Need that live theatre fix? Welcome to our Stage & Stream guide for the first week of August! This is our pick of streaming theatre, cabaret, podcasts and artist opportunities for the week ahead, with a focus on the best independent productions in Australia and NZ. Donation links take you directly to donations for those artists – please support them – and if you have something that should be on the list send a message to robbi@criticalstages.com.au or complete the Google form.
Stage And Stream Links
Friday July 31st – Thursday August 6th
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AUSTRALIA / NZ BY DATE
Friday 31st July
- WOMEN OF FIRE 2020 – MOTHER TONGUE
Featuring an intimate, warm and exciting evening of inspiring women’s spoken word, storytelling and performance, via Zoom. This is an offering from women that exemplify the FIRE of woman, with a stunning line up of feature artists including slam poet Anisa Nandaula.
7:30pm AEST
Details on www.facebook.com - SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE – Q THEATRE
This is theatre delivered directly to your mobile. Every Friday a new story will be delivered to audiences via a series of text messages over one hour and crafted by playwrights including Donna Abela, Monikka Eliah, Margaret Davis, Jonathan Biggins, and more.
6pm AEST
www.qtheatre.com.au - VCR FEST – MELBOURNE FRINGE
Melbourne Fringe’s Virtual Common Rooms Festival kicks off today for 3 days of performance, interaction, workshops and conversations. Today’s lineup includes Mr. McClelland’s Finishing School, and Fringe Fridays Comedy Quiz featuring the one and only Reuben Kaye.
Various Times until Sunday Aug 2nd – check online for details
www.facebook.com - BIG FORK’S LIVESTREAM
Brisbane Comedy Festival award-winners Big Fork Theatre are hosting a new weekly comedy and performance series live-streamed from quarantine.
7:30pm AEST
www.facebook.com - SECOND WAVE CABARET
Live, Loose & Locked Down is the theme of this new live cabaret from Melbourne’s Sophie deLightful. Zoom-enabled, one hour Friday adult fun from the same team that brought us Cooped Up Cabaret. Guests are kept secret until your in too deep, just the way we like it.
8pm AEST
Details on Facebook - LET’S FRIDAY WITH THE LISTIES
Will there be remote Learning? No! Will it be informative? Unlikely! Will it be barely held together chaos? Probably! Kid’s favourites The Listies have a semi-weekly Friday show that is well worth a look even if you aren’t under 12. Stream previous eps on demand also. Do it, it makes Friday arvo drinks even better.
4:30pm AEST – please donate
www.facebook.com
Saturday 1st August
- HUMOUR US – LIZZY HOO & THE STEVENSON EXPERIENCE
Streamed live from the Joan Sutherlan Theatre, Lizzy Hoo (The Feed) and musical comedy duo The Stevenson Experience will be a crack up of a double header.
8pm AEST
www.sydneyoperahouse.com - SEQUIN SESSIONS
Cabaret star Michaela Burger’s trademark humour, huge repertoire and fabulous voice is a great way to spend Saturday night. Tune in again with the little ones for a children’s cabaret special on Sundays.
8pm AEST – please donate
www.michaelaburger.live/
Sunday 2nd August
- BALLETBOYZ DELUXE
One for the dance fans! BalletBoyz are a critically-acclaimed contemporary dance company and this 20th anniversary premiere of Deluxe, a brand new show, shows just why they are often described as the global cutting edge of modern ballet.
8pm AEST
www.sydneyoperahouse.com
Monday 3rd August
- UNSUNG HEROES – BLACK SWAN THEATRE
Unsung Heroes is a collection of tour-de-force solo performances featuring 5 untold stories about 5 extraordinary Western Australians. Tonight is your last chance to see the works before they go offline.
On-Demand
www.bsstc.com.au
Tuesday 4th August
- NIDA DIGITAL THEATRE FESTIVAL
The prestigious arts college will premiere six new works created specifically for the online world, kicking off with Roundabout by Sean Stewart today. There are multiple showings of each work over the course of the festival, and lots to enjoy. Keep scrolling for the premiere dates of each show.
8pm AEST today – check for other dates and times
www.nida.edu.au - A POX ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES – NIDA DIGITAL
Take your seat at home over three nights as three different love stories, each set in a world of separation, play out in live and pre-recorded scenes. It’s a 3 day journey created and directed by leading experimental performance and theatre artist Deborah Pollard.
7pm AEST over 3 nights – check for other dates and times
www.nida.edu.au - CORONAVLOG
Using her psychological insight, musical therapy exercises and psychic powers, the very fictional Jan van de Stool is here to unwrap the #Coronavirus news, in an attempt to help tens of people around the world, weekly.
On-Demand
www.vimeo.com/ondemand/coronavlog
Wednesday 5th August
- SIX – NIDA DIGITAL
Inspired by horror hits Get Out and The Blair Witch Project, this explosive thriller is directed by Australian experimental film, theatre and virtual reality artist Leticia Cáceres. It’s Zoom, but even more frightening.
9:30pm AEST premiere today – check for other dates and times
www.nida.edu.au
Thursday 6th August
- EASEY COMEDY – ADAM HILLS
Adam Hills hosts this weekly live series coming to you from Collingwood’s famed comedy venue. It’s Zoomed live and the lineup is always a treat. This week: Celia Pacquola, Dave Thornton, Tim Hewitt, Bronwyn Kuss and Sonia di Lorio.
7pm AEST
www.comedy.com.au - GHOST LIGHTS – NIDA DIGITAL
Don’t miss the powerful concluding performance of this international participative project, connecting audiences around the world in a celebration of the importance of theatre. Directed by Katy Alexander.
7:30pm AEST premiere today – check for other dates and times
www.nida.edu.au
AUS/NZ ON-DEMAND
- DECAMERON 2.0 – STCSA
100 Stories. Each week, 10 South Australian writers will create 10 new characters and 10 new stories, which will be performed by 10 actors, recorded on film and digitally delivered to you over 10 weeks. Presented by the State Theatre Company of SA.
Sign up to receive each new episode in your inboxand click over to watch the previous 2 episodes on-demand now. - DEAR AUSTRALIA – PLAYWRITING AUSTRALIA
50 Playwrights nominated by 25 theatre organisations have created short monologues performed by 50 actors from their own homes. A powerful response to, and record of, this extraordinary time.
On-Demand until September 1st
www.pwa.org.au - SOIREE LIVE – THE GENTLEMAN MAGICIAN
Fans of magic take note – The Gentleman Magician is producing a limited season of private magic shows that are performed live, just for your household (or office). Interactive, fun and beamed at you via zoom, skype or your favourite video call platform.
www.GentlemanMagician.com.au - THE RESERVOIR ROOM
Filmed live at Sydney’s iconic Paddington Town Hall, The Reservoir Room has been streaming the best of Australian cabaret and music weekly, and every show is now available on demand. Big names, local stars, including Phil Scott (Wharf Revue), Mark Treverrow, James Arno, and iOTA to name a few.
On Demand
www.reservoirroom.com - ENSEMBLE CONVERSATIONS
Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre has been producing a weekly Facebook Live series hosted by Artistic Director Mark Kilmurry. Each week they feature interviews with prominent actors and creatives, exclusive scene reads, interactive Q&A’s and more. Lots to watch!
On-Demand – please donate
www.ensemble.com.au & FACEBOOK LIVE - KEEP HEART PENRITH
The new online program Keep Heart Penrith delivered by Penrith Performing and Visual Arts will help guide audiences and community to the new changed arts world via Creative Care Packs; a series of arts-based content & learning delivered to your email address.
www.qtheatre.com.au/keep-heart-penrith/
INTERNATIONAL
- TTS WORLD WIDE VIRTUAL FRINGE FESTIVAL
From Saturday August 1st, and over the month of August, comes this completely independent Fringe Festival produced by Ryan Thornhill who has been at the forefront of streaming theatre since lockdowns began. There’s a new work almost daily with the first 9 shows announced on their facebook page now.
www.facebook.com - VAN VIRTUAL PRIDE
Vancouver’s Pride Festival goes digital in 2020 with a huge one day event that will also be closed captioned on three platforms. Get up early and wear your best rainbow.
Facebook, Youtube and Twitch - ELECTRIC DREAMS FESTIVAL
It’s like fringe, but it’s not. 30 unique shows curated from around the world, including Australia’s own In The Shadow It Waits. The festival started on July 26 and runs until August 16th. In addition to the huge array of productions there is also a webinar conference happening daily aimed at bringing the world’s creative community together.
www.electricdreamsfestival.com - THREE KINGS – OLD VIC
Andrew Scott stars in this new livestreamed play written for him by Stephen Beresford. As it’s live you may have an early morning on your hands, but it will be well worth it for the show.
7:30pm BST / 4.30am AEST (also showing at midnight AEST)
www.oldvictheatre.com - TANGLED – DISNEY THEATRICAL
Disney has released its cruise line stage production of Tangled: The Musical on its YouTube channel. The stage production features 3 songs not seen in the animated film.
On-Demand
www.youtube.com - DADDERS
Daniel is dyspraxic and is too slow. Frauke has ADHD and is too quick. They are married and have kids. Together they create a fantastical escapist world in response to their experiences as neurodiverse parents. A new video series pre-recorded for YouTube.
On-Demand
www.youtube.com - ILLUSIONS – CONCENTRIC CIRCLES
This all-female production of Ivan Viripaev’s relationship comedy is more than a show. Audiences can follow the rehearsal process and even provide feedback on the development. Premieres August 1st.
www.concentric-circles.org/ - THE EVIDENCE CHAMBER – FAST FAMILIAR
There’s been a murder. The police have a suspect but the evidence doesn’t paint a clear picture. In an online jury deliberation room, you watch the testimonies, scrutinise the evidence, discuss with your fellow jurors – and reach your verdict.
7:30pm BST / 4.30am AEST
www.fastfamiliar.com
AUSTRALIAN THEATRE & PERFORMANCE PODCAST GUIDE
- Bell Shakespeare
- Queerstories
- Stages with Peter Eyers
- From Inspiration to Stage with Drew Lane
- Fantastic Fantastix
- Chats With Creatives
- Creative Connections with Adam Dear
- Matt Young’s The Story Chunder
- Form Dance Theatre
- Griffin Theatre Company
- Run The Show – Milke
- The Stage Show – ABC Radio National
- Producing Heroes – Circa
- Sydney Theatre Company
- Theatre Mates Melbourne
- Citizen Theatre Podcast
- The Aside Podcast
- The Green Room
- Talking Sock
- Check In With Chapel
- SOH Arty Farty (great for kids)
ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES
- INTER-PLAY 2020 – THE STREET THEATRE
INTER-PLAY is a new program from The Street – an exploration of the interplay between the pandemic and theatre making into the future, starting on the 30th of July through to 26th of November. Facilitated and led by Canberra-based theatre artist barb barnett, INTER-PLAY sessions are open to all playwrights and theatre-makers at all stages of their career. www.thestreet.org.au - TERRAPIN WRITING FOR PUPPETRY RESIDENCIES
Terrapin are seeking EOIs from writers, theatre-makers and dramaturges who are interested in authoring a narrative to be told through puppetry. The company will commission a number of treatments before moving some to full commissions, all of which will be guaranteed to go into production. Fees for treatments and commissions will be paid at standard industry rates. EOIs close 10th August. www.terrapin.org.au - MIDSUMMA – REGISTRATIONS OPEN
Mebourne’s Midsumma Festival expands over 22 days of summer with an explosion of queer events from 17 Jan to 7 Feb 2021. Registrations close 24 August. www.midsumma.org.au - HOTA – YOUNG PLAYWRIGHT PROGRAM
Young playwrights aged 14-17 may apply to this free program run by Matthew Ryan. Selected participants will present their short play in a rehearsed reading in November 2020. www.hota.com.au
SAVE THE DATE
These are the future streams that are high on our list – get them into your diary now!
- Saturday 8th August – PROJECT INTERLUDE
The challenge was to write, compose, rehearse, stage and perform a brand new musical in just one week. Sydney-based City Theatre took a theme voted on by audiences and now it’s time to see it. If you’re in town you can see it live at Flight Path Theatre, or tune in to the live stream. - Tuesday 11th August – THE WHOLESOME HOUR
The Wholesome Hour is a brand new, wild and raucous sketch comedy show for kids aged 5-10. What happens when a bunch of award winning physical comedians get locked down in their costume-filled sharehouse together? Songs, puppetry, mischief and fart jokes of course! Jubilation and utter mayhem. Produced by award winning queer physical comedy ensemble PO PO MO CO. - Wednesday 19th August – COME TO WHERE I AM – AUSTRALIA
Critical Stages Touring, in partnership with the UK’s Paines Plough, have engaged 16 Australian writers to craft new short plays about their home towns and the places that shaped them. Each story will be filmed by the artist and the first volume of four stories premieres on this day!
EDUCATION / ACTIVITIES
- WOW Festival At Home
Casula Powerhouse’s popular Way Out West Festival moves online with a collection of activities, videos, stories, tours, and arts links that will keep kids busy and creative.
www.casulapowerhouse.com.au - THE POP PROJECT – LA MAMA
The Pop Project is a weekly workshop series run over six weeks facilitated by Cassandra Fumi. You’ll develop and complete a collective story and learn the technical side of stop-motion animation. This can be paper, clay, object, or body animation, and then compose an original score. Perfect for kids 8+.
www.lamama.com.au - Jump Start Youth Theatre
Some great online workshops planned for the school holidays, suitable for students in years 5-12 (ages 10-18). This dynamic young company is helmed by award-winning actor Emma Wright and New Ghosts Theatre Artistic Director Lucy Clements.
www.jumpstartyouththeatre.com - Curious Legends Workshops
Newcastle’s Curious Legends have a series of free, previously live-streamed, workshops for kids available on their site. Workshops explore performance, puppetry, clowning, making, dance, storytelling, and much else besides! Supported by Create NSW, Orica, and Newcastle Region Library. www.curiouslegends.com.au/out-of-the-box - Poetry In Action – this NFP touring company has brought their popular education program online to stream into homes and classrooms. There are 4 performances in line with curriculum for Years 5-12. Visit www.poetryinaction.com.au for more info.
- Storyville Live – Storyville’s in-school program sends performers to read much-loved storybooks to children. For the next couple of weeks they’ll be trialling live storytime via Facebook, and it’s well worth it for those with little ones at home. 11am and 3pm AEST daily – free www.facebook.com/theStoryville/
- Slingsby by Request – South Australian theatre company Slingsby has created an online resource of live performances in line with curriculum. Teachers and home-teachers should check out this great resource. www.slingsby.net.au/slingsby-by-request/
- Audioplay – This is unlike any other activity out there at the moment. An immersive play experience for kids (ages 6-12) where they download an audio story in which they play one of the characters using ordinary household items for props. Creative play just got so much better! www.audioplay.me
- Shake & Stir Interact
Since 2006, shake & stir drama classes have been a regular extra-curricular activity adored by tens of thousands of students, and now their latest program has moved online. Your child will engage with a carefully-planned, professionally-produced and, most importantly, super-fun 30 minutes of creative play, at home with drama activities and performance-based games that will get them acting and keep them active. www.shakeandstirinteract.com.au - ATYP Online
Australian Theatre for Young People have brought made their drama programs virtual just in time for term 2. A selection of their regular programs will be facilitated live each week via Zoom and Google Classroom. Participants will work with a skilled ATYP tutor and classmates in an interactive online space from the safety of their homes. It’s just one of several programs teachers and home teachers should discover. www.atyp.com.au - ATYP Home Theatre Plays – With help from the ATYP Foundation, Australian Theatre for Young People have commissioned 10 brilliant Australian playwrights to each write a 5-minute script that you can download and perform with your family and friends (when visitors are allowed at your place or try it with your friends over Zoom!). Each script features 2-6 characters, with a mix of some young people and some adults. All the details at www.atyp.com.au
- Patch Theatre
Patch Theatre has been making shows for 4–8 year old children and their families from our home in South Australia since 1972. In nearly 48 years, Patch has made 110 much loved theatre works and performed to over 1.8 million children around the world. They’re posting regular updates to arts activities for little ones online, and via Facebook and Instagram. www.patchtheatre.org.au/activities - Polyglot Theatre
Children’s theatre makers Polyglot have developed a series of new arts activities that will keep young ones busy and thinking during creative play. There’s heaps of fun stuff to explore and if you don’t have kids we highly recommend doing them anyway because a) they’re fun and b) home-grown hilarity is needed right now. www.polyglot.org.au/polyglot-at-home/ - Riverside Theatres
Parramatta’s Riverside Theatres has always had a fantastic education team and resources to match – and now a directory of teacher resources from past performances is available on their website. There’s also a super-handy (and HUGE) listing of other online resources that teachers and parents should not miss. www.riversideparramatta.com.au