Backstage at the Art Centre, Melbourne

C and I had tickets for Backstage Tour of The Arts Centre Melbourne on a Sunday morning. I wasn't sure what to expect but I knew we would see the inner sanctum of the arts and I was excited. We saw things beyond our wildest desire and were thrilled.

 

Our guide not only had supreme knowledge of the building, including history and what was currently showing and going on, she was very passionate about her subject. She was no nonsense, but had a little twinkle in her eye when telling us these fabulous stories.

 

Our small group were taken down underground to the lowest level, which is 6 floors underground and where all the corridors behind the 3 stages connect. These are the corridors the performers and musicians use. It is almost a large horseshoe/circular area around all three stages, each are being colour coded depending on which stage the corridors and subsequent dressing rooms belong to.

 

The first thing we saw as we entered these corridors were huge trunks, and many of them. Each trunk was full of ballet shoes, and each trunk only held one size, men and women's separated. it was something to behold. We're talking tens of thousands of ballet shoes!

 

Our guide told us stories of how the dressing rooms are sequenced, the more important you are the closer to stage door, some rooms held more than one person, little nuances of the art world, theatre, ballet etc having different set ups. It was completely fascinating.

 

We were very lucky to see the wigs and headpieces for the upcoming Sleeping Beauty being made. The wigmaster was working and spoke to us, explaining most of the costumes were on loan as is usually the case for the big ballets, but they still had extra pieces they added. He was working on lovely feather and flower headpieces, stunningly simple, but intricate in detail.

 

He spoke about adjusting costumes and how that was done and also about costume changes. Including one he was part of for Siggy (Sigrid Thornton) when she was doing an operatic thing that required multiple quick costume changes in between some of the songs. One change was 6 seconds. He said she would just stand there, slightly off stage with her arms out, and multiple people would change things quickly and at once and push her back on stage.

 

He told us about some of the tricks they did to streamline these processes, hair sewn into wigs or hats, everything already attached. Jewellery is magnetic, and is tossed around the neck etc, skirts sewn into each other and velcroed at the back, skirts worn under skirts, stockings on stockings. The talent has to trust the dressers and not be shy. The dressers have seen it all!

 

We were taken to the stage door of the orchestra pit of the main theatre, under the 45m X 45m x 45m stage. This was a complete and utter thrill, my orchestra days well and truly behind me, but as a kid I always dreamed of playing in such an environment. It was actually very tight, but I sat in a chair designated for a violin, and the music for some Stravinsky was sitting there. I felt a little sense of pride swell up inside! She told us about the pit and how it can move from below to a little higher and so forth all by mechanics, very exciting and high tech compared to most orchestra pits. She also explained how nowadays the brass section is a little removed from the rest of the orchestra due to OHS reasons!

 

We then made out way up on the stage and wow, it's huge. To stand centre stage and look out to where the audience would sit was magnificent. Again many bits of information about backstage, and how sets are moved in and out. You could see props waiting, ready for Sleeping Beauty, some signage, and large trunks marked for the ballet too.

This particular stage is highly fire protected, as it is the only stage in Australia that can fit Wagner's The Ring Cycle and with that comes fire, hence the protection, which is more than usual stages.

 

We then made out way to the next stage, slightly smaller, set around it a lot of plastic on the corridor floors as The Bangara Dance Theatre were working there at the moment, and the plastic ws down for their body paint.

 

We then went into the docking bays, which were huge, a semi trailer without cab can fit into there and is brought down there (remember we are underground) by huge hydraulics. and they all basically back onto the three stages. Our guide told us stories of the building being built, it was meant to go 10 stories down, with three large stages, but construction was stopped at 6 floors after the Westgate Bridge disaster. So Hammer Hall next door was built for the 3rd stage and within the 6 floor there was room for a 4th smaller stage.

 

We then went into the smaller stage, set up for a play at the time. It is an intimate theatre, and was great to be on the stage amongst the set.

 

We also visited rehearsal rooms, some with pianos in. They mostly had Yamahas and 4 Steinways but the theatre has sponsorship with Kwai, so they are the ones used for performance, the others hidden away. Steinways hidden!!!! Woah!!!

As we moved through these corridor there were often posters from productions including one for Hamlet starring and signed by the four leads - Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, David Wenham, and Richard Roxburgh...oh my, imagine seeing that!!!!!! 

And after about 90 minutes we were done, what a wonderful experience, if you are a lover of the theatre this is a must see when you're next in Melbourne.

AUGUST ROUND UP

August was busy, crazy busy. But I managed some quiet moments and I felt great mentally. I did feel physically unwell most of it, fighting off a weird fluey bug, aching bones, headaches, swollen glands, sore throat. This came and went, came and went, and left me feeling tired and poorly. Not enough to have time off work or need to see a doctor, or even really be 'sick' but enough to slow me a bit, and want a lot of sleep. But you know, I survived!

At work I have been juggling multiple projects, on top of my usual work, each of them inching along slowly, but starting to form into something great as the month progressed. A few weeks prior to going on leave right at the end of the month I did have a minor anxiety attack when I looked at what I needed to achieve prior to my holidays to ensure they all came off as well as I wanted to, but I managed to work my way through them. This is the kind of stress I do well in...mostly...anxiety attacks aside!

One of my projects is a Social Media talk for seniors, I have done many of these before but not on this scale. It will be presented at the very end of September and will (hopefully) turn into multiple one on one sessions over the following months. At the time of writing it has been very popular which is incredibly exciting, and I had better actually finish putting the presentation together! The other project is one I have wanted to do for a long time, Rocktober. Children of the late 70s and early 80s will remember Rocktober! So Rocktober will turn Swansea Library into all things musical during October. I have a lot of things in the mix, and so far it is going as I hoped, more information to follow. The final project I can't talk about yet...but soon...and it's fucking fantastic!!!!!!

We also put up a magnificent Book Week Display, had schools visit us for storytimes, showcased local embroidery, discussed The 100 Year Old Man at Bookclub, had my baby storytime, and watched The Matrix at Movie Night. I really love the diversity of my work.

I have also been out and about in the community of Swansea and surrounding areas, spreading the word about Swansea Library, feeling like a preacher, but hopefully not coming across like one! This is an ongoing project for some years now but it's gaining momentum and I'm feeling the love with those I am collaborating with. This includes my wonderful team and the people we are working with, mostly schools during this past month or so. I am just hoping all this hard work will result in better statistics and more people walking through our doors. So much to compete with these days, but libraries are still relevant and exciting places to visit...so make sure you visit your local library!!

I started the month with a lovely family dinner, we don't do this as regularly as we should, but it's always fun when we do. My niece and nephew - the loves of my life - are growing up so beautifully and are smart, funny, but normal kids. My sister and brother-in-law are doing good!

I finally got to have a meal at Foghorn Brewery, at an ALIA (Library) function. I had their Foghorn Burger and their locally brewed Summer Ale - both great. It has a lovely atmosphere and interesting design, you can see the vats and beer brewing, very industrial, hip, and cool. After the long lunch, I took a long work in the sun, and then checked out a few exhibits at Newcastle Art Gallery. The bottom floor was closed for a new exhibit but upstairs had a few interesting small exhibits. Brett McMahon's Installation was large pieces of geometric abstracts and mixed media, I spent time looking at and meditating there. Different Realities by Peter Boggs was hypnotic oils including some pieces from/on Boboli Gardens in Florence, where I've been. They were lovely. Interior Lives featured pieces from the larger collection depicting domestic spaces and including some beautiful works by Grace Cossington-Smith, a National Treasure for sure!

I still had time to kill so I made the most and read in the sun before meeting A and L at the movies. We saw Trainwreck - we had planned on seeing the Amy Winehouse doco but it was pushed back a week so we choose another Amy - and it was a lot of fun. No Oscar winner here, but that's ok, sometimes you need a mindless movie to just take it as it comes and have a laugh. There is definitely something charismatic about Amy and a scene stealing character from the always remarkable Tilda Swinton. Afterwards we had planned on visiting Parry Street Garage but you couldn't book and there was a very long wait, so we ended up at The Junction Inn and had a great meal, followed by a Blue Heaven milkshake from Jims - that's so Newcastle!

M and I dined at The Clarendon and then headed to The Playhouse for Dylan Thomas: Return Journey, a one man show/play. Bob Kingdom embodied Thomas during this 90 minute show, he was wonderful, witty, poignant. The show was pieces of his life, I guess taking from historical information and fleshed out, laced with his beautiful poems. The pieces were very funny, wry witted, and just lovely. The poems were, without a doubt, show stopping stunning. Every night at The Theatre should be this good!

The following night I headed to The Conservatorium to meet L and C for Visual Arts. This was a wonderful evening of homegrown Novocastrian Music, Film, and Dance. It was a magnificent collaboration with performers ranging from very young to 86. The music was a joyous combination of jazz, classical, and choral works, all modern and all composed by Novocastrian Frank Millward. All the music was backed by interesting visuals which added to the experience.

I also had a long weekend where I chilled at home, walked, read, and slept and I really needed that. I do got out a lot for an introvert, so these quieter weekends are really important to help me recharge my batteries and give me the quiet I often crave.

C and I had dinner at The Clarendon before spending a delightful evening at The Ballet. It was her maiden expedition to The Ballet and I loved seeing her excitement.

The second last weekend was intense, soccer semis, the new Woody Allen, Amy Winehouse doco, Hamlet, and Go Set A Watchmen. Sometimes I don't think these things through!

Irrational Man, the new Woody Allen, was pretty good. Not one of his best, but certainly better than most movies out there. I loved the dialogue and script, particularly the first half of the movie. Emma Stone was a delight as always, and Joaquin Phoenix also good. Lovely to see Parker Posey in a small role, shame it wasn't fleshed out better. The ending left a lot to be desired, and the plot kinda reminded me of Crimes and Misdemeanors, I must rewatch to see if Woody is starting to rehash!

My nephew won his semis for Soccer which was exciting. It was a tight match and you can see these young boys starting to grow into fine, athletic men. I was away for the finals, but they went down 1 point. Apparently he was gutted, but put in a gallant effort. That afternoon I headed for my Book Club to discuss the controversial Go Set A Watchman. You can read all about my thoughts leading up to, reading, and of course our discussion of the book here.

J, L and I had Napoli for dinner. I hadn't been there since it opened, and was pleased to see nothing much had changed. It was still as busy and popular as ever, and the food amazing. Pizzas as they are meant to be eaten, just like we did in Italy. Afterwards we saw Amy, the Amy Winehouse documentary.

M, J, C, and I dined at The Clarendon (yes it's the place to go before the theatre, mostly as parking is shite in Newcastle, and it's nearby and you don't have to move cars!) before M, C and I headed to The Civic for Bell Shakespeare's Hamlet. I do love Shakespeare, and had seen Hamlet a few times before, but this was a superb production. I have been quite open in my love and then unlove for Bell Shakespeare over the years. I feel they went through a rough patch where they just either tried too hard or not hard enough and the plays presented were ordinary. I kept the faith until they ruined my favourite, Macbeth, with a very ordinary production including a Coles plastic bag for the witches cauldron and the weakest Lady Macbeth I had ever seen. I think I even dozed off in parts!! It took a while for me to see them again but they won me back with a very wicked and clever Richard III a few years old. Hamlet was very edgy, modern, with a stasi edge of spying on the key character, in terms of reporting what was happening, which sounds convoluted but worked well. Hamlet was sexy and wild and completely mad, also hilariously funny. In fact, the play had been tweaked to include far more jokes than it usually had and it was all the better for it. Hamlet is touring still, so if you get a chance, it's a must see.

The month ended as it began with a lovely family dinner out at Verda Luna, for my sister, A's birthday. We had amazing Italian feast, followed by delicious Red Velvet Mudcake back at my parents.

And the final weekend I flew out to Melbourne for 10 days. I will blog about that very soon!!!

Here are my reviews: what I've been reading, watching, listening to.

And some photos...

The Australian Ballet presents The Dancers Company

I've always loved the Ballet, though it's not something I see that often. As a child my paternal grandmother, Nanna, used to take my sister K and I to the Ballet often. Our youngest sister A was not yet born, and it was before Nanna became ill. So we would have been well under 10 and I have vague memories of this. Sort of an all blended into one memory. This has given me a lifetime love of all things cultured and experiencing them in The Civic Theatre. 

Every time I enter it's hallowed grounds I get all the feels, there is a lifetime of shows and memories there. It's difficult to articulate, I've never known any different, if you want to go to a class show in Newcastle, you go to The Civic. I never tire of her beauty and excitement.

All great buildings are female I think...

I've seen many different types of shows at The Civic over the years, but to see the great types of shows in that stunning theatre is something else.

Ballet, Opera, Shakespeare...there are only three!!!!

And this time I got to take my gorgeous friend C to her very first Ballet!

The Dancers Company are students, the young dancers, often with a principal in a small lead role. I've not seen anything by them before so was hopeful it would be ok. 

And they were great, not perfect, cause well, that's why they are The Dancers Company and not the Australian Ballet. A few shakey legs and arms but really nothing to complain about at all!

They did three pieces each divided by an intermission and it truly was the most perfect introduction if you hadn't been to the Ballet before.

The first piece was Paquita (Ludwig Minkus) and a simple dance piece featuring glorious tutus in reds, rose, creams, and white. Glorious precision lines, stunning solos, and it just made you smile.

The second piece was contemporary called Rimbombo and featured mostly males, in Kabuki style face paint. It incorporated classical moves with contemporary attitude and was incredibly funny. It moved at a break neck speed only to be slowed down by the tiniest, cutest little ballerina towards the end.

Finally, Act III of Swan Lake! Sumptuous costumes at the ball where Prince Siegfried is to choose his bride despite being in love with Odette. But Siegfried is tricked by Rothbart into thinking his daughter Odile is Odette...ahhh, ballet, you gotta love a drama. I have always been curious about this plot point, cause if Siegfried really loved Odette, shouldn't he have realised it was not her but Odile he was dancing with??

Crazy storylines aside - and let's face it most Opera and Ballet have crazy storylines, that's part of the appeal - Swan Lake is a stunning Ballet and the music is supreme. Tchaikovsky is such a romantic composer. I have so many cherished memories of dancing around my grandparents house with my sister in our tutus (bought especially for that very thing, because why not?) to Tchaikovsky with Nanna following us and twirling with us.

I tend not to get caught up in what is going on storyline wise with the Ballet. So me it's costumes, costumes, costumes, the romantic music, and the strength yet lightness of these talented individuals. So much to take in, so much to sense, it's a privilege and a delight.

I am pleased to say C thoroughly enjoyed her experience, I think I took more delight in her delight if that makes sense, and we are keen to get to a 'proper' Ballet very soon.