AUSTRALIAN MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL presents the inaugural Maker’s Weekend

The Australian Musical Theatre Festival is proud to present its first Maker’s Weekend, dedicated to those who create theatre of any kind. 

‘The Maker’s Weekend’ is an initiative of the Australian Musical Theatre Festival designed to nurture and upskill local, Tasmanian theatre makers and beyond. Previously an existing part of the AMTF’s annual May offering, this bespoke festival is designed to unite local practitioners with brilliant industry leaders, all in pursuit of creating theatre. The weekend features a unique combination of classes, panels and performances, with the development of a new Australian musical, ‘Paper Stars’, underpinning the activities. 

Classes include Stage Management, Writing, Producing and Directing with many of Australia’s leading practitioners. James Millar, star of many musicals including ‘Matilda’ and writer of many musicals himself, takes on the role of dramaturg, teacher, and performer throughout the weekend with Director, Tyran Parke, Producer, Pella Gregory and Writer Vicki Madden complimenting international writers discussions and forums with local artists. 

The classes include:

Directors – Interrogating the Material 

A look at how to creatively revive musicals in a modern era. 

Stage Management with Opera Australia’s, Pella Gregory 

Which examines the role of a stage manager and provides techniques on preparing and ‘calling’ a script for production. 

Storytelling with Vicki Madden 

‘The Gloaming’ and ‘The Kettering Incident’ are just two of the series Vicki has created and, in this workshop, she shares her knowledge and experience on developing writing in the creative arts. 

Producing with Senior Producer at Opera Australia 

Pella has worked leading companies on projects from Bell Shakespeare to The Phantom of the Opera and offers insight into the process of producing from page to stage. 

Anatomy of a Song with James Millar 

James will work with singers to unpack his writing from shows such as ‘The Hatpin’, ‘Lovebites’ and others – a unique and rare experience to be coached from the writer of Australian classics. 

All classes and panels will take place at long time AMTF partner’s Launceston College. 

There will also be a Diversity and Inclusion Panel, an International Writers Panel and two concerts; 

‘Cut Outta Town’ which will celebrate all the amazing songs which did NOT make it onto the Broadway Cast recording featuring James Millar, Jodie Harris, Tyran Parke and many local guests. 

AMTF’s New Musical Presentation 

Come see a musical (‘Paper Stars’) in its development stages as it readies itself towards further presentations. 

Everyone knows her as the woman who created ‘Mary Poppins’, but who was P.L. Travers before she became famous? Inspired by true events (yet told with a healthy spoonful of imagination), ‘Paper Stars’ follows the intrepid Lyndon Goff as she sets sail from the docks of Sydney Harbour in 1925, with dreams of becoming a great writer in London. There, she reinvents herself as Pamela Travers, and goes on to write one of the most beloved stories of all time, ‘Mary Poppins’. Yet can Pamela learn to love real people as much as her characters? With a whimsical book by Grace Chapple and Miranda Middleton, and a spectacular score by Luke Byrne, ‘Paper Stars’ is a story about finding magic in the everyday. 

Paper Stars was first developed by The Hatch Lab Musical Theatre Residency Program at Salty Theatre. 

Artistic Director, Tyran Parke is thrilled to establish The Makers Weekend this November; “ So many Tasmanian creatives are eager to develop their skills in storytelling, whether that be as directors, stage managers, producers, writers or performers either on the professional stage or in community or school endeavours. Never has there been a program so committed to the skills involved in doing this, with such leaders in their field. It’s a perfect addition to our May Festival” 

Whether you are a director, writer, actor, stage manager, producer, choreographer, musical director, composer you’ll find gold in the collaborative program and open activities. 

The Australian Musical Theatre Festival is supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania, the City of Launceston, Launceston Central City (City Prom), Theatre North and many local businesses. 

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For more information, visit www.amtf.org.au