unit, Cold Case and the Vince Gilligan police drama Battle Creek. His series regular roles include the Starz cable drama, Flesh and Bone (2016 Golden Globe Nomination: Best Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television) and Quarry for Cinemax. 
Damon has also written and/or directed many successful short films, including the Tropfest finalists They and The Date and was awarded Best Screenplay and Audience Award for his short film Soar (writer/performer). Damon was also a contributing sketch writer on ABC / Jungle production, The Elegant Gentlemen’s Guide to Knife Fighting. 

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts.

Doug Kingsman now retired (or resting), has navigated an exciting career as a theatre actor, designer and director. Following a lengthy stint in showbiz, he subsequently carved a career as an Interior designer for 25 years on the Gold Coast, Queensland.
Known as an all-round entertainer in the true sense, he could turn his hand to many crafts, whether it be singing, dancing, acting or designing sets and costumes. 
Born and educated in Sydney, he was studying singing and dancing at 14 and sought early experience at The Independent Theatre. He made many appearances on Channel 7 programmes. Later work in television included The Mavis Bramston Show and a lengthy stint responsible for the sets on The Mike Walsh Show.
For the Tivoli Circuit he toured in variety shows, played juvenile leads in Fade Out, Fade In and Instant Marriage, and the title role in the Tivoli Pantomime, Robin Hood. For The Phillip Theatre he played Tony in a celebrated production of The Boyfriend.At Menzies Theatre Restaurant he played lead roles in many of their musical productions while too, designing sets and costumes. 
For The Independent Theatre, The Ensemble and Marian Street Theatre he designed and built countless sets including Halloran’s Little Boat, Scent of Flowers, The Promise, Blithe Spirit, Private Lives, The Rainmaker, I Do! I Do!, and Cowardy Custard.
The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Silvie Paladino has established herself as one of Australia’s most versatile and talented entertainers.

Her first theatrical role was Eponine in the Australasian tour of Les Misérables. She was then invited to perform the same role on the West End in the London production. In 1997, Silvie returned to London and performed the role of Fantine in Les Misérables for a successful two-year season.

Silvie’s other Australasian credits include the role of Jeannie in Hair, Grizabella in the Australian and Asian tour of Cats, Ellen in Cameron Mackintosh’s Australian premiere of Miss Saigon, Donna in the smash hit Mamma Mia!, Rita in the world premiere of Sideshow Alley, Lady Thiang in The King And I, Florence in Chess (Green Room Award and Helpmann nomination), Clara in Stephen Sondheim’s Passion, Helen Bechdel in MTC’s Fun Home and the Fairy Godmother, in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

She has performed as guest solo artist with Australia’s leading orchestras and has also toured with Patrizio Buanne and Michael Bolton. She has had the honour of performing with celebrated theatre composers Stephen Schwartz and Stephen Sondheim.

Silvie is also well known to Australian audiences through her performances at special events including the AFL Grand Final, NRL Grand Final, The Boxing Day Cricket Test, The Asia Pacific Special Olympics, The Olympic Dinner in Beijing, A Night with Roger Federer and Friends – and regular television appearances including Carols by Candlelight.

Her recordings include Silvie Paladino Sings Streisand (a live recording of her one-woman show for which she was nominated for a Green Room Award), Silvie Paladino – Christmas List, On My Own, When You Believe, O Holy Night and I Give You My Heart with the Salvation Army Band.

Silvie is currently playing the role of Norma Desmond at select performances in Opera Australia’s production of Sunset Boulevard.

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

www.stagespodcast.com.au