What happens when some of the greatest songs ever made famous by male artists are placed in the hands of three extraordinary female performers? The answer is Les Femmes, a powerhouse vocal trio that transform beloved rock, pop and R&B classics into a masterclass in harmony and vocal arrangement delivering a bold, fresh and utterly captivating show playing Sunday afternoons on 28 June, 9 August, 18 October and 29 Nov at The Grand Electric.
One of the things that makes Les Femmes so special is the unique chemistry between Emma Mylott, Jacinta Gulisano and Tia Gigliotti. While each artist is an established performer in her own right, they come from distinctly different musical worlds — Emma from rock, Jacinta from pop, and Tia from R&B. Emma brings power and edge, Jacinta delivers soaring pop melodies, while Tia adds soulful warmth and rhythmic finesse. Together, they create rich harmonies and dynamic vocal arrangements that transform familiar songs into something fresh, exciting and entirely their own.
Adding to the fun, the show celebrates the men who have shaped our lives in all their forms — fathers, brothers, mentors, partners, exes and everything in between. Through a soundtrack of iconic hits, the trio takes audiences on a cheeky, playful and heartfelt journey filled with stories, laughter and plenty of moments of recognition. Perfect for a girls’ night out, date night, or anyone who loves great music.
VENUE: The Grand Electric, 199 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills DATES: Sun 28 June, Sun 9 August, Sunday 18 Oct, Sun 29 Nov at 3pm TICKETS: from $49 – $79 BOOKINGS: Fever
The devilishly cheeky, fun-filled Broadway music Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, officially opens at Hayes Theatre Co tomorrow. This glittering new production features an hilarious and sinfully talented cast led by musical theatre’s funniest leading men, Rowan Witt and Blake Erickson. Tickets are almost sold out with a handful still available from www.hayestheatre.com.au. To keep up with overwhelming demand, the production will transfer to Riverside Theatres for a strictly limited season. Tickets can be found at https://riversideparramatta.com.au/whats-on/dirty-rotten-scoundrels/
Music theatre star and Hayes Theatre Co favourite, Blake Erickson plays Lawrence Jamieson, a suave conman who believes in tricking corrupt, rich people out of their money to finance his lavish lifestyle. Currently on stage in the national tour of Cluedo, Blake most recently wowed audiences with his hilarious performance as Roger de Bris in The Producers and will later be seen on stage in My Fair Lady.
The cocky small-time American hustler Freddy Benson will be played by star of screen and stage, Rowan Witt who will make his welcome return to the Hayes. Rowan has starred in blockbuster productions Hamilton and Book of Mormon and played the leading role of Georg Nowak in She Loves Me at the Hayes. Currently, he can be seen in television series Ghosts Australia and Totally Completely Fine.
Christine Colgate, the naive and wealthy American heiress who is the target for Lawrence and Freddy’s con, will be played by Kristina McNamara (Ned Kelly, CHICAGO), and Jordan Shea (The Producers) plays police chief Andre Thibault. Two of the women conned by the pair, Muriel Eubanks and Jolene Oakes, are played by up-and-coming musical theatre stars Aurélie Roque (Pippin) and Scarlet Lindsay (Guys and Dolls). Rounding out the cast in the ensemble Oliver Clisdell, Emma Feliciano, Brendan Godwin, Madelene Kirkwood and Christopher Tendai.
This all-new Australian production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is directed by Rebecca McNamee (Abigail Williams), musically directed by Dylan Pollard (Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) and making his choreography debut is Cameron Boxall.
Based on the hit 1988 film starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, this Tony-nominated musical comedy follows two cunning conmen — the elegant, ruthless Lawrence Jamieson and the wildly unpredictable Freddy Benson — as they go head-to-head on the French Riviera in a winner-takes-all game of deception. Their target? A sweet, unsuspecting American heiress. But in a world built on lies and reinvention, nothing — and no-one — is quite what they seem.
With a razor-sharp book by Jeffrey Lane and an irresistibly cheeky score by David Yazbek (The Band’s Visit, Tootsie, The Full Monty), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a riot of farcical foolishness, toe-tapping tunes, and whip-smart satire. Expect bold physical comedy, razor-edged elegance, and performances as dazzling as a Riviera sunset.
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS Director Rebecca McNamee Music Director Dylan Pollard Choreographer Cameron Boxall Set Designer Soham Apte Costume Designer Angelina Daniel Producer Ebony Tucker Associate Choreographer Carla Venezia Assistant Choreographer Lauren Mitchell Lighting Designer James Wallis
SEASON INFORMATION Hayes Theatre When: Friday 22nd May – Sunday 21st June Times: Tues 6.30pm, Wed-Sat 7.30pm, Thursday 1.00pm, Saturday 2.00pm & Sunday 1.00pm Tickets: Tickets from $79 Adult, $69 Concession/Group, $60 Under 35, Previews from $69 Bookings: www.hayestheatre.com.au | (02) 8065 7337
American-born, Australian-based harpist Emily is one of the country’s most compelling musical voices. And, to celebrate the launch of her latest – solo – album on the ABC Classic label, she will bring this exquisite collection of pieces to audiences around Australia in intimate, live performances.
Starting in Brisbane, then coming to Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and finally the Tyalgum Music Festival in the NSW Northern Rivers, each concert will be – like the album’s title – a thing of beauty.
“Intoxicatingly beautiful” – The Australian
In a world that rarely slows down, A Thing Of Beauty is an invitation to pause. Hailed by audiences and critics alike as the ‘queen of contemporary classical performance’, and praised for her many outstanding recordings, this latest collection marks Emily’s return to what she says matters most in these times – simplicity, stillness and unapologetic beauty! Featuring the work of Australian women composers – including two new commissions – the tour repertoire showcases the album’s path through vulnerability and authenticity, from gentle lullabies to portraits of vivid landscapes. Sharing the poetry and stories behind the music, Emily crafts an intimate concert experience that speaks directly to the heart, her natural warmth creating an immediate and lasting connection with listeners.
A Thing of Beauty Tour Schedule: • Brisbane Sunday 7 June 4pm at Plant Empire • Adelaide Hills Saturday 13 June 2.30pm at UKARIA Cultural Centre • Melbourne Tuesday 7 July 7pm at Melbourne Recital Centre, Primrose Potter Salon • Sydney Monday 13 July 7pm at Sydney Opera House, Utzon Room • Tyalgum Sunday 27 September 10am at Tyalgum Music Festival
Says Emily: “All of these works are by Australian women composers, the album itself created almost entirely by women. A Thing Of Beauty is both a celebration and a statement: of artistry, of connection, and of finding calm in a complex and unpredictable world.”
A Thing Of Beauty features works by Alice Chance, Christina Sonnemann Baehr, Anne Cawrse, Ulpia Erdos, Sarah Elise Thompson, Margaret Tesch-Muller, Tara Minton, Elena Kats-Chernin, Katy Abbott, Nat Bartsch & Sally Greenaway. The title track, A Thing Of Beauty, is by Adelaide-based composer and cellist Hilary Kleinig.
Emily Granger is Principal Harp with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and a faculty member at Queensland Conservatorium of Music. Her debut solo album In Transit established her as one of Australia’s most distinctive harp voices, attracting an international streaming audience and bringing repertoire by living composers to new listeners. A Thing Of Beauty extends that work, deepening her focus on Australian women composers and on the role of beauty as a form of care in contemporary life.
Truth Gets Put On Trial In Knock And Run Theatre’s The Lifespan Of A Fact
What happens when facts, feelings, and deadlines collide?
Knock And Run Theatre presents the Newcastle premiere of The Lifespan of a Fact – a sharp, fast-paced comedy inspired by a true story that asks whether truth is ever really black and white.
Based on the acclaimed book by celebrated essayist John D’Agata and fact-checker Jim Fingal, the play follows an ambitious young intern tasked with verifying every detail in a high-profile magazine article before publication. What begins as a routine edit quickly spirals into a hilarious and heated battle over accuracy, artistic license, and who gets to decide what the truth really is.
Originally staged on Broadway starring Daniel Radcliffe, Bobby Cannavale and Cherry Jones, The Lifespan Of A Fact finally hits Newcastle stages for the first time this September. Filled with razor-sharp dialogue and escalating tension, The Lifespan Of A Fact explores misinformation, journalism, ego, and storytelling in an era where facts themselves often feel up for debate. Fans of The West Wing, Succession and The Newsroom will love The Lifespan Of A Fact.
Directed by Patrick Campbell, the production features veteran Novocastrian actors James Chapman (School Of Rock: The Musical), Angela Robertson (The Goat Or Who Is Sylvia) and Carl Caulfield (Being Sellers) and promises an energetic theatrical experience packed with wit, urgency, and surprising relevance.
The Lifespan Of A Fact is “Buoyantly literate… You’ll find yourself happy to have your preconceptions disturbed and assumptions unsettled.” says The Washington Post. “Wholly resonant questions [are] wrestled with in this briskly entertaining play.”
Known for producing bold and inventive independent theatre, Knock And Run Theatre continues its commitment to contemporary works that challenge and entertain audiences in equal measure. The Lifespan Of A Fact follows an critically acclaimed production of “I And You” in April staged at The Royal Exchange.
PERFORMANCE DETAILS The Lifespan Of A Fact Presented by Knock And Run Theatre PLAYHOUSE, CIVIC THEATRE WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 9th – 7:30pm THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10th – 7:30pm FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11th – 7:30pm SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12th – 2pm & 7:30pm Tickets ON SALE NOW: www.civictheatrenewcastle.com.au More info: https://www.knockandruntheatre.com/thelifespanofafact
