Winter is for Theatre

We are past the shortest day of the year down under, yet we are still in the thick of winter.

Never fear!  I have a suggestion of top quality entertainment that is way cheaper than the movies, and if you go, you will not only be entertained, enlightened and excavated out of your winter burrow, but you will also be supporting local talent and going to an event that's never been created before. Consider yourself a pioneer patron and get down to the Courthouse Hotel's WINTERFEST 2015. For the first time ever, the Courthouse Hotel will be playing host to comics, musical theatre stars and improv groups across a 3 day theatre festival. 
More details are here and here too


But why theatre? 

Well, since it's the industry I'm trained in and the most passionate about, I'm pretty biased........ 

But I think going and being entertained by people's stories, characters, and creativity in a live environment is an experience that just can't be replaced.

Take when I went to a friend's show in the Melbourne Cabaret Festival last week (another example of the many things going on in Melb that means you probably didn't know it was on) - I was sitting in the audience and she came singing through the audience to a terrific live band. There were lights in my eyes and a huge smile on my face. Not just because my friend was absolutely killing it, but because I was experiencing the brilliance of the talent at close range with about 50 other people. We were sharing in a magical moment.

"Television is a medium of entertainment which permits millions of people to listen to the same joke at the same time, and yet remain lonesome."

T. S. Eliot

You won't be lonesome at the theatre.
You can hear other people laugh. You can feel them stiffen in their chairs when things get tense. You can, God forbid, talk to them at intermission. You can be carried away as soon as the houselights dim. Through the characters learning more about themselves as their story unfolds onstage, you can learn more about yourself. See and hear and feel music performed live without auto tune, editing or ads. 

Do yourself a favour and get down to the theatre. It's more live than the movies, less intense than a sports game, and has an abundance of interesting people. Plus it's warm and serves wine. 

The show must go on, but this blog post must not. 

fin.

***exits stage right

Jj