MEDIA RELEASE | HOTA RELEASES THEIR SNEAK PEEK OF 2020
Announcement posted by M10 Collective 24 Oct 2019
HOTA, Home of the Arts has released a first look of their 2020 program with an official sneak peek of 23 shows just announced.
The sneak peek revealed that we can expect fun family performances, great theatre, exciting contemporary circus, and plenty of Australian stars.
Highlights of the 2020 program include the retelling of the legend of King Arthur in Monty Python’s SPAMALOT; the return of Viral, a powerful physical theatre show created on the Gold Coast with a run of successful international seasons under its belt; and the puppet-show/rock-concert experience of Laser Beak Man.
Audiences will be delighted by the incredible artistry of circus and physical theatre Air Play, Circa’s Peepshow, and Backbone (presented by Bleach* The Gold Coast Festival); while spectacular cabaret and dance will be delivered by Yummy Deluxe and Sydney Dance Company’s Bonachela/Lane.
HOTA CEO Criena Gehrke said that the program announced today is just a taste of what you’ll be able to see at HOTA in 2020.
“We’re presenting more opportunities for people to experience the arts in different ways,” Criena said.
“I’m talking workshops, live performances in unexpected places, great art, and of course the best Australian and International artists and companies performing indoors and out,” she said.
Children and their grown-ups will love the adaptions of their favourite childhood books The Gruffalo’s Child, Grug, Fantastic Mr Fox and Magic Beach on the big stage.
We can also expect some big names at HOTA this year including Kathy Lette with her hilarious Big Night Out and Emmy-award winner Lance Horne reliving all of your favourite songs in Secret Broadway.
Noni Hazlehust will appear in the moving one-woman show Mother, and be offering a free masterclass for performing arts teachers, as well as an opportunity to share high tea with her biggest fans. While Australian actor and writer, Jonathan Biggins, will perform his one-man show, The Gospel According to Paul.
The sneak peek at these 23 fantastic shows are just a taste of what’s on offer at HOTA in 2020, with more shows to be announced throughout the year.
For more information on HOTA, Home of the Arts or their 2020 program go to: https://hota.com.au/2020-sneak-peek/
- ENDS -
ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Madeline Feint | M10 Collective
E: madeline@m10.com.au M: 0423 586 232
2020 PROGRAM SNEAK PEEK
YUMMY DELUXE
22-25 JANUARY
Yummy Deluxe is a powerhouse cabaret of drag, dance, circus and live music that will take you on a ride, delicious and unpredictable. This multi-award winning ensemble is a mix of fabulous new acts and electric group members, and Yummy favorites. Join the stars of Yummy Deluxe as they lead a new wave of outrageous and innovative cabaret, unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
AIR PLAY
BY ACROBUFFOS FROM NEW YORK CITY
10-11 JANUARY
In a visual comedic poem with no words, Air Play combines comedy, circus, theatre and sculpture to give us a bold reminder of childhood and growing up. Merging the extraordinary air sculptures by the renowned Daniel Wertzel with the crowd-pleasing comedic values of circus performing Seth Bloom and Christina Gelsone, Air Play is a breathtaking, magical production that pays homage to the power of air.
LASER BEAK MAN
WRITTEN BY DAVID MORTON, NICHOLAS PAINE AND TIM SHARP
WITH MUSIC BY SAM CROMACK (BALL PARK MUSIC)
16-18 JANUARY
Part puppet show, part pop concert, and all heart, Laser Break Man follows a local hero who draws energy from the underground Magna Crystals that power the City to shoot lasers from his beak to turn bad to good. The City is threatened when Peter Bartman, Laser Beak Man’s estranged childhood friend, robs the Magna Crystals leaving Laser Beak Man with no superpowers. Find out if Laser Beak Man finds a way to stop his nemesis from destroying Power City in this visual theatre performance filled with offbeat humour and wit.
SECRET BROADWAY
WITH LANCE HORNE AND SPECIAL GUESTS
22 FEBRUARY
Lance Horne is an Emmy award-winning composer, pianist, singers and music director who has taken a page from the book by Jack Viertel ‘The Secret Life of the American Musical: How Broadway Shows Are Built’ to unlock the love of theatre. Fall in love with your favourite songs all over again in this new series at HOTA, in a magical evening of music with Lance Horne and special guests from Broadway and beyond.
MOTHER STARRING NONI HAZLEHURST
WRITTEN BY DANIEL KEENE. DIRECTED BY MATT SHOLTEN.
27-29 FEBRUARY
Mother is an award-winning one woman show starring one of Australia’s finest actors, Noni Hazelhurst, that tells the story of Christie, a homeless woman who lives in a detached existence from the world around her. This remarkable performance speaks of madness, denial, and ignorance and gives a voice to those who live at the edge of safety. Utterly devasting, yet wrought with tenderness, Mother is a striking performance not to be missed. An If Theatre Production.
MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT
5-7 MARCH
Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot retells the legend of King Arthur. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, the production heads to the Gold Coast following a sell out season at Hayes Theatre in Sydney. A One Eyed Man Production.
KATHY LETTE’S BIG NIGHT OUT
12-13 MARCH
Join Australian born author, screenwriter, journalist and party girl Kathy Lette as she takes to the stage to share the intimate details of her varied and multi-coloured personal, social and professional lives. Kathy’s Big Night Out will take you on a psychological striptease covering everything from menopause, love, marriage, childbirth, mastitis and ageing to making the Queen laugh, hiding Julian Assange in her attic and tongue-kissing Prince William.
ECHOES OF THE JAZZ AGE
STARRING JOHN BELL AND SIMON TEDESCHI
28 MARCH
A sophisticated jazz and spoken word performance inspired by the essay by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Alongside two of Australia’s most respected music and theatre stars will be sizzling quotes from Mae West, Groucho Marx, and Dorothy Parker plus poetry by T.S Eliot, charming piano music of Scott Joplin, Louis Armstrong and James P Johnson with songs by George Gershwin, Ray Henderson and Fats Waller. Special guest to be announced.
Presented by Bleach* the Gold Coast Festival
BACKBONE
GRAVITY & OTHER MYTHS
2-3 APRIL
Bleach* The Gold Coast Festival are bringing Gravity & Other Myths, an internationally renowned Adelaide-based company known for pushing the boundaries of contemporary circus, direct to the Gold Coast. Explore the physical, emotional and individual limits of strength in this high octane spree of physical virtuosity.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PAUL
WRITTEN BY AND STARRING JONATHAN BIGGINS
6 MAY
Starring Jonathan Biggins as Paul Keating, this comedy, full of insight, intelligence and wit is a smash hit about a critical time in Australian history and the man that shaped it. Discover through humour and astute observations what can we learn today from this singular politician, and the momentous time in our country’s history. A Soft Tread Production.
THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD
CDP KIDS WITH TALL STORIES
15-16 MAY
If you loved The Gruffalo, don’t miss out on The Gruffalo’s Child, based on the award-winning picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. One wild night the Gruffalo’s Child ignores her father’s warnings about the Big Bad Mouse and tiptoes out into the deep dark woods. Because after all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist, does he?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEETHOVEN
QUEENSLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
22 MAY
Enjoy all the beauty, orchestra, excitement and emotion of Beethoven’s masterful compositions as Queensland Symphony Orchestra perform a selection of his most popular works - cheeky, beautiful and iconic – in celebration of his 250th birthday. The performance will welcome conductor and solo violinist Guy Braunstein and flute soloist Alison Mitchell.
GRUG
WINDMILL THEATRE COMPANY
10-11 JULY
Perfect for the younger theatre lovers, Grug, based on the much-loved picture book character created by Ted Prior, is fascinated by the world around him and solve everyday problems creatively and without fuss.
BONACHELA/LANE
SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY
11 JULY
2020 is the year to experience dance that will make your heart beat fast, and your blood run hot. Sydney Dance Company are bringing you Rafael Bonachela’s newest creation Impermanence, and Melanie Lane’s smash-hit apocalyptic fantasy WOOF in a performance that will explode the everyday and take you to the sublime.
MAN WITH THE IRON NECK
LEGS ON THE WALL
24-25 JULY
Man with the Iron Neck is a story of survival that follows the lives of three young kids from the bush trying to find hope after loss. With soaring ariel stunts, this critically acclaimed work from Australia’s leading physical theatre company tells a tale of love, loss, resilience and hope.
WAKE IN FRIGHT
A NEW PLAY
ADAPTED FROM KENNETH COOK’S NOVEL BY DECLAN GREENE WITH ZAHARA NEWMAN
30-31 JULY
From Malthouse Theatre comes the opportunity to experience Kenneth Cook’s iconic work of Australian Gothic horror in the flesh. John Grant is well-read, but an outback misadventure strands him—cashless and jobless—in a harsh and remote Aussie outpost, Bundanyabba. So, he makes new ‘mates’: they’re quick with a drink, but with every scull a dark violence lurches forward. Are these blokes fair dinkum, or is there something more sinister at the heart of this little Aussie town?
BLUE BONES
BY MERLYNN TONG
A PLAYLAB PRODUCTION
21 AUGUST
Blue Bones is a humble one-woman show starring Merlynn Tong that tells the true story of two teenagers’ romance as it blossoms then warps in the heat of bustling Singapore. With a combination of characters, kung fu and arcade dance games the performance is a multi-lingual whirlwind of love, naivety, violence and courage.
TOSCA
OPERA QUEENSLAND
28-29 AUGUST
Often described as the greatest opera of all, Patrick Nolan’s critically acclaimed production of Tosca is coming to HOTA. The storyembraces the grand themes of the human spirit in a plea of political freedom for artists
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
BELL SHAKESPEARE
2-3 SEPTEMBER
The Comedy of Errors is a hilarious tale of misfortune, swapped identities and mistaken imprisonment. It follows the story of two sets of twins, who were shipwrecked and separated 25 years earlier, that miraculously find themselves in the same city on the same day. Can the twins possibly reunite and live happily ever after?
VIRAL
SHOCK THERAPY PRODUCTIONS
8 SEPTEMBER
Viral explores the role of social media and technology and how such methods impact the way we record communicate and think about different events. It explores the line between disassociation and raising awareness about events of racism, abuse, violence and sexual assault in the community.
ROALD DAHL’S FANTASTIC MR FOX
A SHAKE & STIR THEATRE & QPAC PRODUCTION
21-23 SEPTEMBER
You’ve read the book and seen the movie - now experience Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox on the big stage. Dahl’s much-loved favourite leaps off the page (and all over the stage) in this new production from the team that brought us George’s Marvellous Medicine. Packed with Dahlicious mischief, hilarious mayhem and humongous belly laughs, Fantastic Mr Fox is the perfect tail for the whole clan. Adapted for the stage by shake & stir theatre co.
CIRCA’S PEEPSHOW
10 OCTOBER
Circa’s Peepshow combines some of the finest acrobatic talents on the planet to literally turn cabaret on its head. Join them as they take you on a seductive dance through the hall of mirrors that is your imagination. Expect teetering towers of balanced bodies, extreme bending and precarious aerials, all with a winning sense of humour.
MAGIC BEACH
CDP KIDS
13-14 NOVEMBER
From the team behind the Gruffalo, Alison Lester AM’s classic book, Magic Beach comes to life in a world of text, song, light, shadow and movement. This production is a celebration of the power of imagination and the differences that make every child special. A play by Finegan Kruckemeyer. Based on the book by Alison Lester.
Highlights of the 2020 program include the retelling of the legend of King Arthur in Monty Python’s SPAMALOT; the return of Viral, a powerful physical theatre show created on the Gold Coast with a run of successful international seasons under its belt; and the puppet-show/rock-concert experience of Laser Beak Man.
Audiences will be delighted by the incredible artistry of circus and physical theatre Air Play, Circa’s Peepshow, and Backbone (presented by Bleach* The Gold Coast Festival); while spectacular cabaret and dance will be delivered by Yummy Deluxe and Sydney Dance Company’s Bonachela/Lane.
HOTA CEO Criena Gehrke said that the program announced today is just a taste of what you’ll be able to see at HOTA in 2020.
“We’re presenting more opportunities for people to experience the arts in different ways,” Criena said.
“I’m talking workshops, live performances in unexpected places, great art, and of course the best Australian and International artists and companies performing indoors and out,” she said.
Children and their grown-ups will love the adaptions of their favourite childhood books The Gruffalo’s Child, Grug, Fantastic Mr Fox and Magic Beach on the big stage.
We can also expect some big names at HOTA this year including Kathy Lette with her hilarious Big Night Out and Emmy-award winner Lance Horne reliving all of your favourite songs in Secret Broadway.
Noni Hazlehust will appear in the moving one-woman show Mother, and be offering a free masterclass for performing arts teachers, as well as an opportunity to share high tea with her biggest fans. While Australian actor and writer, Jonathan Biggins, will perform his one-man show, The Gospel According to Paul.
The sneak peek at these 23 fantastic shows are just a taste of what’s on offer at HOTA in 2020, with more shows to be announced throughout the year.
For more information on HOTA, Home of the Arts or their 2020 program go to: https://hota.com.au/2020-sneak-peek/
- ENDS -
ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Madeline Feint | M10 Collective
E: madeline@m10.com.au M: 0423 586 232
2020 PROGRAM SNEAK PEEK
YUMMY DELUXE
22-25 JANUARY
Yummy Deluxe is a powerhouse cabaret of drag, dance, circus and live music that will take you on a ride, delicious and unpredictable. This multi-award winning ensemble is a mix of fabulous new acts and electric group members, and Yummy favorites. Join the stars of Yummy Deluxe as they lead a new wave of outrageous and innovative cabaret, unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
AIR PLAY
BY ACROBUFFOS FROM NEW YORK CITY
10-11 JANUARY
In a visual comedic poem with no words, Air Play combines comedy, circus, theatre and sculpture to give us a bold reminder of childhood and growing up. Merging the extraordinary air sculptures by the renowned Daniel Wertzel with the crowd-pleasing comedic values of circus performing Seth Bloom and Christina Gelsone, Air Play is a breathtaking, magical production that pays homage to the power of air.
LASER BEAK MAN
WRITTEN BY DAVID MORTON, NICHOLAS PAINE AND TIM SHARP
WITH MUSIC BY SAM CROMACK (BALL PARK MUSIC)
16-18 JANUARY
Part puppet show, part pop concert, and all heart, Laser Break Man follows a local hero who draws energy from the underground Magna Crystals that power the City to shoot lasers from his beak to turn bad to good. The City is threatened when Peter Bartman, Laser Beak Man’s estranged childhood friend, robs the Magna Crystals leaving Laser Beak Man with no superpowers. Find out if Laser Beak Man finds a way to stop his nemesis from destroying Power City in this visual theatre performance filled with offbeat humour and wit.
SECRET BROADWAY
WITH LANCE HORNE AND SPECIAL GUESTS
22 FEBRUARY
Lance Horne is an Emmy award-winning composer, pianist, singers and music director who has taken a page from the book by Jack Viertel ‘The Secret Life of the American Musical: How Broadway Shows Are Built’ to unlock the love of theatre. Fall in love with your favourite songs all over again in this new series at HOTA, in a magical evening of music with Lance Horne and special guests from Broadway and beyond.
MOTHER STARRING NONI HAZLEHURST
WRITTEN BY DANIEL KEENE. DIRECTED BY MATT SHOLTEN.
27-29 FEBRUARY
Mother is an award-winning one woman show starring one of Australia’s finest actors, Noni Hazelhurst, that tells the story of Christie, a homeless woman who lives in a detached existence from the world around her. This remarkable performance speaks of madness, denial, and ignorance and gives a voice to those who live at the edge of safety. Utterly devasting, yet wrought with tenderness, Mother is a striking performance not to be missed. An If Theatre Production.
MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT
5-7 MARCH
Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot retells the legend of King Arthur. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, the production heads to the Gold Coast following a sell out season at Hayes Theatre in Sydney. A One Eyed Man Production.
KATHY LETTE’S BIG NIGHT OUT
12-13 MARCH
Join Australian born author, screenwriter, journalist and party girl Kathy Lette as she takes to the stage to share the intimate details of her varied and multi-coloured personal, social and professional lives. Kathy’s Big Night Out will take you on a psychological striptease covering everything from menopause, love, marriage, childbirth, mastitis and ageing to making the Queen laugh, hiding Julian Assange in her attic and tongue-kissing Prince William.
ECHOES OF THE JAZZ AGE
STARRING JOHN BELL AND SIMON TEDESCHI
28 MARCH
A sophisticated jazz and spoken word performance inspired by the essay by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Alongside two of Australia’s most respected music and theatre stars will be sizzling quotes from Mae West, Groucho Marx, and Dorothy Parker plus poetry by T.S Eliot, charming piano music of Scott Joplin, Louis Armstrong and James P Johnson with songs by George Gershwin, Ray Henderson and Fats Waller. Special guest to be announced.
Presented by Bleach* the Gold Coast Festival
BACKBONE
GRAVITY & OTHER MYTHS
2-3 APRIL
Bleach* The Gold Coast Festival are bringing Gravity & Other Myths, an internationally renowned Adelaide-based company known for pushing the boundaries of contemporary circus, direct to the Gold Coast. Explore the physical, emotional and individual limits of strength in this high octane spree of physical virtuosity.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PAUL
WRITTEN BY AND STARRING JONATHAN BIGGINS
6 MAY
Starring Jonathan Biggins as Paul Keating, this comedy, full of insight, intelligence and wit is a smash hit about a critical time in Australian history and the man that shaped it. Discover through humour and astute observations what can we learn today from this singular politician, and the momentous time in our country’s history. A Soft Tread Production.
THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD
CDP KIDS WITH TALL STORIES
15-16 MAY
If you loved The Gruffalo, don’t miss out on The Gruffalo’s Child, based on the award-winning picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. One wild night the Gruffalo’s Child ignores her father’s warnings about the Big Bad Mouse and tiptoes out into the deep dark woods. Because after all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist, does he?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEETHOVEN
QUEENSLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
22 MAY
Enjoy all the beauty, orchestra, excitement and emotion of Beethoven’s masterful compositions as Queensland Symphony Orchestra perform a selection of his most popular works - cheeky, beautiful and iconic – in celebration of his 250th birthday. The performance will welcome conductor and solo violinist Guy Braunstein and flute soloist Alison Mitchell.
GRUG
WINDMILL THEATRE COMPANY
10-11 JULY
Perfect for the younger theatre lovers, Grug, based on the much-loved picture book character created by Ted Prior, is fascinated by the world around him and solve everyday problems creatively and without fuss.
BONACHELA/LANE
SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY
11 JULY
2020 is the year to experience dance that will make your heart beat fast, and your blood run hot. Sydney Dance Company are bringing you Rafael Bonachela’s newest creation Impermanence, and Melanie Lane’s smash-hit apocalyptic fantasy WOOF in a performance that will explode the everyday and take you to the sublime.
MAN WITH THE IRON NECK
LEGS ON THE WALL
24-25 JULY
Man with the Iron Neck is a story of survival that follows the lives of three young kids from the bush trying to find hope after loss. With soaring ariel stunts, this critically acclaimed work from Australia’s leading physical theatre company tells a tale of love, loss, resilience and hope.
WAKE IN FRIGHT
A NEW PLAY
ADAPTED FROM KENNETH COOK’S NOVEL BY DECLAN GREENE WITH ZAHARA NEWMAN
30-31 JULY
From Malthouse Theatre comes the opportunity to experience Kenneth Cook’s iconic work of Australian Gothic horror in the flesh. John Grant is well-read, but an outback misadventure strands him—cashless and jobless—in a harsh and remote Aussie outpost, Bundanyabba. So, he makes new ‘mates’: they’re quick with a drink, but with every scull a dark violence lurches forward. Are these blokes fair dinkum, or is there something more sinister at the heart of this little Aussie town?
BLUE BONES
BY MERLYNN TONG
A PLAYLAB PRODUCTION
21 AUGUST
Blue Bones is a humble one-woman show starring Merlynn Tong that tells the true story of two teenagers’ romance as it blossoms then warps in the heat of bustling Singapore. With a combination of characters, kung fu and arcade dance games the performance is a multi-lingual whirlwind of love, naivety, violence and courage.
TOSCA
OPERA QUEENSLAND
28-29 AUGUST
Often described as the greatest opera of all, Patrick Nolan’s critically acclaimed production of Tosca is coming to HOTA. The storyembraces the grand themes of the human spirit in a plea of political freedom for artists
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
BELL SHAKESPEARE
2-3 SEPTEMBER
The Comedy of Errors is a hilarious tale of misfortune, swapped identities and mistaken imprisonment. It follows the story of two sets of twins, who were shipwrecked and separated 25 years earlier, that miraculously find themselves in the same city on the same day. Can the twins possibly reunite and live happily ever after?
VIRAL
SHOCK THERAPY PRODUCTIONS
8 SEPTEMBER
Viral explores the role of social media and technology and how such methods impact the way we record communicate and think about different events. It explores the line between disassociation and raising awareness about events of racism, abuse, violence and sexual assault in the community.
ROALD DAHL’S FANTASTIC MR FOX
A SHAKE & STIR THEATRE & QPAC PRODUCTION
21-23 SEPTEMBER
You’ve read the book and seen the movie - now experience Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox on the big stage. Dahl’s much-loved favourite leaps off the page (and all over the stage) in this new production from the team that brought us George’s Marvellous Medicine. Packed with Dahlicious mischief, hilarious mayhem and humongous belly laughs, Fantastic Mr Fox is the perfect tail for the whole clan. Adapted for the stage by shake & stir theatre co.
CIRCA’S PEEPSHOW
10 OCTOBER
Circa’s Peepshow combines some of the finest acrobatic talents on the planet to literally turn cabaret on its head. Join them as they take you on a seductive dance through the hall of mirrors that is your imagination. Expect teetering towers of balanced bodies, extreme bending and precarious aerials, all with a winning sense of humour.
MAGIC BEACH
CDP KIDS
13-14 NOVEMBER
From the team behind the Gruffalo, Alison Lester AM’s classic book, Magic Beach comes to life in a world of text, song, light, shadow and movement. This production is a celebration of the power of imagination and the differences that make every child special. A play by Finegan Kruckemeyer. Based on the book by Alison Lester.