Orange Civic Theatre 2024 Program

ORANGE CIVIC THEATRE

2024 PROGRAM

ORANGE CIVIC THEATRE 02 6393 8111 www.orange.nsw.gov.au/theatre facebook.com/orangecivictheatre theatre@orange.nsw.gov.au

CONTENTS Coal Miner’s Daughter

Amber Joy Poulton

4

Ascent

Sydney Dance Company

6

Sophie Hutchings

Incy Wincy Promotions (Orange)

8

Lost in Shanghai

Contemporary Asian Australian Performance

10

Festival Gala

Orange Chamber Music Festival

12

THE WET

Circa Cairns

14

Dog Man: The Musical

CDP with TheaterWorksUSA

16

You Are A Doughnut

That Science Gang

18

Tempo

Flying Fruit Fly Circus

20

The Wharf Revue: Pride in Prejudice

Soft Tread

22

The Addams Family

Orange Theatre Company

24

A MidSummer Night’s Dream

Bell Shakespeare

26

Fourteen by Shannon Molloy

Shake & Stir Theatre Co

28

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

30

AGATHA CHRISTIE’S THE MOUSETRAP

John Frost for Crossroads Live and Shake & Stir Theatre Co

32

Disney’s Finding Nemo Junior

Orange Theatre Company

34

The Peasant Prince

Monkey Baa Theatre Company

36

Mozart’s Horn

Australian Haydn Ensemble

38

Guards at the Taj

Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta

40

Six String Blues

Matt Arthur & The Lazybones

42

Into The Woods

Orange Theatre Company

44

Beetle

Legs On The Wall

46

Legends, Stories, and Enigmas

Orange Symphony Orchestra

48

Sydney Comedy Festival

Century Entertainment

50

The Road to Laurel Canyon

Wild Things Run

52

Membership information

54

Amber Joy Poulton presents

COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER

The Story Of Loretta Lynn & Friends with songs by Loretta, Patsy Cline, Conway Twitty, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson & more

Saturday

5

FEBRUARY 10 at 7.30pm

150 minutes including interval

MEMBER $62.00 ADULT $70.00 CONCESSION $66.00 JUNIOR $30.00

Multi-awarded, look-alike songstress, Amber Joy Poulton, brings Coal Miner’s Daughter - the mega-hits and stories of inspirational pioneer and superstar LORETTA LYNN, to Australia following a sold-out national tour run in 2017 and again in 2022.

Coal Miner’s Daughter includes ‘friends’ Lizzie Moore as Patsy Cline and Denis Surmon as Conway Twitty accompanied by The Holy Men, in this sensational musical tribute to three legends of country music.

Weaving anecdotes and comedy through a traditional and contemporary catalogue of hits, including "Coal Miner’s Daughter", "Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ With Lovin’ On Your Mind", "I Fall To Pieces", "You Ain’t Woman Enough To Take My Man", "Crazy", "Silver Threads & Golden Needles", "Walkin’ After Midnight", "You’re Lookin’ At Country", "One’s On The Way", "Stand By Your Man", "After The Fire Is Gone" and more. This is a show not to be missed and with the recent passing of the great Loretta Lynn, there is no better time to celebrate her music.

Sydney Dance Company presents

ASCENT

An epic triple bill by renowned choreographers

Wednesday

7

FEBRUARY 21 at 7.30pm

I Am-ness

by Rafael Bonachela The Shell, A Ghost, The Host & The Lyrebird

by Marina Mascarell Forever & Ever

by Antony Hamilton

105 minutes including interval

MEMBER $40.00 ADULT $46.00 CONCESSION $44.00 JUNIOR $28.00

Ascent is an inspired triple bill featuring Antony Hamilton’s Helpmann Award-winning Forever & Ever and two new works – I Am-ness by Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela and The Shell, A Ghost, The Host & The Lyrebird by renowned international choreographer Marina Mascarell. Brimming with physicality, Ascent tempers contemporary classical with futuristic experimentation. Full of electric movement and emotional force, this program is an arresting portrait of contemporary dance and its potential to move, excite and activate audiences.

Rafael Bonachela’s I Am-ness calls for the convergence of the moving body and creative mind, as four dancers canvass the nature of existence with euphoric tenderness.

Marina Mascarell’s The Shell, A Ghost, The Host & The Lyrebird takes the audience on a journey with bodies through the unknown, exploring a constantly transforming space as mutant creatures in an oneiric valley. To conclude the triple bill, Forever & Ever fuses an impressive mix of dance, techno, high fashion and vivid lighting to hypnotic effect.

“Bold, emotive and visceral, Ascent is a must-see for lovers of dance.” – Arts Hub

Incy Wincy Promotions Orange presents

SOPHIE HUTCHINGS

A World Outside

Saturday

9

FEBRUARY 24 at 7.30pm

Sophie Hutchings Composition, Piano Visuals editing Tom Hetherington Producer / promoter Incy Wincy Promotions

90 minutes including interval

MEMBER $60.00 ADULT $70.00 CONCESSION $60.00 JUNIOR $60.00

Experience the stunning and emotive sounds of the award winning Australian pianist and composer Sophie Hutchings.

A unique blend of cinematic soundscapes, weaving together strings, electronics, vocals, and her signature intimate solo piano sound.

A musical travelogue inspired by her transformative road trip through Australia’s mighty Northern Territory, Hutchings new album A World Outside captures the essence of the vast and mystical landscapes with its spacious and hypnotic beauty.

Performing a very limited number of shows in Australia before embarking on her European tour, Hutchings' performance will take you on a powerful journey through music set to a backdrop of mesmerising visuals.

"Stirring, vigorous, grandly melodic" - Mojo "Calm in a maddening world" - Clash Magazine "Her rippling piano has an intimate, contemplative quality… a genuine sense of beauty" - The Guardian

A Contemporary Asian Australian Performance production

LOST IN SHANGHAI

Written by Jane Hutcheon Co-Directed by William Yang and Tasnim Hossain

Photo Stephen Hutcheon

Thursday

11

FEBRUARY 29 at 8pm

Writer/Performer Jane Hutcheon Co-Director William Yang Co-Director/Dramaturg Tasnim Hossain Composer/Musician Terumi Narushima Lighting Designer Susan Grey Gardner

75 minutes no interval

MEMBER $45.00 ADULT $52.00 CONCESSION $48.00 JUNIOR $30.00

Performance contains images of people who have died

Throughout her adventurous journalism career, one story has intrigued Jane Hutcheon more than any other; the story of her mother Beatrice’s turbulent childhood in pre-Communist Shanghai.

It’s the tale of an ordinary Eurasian family in extraordinary times, set against a backdrop of fading colonial opulence and looming war.

After visiting Shanghai in 2018, Jane began to search for the truth of her mother’s difficult beginnings. Lost in Shanghai is her family’s story of survival. Beatrice becomes a journalist at the South China Morning Post in the 1950s, perhaps setting a precedent for her daughter. Using projected images from the family archive curated by renowned photographer William Yang and music composed and performed by Dr Terumi Narushima, Jane narrates the moving story of Lost in Shanghai in her own words.

Co-Directed by William Yang and Tasnim Hossain, Lost in Shanghai adds to the rich collection of theatrical storytelling works from Contemporary Asian Australian Performance (CAAP), such as Double Delicious, The Backstories, In Between Two, Who Speaks for Me and Stories Then and Now.

Orange Chamber Music Festival presents

FESTIVAL GALA

A showcase of music, sound and light

Saturday

13

MARCH 9 at 8pm

Creative Director Carmen Nieves Performers Artists and Ensembles of the Orange Chamber Music Festival 2024

90 minutes no interval

MEMBER $58.00 ADULT $65.00 CONCESSION $60.00 JUNIOR $20.00 FAMILY $160.00

Curated by the Festival Director, the Gala features special appearances by solo artists and ensembles from the Orange Chamber Music Festival in an exquisite program of contemporary works that will ignite the senses.

With the soul-stirring notes of Australian composers mingling with the evocative sounds of global maestros, the Festival Gala showcases the universal language of music in a display of sound, colour and dance. A unique opportunity to witness the seamless interplay of cultures and genres, forging connections that transcend borders.

The Orange Chamber Music Festival is an annual event that celebrates the artistry of chamber music in the picturesque settings of the Orange Region from March 7-10.

Circa Cairns presents

THE WET

Created by Harley Mann and the Circa Cairns Ensemble

Friday

15

MARCH 15 at 7.30pm

Director Harley Mann

You don’t know Far North Queensland if you haven’t experienced THE WET.

Lighting Design Johlian Gliindon

From the moment the green ant’s journey to higher ground til the final breaking of the storm, THE WET connects you to place and immerses you in the hot damp.

Costume Design Helen Lavis 60 minutes no interval

MEMBER $40.00 ADULT $46.00 CONCESSION $44.00 JUNIOR $28.00

Circa Cairns is a new First Nations led circus ensemble creating exciting circus shows from the heart of Cairns. THE WET has been created on country across Far North Queensland in response to the landscape and endless yarns with community.

Drawing on these ancient stories of the wet tropics, this dynamic acrobatic show thrills while connecting everyone to country.

Conceived by Harley Mann (Wakka Wakka) and embodied by the Circa Cairns ensemble, THE WET is powerfully enduring circus, dripping with culture.

THE WET may contain voices and images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People who have passed away.

“A beautifully paced story ebbing and flowing between moments of frenetic action and serene calm” – Arts Hub

Orange Civic Theatre presents CDP with TheaterWorksUSA’s

DOG MAN: THE MUSICAL

Adapted from the DOG MAN series of books by Dav Pilkey

DOG MAN IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF DAV PILKEY

Tuesday

17

MARCH 19 at 6pm

Book and Lyrics Kevin Del Aguila

“You have to love a family show that makes adults laugh, too” - New York Times

Music Brad Alexander

With the head of a dog and the body of a policeman, Dog Man loves to fight crime and chew on the furniture.

Directed by Jen Wineman 65 minutes no interval

MEMBER $20.00 ADULT $28.00 CONCESSION $24.00 JUNIOR $20.00 FAMILY $78.00

Schools Performances – please contact the Theatre for more information

But while trying his best to be a good boy, can he save the city from Flippy the cyborg fish and his army of Beasty Buildings? Can he catch Petey, the world’s most evil cat, who has cloned himself to exact revenge on the doggy do-gooder?

And will George and Harold finish their show before lunchtime?

Find out in this epic musical adventure featuring the hilarity and heart of Dav Pilkey’s beloved characters.

“This show is perfect for everyone.” – Newsday

That Science Gang presents

YOU ARE A DOUGHNUT

A biological-musical-comedy-adventure!

Monday

19

APRIL 8 at 6pm

Director / Designer / Writer (Book & Lyrics) David Lampard

From the creators of “The Alphabet of Awesome Science” comes a brand-new multi-award winning family show…

Composer Mark Ferguson

You are a doughnut!

Stage Manager Amanda Rowe

It’s true! YOU are a great big fleshy lump with a remarkable hole running all the way through your middle — your digestive system.

Performers Rod Schultz, Oesoph A. Gus PJ Oaten, Dewey Dean Voiceover Artist Sharon Robertson 60 minutes no interval

MEMBER $20.00

Join biology teachers Oesoph A. Gus and Dewey Dean as they embark upon an utterly brilliant all-singing, all-dancing (and allclowning!) exploration of every twisting tube and remarkable organ —with sketches, songs, and sensational science. Along the way you’ll encounter a frenzy of enzyme-powered ping pong balls, sing along with a rainbow collection of poop puppets, and witness the weirdest poetry performance you’ve ever seen.

ADULT $28.00 CONCESSION $24.00 JUNIOR $20.00 FAMILY $78.00

Schools Performances – please contact the Theatre for more information

Some loud noises Haze effects

A Flying Fruit Fly Circus production

TEMPO

When the orchestra hasn’t shown up and the audience is waiting, call the Flying Fruit Fly Circus!

Photo Ian Sutherland

Friday

21

APRIL 12 at 7.30pm

Director Jake Silvestro Original Score Ania Reynolds Creative Circus Associate Lauren Shepherd Lighting Designer Kofi Isaacs Costume Designer April Dawson 55 minutes no interval

MEMBER $45.00 ADULT $52.00 CONCESSION $48.00 JUNIOR $30.00

A highly distinguished musician has arrived to conduct their latest symphony, but the orchestra is nowhere to be found. Fortunately, the Fruities are ready to save the day! And create chaos with the concert grand piano.

Directed by Jake Silvestro with an original score by Ania Reynolds, Tempo features an extraordinary ensemble of young performers aged between 12 and 18 who not only possess dazzling circus skills but also play instruments!

Shifting between striking aerial acts and highly-choreographed acrobatic chaos, Tempo draws heavily on the traditional knockabout humour of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus – a trademark of the company over many years.

Magic, slapstick, juggling, balancing, acrobatics and aerials tumble in, out and around the concert grand piano.

With no dialogue and plenty of gasp-inducing action, Tempo appeals to every age and is suitable, or perhaps essential, for all families.

Theatrical haze

FLYING FRUIT FLY CIRCUS

Soft Tread presents

THE WHARF REVUE: PRIDE IN PREJUDICE

Created and written by Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott

Photographer Ashley de Prazer

Friday & Saturday

23

APRIL 19 & 20 at 8pm

Writers Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Philip Scott Co-Directors Jonathan Biggins and Drew Forsythe Musical Director Andrew Worboys Lighting Designer Matt Cox Video Designer Todd Decker Sound and Video Systems Designer Cameron Smith Costume Designers Hazel and Scott Fisher 90 minutes no interval

The Wharf Revue is back for another year of sensational value! Satirical content is up by 7%, the average laughter quotient is indexed at 8.3% over the forward estimates but the Wharf Revue defies the cost-of-living pressure by keeping the ticket price at the same level as last year! Take that, Phillip Lowe!

Yes, that’s right: today’s comedy at yesterday’s prices! NO deposit, NO interest! * With over twenty-three years experience in the political satire space, Australia’s most trusted revue-based practitioners continue the tradition with this year’s hilarious offering: Pride in Prejudice TM. With no jokes written by ChatGPT and no sketches outsourced to PWC. Completely gluten-free, suitable for the lactose intolerant and no animals were harmed during the production process.** * “Yesterday” and “Today” do not necessarily reflect temporal reality - see in-store for details.

MEMBER $68.00 ADULT $78.00 CONCESSION $74.00 JUNIOR $45.00

**Disclaimer: Reputations may be questioned, political careers damaged and some sacred cows slaughtered. Due to public demand, full-frontal nudity will not be included. Any similarity to public figures living or dead is entirely intentional.

Orange Theatre Company presents

THE ADDAMS FAMILY

Book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice•Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa Based on Characters Created by Charles Addams

MAY 10-18

25

Friday May 10 at 7.30pm Saturday May 11 at 7.30pm Sunday May 12 at 1pm Thursday May 16 at 7.30pm Friday May 17 at 7.30pm Saturday May 18 at 1pm Saturday May 18 at 7.30pm

Director Blake Thomas Choreographer Amelia Bennetts Musical Director Katrina Kittler

150 minutes including interval

MEMBER $42.50 ADULT $49.00 CONCESSION $45.00 JUNIOR $30.00 FAMILY $130.00

The Addams Family features an original story, and it’s every father’s nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family - a man her parents have never met.

And if that wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before - keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s ‘normal’ boyfriend and his parents.

In the kooky, upside-down world of the Addams Family, to be sad is to be happy, to feel pain is to feel joy, and death and suffering are the stuff of their dreams. Nonetheless, this quirky family still has to deal with many of the same challenges faced by any other family, and the spookiest nightmare faced by every family creates the focus. In Lippa, Brickman, and Elice’s musical: the Addams kids are growing up.

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH ORiGiN™ THEATRICAL ON BEHALF OF THEATRICAL RIGHTS WORLDWIDE, NEW YORK www.origintheatrical.com.au

Bell Shakespeare presents

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

By William Shakespeare Director Peter Evans

Thursday

27

MAY 30 At 7.30pm

Design Teresa Negroponte Lighting Design Benjamin Cisterne Sound and Composition Max Lyandvert With Ella Prince, Mike Howlett, Kyle Morrison, Imogen Sage and Laurence Young

160 minutes including interval

MEMBER $45.00 ADULT $52.00 CONCESSION $48.00 JUNIOR $30.00

Recommended age: 12+

Schools Performances – please contact the Theatre for more information

Shakespeare’s classic comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is reawakened in this breathless production brimming with magic, mirth and mayhem.

Love is in the air in Athens – and it’s contagious.

Besides the royal wedding, which is just days away, there are young lovers dreaming of enchanted futures together. Hermia and Lysander are besotted with one another, while Helena adores Demetrius. The only snag is that Demetrius loves Hermia – and he’s got Hermia’s father on his side. So nobody is happy.

(Shakespeare wasn’t kidding when he said the course of true love never did run smooth.)

Determined to be together, Hermia and Lysander meet in a moonlit forest with plans to elope.

Following hot on their heels is Demetrius, who in turn is pursued by a lovelorn Helena. But the young lovers are not alone in the forest. Nick Bottom and his hapless bunch of tradies have gathered to rehearse a play to be performed at the royal wedding. And, hidden from human eyes, a mischievous sprinkling of faeries are also in the forest that night. The three worlds collide in an explosion of comic confusion that throws the future of all the lovers into jeopardy.

This production is quick as a shadow. Fast, funny and family-friendly, this is A Midsummer Night’s Dream reimagined.

Orange Civic Theatre and Shake & Stir Theatre Co present

FOURTEEN

BY SHANNON MOLLOY

Adapted by Shake & Stir with Shannon Molloy

Photo by Dylan Evans

Thursday

29

JUNE 6 at 7.30pm

Adapted by Nelle Lee, Nick Skubij with Shannon Molloy Director Nick Skubij Set Designer Josh McIntosh Costume Designer Fabian Holford Lighting Designer Trent Suidgeest Sound Designer Guy Webster

100 minutes no interval MEMBER $45.00 ADULT $52.00 CONCESSION $48.00 JUNIOR $30.00 Schools Performances – please contact the Theatre for more information

The year is 1999 and Shannon has a secret.

Shannon Molloy is a year 9 student at an allboys rugby-mad Catholic school in regional Queensland, with a secret that no one can ever find out. Shannon is gay.

Set to a nostalgic mixtape of 90s bangers from all your faves, from Shania Twain to The Spice Girls, Fourteen addresses the trials and tribulations of growing up with honesty, humour, and heart. Equal parts uplifting and heart wrenching, we follow Shannon in a year of self-discovery set amidst a backdrop of torment, bullying and betrayal – not just at the hands of his peers, but by the adults who were meant to protect him.

This play contains strong coarse language, mature themes, simulated violence, and depictions of sexual abuse. It also contains strobe lighting, theatrical smoke effects, and the use of herbal cigarettes. We understand the themes may be triggering for some people.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival presents

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL ROADSHOW

Saturday

31

JUNE 15 at 8pm

135 minutes including interval

MEMBER $34.00 ADULT $40.00

Performances often contain coarse language, adult themes, sexual references and material that may offend. The show is recommended for people aged 15 years or older.

Smoke Machine/Hazer may be used during this performance.

Australia’s biggest and best comedy spectacular is setting off on its 26th annual road trip around the country! Showcasing the finest talents from the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, we’re delivering a dose of laughter right to your doorstep!

Featuring a line-up of beloved comedy royalty alongside the freshest sensations from the Festival, all in one hilarious show that guarantees nationwide laughs.

Gather your pals, secure your tickets, and get ready for a well-deserved blast of comedy when the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow graces the stage in your neighbourhood!

"Wiping tears away and wheezing from the sheer joy." Australian Stage

Orange Civic Theatre in association with John Frost for Crossroads Live and Shake & Stir Theatre Co presents

AGATHA CHRISTIE’S THE MOUSETRAP

Anna O’Byrne & Alex Rathgeber in the 2022 Australian Production of THE MOUSETRAP © Brian Geach

JUNE 27-30 Thursday June 27 at 8pm Friday June 28 at 8pm Saturday June 29 at 2pm Saturday June 29 at 8pm Sunday June 30 at 2pm Sunday June 30 at 7pm

Director Robyn Nevin Costume Design and Associate Set Design Isabel Hudson Lighting Design Trudy Dalgleish

140 minutes including interval

MEMBER $85.00 ADULT $100.00

33

AGATHA CHRISTIE’S THE MOUSETRAP is the world’s longest-running play.

This thrilling West End production is THE genredefining murder mystery from the best-selling novelist of all time… case closed!

As news spreads of a murder in London, a group of seven strangers find themselves snowed in at a remote countryside guesthouse. When a police sergeant arrives, the guests discover – to their horror – that a killer is in their midst! One by one, the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts. Which one is the murderer? Who will be their next victim? Can you solve this worldfamous mystery for yourself?

For over 70 years, AGATHA CHRISTIE’S THE MOUSETRAP has kept millions of people from every corner of the globe on the edge of their seats.

CONCESSION $92.00 JUNIOR $92.00

DON’T JUST SEE IT. SOLVE IT

Orange Theatre Company presents

DISNEY’S FINDING NEMO JUNIOR

Explore the big blue world with this lively musical

Image Grant Leslie – Perfect Images Photography

JULY 12 -14

Friday July 12 at 2pm Friday July 12 at 6.30pm Saturday July 13 at 2pm Saturday July 13 at 6.30pm Sunday July 14 at 2pm

Book, Music and Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez Book Adapted by Lindsay Anderson Music and Orchestrations Adapted and Arranged by Myrna Conn

60 minutes no interval

MEMBER $26.00 ADULT $30.00 CONCESSION $30.00 JUNIOR $30.00 FAMILY $100.00

35

Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. is a 60-minute musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo, with new music by awardwinning songwriting team Kristen AndersonLopez and Robert Lopez.

Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clownfish, lives in the Great Barrier Reef with his kid Nemo, who longs to explore the world beyond their anemone home. But when Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean.

With the help of lovable characters such as optimistic Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the supportive Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves.

Featuring memorable songs such as “Just Keep Swimming,” “Fish Are Friends Not Food,” and “Go With the Flow,” Finding Nemo JR. brings a vibrant underwater world to life on stage in a story full of family, friendship, and adventure.

Based on the 2003 Disney/Pixar film Finding Nemo written by Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, David Reynolds and directed by Andrew Stanton Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia).

All performance materials supplied by Hal Leonard Australia.

A Monkey Baa Theatre Company production

THE PEASANT PRINCE

Based on the book by Li Cunxin, Illustrated by Anne Spudvilas Adapted for the stage by Eva Di Cesare, Sandie Eldridge and Tim McGarry

Photo by Heidrun Lohr Photo from 2016 national tour feature John Gomez Goodway

Thursday

37

SEPTEMBER 12 at 6pm

60 minutes no interval

MEMBER $20.00 ADULT $28.00 CONCESSION $24.00 JUNIOR $20.00 FAMILY $78.00

Schools Performances – please contact the Theatre for more information

Please note that the production contains themes of racism and simulated violence Age Recommendation 7-12.

Monkey Baa is thrilled to announce the return of its award-winning production The Peasant Prince in 2024. The children’s version of Li Cunxin’s iconic autobiography, Mao’s Last Dancer, The Peasant Prince is an extraordinary production of a remarkable story – of a peasant boy turned dance giant. It will inspire and enthral young audiences.

The Peasant Prince tells the remarkable true story of a 10-year-old peasant boy’s journey from impoverished rural China to the international dance scene. This is a story of courage, resilience and unwavering hope.

Li, a 10-year old peasant boy is plucked from his village in rural China and sent to a ballet academy in the big city. He leaves everything and everyone he loves, including his family. Over years of gruelling training, this boy transforms from an impoverished peasant to a giant of the international dance scene. Li’s courage, resilience and unwavering hope for a better life for himself and his family makes The Peasant Prince a story to ignite our own aspirations to be the best person we can be.

Australian Haydn Ensemble presents

MOZART’S HORN

with Carla Blackwood

Image Helen White

Saturday

39

SEPTEMBER 21 at 7pm

HAUFF Horn Quintet in E Flat major MOZART String Quintet No. 4 in G minor K. 516 MICHAEL HAYDN Romance in A Flat major for Horn and String Quartet MOZART Horn Quintet in E Flat major K. 407

110 minutes including interval

MEMBER $45.00 ADULT $52.00 CONCESSION $48.00 JUNIOR $30.00

In this series, the Australian Haydn Ensemble brings you a full expression of Mozart’s mercurial nature and stunning works for the natural horn.

Mozart was enamoured of the rich, bright sound of the horn, and, after many requests, completed his delightful Horn Quintet for the horn player Ignaz Joseph Leutgeb, an old friend of the family, in 1782. Known as a ‘little love duet’ between horn and violin, this work is a joyous, abundant expression of their friendship.

It’s also a brilliant opportunity to hear AHE soloist Carla Blackwood at her scintillating best.

By contrast, the Mozart String Quintet No. 4 in G minor is Mozart at his most eloquent in a time of personal pain and disappointment in his own life.

Worried by his father’s illness and disappointed by lack of recognition, he returns to the G minor key and creates a work of mesmerising energy and complexity.

AHE continues its practice of bringing lesser-known composers to the fore, with the spirited "Horn Quintet" in E flat major by Hauff and the "Romance" in A major for Horn and String Quartet, an arrangement of the slow movement of Mozart’s Horn Concerto attributed to Joseph Haydn’s brother Michael, a great friend of Mozart’s.

Mozart’s Horn is an experience of deep shadows and bright light, discovery and virtuosity.

Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta presents

GUARDS AT THE TAJ

By Rajiv Joseph

Friday

41

SEPTEMBER 27 at 8pm

Playwright Rajiv Joseph

What happens to a life-long friendship when two ordinary men are ordered to do the unthinkable?

Director / Tour Producer Bali Padda

At the grand opening of the Taj Mahal, the most beautiful building in the world, the Emperor decrees that nothing more beautiful shall ever be built again. To ensure this, he orders two imperial guards to perform a horrendous task.

Executive Producer – National Theatre of Parramatta Joanne Kee Associate Producer – National Theatre of Parramatta Daniel Cottier / Emma White Performers Akkshey Caplash, Idam Sondhi

90 minutes no interval

The guards are best friends. Humayun is a loyal civil servant with complete trust in the authorities, while Babur is a dreamer, and deeply distressed by the order that has been bestowed upon them.

He plans a revenge that will put these two best friends at odds.

Featuring a heartbreakingly funny friendship put to the ultimate test and existential banter reminiscent of Beckett and Stoppard, Guards at the Taj mixes witty black comedy with the bloodiest deeds of Greek tragedy.

MEMBER $45.00 ADULT $52.00 CONCESSION $48.00 JUNIOR $30.00

“...touching, funny and potent.... a captivating exploration of how far friendship can be pushed and the tension between duty and humanity.”

City Hub

Matt Arthur & The Lazybones present

SIX STRING BLUES

Guitar Legends Come To Life

Saturday

43

OCTOBER 12 at 8pm

Lead Vocalist/Guitarist Matt Arthur Backing Vocalist/Guitarist Pat O’Donnell Keyboards Sam McNally Bass Michael Vidale Drums Dave Egan Backing Vocalists Kellie O’Donnell & Charlie Parker

140 minutes including interval

MEMBER $60.00 ADULT $70.00 CONCESSION $65.00 JUNIOR $65.00

Step into the world of Six String Blues where the past and present of Blues Guitar are intertwined.

From Delta blues icons like Robert Johnson, to Chicago legends like Muddy Waters, right through to Electric Blues guitarists of the modern era like Eric Clapton, Matt and his band will take you on a captivating journey.

Joined on stage by his Lazybones Band, Matt Arthur will guide audiences through the history of the Blues Guitar. With his soulful performances and inspiring guitar playing, Matt will bring the legendary legends to life. Six String Blues is a passionate tribute to the roots and evolution of Blues Guitar, celebrating the enduring influence its had on modern music and its timeless ability to stir emotions.

Matt’s life as a musician started out at age 8, playing many years from his late teens onwards in the rock cover scene of Sydney. Now an Orange local, Matt has become an integral part of the music scene in NSW. 2023 saw the release of Matt’s first original album, “Then & Now”, an album of engrossing and intriguing songs reflecting on Matt’s past and present. Matt will also present songs from this album in this production to show how the blues has influenced his songwriting.

Orange Theatre Company presents

INTO THE WOODS

Music and Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM • Book by JAMES LAPINE Originally Directed on Broadway by James Lapine Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick

OCTOBER 18-27 Friday October 18 at 7.30pm Saturday October 19 at 7.30pm Sunday October 20 at 1pm Friday October 25 at 7.30pm Saturday October 26 at 1pm Saturday October 26 at 7.30pm Sunday October 27 at 1pm

Director Wendy Campbell Choreographer Jasmin Morgan Musical Director Nicki Johnston

170 minutes including interval

MEMBER $45.00 ADULT $52.00 CONCESSION $48.00 JUNIOR $30.00 FAMILY $140.00

45

James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone’s favourite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece... and a rare modern classic. The Tony Award-winning book and score are both enchanting and touching.

The story follows a baker and his wife, who wish to have a child, Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival, and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.

One of Sondheim’s most popular works, Into the Woods is a musically sophisticated show with the opportunity to feature actors adept at dark comedy. Audiences will especially enjoy highlighting the fantastical elements of this magical word.

Legs On The Wall presents

BEETLE

Even the smallest voices matter

Thursday

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OCTOBER 31 at 6pm

Concept Joshua Thomson Created and Directed Kate Walder & Joshua Thomson Illustrations Freya Blackwood Visit www.legsonthewall.com.au/ beetlelegs for the full creatives list

50 minutes no interval

MEMBER $20.00 ADULT $28.00 CONCESSION $24.00 JUNIOR $20.00 FAMILY $78.00

Schools Performances – please contact the Theatre for more information

An instant Australian classic, Beetle tells the story of a child who finds a friend in her backyard.

Together they embark on an adventure to search for the now elusive Christmas Beetle. The magic of the bush habitat is brought to life through Legs On The Wall’s trademark physical storytelling, and animation created from original artworks by beloved children’s author and illustrator, Orange's Freya Blackwood. A tale of resilience and hope, Beetle reminds young audiences that there’s an important place in the world for all of us.

This charming, nostalgic and uniquely Australian show invites children and families to join the adventure, encountering larger than life beetles, stick insects, and other bush critters while finding out about the uncanny nature and delicate balance of the bush environment.

Orange Symphony Orchestra presents

LEGENDS, STORIES, AND ENIGMAS

Sunday

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NOVEMBER 3 at 2.30pm

Conductor Dr Joanna Drimatis Soloist Lorraine Moxey

110 minutes including interval

MEMBER $42.00 ADULT $48.00 CONCESSION $45.00 JUNIOR $25.00

Orange Symphony Orchestra returns to the Orange Civic Theatre in 2024 to present a concert featuring Legends, Stories, and Enigmas.

OSO’s second concert of the year is conducted

by Dr Joanna Drimatis, a highly respected champion of Australian music and current Music Education Specialist with the Australian Music Centre.

The concert will feature idyllic works by Australian composers Sally Greenaway and Maria Grenfell, as well as soaring melodies and lush sounds of Edward Elgar and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Be transported to rich countrysides and glorious vistas all the world over as the Orange Symphony Orchestra takes flight!

Sally Greenaway The Blue Mountains Ralph Vaughn-Williams The Lark Ascending (featuring Lorraine Moxey on solo violin) Maria Grenfell River Mountain Sky Edward Elgar Enigma Variations

Century Entertainment presents

SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL SHOWCASE

The Festival’s funniest hit the road

Saturday

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NOVEMBER 9 at 8pm

ADULT $40.00

The Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase tour will be tearing up the freeways of Australia. Boasting a line-up of festival favourites and some of the freshest emerging talents, this jam-packed night of pure entertainment is bringing the best of the fest direct to you!

May contain coarse language and adult themes. Recommended for 15+.

Parental discretion is advised.

Expertly curated and lovingly presented, the Showcase will feature some of the Festival’s hottest acts live on stage for an incredible two hours of hard-hitting laughter.

120 minutes including interval

MEMBER $34.00

“The comedians all knew what they had to do to get a laugh, and had the crowd in constant stitches... the talent on show definitely left the crowd wanting more...” - AU Review

Wild Things Run presents

THE ROAD TO LAUREL CANYON

Friday

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NOVEMBER 22 at 7.30pm

120 minutes including interval

MEMBER $60.50 ADULT $69.50 CONCESSION $62.50 JUNIOR $62.50

Wild Things Run returns to the Orange Civic Theatre once again to embark on a captivating musical voyage with The Road to Laurel Canyon, a live music experience that transports you to the heart of the legendary 60s and 70s Laurel Canyon music community in California.

Presented by the talented Orange-based trio Wild Things Run, featuring Pat, Kellie and Andy O’Donnell, this enchanting show celebrates the iconic sounds of Carole King, The Beach Boys, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and more.

With harmonious melodies and soulful storytelling, immerse yourself in an era of musical brilliance. Let Wild Things Run guide you through an unforgettable two-hour concert at Orange Civic Theatre. Don’t miss this extraordinary musical journey.

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION How to become a member

Speed and accuracy

There are two ways to become a member of the Orange Civic Theatre:

Bookings are processed in strict order of receipt, so choosing events early ensures the best possible seats. Upon receipt of your tickets, please check to ensure the dates and times are correct.

1. Book at least five Season shows in advance to receive complimentary membership. Members receive first choice of seats, benefit from discounts on additional show ticket prices and receive notice and discounts for other events at the theatre during the year. or 2. Pay a $35 membership fee to access member discounts and benefits with no minimum number of Season shows booked in advance.

How to book tickets Complete your booking form and return:

BY MAIL: Membership Orange Civic Theatre PO Box 35 ORANGE NSW 2800 or EMAIL: theatre@orange.nsw.gov.au or DELIVER TO: Orange Civic Theatre Box Office Box Office hours are 9am–5pm Monday to Friday and 1 hour prior to a performance. All prices are inclusive of GST where applicable.

Seating with friends If you wish to be seated with friends, please ensure forms are returned together to avoid a delay in processing.

Expanding your membership Members may purchase tickets to additional performances at Member prices at any time.

Refunds or exchanges We understand that the dates you choose at the beginning of the season may not be suitable at performance time. As a Member, we offer you an exchange to another performance within the season — a minimum of two weeks’ notice prior to the performance is required for this to occur.

All exchanges must be for shows within the same season. If you have received a complimentary five show membership, and by the end of the season have not met a minimum of five shows, you will be charged $35 for a paid membership.

Delayed payment option Members may choose to have the cost of Season tickets charged to their credit card periodically throughout the year. Seats will be allocated at the beginning of the year.

Approximately three weeks before each of your chosen performances this amount will be charged to your credit card and the tickets mailed to you. Please notify the Box Office of any changes to your ticketing requirements prior to the processing of your tickets.

Strict conditions are applicable: offer only available to a credit card holder. Members are committed by signature to paying the full amount indicated on their Member bookings form or paying the Member fee when minimum of five productions is not achieved.

Childcare groups

It is requested that tickets be collected at least half an hour prior to the start of a performance from the Theatre Box Office.

The number of free tickets provided for registered carers is strictly limited. These tickets are only available for childcare staff accompanying children as a condition of their paid employment.

In order to be eligible for the special childcare rates and free carer tickets, a childcare/ vacation care group must be registered for the Government Childcare Rebate. The registration or customer reference (CRN) number is required when booking.

Admittance and latecomers

School groups

The auditorium doors open 20 minutes prior to the commencement of a performance.

Please be aware, latecomers will not be admitted into the theatre until there is a suitable break in the performance.

One complimentary teacher ticket will be allocated with every 20 students booked. A school group rate is applicable for a group of 10 or more in the booking. Please advise us at time of your booking if any student has special needs.

Bags and prams

Special assistance

For the safety and comfort of Orange Civic Theatre patrons, bags larger than a small, A4sized handbag and prams are not allowed in the auditorium during a performance.

Patrons with mobility aids, including wheelchairs, can be comfortably accommodated in the theatre. Please contact the Box Office to discuss your options. It is advisable to book early to obtain good seats.

Ticket collection

Babies in arms policy Orange Civic Theatre’s children’s programs are designed to encourage access for younger audiences to the performing arts. For the children’s programs babes in arms (that is babies who remain in their carers’ arms during a performance and do not participate in the event), are admitted free of charge.

Any children aged 12 months or older must have a ticket to these events.

For the comfort of others We request that mobile phones, pagers and alarms be turned off prior to entering the theatre.

Cameras or any forms of electronic recording equipment are not permitted in the auditorium.

A hearing loop is available from any position within the theatre. Please indicate your requirements on your booking form.

Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the Box Office on 02 6393 8111.

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Entry from Foyer

Entry from Foyer

ORANGE CIVIC THEATRE LAYOUT

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SOCIAL CALENDAR June

February

10

Coal Miner's Daughter

21

Ascent

6

Fourteen

by Shannon Molloy

15

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

27-30

Agatha Christie’s THE MOUSETRAP

July

24

Sophie Hutchings

12-14

29

Lost in Shanghai

September

Disney’s Finding Nemo Junior

12

The Peasant Prince

March

9

Festival Gala

21

Mozart’s Horn

15

THE WET

27

Guards at the Taj

19

Dog Man: The Musical

October

12

Six String Blues

April

8

You Are A Doughnut

18-20 25-27

Into the Woods

12

Tempo

31

Beetle

19-20

The Wharf Revue Pride in Prejudice

November

3

Legends, Stories, and Enigmas

10-12 16-18

The Addams Family

9

Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase

30

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

22

The Road to Laurel Canyon

May

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Where this logo appears, this project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

Where this logo appears, this project is assisted by the New South Wales Government through Arts NSW.

Orange Civic Theatre is a facility of Orange City Council

Orange City Council is situated within the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri Nation.

We acknowledge the traditional custodianship of these lands, and pay our respect to the Wiradjuri people for their care and stewardship of these lands and to the Elders of the Wiradjuri Nation past, present and emerging. We celebrate their contribution to arts and culture.

Orange Civic Theatre & Ticketek — Code of Practice OCT and Ticketek are committed to observing the Code of Practice for the Ticketing of Live Entertainment in Australia, as compiled by the Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA).

This booklet was designed in-house by Orange City Council

Where this logo appears we acknowledge the Commissioned by the North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA) and The Art House — Wyong

Circa Cairns is a Circa initiative supported by the Queensland Government and the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation. Circa Cairns is based in Gimuy (Cairns) on the lands of the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people. We acknowledge that art has been practiced here over many millennia, and that it remains a fundamental way of life for the traditional caretakers and custodians of the lands on which we work, create and perform today. We acknowledge that we are here as visitors, and accept the responsibility to respect and care for these lands and tread lightly.

Always was. Always will be

Details in this brochure are correct at the time of publication.

Management reserves the right to add, withdraw or substitute artists and vary the program should the necessity arise.