EVENINGS in the ‘‘extraordinary company’’ of Dylan Thomas, Frank Sinatra, and Australia’s own anti-hero Ned Kelly, as well as the chance to see Brian Ritchie take a breather from organising MONA FOMA to play Japanese bamboo flute, are all part of the grand plan of events to continue building audiences at Launceston’s Princess Theatre.
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Last night Theatre North at the Princess general manager Greg Leong launched the 2015 subscription series to enthusiastic applause as he shared a list of shows that theatregoers variously described as ‘‘breathtaking’’, ‘‘awesome’’ and ‘‘exciting and diverse’’.
Leong told the audience he made no apologies for mirroring this year’s strategy, which had been ‘‘more shows, sometimes smaller shows, and usually only for a one-night season’’.
‘‘We have increased our audience numbers by 45 per cent, which is fantastic, but we can continue to grow and must grow,’’ Leong said.
‘‘We incorporated commercial entrepreneurs, such as Kate Miller-Heidke, we brought in smaller locally produced cabaret shows like Blitz, and banked on dynamic shows such as Michael Jackson’s The Man in the Mirror, and we’re delighted to say seats have been filling up.
‘‘But we still want to grow our subscription following, with an aim of tipping 400 members this year.’’
While showcasing all the art forms, including an exhibition, Theatre North has devised a diverse program that sees a return of emphasis on drama, as well as collaborations with the Tasmanian International Arts Festival, previously known as Ten Days on the Island, and subscriber deals with theatres in Devonport and Burnie.
Among the plays listed for 2015 are Queensland Theatre Company’s Kelly, which deals with Ned Kelly’s final night in prison; Mudlark Theatre’s premiere of The Possum by Tasmanian playwright Sean Monro; and Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo, which Leong says offers ‘‘family viewing at its very best’’.
While the program was introduced to a hushed audience, the atmosphere became electrically charged when surprise guest artist Brian Ritchie took to the stage.
Ritchie, who is seldom seen in Launceston but enjoys a cult hero following in Hobart as Violent Femmes bass guitarist and MONA’s master of music, hit the stage playing shakuhachi and acoustic bass guitar to give audiences a taste of what can be expected when Typhoon, an innovative contemporary ensemble who plays Asia-Pacific music, comes to town in March.
Leong has secured Typhoon as the star performance group for the prestigious Glover Concert, which complements the $40,000 Glover Prize for Landscape at Evandale’s Falls Park Pavilion in March.
For information on the TNAP Subscription Series call 63233666, go to the Princess Theatre box office or visit www.theatrenorth.
com.au.
