Comic Sunshine In A Can For Bondi June 4 And 5

Feature-The CAN Principle

The CAN Principle – The barely believable origin story of a fake guru!

“The CAN Principle is Jonny Pasvolsky’s first production as script writer and performer, and it shows a deft touch for pace and timing.” Diana Carroll – ARTS HUB Every ‘know-it-all’ has a few tall tales and Mervin Gimplik is about to impose his barely believable ones on you!

Direct from sell-out shows at Adelaide Fringe and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, self-proclaimed guru, Merv is bringing his ‘game-changing’ life philosophy to Bondi with one VERY big promise: the sun! Yes, Mervin is promising the sun itself and he’s almost certain he can deliver it!

Inspired by a childhood memory of cracking open a souvenir can labelled “Genuine Australian Sunshine” and finding absolutely nothing inside, the show skewers the modern self-improvement economy. This delicious parody of today’s ‘gurus’ and snake-oil salesmen – written and performed by Jonny Pasvolsky – is a one-man comedy about what it takes to re-invent yourself in the face of failure and the self-proclaimed ‘experts’ lining up to take your money for nothing!

“Jonny Pasvolsky is a clever parody writer and a comedian with excellent timing and superb pacing; he is also a brilliant character actor as he brings Mervin’s absurd story to life.” Clara Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Beneath the satire is a personal thread, drawing on Pasvolsky’s experience migrating from South Africa to Australia and the awkward business of navigating some stark, cultural differences. If you have ever been promised a total reinvention in six easy steps, this one is for you. Merv’s infectious blind optimism and ‘can-do’ attitude (pun intended), will win you over. It’s the quintessential example of believing your own bulldust. And you will too!

“You deserve NOTHING…but… SUNSHINE! And I’m going to show you where it is!” Mervin Gimplik

Best known to Australian audiences for his roles on McLeod’s Daughters, Underbelly, The Moodys, Mr and Mrs Murder to name a few, and internationally for roles in Mortdecai and Westworld, Jonny brings serious screen credentials and NYC stand-up chops to the stage in this smart, biting satire.

The CAN Principle – The barely believable origin story of a fake guru!

Written and performed by Jonny Pasvolsky
Directed by Jo Turner | Produced by Kate Ryerson
Bondi Pavilion Friday June 5 & Saturday June 6 – 7.30pm
Tickets: $25 / Concession, Mob Tix, Under 30’s: $20
All bookings and info: thecanprinciple.com.au

 

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Sydney Dance Company’s Engine Ignites The Stage This August

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Sydney Dance Company returns with Engine, an exhilarating triple bill uniting three bold choreographic voices—Rafael Bonachela, Fran Diaz, and Melanie Lane—in a dynamic program of contemporary dance.

At its core is Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela’s The Journey Itself is Home, a striking new work inspired by the writings of 17th-century Japanese poet Matsuo Bashō. Set to a score by Grammy Award-winning composer Bryce Dessner, the piece delves into the interplay between movement, memory, and place, offering audiences a deeply immersive and reflective experience.

Making its Australian premiere, The Mass Ornament by Berlin-based Spanish choreographer Fran Diaz reinterprets Siegfried Kracauer’s influential 1927 essay through a hypnotic contemporary lens. Accompanied by the evocative music of Henryk Górecki, the work explores themes of collectivity and connection, where individuality remains present within a powerful shared rhythm, creating a visually compelling and emotionally resonant performance.

Rounding out the program is Melanie Lane’s critically acclaimed Love Lock, a visionary reimagining of folk dance for a modern world. Drawing on shared cultural traditions and the urgency of global change, Love Lock is both celebratory and cautionary—highlighting dance as a unifying and transformative force. The production features intricate costumes by renowned Australian designer Akira Isogawa and an immersive electronic score by UK artist Clark.

Hailed by critics and audiences alike, Love Lock has received widespread praise:
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “…choreographed with electric intelligence by Melanie Lane.” – Sydney Morning Herald
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Love Lock is a work of bold genius and unfiltered creativity… It’s a cult I absolutely want to join.” – BachTrack
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “…Love Lock feels exceedingly contemporary. In fact, it feels like a glimpse into the future. You just can’t look away.” – ArtsHub
★ ★ ★ ★ “Each element of Love Lock is expertly crafted… a spectacular explosion of colour, richness and immersion that leaves the audience craving more.” – State of the Art

Engine showcases contemporary dance at its most daring—bringing together distinct creative voices in a program that is both intellectually engaging and visually captivating.

Program
The Journey Itself is Home – Rafael Bonachela
The Mass Ornament – Fran Diaz
Love Lock – Melanie Lane

Performance Dates: 5–8 August 2026
https://www.artsculturetrust.wa.gov.au/

 

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Celebrate Sir David Attenborough’s 100th Birthday With The Australian Museum

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The Australian Museum (AM) is marking the 100th birthday of its beloved Lifetime Patron, Sir David Attenborough, by offering free entry to the latest exhibition Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires across this weekend, from Friday 8 May to Sunday 10 May 2026.

In 2017, the Australian Museum awarded Attenborough its Lifetime Patron honour in recognition of his remarkable contributions to scientific communication and advocacy. He has supported the AM for more than 40 years, including touring the AM’s fossil collections, giving lectures to AM members and featuring the AM’s Lizard Island Research Station in his Great Barrier Reef documentary. In 2017, AM scientists also named the newly identified Tasmanian semi slug after him, Attenborougharion rubicundus, which he said might be the “most beautiful slug in the world”.

Director and CEO of the Australian Museum, Kim McKay AO said Sir David Attenborough had enjoyed a long career of sparking curiosity and awe in the natural world and revolutionised the public’s relationship with nature.

“Sir David Attenborough has spent his lifetime reminding us that our fate is tied to the fate of every creature on Earth, and he encourages us to understand just how remarkable the planet is. What better way to celebrate his 100th birthday than by making it possible for everyone to experience that same kind of wonder at the Australian Museum.

“Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires is exactly the kind of exhibition Attenborough would love, it’s surprising, scientifically rich, and full of creatures most people overlook and underestimate, and this weekend, it’s free,” McKay said.

The AM is also asking visitors to share their best wishes to one of the world’s most important environmental advocates either online via the AM’s website or in person with activity stations set up in the main hall for letter writing and picture drawing. The messages will be gathered up and set to him to enjoy.

Currently showing at the AM, Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires is a deep dive into the creatures that have fascinated and inspired humans for centuries. From vampire bats and leeches to mosquitoes and ticks, the exhibition explores the biology, folklore and ecological importance of animals that feed on blood, precisely the kind of encounter with the natural world that Sir David has championed throughout his extraordinary career.

Free entry to Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires runs from Friday 8 May to Sunday 10 May 2026. Visitors are encouraged to book online to secure their preferred timeslot. Bookings are available via the Australian Museum website.

Bookings are available via the https://australian.museum/exhibition/bloodsuckers/

 

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The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift- New Tickets On Sale For Anastasia!

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Just in time for Mother’s Day, new seats for the much-loved hit Broadway musical ANASTASIA, which premieres in Brisbane in September, go on sale this week. Tickets for performances from 7 – 18 October can be purchased by those who have signed up to the waitlist through the ANASTASIA website today (Tuesday 5 May) and to the general public on Friday 8 May from 10am. The Sydney Morning Herald declared that ”the Australian incarnation of this international phenomenon is hard to fault” and that it is “Frozen, Les Mis and Ragtime, all in one” while the Sunday Telegraph declared it “lavish, theatrical and dropping in old-world glamour” and The Plus Ones said that ANASTASIA is “lavish musical theatre at its finest: rich, romantic and gloriously performed”.

The cast for this charming modern fairytale and much-loved musical includes Georgina Hopson as Anya, Robert Tripolino as the charismatic con artist Dmitry, Joshua Robson in the role of antagonist Gleb, Rodney Dobson as Vlad, the universally adored Rhonda Burchmore as Countess Lily and theatre icon Nancye Hayes AM in the role of the Dowager Empress.

The ensemble cast includes Sophia Bae, Elliot Baker, Nicholas Cunningham, Davis Giotopoulos Moore, Todd Goddard, Stephanie Kurlow, Keian Langdon, Bella Minniti, Nathan Stafford, Alexis Van Maanen, Patrick Volpe, Annie Wilson, Deone Zanotto and Andrea Zappacosta with the Swings team featuring Manon Gunderson-Briggs, Iosefa Laga’aia, Nathan Pinnell and Emma Russell.

Inspired by the mysterious tale of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov’s rumoured escape in the dawning days of the Russian Revolution, and the 1997 Oscar nominated animated film of the same name, ANASTASIA has been brought to life on the stage by the Tony Award-winning creative team of Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens.

ANASTASIA is a lavish musical for all ages, transporting audiences from the twilight years of the Imperial rule to the euphoria and exuberance of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman named Anya sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by an army officer determined to silence her, she enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family.

Directed by Tony Award winning director Darko Tresnjak, ANASTASIA premiered on Broadway in March 2017. It received a Tony Award nomination for Best Costume Design in a Musical and won more than 15 major international awards including Best Musical awards in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.

The book for ANASTASIA was written by the late five time Tony Award winning writer Terrence McNally, whose credits include Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class, Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime.

Music and lyrics for ANASTASIA were written by the renowned writing team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens who have been referred to as “one of the greatest songwriting teams in Broadway history.” (Chicago Tribune).

“Fantastical, intelligent, well-crafted, and exhilarating, ANASTASIA deserves a coronation!” – The Wall Street Journal
“Captivating, beautifully staged and emotionally vital. ANASTASIA hits the sweet spot!” – The Hollywood Reporter
“One of the most gorgeous shows in years! Luscious, lavish, and a joy that leaves you cheering. This is a grandiloquent feast for the senses you won’t soon forget.” – The New York Observer

ANASTASIA – THE BROADWAY MUSICAL
Produced by John Frost for Crossroads Live and Opera Australia in special collaboration with Stage Entertainment Productions, Tom Kirdahy, Hunter Arnold and Dan Hinde

Lyric Theatre QPAC, Brisbane from September 2026

Visit www.anastasiathemusical.com.au

Australian production images by Jeff Busby

 

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