Doctor Who Festival Sydney November 2015

The official Doctor Who Festival is coming to Australia for the first time, and will provide fans of all ages with exclusive access into the magic and the secrets behind your favourite program.

The Festival will be held on the 21st & 22nd November 2015 at the Royal Hall of Industries and Hordern Pavilion, the Doctor Who Festival promises fans a unique insight into the imagination and skills put into bringing an episode of Doctor Who to you. This includes exclusive access to the people that make it happen, giving you the chance to get inside the adventure.

What is the difference between the Cybermen and Dalek tickets?

The difference is simply the times at which you will go into the theatre for the three theatre sessions included in your ticket. This allows everyone the opportunity to see the cast and to make the most of their visit.

Event Dates:

Saturday:

• Cybermen
• Darlek

Sunday:

• Cybermen
• Darlek

MEET THE CAST*

Your chance to attend a Q&A session which will get you closer than ever before to Twelfth Doctor, Peter Capaldi, with more cast yet to be announced.



MEET THE WRITERS*

Hear from the experts who create the storylines of your favourite programme, including lead writer and executive producer, Steven Moffat and find out how the Doctor’s many adventures are developed from script to screen.



MEET THE MONSTERS*

Experience the work that goes into creating iconic Doctor Who monsters right in front of your eyes, with live monster make-up demonstrations and interactive monster workshops.



MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED

As we get closer to November, more cast and activities will be revealed. Register here to sign up to the newsletter for more information, and like the official Doctor Who Facebook page to keep up to date with the latest announcements.

Get Tickets at Ticketek 

Matilda the Musical Lyric Theatre Sydney - Pre Sale Tickets Available Now

Matilda The Musical is the multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl. With book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda The Musical is the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.

Winner of 50 major international awards, including 12 for Best Musical, Matilda continues to delight audiences of all ages both in London and on Broadway before arriving at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from July 2015.

“ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, A SHOW COMES OUT BLAZING AND RESTORES YOUR FAITH IN BROADWAY. MATILDA THE MUSICAL IS THAT SHOW.” - New York Post

Matilda Cast Announced: 

Stephen Anderson – Sergei / Ensemble
Reece Budin – Doctor / Ensemble
Rachel Cole – Ensemble
Andrew Cook – Ensemble
Danielle Cook – Dance Captain / Swing
Eli Cooper – Ensemble
Cristina D’Agostino – Acrobat / Ensemble
Glenn Hill – Escapologist / Ensemble
Travis Khan – Rudolpho / Ensemble
Nadia Komazec – Ensemble
Zoe Komazec – Assistant Dance Captain / Swing
Leah Lim – Swing
Mitchell Mahony – Swing
Cle Morgan – Mrs Phelps / Ensemble
Daniel Raso – Michael Wormwood / Ensemble
Clay Roberts – Swing - See more at: http://au.matildathemusical.com/cast-creative/cast-team/?j=623302&l=86989_HTML&u=26979563&mid=1359293&jb=0#sthash.2Fbtetia.dpuf

Stephen Anderson – Sergei / Ensemble
Reece Budin – Doctor / Ensemble
Rachel Cole – Ensemble
Andrew Cook – Ensemble
Danielle Cook – Dance Captain / Swing
Eli Cooper – Ensemble
Cristina D’Agostino – Acrobat / Ensemble
Glenn Hill – Escapologist / Ensemble
Travis Khan – Rudolpho / Ensemble
Nadia Komazec – Ensemble
Zoe Komazec – Assistant Dance Captain / Swing
Leah Lim – Swing
Mitchell Mahony – Swing
Cle Morgan – Mrs Phelps / Ensemble
Daniel Raso – Michael Wormwood / Ensemble
Clay Roberts – Swing

See full cast information

Stephen Anderson – Sergei / Ensemble
Reece Budin – Doctor / Ensemble
Rachel Cole – Ensemble
Andrew Cook – Ensemble
Danielle Cook – Dance Captain / Swing
Eli Cooper – Ensemble
Cristina D’Agostino – Acrobat / Ensemble
Glenn Hill – Escapologist / Ensemble
Travis Khan – Rudolpho / Ensemble
Nadia Komazec – Ensemble
Zoe Komazec – Assistant Dance Captain / Swing
Leah Lim – Swing
Mitchell Mahony – Swing
Cle Morgan – Mrs Phelps / Ensemble
Daniel Raso – Michael Wormwood / Ensemble
Clay Roberts – Swing - See more at: http://au.matildathemusical.com/cast-creative/cast-team/?j=623302&l=86989_HTML&u=26979563&mid=1359293&jb=0#sthash.2Fbtetia.dpuf

Stephen Anderson – Sergei / Ensemble
Reece Budin – Doctor / Ensemble
Rachel Cole – Ensemble
Andrew Cook – Ensemble
Danielle Cook – Dance Captain / Swing
Eli Cooper – Ensemble
Cristina D’Agostino – Acrobat / Ensemble
Glenn Hill – Escapologist / Ensemble
Travis Khan – Rudolpho / Ensemble
Nadia Komazec – Ensemble
Zoe Komazec – Assistant Dance Captain / Swing
Leah Lim – Swing
Mitchell Mahony – Swing
Cle Morgan – Mrs Phelps / Ensemble
Daniel Raso – Michael Wormwood / Ensemble
Clay Roberts – Swing - See more at: http://au.matildathemusical.com/cast-creative/cast-team/?j=623302&l=86989_HTML&u=26979563&mid=1359293&jb=0#sthash.2Fbtetia.dpuf

View more information about Matilda at Lyric Theatre Sydney

Club Lyric's Matilda Presale!

As a Club Lyric member, you can access tickets to performances from Wednesday 28 October - Sunday 1 November before they go on sale to the general public! Book now using codeword MINCHIN to access this presale via the link below. 

GET TICKETS

Matilda The Musical | Lyric Theatre

“ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, A SHOW COMES OUT BLAZING AND RESTORES YOUR FAITH IN BROADWAY. MATILDA THE MUSICAL IS THAT SHOW.” - New York Post

Matilda The Musical is the multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl. With book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda The Musical is the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.
 
Winner of 50 major international awards, including 12 for Best Musical, Matilda continues to delight audiences of all ages both in London and on Broadway before arriving at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from July 2015.

‘EASILY THE STANDOUT MUSICAL OF THE DECADE’ - Sunday Times, (UK)

Get Tickets for Matilda at Ticketek

Find Great Value Sydney Hotel and Apartment Accommodation with Metro Hotels

Vivid Sydney - Details and Transport Information

Friday 23 May to Monday 09 June 2014

• Sydney CBD
• North Sydney
• Circular Quay & The Rocks
• Darling Harbour
• Carriageworks, Redfern

Installations open (times may vary): 18:00
Installations close (times may vary): 24:00

Transport details

Event Website: Vivid Sydney

Use the Trip planner to plan your trip with up-to-date train, bus, ferry and light rail information. You can also use one of the many real-time apps to track your service.

Special information

• Vivid Sydney is a free, unticketed 18-day festival of light, music and ideas.
• Large crowds are expected in the city throughout the event, especially on Friday and Saturday nights and over the June long weekend.
• Significant road closures and clearways will be in place every weeknight from 19:00 and on weekends (including the Monday 9 June public holiday) from 17:00 to manage congestion and keep pedestrians safe.
• Traffic will be heavy, parking will be limited and you won’t be able to see most Vivid Sydney events from a vehicle.
• There are many events and installations across the city, so you don’t need to see it all in one go. Plan your Vivid Sydney experience over a couple of nights, leave the car at home and take advantage of extra public transport services.

Train

• All Vivid Sydney precincts are within walking distance of train stations.
• The best stations for accessing Vivid Sydney events are Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, Martin Place, Circular Quay, St James, Museum, North Sydney, Milsons Point and Redfern.
• Extra trains are running into the city and around the City Circle on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights to help get you around the Vivid Sydney precincts.
• Circular Quay will be extremely popular during the event so on Saturday nights and the long weekend Sunday, trains will not pick up passengers at Circular Quay Station between 18:00 and 22:00.
  • If you are travelling to Circular Quay on these days, please alight at Wynyard or St James.
• For train information, visit Sydney Trains timetables.

Trackwork

• Trackwork is taking place during Vivid Sydney and may affect how you travel. For the latest information, check trackwork service updates or use the Trip planner.

Bus

• Plenty of extra buses are running in and out of the city during Vivid Sydney.
• Some buses will be diverted and have changed stops due to road closures. Check signage on the bus route and use the Trip planner before you travel.
• Daily changes: Bus services to the Rocks and Millers Point will be diverted when road closures are in place.
• Fridays:
  • From 19:00, buses that normally start at Circular Quay will begin from temporary terminals on George Street at Wynyard Station or Martin Place near Elizabeth Street and Castlereagh Street.
• Saturdays, Sundays and long weekend Monday:
  • From 17:00, buses to and from the CBD will be moved from Circular Quay to temporary terminals at:
    • Elizabeth Street near Martin Place
    • Castlereagh Street near Martin Place
    • Castlereagh Street near Market Street
    • Clarence Street near Margaret Street
    • York Street, Queen Victoria Building

Sydney Ferries

• Ferries will be in high demand during Vivid Sydney, especially on the weekends and public holiday.
• Services will reach capacity and there will be long queues, so consider taking one of the frequent trains or buses instead.
• Due to the high demand, customers will be required to exit the ferry once they reach their destination. You will not be able to stay on the ferry and take the return trip. This is to make sure that everyone gets the chance to access ferry services.
• There are no free ferry services during Vivid Sydney.

Road

• There will be significant road closures and special event clearways in place in the Sydney CBD, The Rocks and Walsh Bay throughout the 18 days of the event.
• Roads will be closed from 19:00 on weekdays and 17:00 on weekends and the June public holiday.
  • On Saturdays and Sundays, George Street will be fully closed from the Rocks to Hunter Street, and closed to northbound traffic from Hunter Street to Market Street.
• Special event clearways will also be in place across the Sydney CBD between 15:00 and midnight depending on the day, so check signage carefully before parking.
  • Special event clearways are no parking zones, even for residents and businesses with parking permits and Mobility Scheme permits.
  • Vehicles left in special event clearways will be towed and a fee applies.
• For an interactive map showing road closure dates, times and locations, visit Vivid Sydney.
• For a list of all road closures and clearways as well as information on general traffic conditions visit Live Traffic NSW.
• You can also download the free iPhone, iPad or Android app or call the Traffic Information Line on 132 701.

Taxi

• Demand for taxis will be high and queue times may be lengthy, so please be patient and considerate of others.
• Due to road closures, there will be some changes to taxi rank locations:
  • The taxi rank at the Four Season Hotel on George Street will be moved to Bridge Street (southern side) between Pitt Street and George Street on Fridays, Sundays and the long weekend Monday.
    • On Saturdays and the long weekend Sunday it will move to Harrington Street (eastern side) between Essex Street and Grosvenor Street.
  • The taxi rank on Alfred Street (northern side) at Circular Quay will move to Pitt Street (western side) between Reiby Place and Dalley Street on Fridays, Sundays and the long weekend Monday.
    • On Saturdays and the long weekend Sunday it will move to Pitt Street (western side) between Bridge Street and Curtin Place.
  • The Darling Harbour taxi rank on Darling Drive behind Harbourside Shopping Centre will operate as normal.
• There will be managed taxi access to Sydney Opera House and Walsh Bay for show ticket-holders.
• For details of taxi networks servicing the Sydney area, visit NSW Taxi Council.

Accessibility

Parking

• Patrons with accessibility needs are encouraged to visit Vivid Sydney on weeknights, when crowds are expected to be smaller.
• Limited accessible parking will be available in Walsh Bay, on Hickson Road north of Pottinger Street on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Accessible set-down and pick-up points will be available at:
  • Walsh Bay on Hickson Road north of Towns Place
  • Circular Quay on Macquarie Street north of Albert Street.
• Vehicles will not be permitted to park in these locations and wait for patrons to return.
• A valid Australian Disability Parking Permit must be displayed in the windscreen to gain access to accessible parking and accessible set-down and pick-up points.

Public transport

• Accessible transport options can be found on the Trip planner by checking 'Mobility options'. Only trip plans with accessible train platforms, ferry wharves and buses will be presented. Seeaccessible travel in NSW.

Trains

• Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, Martin Place, Circular Quay, St James, Museum, North Sydney and Milsons Point stations are all wheelchair accessible.
• Redfern Station is not wheelchair accessible.
• See accessible trains and stations.

Buses

• Nearly all of Sydney Buses’ services are wheelchair accessible. Features of wheelchair accessible buses include wider doors and aisles, and space for two mobility aids such as wheelchairs, some ride-on scooters and prams or strollers. See travel on accessible buses.

Sydney Ferries

• The entire Sydney Ferries fleet is wheelchair accessible via wheelchair accessible ferry wharves (pending tidal and safety conditions). See accessible ferries and wharves.

View Transport NSW official site

Agatha Christie's A Murder Is Announced

The producers of last year’s acclaimed tour of The Mousetrap have assembled another stellar all Australian cast to stage one of Agatha Christie's most loved plays, A Murder is Announced.  Featuring Christie’s legendary lady sleuth, Miss Marple, A Murder is Announced establishes firmly Christie’s claim to the throne of detection. The plot is as ingenious as ever, the writing skillful, the dialogue both wise and witty; suspense builds from the very start and is maintained ever so brilliantly until the final revelation.

Judy Farr will play Christie’s much-loved heroine, Miss Marple. 

Joining Judi Farr (in alphabetical order) will be James Beck (City Homicide, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Neighbours) as Edmund Swettenham, as Mrs Swettenham, Carmen Duncan (After The Fall, Another World, Winners and Losers), Robert Grubb (Yes, Prime Minister, MAMMA MIA!, We Will Rock You, The Flying Doctors) as Inspector Craddock, Victoria Haralabidou (Stuff Happens, Thirst, Brides) as Mitzi andJamie Kristian (Underbelly: Razor, The Bill, The Crucible) as Sergeant Mellors/Rudi Scherz. The lady of Little Paddocks, matriarch, Letitia Blacklock will be played by Debra Lawrance (Home and Away, Evil Angels, The Memory of Water) with Nathaniel Middleton (Bell Shakespeare) as Patrick Simmons, Libby Munro (Venus in Fur, The Bind, All Saints) as Phillipa Haymes, Elizabeth Nabben (Winners and Losers) as Julia Simmons. 

Capping off a stellar cast is Deidre Rubenstein (Palace of Dreams, Night Letters, Josh Jarman, Siam Sunset) as Letita’s old friend Dora “Bunny” Bunner.

A Murder is Announced is full of twists, turns, mystery and intrigue that will have you guessing till the very end. If you enjoyed the Mousetrap, you wont want to miss Miss Marple as she works tirelessly to solve whodunit in this Christie masterpiece, A Murder is Announced. Coming to the Comedy Theatre, from October 30 for strictly 5 weeks.

SYNOPSIS

In an English village, you turn over a stone and have no idea what will crawl out. The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn, including Miss Marple, are agog with curiosity over an advertisement in the local gazette which reads: ‘A murder is announced and will take place on Friday October 13th, at Little Paddocks at 6.30p.m.’ A childish practical joke or a hoax? Unable to resist the mysterious invitation, a crowd begins to gather at Little Paddocks home when, at the appointed time, the lights go out and a gun is fired...

WHERE: Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay

Purchase Tickets at Ticketmaster

Alan Tam - Live at the Sydney Entertainment Centre

Canto English pop singer and actor, Alan Tam Wing-Lun, is one of Hong Kong’s most celebrated living legends.

Throughout the 1980’s he played a major role in developing the Canto pop scene due to his romantic ballads and modern arrangements.   Commencing his singing career in the local HK entertainment industry with the legendary 'Wynners' alongside Kenny Bee, the band gained so much popularity that they had their own TV show “Wynners’ Special”.  

Alan later branched out making a name for himself as a solo singer and actor.   

Tam is known as one of all-time greats of Cantonese pop music, also earning the respectable nickname of Lucky Lun / Principal Tam due to the years he mentored other bright and young musical artists.   

He dominated the scene during the eighties with back to back hits often earning and taking out the title of 'Top Ten Songs of the Year’ and winning numerous Awards such as 'Most Popular Male Singer'.  By 1995 he had already sold more than 20 million albums.  By 2005 he had launched more than 104 albums and over 800 songs.  He has taken part in 264 concerts of which 189 were individual concerts.   He has gone on to star in more than 60 movies and produce 3 films.

Today he is regularly seen across the media in Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan and various parts of East Asia participating in all types of entertainment related events and charity activities.

Alan Tam and his band are set to put on a remarkable concert tailored especially for the Sydney audience.   Get ready for Tam to deliver an unforgettable night of chart topping hits and perfect renditions of your all-time favourite songs.   It will definitely be a once in a lifetime concert you do not want to miss - get your tickets now before they sell out.

Friday 24th May 2013 - Starts at 8:15 PM

View more and Book tickets

Sydney and Melbourne Compete Over Musical Theatre Tourism Revenue

 
Musical theatre is big business in Australia. Significant revenue from international shows has created fierce competition between the New South Wales and Victoria state governments to host the premieres.

Musical theatre is big business in Australia, with international shows a significant source of revenue for both Melbourne and Sydney. Not surprisingly fierce competition has developed between the New South Wales and Victoria state governments to host the premieres.

Theatre Producer Rodney Rigby says regional and interstate tourism to shows accounts for up to 40 percent of ticket sales to some shows such as Jersey Boys, which opened in Melbourne and is opening soon in Perth.

Rigby is premiering an Australian production of the broadway show The Addams Family in Sydney this week: “It's a great deal to have it here in Australia and opening here in Sydney. The timing when shows open is so complicated. It's got to do with the availability of theatres, creative teams."

“Sydney is the home, we are number one for first run musicals in Australia,” says Sandra Chipchase, CEO of Destination NSW, the State government bidy set up to attract major events. "Destination NSW has a very unique strategy to the way we package musicals."

Victoria is downplaying the rivalry.

"For us, it's getting the biggest and the best of the available musical productions that are coming to Australia," says Brendan McClements, CEO of Victoria Major Events Company. "To be perfectly frank, we don't spend a lot of time thinking about Sydney, for us it's really how do we work best with the producers in the West End or on Broadway."

And in the musical tales of two cities, there are plenty.

Melbourne recently host the Australian premiere of the West End's War Horse, heading to Sydney this week, and it will stage the global premiere of King Kong in May; while Sydney recently premiered Legally Blonde the musical and has secured the world premiere of Baz Lurhman's Strictly Ballroom, to open in 2014 or 2015.

Next week, the musical Grease will reveal where it will launch in Australia.

Hosting an internationally renowned musical generates around $3 million a month for the State. The two biggest states, almost head to head in revenue, are NSW with $102 million in ticket sales and Victoria at $91 million. That's in a country that brings in $250 million every year in musical theatre.

Rick Elice, writer of The Addams Family Broadway show, in Australia for the premiere, says "Competition always brings out the best work I think, as long as it's a healthy competition between Melbourne and Sydney. The real winner is the vast numbers of people who have the opportunity to come and see the theatre."

Chitty Chitty Goes Off With a Bang Bang

THERE are live dogs, lots of children and a strong cast but the star of the musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the amazing car of the title. 
 
It really is a fantasmagorical machine that draws gasps of delight when it flies, in a genuinely magical moment.

Based on the 1968 film, the stage adaptation makes some judicious changes bringing in the Vulgarians, who are intent on stealing the car, right from the start - and adding jokes for the adults.
As the crackpot inventor Caractacus Potts, David Hobson reins in the eccentricity, giving a gently endearing performance.

Rachael Beck is lovely as Truly Scrumptious, Alan Brough and Jennifer Vuletic are thoroughly entertaining as the tantrum-throwing, toy-loving Baron Bomburst and his Baroness, while George Kapiniaris and Todd Goddard are a hoot as the bumbling Vulgarian spies.

Roger Hodgman directs, using Anthony Ward's clever, eye-catching design, with its set inspired by the idea of invention and machinery.

Energy-wise, the production could go up a gear at times and Dana Jolly's choreography lacks a little oomph but it's a fun show that clearly charmed the children around me and had the audience clapping along with the title song.

Tina Arena and the Sydney Symphony

Pop sensation and legendary songstress, Tina Arena, makes a triumphant return to Australia in 2012 for a series of stellar live performances across the country, including with the renowned Sydney Symphony.

Her loyal Australian audience will be treated to magnificent arrangements of her repertoire - as broad and diverse as her amazing career - specifically written for a Symphony Orchestra.

'This was the best pop-meets-classical show I have ever seen...joined by a small rock band, the Orchestra was simply breathtaking...this was a musical partnership which moved together seamlessly and with a generosity and such openness that almost every instrument became thrillingly distinct.' - The West Australian

Music Lovers should not miss this opportunity to see one of Australia's brightest stars performing favourites including Chains, Call Me, Don't Cry For Me Argentina and I Want to Know what Love is with the acclaimed Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

'The concert reminded you what truly great songs and joyful musical partnerships are all about' - The West Australian 

Looking for Sydney Group Accommodation for this event?

Contact Richard Amour (Business Development Manager) at  Metro Hotels

Ph: +61 2 9288 0108

Email: ramour@metrohg.com

Coming Soon: Love Never Dies, Capitol Theatre Sydney

From the composer of some of the greatest musicals of all time, Andrew Lloyd Webber's breathtaking new musical - Love Never Dies. This production will play for a strictly limited 20 week season at the Capitol Theatre from next January.

Love Never Dies continues the story of The Phantom of the Opera and features one of Lloyd Webber's finest musical scores performed by a 21 piece orchestra. The production also features a stunning cast of 36, including Ben Lewis, Anna O'Byrne and Sharon Millerchip, as well as over 300 incredible costumes and a magnificent set which is illuminated by over 5000 dazzling lights.

Set in New York's Coney Island 10 years after the Phantom's disappearance from the Paris Opera House, the Phantom still yearns for his love Christine. He engineers a plan that lures her to Coney Island, along with her husband Raoul and their young son Gustave...not knowing what's in store for them.

Running Time is approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes

Visit the official Love Never Dies website here

Hairspray - The Broadway Musical

WELCOME TO THE 60's and the musical with a heart as big as beehive!

Meet Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair who has only one passion: to DANCE!

She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, "The Corny Collins Show" and, overnight is transformed from outsider to teen celebrity. But can a plus-size trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the program's reigning princess and win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin without denting her 'do? Only in HAIRSPRAY!



This all-Australian production of the multi-award winning Broadway musical is conceived and directed by show business legend David Atkins OAM and uses breath-taking, cutting-edge technology to transport audiences to a visually astonishing world where anything seems possible. With electric choreography by Jason Coleman, HAIRSPRAY is the theatrical experience of 2011 that will have you up on your feet dancing and stay with you long after you leave the theatre.

WHERE:
Lyric Theatre
80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont, Sydney, NSW, 2009

WHEN:http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Daily from 11 Jun 2011 until 21 Aug 2011

PRICE:
A Reserve Seating from - $100.00

B Reserve Seating from - $60.00

Premium Reserve Seating from - $120.00

Find Nearby Hotel Accommodation with Metro Hotels