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LYREBIRD -TALES OF HELPMANN Regional Tour
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HotHouse Theatre has made its name in regional Victoria and NSW by touring exceptional Australian theatre. In 2008 this tradition continues with an unforgettable and already richly acclaimed work, Tyler Coppin’s tour-de-force performance in LyreBird – Tales of Helpmann, a show about the life and career of formidable Australian Sir Robert Helpmann.
When Sir Robert Helpmann died in Sydney in 1986 obituary writers hardly knew where to start. In his 77 years he had packed more activity and excelled in more fields than any of his contemporaries in Australia or overseas. Was he a dancer, choreographer, a director of ballets, plays and operas, a stage, film and television actor? Even a singer? He was all these and much more, a theatrical chameleon.
He first made his mark in 1927 as principal dancer at His Majesty’s in Sydney, and in 1933 left Australia for London where he was accepted into the prestigious Sadler’s Wells Ballet School. He was with the Wells company from 1934 to 1950, often in partnership with Margot Fonteyn. During this time he developed his innate genius for choreography culminating in the extraordinarily influential 1948 film The Red Shoes, and a spectacular screen version of The Tales of Hoffmann. Later, he featured in a diverse array of films.
Turning his talents increasingly to drama he appeared with Vivien Leigh in the Old Vic’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1937, and Hamlet in 1944. In 1955 he led the Old Vic’s tour of Australia, appearing on stage with Katharine Hepburn. The press welcomed Helpmann’s homecoming with a mixture of admiration and suspicion: admiration for his obvious achievements, and suspicion of his extrovert flamboyance.
Tyler Coppin’s LyreBird – Tales of Helpmann is part biographical tribute and part engaging lampoon of stage biographies. LyreBird premiered at the 1998 Adelaide Festival to become number 3 top selling ticket and gathered glowing reviews. It continued receiving exceptional reviews throughout Australia, and played to packed houses at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2001 where it won a Fringe First Award for an outstanding production of a new work. The show continues to gather momentum and great reviews with every performance.
TOUR DATES:
Wed 17 Sept: Wahgunyah School of Arts
Book at Rutherglen Newsagency, Wahgunyah Newsagency, and Gail Goodall’s Jeweller in Corowa.
Thu 18 Sept: Bright Community Centre
Tickets available from the Art Gallery 03 5750 1660, or from “Food, Wine & Friends” Ireland St, Bright 03 5750 1312
Fri 19 Sept: Yackandandah Public Hall
Book at Yackandandah Newsagency 02 6027 1226
Sat 20 Sept: Mt Beauty Community Centre
Book at Mt Beauty Newsagency, 16 Holland St., Mt Beauty. 03 5754 4204
Wed 24 Sept: Euroa Community Cinema
Book at Shire Offices Reception, Cnr Binney & Bury Sts. 03 5795 0000
Thu 25 Sept: Barooga Sports Club
Book at Barooga Sports Club, Burkinshaw St. 03 5873 4448
Fri 26 Sept: Balranald Theatre Royal
Book at Balranald Visitor Centre, Market St. 03 5020 1599
Tue 30 Sept: Cootamundra Arts Centre
Book at ArtSX, Wallendoon St. Cootamundra
or via 02 6942 1732
Wed 1 Oct: Corryong Memorial Hall
Book at Neighbourhood House. 02 6076 1179
Thu 2 Oct: Henty Civic Centre
Book at Greater Hume Shire Customer Service Centres:
Henty, 32 Sladen St. 02 6929 3770
Jindera, 8/9 Jindera Plaza. 02 6026 3800
Holbrook, 39 Young St. 02 6036 0100
Culcairn, 40 Balfour St. 02 6029 8588
Fri 3 Oct: Mansfield High School Performing Arts Centre
Sat 4 Oct: Tallarook Mechanics Institute
Bookings 03 5793 8390
Tue 7 Oct: Savernake Hall
Book through Pam 02 6035 9168
Wed 8 Oct: Girgarre Memorial Hall
Book at the Post Office. 03 5854 6200
Thu 9 Oct: Rochester Shire Hall
Tickets at the door
Fri 10 Oct: Jindera School of Arts
Book at Greater Hume Shire Customer Service Centres:
Henty, 32 Sladen St. 02 6929 3770
Jindera, 8/9 Jindera Plaza. 02 6026 3800
Holbrook, 39 Young St. 02 6036 0100
Culcairn, 40 Balfour St. 02 6029 8588
Sat 11 Oct: Holbrook Shire Hall
Book at Greater Hume Shire Customer Service Centres:
Henty, 32 Sladen St. 02 6929 3770
Jindera, 8/9 Jindera Plaza. 02 6026 3800
Holbrook, 39 Young St. 02 6036 0100
Culcairn, 40 Balfour St. 02 6029 8588
NB. This website will be updated regularly with venue and booking details.
Patrons are advised that this performance contains:
* the use of herbal cigarettes
* the use of spray (hypoallergenic)
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