Upcoming Programmes at Canberra Theatre Centre

Canberra Theatre Centre is proud to be Canberra’s premier performing arts venue, providing world class performing arts and entertainment to the people of Canberra and surrounding regions. Doors were wide open throughout 2022, with everything in theatres from musical theatre and drama to comedy, live music and children’s entertainment.

2022 brought in new faces, and the centre welcome Daniel Clarke to the team as Head of Programming. Dan has been CEO of Theatre Works, St Kilda, Artistic Director and CEO of Adelaide’s Feast Festival, Programmer of Performing Arts at Arts Centre Melbourne and Executive Producer of programming at QPAC. He is currently serving as Festival Creative Director: WorldPride Arts for Sydney WorldPride until March 2023. Dan’s breadth of experience and expertise is already proving invaluable to the Canberra theatre community.

Photo credit: Liv Cameron

2023 already promises to be sensational. Programme for children and families is full of magic, cheek and play. Kicking off the year in February with Air Play, where umbrellas fly high, fabrics soar over the audience, balloons swallow people and swirling snow fills the stage. 360 ALLSTARS arrives in April, a phenomenal physical show exploring all forms of rotation that connects the street with the elite to deliver a supercharged urban circus.

Air Play (Photo credit: Florence Montmare)

For the adults, Sydney Dance Company returns with Ascent, an electric and emotional triple bill with innovative works from local and international talents. The Australian premiere season of Choir Boy arrives in March, the Tony Award® nominated play by the Academy Award® winning writer of Moonlight, Tarell Alvin McCraney. It is a moving story of sexuality, race, hope, gospel music, and a young gay man finding his voice.

The centre is also making history, because for the very first time Canberra Theatre Centre has joined forces with Sydney Theatre Company to co-produce the World Premiere of Julia, starring Justine Clarke. Julia premieres in the nation’s capital less than three kilometres from Parliament House where the famous Misogyny Speech occurred ten years ago.

Justine Clarke in ‘Julia’ (Photo credit: Sydney Theatre Company)

These are only some of the highlights from this year, and it is only just beginning.

There are many exciting changes just around the corner. The Canberra Theatre Redevelopment will create a world-class destination for artists and audiences in the heart of our Civic Square and Cultural District. Design and community consultation for the project is now officially underway, which includes a 2000-seat theatre and a refurbishment of the Playhouse theatre. The ACT Government has asked three of Australia’s leaders in innovative theatre and architectural design, Architectus, Design Inc and Hassell, to submit tender to become the design partner. Diversity and inclusion will be a priority, with tenderers asked to create design solutions that are supportive and inclusive for patrons, staff and performers with a disability and involve those who identify as LGBTIQ+. The centre is excited to embark on this next chapter of the design process and see the future of its theatre come to life.

In a post-and-present COVID world, Canberra Theatre Centre feels very lucky to be delivering the best live entertainment Australia has to offer. The centre hopes to welcome some of you in their theatres this year and beyond.