SeasonAnnouncement - Whats The Show

World Premiere: Opera Australia’s New La Bohème Brings Snowy Paris To Melbourne This November

24/09/2026 Breaking News

Opera Australia (OA) will unveil a shimmering new production of Puccini’s beloved opera La Bohème at the Regent Theatre, Melbourne in a World Premiere season from 7-18 November.

The first new mainstage production of one of the world’s most famous operatic tragedies by OA in 15 years, this production is set in the winter wonderland of 20th century Paris, recreated through the eyes of the painters, poets and musicians of its time.

One of Australia’s most exciting opera directors, Constantine Costi, will lead a talented team of young Australian creatives to envision this new La Bohème, including Set Designer Dann Barber, Costume Designer Sabina Myers and Lighting Designer Morgan Moroney.

Spectacular set pieces, including a flying balloon basket and life-sized, on-stage floats, will bring a painting-inspired set to life, with glorious scenery hand painted by OA’s talented team of scenic artists, with magnificently detailed and richly coloured costumes, all crafted by hand at OA’s headquarters.

La Bohème will star a luminous cast of international and Australian singers, including Melbourne-born Alexandra Flood who will sing Musetta in a highly-anticipated homecoming season, while award-winning soprano Galina Cheplakova, in her Australian debut, will share the heartbreaking role of Mimì with Italian soprano Valeria Sepe, who makes a welcome return to OA.

Quickly becoming one of the most sought-after young lyric tenors in the opera world, Australian Chinese tenor Kang Wang will share the role of Rodolfo with award winning Italian Paride Cataldo, who will also perform with OA for the first time.

Under the baton of acclaimed British conductor Finnegan Downie Dear, making his OA debut, will be the brilliant Orchestra Victoria, internationally acclaimed Opera Australia Chorus and Opera Australia Children’s Chorus.

Puccini’s timeless music captures the power of love, the beauty of youth, and the sheer joy of being alive and in this production it finds new life once again by a whole new generation of talented creatives and performers.

Creatives
Conductor Finnegan Downie Dear
Director Constantine Costi
Set Designer Dann Barber
Costume Designer Sabina Myers
Lighting Designer Morgan Moroney
Movement & Assistant Director Shannon Burns

Performance information
7.30pm: 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18 November
2:00pm: 8, 15 November
Regent Theatre, Melbourne
Running time: Approximately 2 hour and 15 minutes.
Performed in Italian with English surtitles.

Cast
Mimì: Galina Cheplakova (7, 10, 12, 14 & 17 Nov), Valeria Sepe (8, 11, 13, 15 & 18 Nov)
Rodolfo: Kang Wang (7, 10, 12, 14 & 17 Nov), Paride Cataldo (8, 11, 13, 15 & 18 Nov)
Musetta: Alexandra Flood
Marcello: Luke Gabbedy
Schaunard: Stephen Marsh
Colline: David Parkin
Benoit/Sergeant: Clifford Plumpton
Alcindoro: Simon Meadows
Officer: Tom Hamilton
Parpignol: Benjamin Rasheed
Orchestra Victoria
Opera Australia Chorus
Opera Australia Children’s Chorus
Opera Australia Actors

Bookings
Adult tickets from $79 (fees may apply)
Opera Australia Box Office (03) 9685 3700
www.opera.org.au

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Monty Python’s Spamalot Arrives In Melbourne

13/09/2026 Breaking News

Rehearsals are about to kick off in Melbourne at the end of August as Monty Python’s SPAMALOT prepares to open at the historic Athenaeum Theatre this September. Preview performances will begin on September 17 ahead of the official opening night on Saturday, September 19. The Tony Award-winning Best Musical has recently extended its Melbourne run through October 11, following extraordinary ticket sales and demand.

Following the Melbourne season, the production will gallop into Sydney for two engagements: first at the Sydney Event Centre at The Star Sydney from October 15–18, followed by Western Sydney’s Coliseum Theatre from October 22–25, 2026.

The Melbourne season will see this incredibly diverse and talented cast take to the stage, led by Australian screen and television icon Stephen Curry, who will make his musical theatre debut, stepping into the regal shoes of King Arthur. Sharing the spotlight with Stephen will be powerhouse vocalist Jaz Flowers, who makes her highly anticipated return to the stage after a decade, as the enchanting Lady of the Lake for the Melbourne season.

Seasoned performer and Perth standout, Jamie Rolton will reprise the hilarious role of Patsy opposite Stephen Curry’s bumbling King Arthur. Joining them is a talented community of hilarious performers that includes rising stand-up comedian and Tik Tok sensation Nick White, tackling the formidable role of Man of Many Characters; NIDA Graduate and up and coming performer Gareth Isaac as Sir Robin; emerging star and WAAPA graduate Jesse Vasiliadas as Sir Lancelot; with Perth season alumni Noah Skape as Sir Galahad and Ethan Jones as Sir Bedevere respectively. Rounding out our talented ensemble is Grace Williams, Emily Huynh, Danielle Gibson, Jacinta Tsakalos, Will Basson, Jack Coyne, Dominique Hamilton and Ethan Churchill.

Producer/Director Drew Anthony said, “Following our sold-out critically acclaimed Perth season it is my absolute pleasure to be bringing this gem-of-a-show to Melbourne and Sydney. Not only is Spamalot a celebration of all things Monty Python it is also a wonderful love letter to the musical theatre genre. All of the characters and quotes from the source film will keep audiences laughing and wanting more.”

MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT features Eric Idle’s book and lyrics alongside a score by Idle and John Du Prez, offering a hilarious and irreverent parody of musical theatre filled with show-stopping vocals and tap-dancing knights. A contemporary landmark, SPAMALOT won three Tony Awards after its 2005 Broadway debut.

MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT will play at the Athenaeum Theatre from 16 September until 4 October. The show will play at the Sydney Event Centre at the Star Sydney from 15 – 18 October, before transferring to Coliseum Theatre in Western Sydney where it will play from 22 – 25 Oct 2026.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public for Melbourne on Friday 19 June and for Sydney on Monday 29 June via www.ticketmaster.com.au.

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Strategic Love Play By Miriam Battye

28/07/2026 Breaking News

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

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 Nutcracker On Ice Skates Into Sydney This Christmas

09/07/2026 Breaking News

Sydney’s festive season is about to get a spectacular new centrepiece, with it announced today that the internationally acclaimed Imperial Ice Stars will return to Sydney’s Coliseum Theatre this December for an Australian-exclusive season of The Nutcracker on Ice.

With demand expected to be high following the company’s acclaimed season of Swan Lake on Ice, audiences are encouraged to join the official waitlist now to unlock exclusive priority access and save $20 per ticket, while also going into the draw to win four Opening Night tickets.* Join the waitlist at https://coliseumtheatre.com.au/whats-on/the-nutcracker-on-ice/

Bringing together the beauty of classical ballet, Olympic-level ice skating and breathtaking theatrical spectacle, The Nutcracker on Ice transforms Tchaikovsky’s beloved score into a dazzling production unlike any other. Created by world-renowned Artistic Director Tony Mercer, the production combines magnificent choreography, high-speed skating, spectacular acrobatics and lavish costumes in a magical family experience for all ages.

Richard Errington, CEO of West HQ, said welcoming the Imperial Ice Stars back to the Coliseum Theatre was a major highlight for Western Sydney. “The Coliseum continues to draw audiences from far and wide for exceptional performances, and welcoming the Imperial Ice Stars back is a highlight for Western Sydney. Their production of Swan Lake on Ice earlier last year was a standout success, attracting visitors from across Sydney and beyond who came to experience the scale and artistry of this world-class company.”

Imperial Ice Stars in Nutcracker on-Ice-Pic Supplied.jpg

“We’re thrilled to close out 2026 with a two-week Australian-exclusive season of The Nutcracker on Ice. It’s a privilege to bring international performance of this scale to our stage and we look forward to welcoming audiences from near and far for a season that will elevate Western Sydney’s reputation for world-class entertainment and deliver an unforgettable finale to the year.”

Tony Mercer, Artistic Director of the Imperial Ice Stars, said “The Coliseum Theatre gave the Imperial Ice Stars the most incredible start to 2025 when we appeared there with our production of Swan Lake on Ice in January. Two weeks of warm and wonderful standing ovations to our production started the year with a bang.

Now we have the pleasure of bringing our enchanting production of The Nutcracker on Ice to bring the year of 2026 to a close. I promise you an evening of excitement with the beautiful tale of Clara and her adventures with her nutcracker doll and the wondrous journey it will take her on. Edge-of-your-seat excitement along with a story that warms the heart. I am so happy to be returning to one of the world’s newest and most unique theatres and do hope you can join me and my Imperial Ice Stars for an evening of theatre magic!”

The story follows young Clara, who receives a mysterious wooden nutcracker that magically comes to life. Guided by the Sugar Plum Fairy, she embarks on an enchanting journey through a winter wonderland and the Kingdom of Sweets, where imagination, adventure and wonder await. Featuring the Imperial Ice Stars’ signature ice-skating artistry, dramatic storytelling and breathtaking stage design, The Nutcracker on Ice promises an unforgettable festive theatre experience that will delight audiences from the moment the ice comes alive.

Those wanting the best value are encouraged to WAITLIST NOW, with waitlist members receiving exclusive priority access, $20 off every ticket purchased during the Waitlist period, and the chance to win four tickets to Opening Night.* (Terms and conditions apply.)

Join the waitlist now to be first in line for tickets and exclusive savings before tickets go on general sale at https://coliseumtheatre.com.au/whats-on/the-nutcracker-on-ice/

Priority Presales: From 23rd July, 10am
Kids’ Tickets start at $48 plus booking fees (Early Bird Only)

General Public On Sale: Thursday 6 August, 10am
Tickets start at $68 plus booking fees.

BOOKINGS
INTERNET: COLISEUMTHEATRE.COM.AU or TICKETEK.COM.AU
PHONE: 02 9625 5500 10am to 5pm
IN PERSON AT: WEST HQ Box Office, 33 Railway Street, Rooty Hill, NSW 2766

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