The one-of-a-kind Australian Musical Theatre Festival is returning to Tasmania in 2024 and it is set to be as unique and extraordinary as ever.
Running from May 15 to 19, the Australian Musical Theatre Festival will bring renowned shows and global premieres to the picturesque town of Launceston, offering visitors a chance to see world-class performances across the five days.
But don’t expect anything too typical. Many of the performances are set to occur in unusual spaces and performed in unconventional ways – a strategic implementation that will unveil the layered history and uniqueness of Launceston.
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The history of Launceston, albeit steeped in the tragedy and devastation of colonialism, will be illuminated in grandeur. Find the age-old tales of northern lutruwita reimagined in contemporary ways, with stories as eclectic as the city itself playing an important role in the programming.
For the Artistic Director of the festival, Tyran Parke, storytelling is what fuels his passion for musical theatre. “At the heart of musical theatre is the action of telling stories,” he says.
“We tell stories, our own stories – we tell local stories, we tell overseas stories – but it’s all done through music, theatre and dance. If you think of musical theatre like that, the possibilities are endless.”
Embracing the open-ended quality with open arms, the program has so much to offer. From a choose-your-own-musical-adventure in Launceston Gorge to an inclusive pub choir session facilitated by stars including Josh Piterman, Patrice Tipoki and Kerrie Anne Greenland, the experimental gems are what make the festival so quintessentially Tasmanian.
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“People ask, ‘Why is the Australian Musical Theatre Festival held in Tasmania?” he says. “It’s because we can do things in really different ways. We immerse the performances in what is already there and so ultimately it becomes about people. I feel community and connection through music and stories, which are examples of what most people can resonate with. And that’s where I go ‘there’s something for everyone’ because everyone loves some kind of music, and everybody loves stories.”
Of course, for the more traditional musical theatre fans, there are plenty of classics as well, including iconic Broadway songwriter John Bucchino’s new musical revue It’s Only Life, a reimagined version of Stephen Sondheim’s classic Marry Me A Little set amongst the Melbourne Covid-19 lockdowns and performed in an abandoned hotel, and the beloved annual Busker’s Alley takeover.
It’s really an all-encompassing experience, where guests can sample Launceston’s gastronomic delights, try out a singing, acting or dance workshop, view a few shows and cap off the night at The Diva Den, hosted by a different icon each night and teeming with snacks and tipples.
“When you’re at a festival in Launceston, you really feel like you’re part of a festival rather than a series of events. You come out of a church where we’re doing something and you go into the brewery where we’re doing something else or you go to the park or down one of the laneways and there’s music everywhere.”
It seems fitting for a city that used to have the highest amount of operational theatres per capita to host a festival like this and Tyran Parke is eager to share that with the world, all the while presenting musical theatre in a way not witnessed before.
“I think something is captured in this festival that highlights the emphasis placed on community, vulnerability and the ability to reflect on stories told. For all of us at the Australian Musical Theatre Festival 2024, musical theatre will come alive in a new way.”
You can purchase tickets to the Australian Musical Theatre Festival here.
