Following her phenomenal sold-out season in London’s West End, Australia’s Bernadette Robinson returns to Sydney and Melbourne for a limited engagement in this hit play.
Quite the spellbinding one woman performance, it is a tour de force of imagined encounters between five mid-20th Century divas: Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf and Maria Callas, and five ordinary women.
Bernadette Robinson’s critically acclaimed performances in multiple sell‐out seasons of this show have confirmed her standing as one of Australia’s leading performers. She was nominated for a Helpmann Award in 2012 as Best Female Actor in a Play, appeared in the role of Beatrice in Nick Enright and Terry Clarke’s The Venetian Twins, and has enjoyed lead roles with Chamber Made Opera and Wellington City Opera.
In writing SONGS FOR NOBODIES, Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith has mined a rich seam of longing, humour and quiet frustration in this work to conjure the alchemic effect these women’s encounters with their musical idols have on their lives - from right there in the moment to their future choices. No stranger to penning for the stage, Joanna Murray-Smith’s plays have been produced and translated all over the world and have appeared on Broadway, the West End and the National Theatre in London. Her work also includes three novels published by Penguin/Viking and two operas, Love in the Age of Therapy and The Divorce.
Under the direction of Simon Phillips, Bernadette Robinson switches characters and vocals without a breath, each song choice a glorious homage and celebration, delivered with passion and emotion that few ever come close to. Simon Philips himself has directed the premières of many new works by leading Australian writers, and apart from Priscilla, Simon’s musical credits include Oliver!, Chicago, Jesus Christ Superstar, Cabaret, High Society and a new Australian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies. His production of Ladies in Black, a musical created with his wife Carolyn Burns, and Tim Finn (yes, of Split Enz) was an acclaimed success. His production of North By North West premièred at the Theatre Royal Bath and most recently he directed the award‐winning Muriel’s Wedding which premièred in 2017.
SONGS FOR NOBODIES with Bernadette Robinson was a huge success in the West End, with great reviews for her performance, and for the show generally. As a result, the production was nominated for the UK’s most prestigious theatre award – an Olivier Award. The show showcases her astonishing talent for recreating the great singers of the past. On stage for 90 minutes accompanied by live musicians, her miraculous voice shifts from smoky blues to thrilling soprano.With consummate ease, she breathes new life into the five legendary performers and the five ordinary women whose lives were changed by their brush with fame. SONGS FOR NOBODIES proves Bernadette Robinson to be a virtuoso singer, a virtuoso impressionist and a virtuoso actor. First performed 10 years ago, the show will tour to the Geelong Performing Arts Centre, the Arts Centre Melbourne and the Sydney Opera House. There is plenty to enjoy in this special limited Encore season.
PERFORMANCE DETAILS (check booking links for up-to-date performance times):
GEELONG: Geelong Performing Arts Centre, Drama Theatre
Friday 13 December 7.30pm
Saturday 14 December 2.00pm &7.30pm
Sunday 15 December 2.00pm & 5.00pm
Bookings: Geelong Performing Arts Centre
MELBOURNE: Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio
Wednesday 18 December 7.30pm
Thursday 19 December 7.30pm
Friday 20 December 7.30pm
Saturday 21 December 2.00pm & 7.30pm
Sunday 22 December 5.00pm
Monday 23 December 6.00pm
Thursday 26 December 7.30pm
Friday 27 December 7.30pm
Saturday 28 December 2.00pm & 7.30pm
Sunday 29 December 2.00pm & 6.00pm
Bookings: Arts Centre Melbourne
SYDNEY: Sydney Opera House, Playhouse
Thursday 23 January 7.30pm
Friday 24 January 7.30pm
Saturday 25 January 2.00pm & 7.30pm
Sunday 26 January 5.00pm
Tuesday 28 January 7.30pm
Wednesday 29 January 2.00pm & 7.30pm
Thursday 30 January 7.30pm
Saturday 1 February 2.00pm & 7.30pm
Sunday 2 February 5.00pm
Bookings: Sydney Opera House
Touring management: Duet
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