This Month
Art Gallery of NSW gives its ‘kiss of death’ award
The Packing Room Prize has been awarded ahead of next week’s Archibald, and there is speculation they could have the same winner for the first time.
April
Cops come knocking after NIDA graduates pull no punches as impresarios
Rather than wait for the phone to ring, four young Sydney actors and their teacher formed their own production company to make theatre on their terms.
Robyn Nevin wrote off Agatha Christie. Now she’s directing her plays
The theatre doyenne once dismissed the Miss Marple creator as “just a popular playwright” – until producer John Frost convinced her to actually read her work.
From Les Mis to an absurdist play: the shows you must see in May
Opera Australia is in a church and overlooked female modernists are on a top gallery’s wall. There is plenty around the country to enjoy.
Dorian Gray is a homegrown Broadway smash. Local investors missed out
The Sarah Snook one-hander is breaking box office records with tickets at $US497 a pop in New York. But just four of the 53 investors in the show are Australian.
Billionaire Gretel Packer has plans for this historic Kings Cross site
She paid $26 million for the art deco Metro-Minerva Theatre last year, but had been schtum on plans for the beloved venue. Until now.
Live Nation boss reveals ‘unspoken secret’ of ticket prices
Veteran promoter Michael Coppel is now the biggest Australian cog in a multinational music machine. He says local fans would be bereft without it.
Singing in English a ‘blessing and curse’ for Oz music: Grammy boss
The president of the Recording Academy says singing in English can be a disadvantage outside America – but Australia’s music industry can conquer it.
Spotify denies it’s directing users away from Aussie music
The streaming giant has put a new hub for local music on its Australian homepage, as it claims its algorithm is not to blame for the lack of local hits on the charts.
Biggest gift completes ‘unfinished business’ at National Gallery
The Canberra institution finally has a work by one of the 20th century’s most influential painters, Edvard Munch of The Scream fame, thanks to philanthropist Geoff Ainsworth.
Senior staff depart Art Gallery of NSW amid tension at the top
The chief operating officer and chief of staff have both left the institution following a change of directors.
NGV’s ‘Kusama’ to become biggest-selling art show
The 96-year-old Japanese woman, whom few Australians had heard of four months ago, is set to be responsible for the country’s most popular ticketed art exhibition ever.
March
An aged care musical? Straight to the pool room, said Tom Gleisner
The creator behind The Castle and Utopia spent many hours visiting nursing homes, and emerged not depressed, but inspired to write songs.
From Annie to Zimmer: the must-see shows to catch in April
Take a break from the hard-knock life with our monthly selection of the best live entertainment around the country.
‘Shouted into submission’: Monash Uni stops Sabsabi show
The cancelled artist’s gallerist has blasted Creative Australia for not having his client’s back.
How this top barrister became a ‘Medici’ of classical music
Senior counsel Richard Cobden has now funded three works for Sydney’s Omega Ensemble. He wants you to know that commissioning is not as hard as you might think.
Art Gallery Of NSW gets first female director after 154 years
Maud Page, the long-time deputy of outgoing director Michael Brand, has been selected to step up at the institution, which gets 2 million visitors annually.
‘No room for nuance’: Melbourne Writers Festival avoids Gaza
After the war in the Middle East tore apart the organisation last year, new artistic director Veronica Sullivan’s 2025 program has adopted a small target strategy.
How to direct a musical on a ‘football field’
There’s a lot riding on Opera Australia’s annual outdoor production but Shaun Rennie is more worried about actors getting to their marks, and nothing getting blown into Sydney Harbour.
Australian Ballet appointments a show of faith
The artistic director’s contract extension comes as the major performing arts company also gets a new executive director, after being without one for almost a year.