adelaide - Whats The Show

The Shawshank Redemption On Stage Across Australia In 2027

14/07/2026 Breaking News

The celebrated stage adaptation of one of the most popular and enduring films of all time, The Shawshank Redemption, is coming to Australia. Direct from its acclaimed UK tour, The Shawshank Redemption will play in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide from January next year, with other cities to be revealed. Waitlist now at ShawshankLive.com.au to be first in line to purchase tickets and receive the latest news including casting announcements, exclusive behind-the-scenes content and tour updates.

The Shawshank Redemption is a powerful stage production that places you just metres from the action. Raw, intimate and deeply moving, this is theatre at its most compelling – where every moment unfolds live before your eyes. Based on Stephen King’s celebrated novella, this gripping adaptation tells an unforgettable story of hope, friendship and the resilience of the human spirit.

Wrongly convicted of the brutal murders of his wife and her lover, Andy Dufresne is sentenced to life imprisonment in the notorious Shawshank prison. As he navigates the harsh realities of incarceration, he forms an unlikely friendship with fellow inmate Red, discovering that even in the darkest of places, hope can endure. But when the corrupt Warden seeks to exploit Andy’s talents for his own gain, a quiet and daring plan begins to emerge, one that will challenge the very walls of Shawshank itself.

“Electrifying – it truly is a must see show” – The Observer
“This production has nailed it … Gripping live theatre” – Broadway World

The Shawshank Redemption_10 (c) Jack Merriman.jpg

The Shawshank Redemption_3 (c) Jack Merriman.jpg

“The Shawshank Redemption has captivated audiences around the world because it speaks to something universal, the enduring power of hope. We’re honoured to bring this extraordinary story to Australian stages and share an unforgettable theatrical experience with audiences across the country,” said producer Craig Donnell. “Great theatre doesn’t just entertain; it stays with you long after you’ve left the auditorium. The Shawshank Redemption is one of those rare stories that continues to resonate across generations, a story of hope, courage and perseverance, and I can’t think of a more important story to share with audiences today.”

Adapted for the stage by Owen O’Neill and Dave Johns, and directed by David Esbjornson who directed Angela Lansbury and James Earl Jones in the Australian tour of Driving Miss Daisy, this acclaimed production captures the emotional power and humanity that have made The Shawshank Redemption one of the world’s most enduring stories.

The 1994 film adaptation, nominated for seven Academy Awards, has become one of cinema’s most beloved classics. Now, experience a story of hope, friendship and redemption brought vividly to life in an unforgettable live theatrical event.

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
Adapted for the stage by Owen O’Neill and Dave Johns, based on the novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
Directed by David Esbjornson
Produced by Impresario Productions, by arrangement with Bill Kenwright Limited
By arrangement with Knight Hall Agency Ltd in association with Paradigm Talent Agency

SEASON DETAILS
Theatre Royal Sydney – From 2 January 2027
Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne – From 4 February 2027
Regal Theatre, Perth – From 12 March 2027
Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide – From 1 April 2027
Other venues still to be announced

Waitlist for all cities now at ShawshankLive.com.au

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Comeback Reimagines The Theatre Experience

13/07/2026 Breaking News

This August, Goodwood Theatre & Studios invites audiences to experience theatre differently with the launch of COMEBACK Festival 2026, an exciting new festival where audiences are invited to see two incredible shows in one night, enjoy a home-cooked meal and drink on us, and connect through conversation in a shared theatrical experience.

Running across three curated weeks in August 2026, COMEBACK reimagines the traditional theatre-going experience as something immersive, social, and deeply human. More than simply seeing a show, audiences are encouraged to settle in for an evening of storytelling, reflection, and connection – sharing supper and drinks between performances while engaging in conversations sparked by the work.

These are productions that have already captivated audiences, award-winning works, sold-out seasons, and unforgettable performances that deserve a second life. COMEBACK exists to celebrate exceptional independent theatre and bring it back to the stage for new audiences to discover.

“COMEBACK was born from a simple idea: if a production has moved audiences, sparked conversations and demonstrated artistic excellence, why should its journey end after a single season? This festival gives artists the support to return, grow and reach new audiences.” – Simone Avramidis, Artistic Director – Goodwood Theatre & Studios

Week One: Tender, Powerful & Deeply Felt
The festival opens with an emotionally rich pairing featuring Wilde & Darling Productions Goddess Era alongside Alix Kuijpers’ i know the end.

Goddess Era draws inspiration from women of Ancient Greek mythology in a haunting and emotionally resonant exploration of identity, power, and womanhood. Paired with I Know the End, Alix Kuijpers’ award-winning queer coming-of-age dance theatre work exploring intimacy and connection, audiences are invited into a deeply tender evening that lingers long after the curtain falls.

This is a week for feeling deeply and one audience won’t regret experiencing.

Week Two: Playful, Bold & Unexpected
Week two shifts’ gears with an energetic and immersive double bill. Danielle Lim and Sam Lau, present an adaptation of Bang On The Nerve: A Modern Asian-Australian Adaptation, originally written by Van Badman, paired with Zero Theatre’s Have Sex With Me, Please.

Expect laughter, surprise, and audience participation as the evening embraces playfulness, intimacy, and bold theatricality.

With supper and drinks shared between performances, audiences become part of the action in a vibrant and unforgettable night out.

Week Three: Experimental, Fresh & Fearlessly Honest
Closing the festival is a beautifully fresh and thought-provoking week featuring Deus Ex Femina’s All the Things I Couldn’t Say and Billie-Rose Russell in partnership with Dead Darling Theatre presenting All Grown Up (but not really).

This final week celebrates emerging voices and fearless storytelling offering audiences a moving and memorable conclusion to the COMEBACK season.

More Than Theatre
Coinciding with the SALA Festival, Goodwood Theatre & Studios will also transform into a vibrant visual arts hub, featuring works by incredible local and award-winning artists Bianca Joanna Buliga and Pat Smith, filling the venue walls with colour, story, and heart.

COMEBACK is a new way of delivering theatre, where audiences become part of the story and artists are supported to thrive. By pairing performances, creating opportunities for conversation, and fostering connection between artists and audiences, the festival creates a dynamic environment for cross-pollination, community, and cultural engagement.

Proudly supported by CreateSA, COMEBACK is an important investment in South Australia’s next generation of artistic leaders and supporting emerging companies to revisit successful work, reconnect with audiences, and continue developing brave, independent theatre.

A night of theatre, food & connection awaits.
See two shows. Share a meal. Stay for the conversation.

COMEBACK Festival
13-30 August 2026
Goodwood Theatre & Studios

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Sass, Frustration, And Glitter

03/07/202603/07/2026 Nicole V🥈🎭

Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really Rating

★★★★★

Click if you liked this article

CONTENT WARNINGS: This show may contain flashing lights and themes of violence, predatory or abusive behaviour, and suicide that some may find frightening or distressing.

As you walk into the Little Theatre at Adelaide University, black and red decorations adorn the front room, consisting of fake spider webs, roses, and more. Meanwhile, in the theatre, rock music, the silhouette of an imposing castle, and a handwritten version of the Lord’s Prayer are waiting.

You may agree with the opening line of the director’s note in the program: “Vampires. They’ve been done to death.” But this performance of Dracula shows that Vampires have a way of implanting themselves into our minds and evolving to slip into our culture. “Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really,” is full of sass, female frustration, excellent era-appropriate outfits, great accents, and well-timed jokes.

The cast has an easy familiarity with one another, leading to complementary performances which feel natural – you won’t find any awkward deliveries, wooden lines, or mis-timed jokes in this performance. Every line is delivered with precision, consistent accents (unless they’re not meant to be), and a strong projection that reaches the back rows. The accompanying music did not overwhelm the performers, was well-suited for the performance, and found a solid balance between traditional gothic Dracula and current day music.

As this was opening night, there were a couple of hiccups with lighting cues, but all were quickly rectified and well covered – I’m not entirely convinced they were hiccups, but rather well-planned timing. Otherwise, the lighting was spot-on across the performance, with clever use of red lights, spotlights, and lanterns. The lighting team did a wonderful job playing with shadows as they were needed, and assisting in building the ambience of the show.

The stagehands deserve their own moment in the spotlight, too. They snuck on stage between scenes, cleaned, found dropped jewellery, and efficiently moved heavy-looking furniture with relative ease in the near darkness. A job well done to keep the performance moving seamlessly.

With a stage in a semi-circle, the sets were simple, with every item carefully planned and chosen for its moment on stage. The only concern I had was for the performers’ knees as they slid in and out of the bed. Not enough to distract from the performance, though. The sets are simple but telling enough that the audience don’t find themselves guessing where they are at any point, but can fill in some of the gaps for the missing parts (windows, walkways, and the like) for themselves.

Audiences are reminded and advised that Dracula is a dark story, and this performance is no different. The performance does not hold back from raw emotions; screaming and shouting are not off the table for this enthralling performance. If you choose a front row seat, don’t be surprised if your shoes have a little glitter on them as you leave.

To book tickets to Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really, please visit http://www.trybooking.com/DMMKT.

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Emily Granger Solo Harp Album Launch Tour – 13 June 2026 UKARIA Cultural Centre

14/06/202614/06/2026 Rob McKinnon🌟🎭

Emily Granger Solo Harp Album Launch Tour Rating

★★★★★

Click if you liked this article

Review: Emily Granger Solo Harp Album Launch Tour – 13 June 2026 UKARIA Cultural Centre

With the huge windows of the UKARIA Cultural Centre which look over the Centre’s beautifully sculptured garden onto the picturesque landscape of the Mount Barker Summit as background, Emily Granger delighted the audience with an angelic program of music from her stunning new album for ABC Classic, ‘A Thing of Beauty’.

Growing up in Kansas City she began learning to play the harp at age 12. Now Australian based, she has performed recitals in Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center appearing with the Chicago, Sydney, and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras. Amongst many, many other things, in 2023 she was appointed Principal Harp with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. She is also on the faculty at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and a member of Ensemble Q. In 2021, she released her first solo album, “In Transit” which was a “Featured Album” on ABC Classic and 2MBS Fine Music Sydney. She followed this up with her second album, “Something Like This,” with flautist Sally Walker in 2023.

Granger explained that the new album began to come together after she commissioned a piece for harp from South Australian composer Hillary Kleining which was entitled “A Thing of Beauty”, and after hearing this piece, it became clear what the new album would be and how it would sound.

The program by all Australian women composers, included newly commissioned brilliant works from Alice Chance, South Australian Anne Cawrse, as well as Hillary Kleinig’s work. Older works from the new album were performed, including the heavenly “Karoola Seasons” by Christina Sonnermann based on four haiku by Hilary Burden. The encore was Deborah Henson Conant’s piece “The Nightingale” which appears on Granger’s album “In Transit”.

Refer below for the full program.

At UKARIA Culture Centre, Granger invited the audience to find some stillness as she gloriously performed her selection of music from her new album, it would be surprising if many did as all became engrossed in her marvellous performance.

Included in the program was the following:

Elena Kats-Chernin – Unsent Love Letters (2016)

Hillary Kleinig – A Thing of Beauty (2025)*

Alice Chance – Emily’s Suite (2025)*
1. Full of Wonder
2. Ballad
3.Chorale

Anne Cawrse – Come to me (2025)*

Ulpia Erdos – Reminiscing (1998)

Margaret Tesch-Muller – Snow and Shadow (2017)

Katy Abbott – Not Just Another Day (2001)

Nat Bartsch – Call and Response (2017)

Tara Minton – Alby’s Lullaby (2015)

Christina Sonnemann – Karoola Seasons (2006)
1. Spring
2. Summer
3. Autumn
4. Winter

Sally Greenaway – Encore di Lirico (2014) & Perhaps Tomorrow (2009)

Encore, Deborah Henson Conant – The Nightingale

*World Premieres

“A Thing of Beauty” is out on 3 July 2026 on ABC Classic.

Information, ticketing & album orders: https://emilygranger.com/a-thing-of-beauty

A Thing of Beauty Tour Schedule:

• 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

To book tickets to Emily Granger Solo Harp Album Launch Tour , please visit https://emilygranger.com/a-thing-of-beauty.

Photographer: Chloe Ireland

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Subscribe to What's The Show

Connect Online