Japan Jazz Nights: Celebrating 50 Years Of Australia–Japan Friendship

Feature-Japan Jazz Nights

Discover the next generation of Japan’s thriving jazz scene with Japan Jazz Nights, a touring jazz program that will take place in seven Australian cities in October 2026. Touring Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, this exciting lineup features four groundbreaking Japanese artists at the forefront of the contemporary jazz scene: BIGYUKI, STEREO CHAMP, Tenors In Chaos and Misaki UMEI.

While Japanese jazz has recently enjoyed a resurgence in popularity worldwide, the current generation of contemporary Japanese jazz artists remain largely undiscovered by global audiences.

Featuring solo shows, group performances, collaborations with local Australian artists and more, Japan Jazz Nights gives Australians the rare chance to experience firsthand the creativity, diversity and vitality of Japan’s contemporary jazz scene.

Presented by The Japan Foundation (JF), Japan Jazz Nights is being held in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Japan and Australia. Through the universal language of music, this initiative aims to foster meaningful connections between Japan and Australia and strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.

For both longtime jazz lovers and newcomers to the genre, Japan Jazz Nights is an unmissable opportunity to experience these musical icons, as they showcase the beauty of their craft and shape the future sound of modern jazz.

Further performance details to be announced mid-August.

 

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Menopause The Musical 2026 Tour Cast Announcement

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The global hit Menopause The Musical® has today unveiled the cast for its 2026 Australian tour, returning to stages across the country from August with a brand-new production. The tour opens in Geelong next month before travelling to Parramatta, Melbourne, Newcastle, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra, bringing audiences a night of uncontrollable laughter, uplifting celebration and shared sisterhood. Tickets are on sale now at www.menopausethemusical.com.au.

Taking to the stage in this hilarious, feel-good production are four queens of Australian musical theatre: Catherine Alcorn as the Professional Woman, Sally Bourne as the Housewife, Lena Cruz as the Earth Mother and Chelsea Gibb as the Soap Star.

Best known for her internationally acclaimed portrayal of Bette Midler in The Divine Miss Bette, Catherine Alcorn returns to Menopause The Musical® following her celebrated performances in the 2023 and 2024 Australian tours. A multi-award-winning performer, Catherine has built an impressive career spanning theatre, cabaret and live entertainment, performing throughout Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

With a career spanning more than four decades, Sally Bourne has entertained audiences across Australia and London’s West End. Making her professional stage debut in the title role of the original Australian production of Annie, Sally went on to appear in productions including Les Misérables, My Fair Lady, Jesus Christ Superstar, Kinky Boots and Sister Act, most recently appearing in Ned Kelly: The Musical for Victorian Opera.

Catherine Alcorn, Sally Bourke, Lena Cruz, Chelsea Gibbs MTM_26AU_Cast2000x2000.jpg

Originating the role of Cynthia in Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical and portraying Dr Sofia Martinez in the long-running television soap opera Shortland Street, Lena Cruz has forged a diverse career across stage and screen. Her musical theatre credits include In the Heights, Into the Woods, Hair and Singin’ in the Rain, while recent screen credits include Netflix’s Heartbreak High, SBS’s Erotic Stories and Ina.

A favourite with musical theatre audiences, Chelsea Gibb launched her career as Roxie Hart in the Australian production of Chicago, going on to perform the iconic role throughout Australia and internationally over four years. She has since appeared in many musical theatre productions including Anything Goes, The King and I and Cabaret, while her screen credits include Neighbours, All Saints and George of the Jungle 2.

The cast also features Hester van der Vyver as understudy.

Inspired by a hot flush and a glass (okay… bottle!) of wine, this hilarious, taboo-breaking musical follows four women who meet while shopping. As they swap stories of hormonal heatwaves, memory meltdowns, and midnight sweats, they belt out parodied hits from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s — including I Will Survive, Hot Stuff, What’s Love Got to Do With It, and We Are Family — and discover that menopause isn’t the end, but a bold new beginning, lived with honesty, humour and a new attitude.

Since its 2001 premiere, Menopause The Musical® has played to over 17 million women (and brave men) in more than 500 cities and nine languages. In Las Vegas, it’s the longest-running musical in the city’s history, thanks to a record-breaking 17-year run — and counting. Australia’s love affair with the show began in 2005, when it opened at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre. Originally slated for just two months, the season extended again and again, closing after seven months. Since then, the production has played to more than 1.5 million people across 200+ cities and towns nationwide — and holds the title as the longest-running musical ever to play Brisbane.

Produced by SK Entertainment, this new production is brought to life by a creative team led by the multi-award-winning director and choreographer Cameron Mitchell. Orchestrations and Arrangements by Damon Wade, Set Design by Frances Story, Lighting Design by Jasmine Rizk and Costume Design by Christine Mutton.

Menopause The Musical® is more than a night at the theatre — it’s a celebration of resilience, friendship and finding the humour in one of life’s biggest transitions.

Tickets are on sale now at www.menopausethemusical.com.au.

“Impossible not to laugh” — The New York Times
“Dollar for dollar… it’s the best show in town” — The Las Vegas Review Journal
“A rollicking girl’s night out” — Boston Globe
“Uproariously funny” — BroadwayWorld
“Women need this!” — The Today Show

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL® 2026 Australian Tour
Geelong Arts Centre: 21 – 23 August
Riverside Theatre, Parramatta: 27 – 30 August
Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne: 2 – 6 September
Civic Theatre, Newcastle: 11 – 13 September
Adelaide Festival Centre: 16 – 27 September
Twelfth Night Theatre, Brisbane: 30 September – 11 October
Canberra Theatre Centre: 15 – 18 October

 

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Strategic Love Play By Miriam Battye

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Sharehouse Production Company in association with Flight Path Theatre, is thrilled to present their second production, Strategic Love Play written by Miriam Battye. The season will run from August 25th – 29th.

“NO. I don’t want to, like, go for WALKS…I want to tear someone apart.”
After endless swipes left and right two strangers meet for a pint. One is asking all the questions you shouldn’t ask on a first date, the other just wants to survive the night. What begins as awkward small talk quickly spirals into a too-honest, too-intimate proposition. Bold, witty, and brutally honest, Miriam Battye’s comedy pulls the audience right into the discomfort and hilarity of modern romance.

This production features some of Sydney’s most promising emerging talent. For director Ava Rusch (Oh, the Humanity and Other Good Intentions, NIDA), this marks her directorial debut since graduating from NIDA’s prolific Directing MFA. The cast stars up-and-comers Georgia-Paige Theodos (Love, Old Fitz) and Caleb Jamieson (Traffic Light Party, KXT). Both are NIDA trained actors who graduated in 2024 and 2023 respectively.

Previous praise for Strategic Love Play
“Cynical, fun, and as gripping as a friend’s rapid-fire WhatsApps from a disastrous first date.” Pamela Raith, Evening Standard
“Buoyed by sharp comic performances…entertaining for anyone familiar with the exhausting rituals of online dating.” Gillian Russo, New York Theatre Guide

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More about the show
Writer Miriam Battye is one of the most celebrated writers of our time. Her plays have been produced at iconic theatres such as the Royal Court, Manchester Exchange and Soho and her recent screenwriting work on HBO’s Succession and Netflix’s BEEF cemented her as one of the most exciting voices of the modern day.
An entirely NIDA trained cast and creative team including Ava Rusch (MFA Directing, 2026), Georgia-Paige Theodos (BFA Acting, 2024), Caleb Jamieson (Diploma of Acting, 2023), Caitlin Green (Diploma of Acting, 2023), Victor Xu (Diploma of Acting, 2023), Otto Zagala (BFA Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2026) and Bronte Hunt (BFA Design for Performance, 2025).

Cast
Woman: Georgia-Paige Theodos
Man: Caleb Jamieson

Creative team
Playwright: Miriam Battye
Director: Ava Rusch
Production Design: Bronte Hunt
Sound Design: Otto Zagala
Producers: Caitlin Green, Caleb Jamieson, Victor Xu, Jago Feild

Additional thoughts from the creative team
Ava Rusch (Director) on why now and why this show:
“I actually love romance but also find the whole concept of dating rather strange, yet we need this awkward stage to potentially find “the one” and with dating apps becoming the main source of how people find “the one” it interested me to watch two people genuinely figure out if they can make it work past the texting stage. I feel the world of romance is a bit lost at the moment. I feel dating apps and social media tend to make people judge one another too quickly before ordering the drinks and waiting for the awkwardness to pass, you never know what an hour can do. Battyes words cleverly show the other side of these online dates which is the exhaustion of being judged on a first date and just dating full stop, going on another date and another and maybe this one? No another! Over and over again, so how brilliant to propose an alternate option and see how it unfolds.”

Caitlin Green (Producer) on Sharehouse’s ongoing collaboration with young creatives:
“It’s difficult to get work if you haven’t already done work. That catch 22 became the impetus for starting Sharehouse. Since then, platforming emerging artists has always been our north star. They’re hungry, scrappy, and have an untapped well of talent; which is amazing for us. Our entire producing team is NIDA-trained, and the connections we made during our time there has carried us into our careers. We’ve only continued to strike gold in the years since drama school. Every creative we’ve had the pleasure of working with has truly been the best of the best. We could not be more grateful for their commitment and talents. And you’ll definitely see some familiar faces returning for this show – we’ve got the A team.”

Dates: 25-29 August (Preview on the 25/8)
Performance times: 8pm
Location: Flight Path Theatre, 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204
Bookings: https://www.flightpaththeatre.org/whats-on/strategic-love
Tickets: Preview $25 + booking fee; General Release $30 for Concession, $35 for Adult + booking fee

Content warnings: Strong language.

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The Grand Electric What’s Coming Up

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The Grand Electric has quickly established itself as one of Sydney’s most exciting entertainment destinations, and now with the launch of an expanded weekend program will offer audiences even more reasons to visit.

One of The Grand Electric’s best-selling and most critically acclaimed shows La Ronde has now been performed more than 200 times. This incredible show has featured 25 extraordinary circus and cabaret performers from across the world but must close on 20 September 2026.

Venue Manager Brian Robertson said, “With our expanded weekend program, we’ve curated a diverse line-up that invites audiences of all ages to experience The Grand Electric in different ways. From the audience participation and laughter of Trevor Jones’ Sing It! to the exquisite vocals of Les Femmes, the indulgent fun of SMASHED! and the launch of Club Flamingo – Australia’s family ‘nightclub’, every performance offers something unique. Then, as the sun goes down, Late Night Vice transforms the venue into an electrifying late-night destination. Whether you’re spending time with family, looking for an afternoon of entertainment with friends or an unforgettable night out, The Grand Electric has your weekend covered.”

SING IT!
Monthly on Sundays from 16 Aug
Sing along to the top 10 songs of all time – as chosen by YOU!
Get ready for the wildest, most interactive singalong of your life with Australia’s favourite piano man, Dr Trevor Jones. This is no ordinary piano bar – you decide what gets played!

Then in the second half, it’s the final countdown! Trevor reveals and performs the top 10 songs as voted by the audience in a high-energy showdown. With a different theme each week, no two shows are the same.

LES FEMMES
Sunday 9 August, Sunday 18 Oct, Sunday 29 Nov at 3pm
Les Femmes is a live music experience that takes songs by male artists and reinvents them with fierce femininity, sophistication, and undeniable allure seamlessly blending rock edge, pop glamour, and smooth R&B.

LA RONDE
Now Playing until 20 September
Delivers a world of dazzling feats, funky beats in a lavish cocktail of circus, cabaret, and comedy in a bold, breathtaking and utterly hypnotic show.

LATE NIGHT VICE
Now Playing Friday & Saturday nights
Nudity. Profanity. Strobe effects. A throbbing soundtrack. Pyrotechnics. Acrobatics, and Explosions of confetti (and quite possibly your mind) when bold performers, cheeky surprises, and high-voltage spectacle reign supreme

SMASHED THE BRUNCH PARTY
1 August, 5 September, 26 September, 24 October, 21 November
A fabulous, femme-tastic brunch extravaganza
Fresh, fierce and fancy as hell! Grab the hottest ticket in town for a celebrated smorgasbord of hot cabaret, exquisite drag and jaw-dropping circus.
The perfect way to start your day… or continue the night before! Mimosa, anyone?
“Camp, sass and a whole lot of a**” Theatre Travels

CLUB FLAMINGO
Saturday afternoons from 5 September.
Resident DJ The Flamingo and her wonderfully chaotic sidekick The March Hare throw the ultimate club party for kids and their grownups.
Expect giant dance-offs, world-class guest circus artists, outrageous games, confetti, bubbles and big main-character energy. Every week brings new guest performers, fresh surprises and another unforgettable party on the dance floor.

LOOKING AHEAD…
And there’s even more to come. As Sydney heads into the warmer months, The Grand Electric has announced the return of one of its biggest audience favourites. The internationally acclaimed Blanc de Blanc will return later this year promising another intoxicating blend of world-class acrobatics, cabaret, comedy and champagne-fuelled glamour.
Full details, including performance dates and ticket information, will be announced soon.

Details & bookings https://strutnfret.com/venues/the-grand-electric/

 

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