sign in sign up
<<
Home , Rufus Wainwright, Theatre Is Evil

KABARETT HAUS MEOW MEOW’S PANDEMONIUM RUFUS WAINWRIGHT

Image: Karl Giant Image: Mark Gambino

Founder Principal Partner CREDITS WELCOME TO KABARETT HAUS

Perth Festival acknowledges the Noongar people who continue to practise their values, language, beliefs Kabarett Haus Designer Bruce McKinven It is a rare being who in solo performance can create Peter Rubie and knowledge on their kwobidak boodjar. Kabarett Haus Lighting Designer an electricity and connection with an audience in the hugeness of a concert hall that is both grand and genuine. When I was asked if I could bring two people for They remain the spiritual and cultural birdiyangara of this place and we honour and respect their caretakers MEOW MEOW’S PANDEMONIUM and custodians and the vital role Noongar people play for our community and our Festival to flourish. a program that celebrates the solo voice, I immediately Created & Performed by Meow Meow thought of two artists with an extraordinary sense of Conductor Iain Grandage honesty in their performance – Rufus Wainwright and Featuring Thomas M Lauderdale (piano) Amanda Palmer. West Australian Symphony Orchestra It is with great pleasure that I have curated this mini- First Violin Semra Lee-Smith, Graeme Norris, series of concerts for Perth Festival’s Kabarett Haus Stephanie Dean, Beth Hebert, Alexandra Isted, season. I am thrilled to present two artists who in their Christina Katsimbardis, Kathryn Lee, Cerys Tooby songwriting, musicianship, art, activism and lives bring Second Violin Zak Rowntree, Kylie Liang, what is for me the essence of great performance – I’m Sarah Blackman, Sunmi Jung, Lucas O’Brien, calling it ‘epic intimacy’. Rufus Wainwright and Amanda Jane Serrangeli Palmer are both in their unique ways raw, sublime, KABARETT HAUS Viola Alex Brogan, Ben Caddy, Rachael Kirk, transcendent, charismatic, urgent and real. The Helen Tuckey authenticity of these two voices will make for a profound, PERTH CONCERT HALL Cello Eve Silver, Shigeru Komatsu, Nicholas Metcalfe, beautiful and provocative experience in our concert hall. MEOW MEOW’S PANDEMONIUM | THU 20 FEB | 90MINS Tim South RUFUS WAINWRIGHT – DOWN SOLO WAINWRIGHT | FRI 21 FEB | 90MINS Double Bass Andrew Sinclair, Christine Reitzenstein, I have loved watching them both around the world. I first AMANDA PALMER – THERE WILL BE NO INTERMISSION | SAT 22 FEB | 4HRS INCLUDING INTERVAL Mark Tooby met Amanda in 2007 in Edinburgh and the connection Flute Andrew Nicholson, Michael Waye was immediate. She’s a brilliant songwriter and an Oboe Elizabeth Chee, Leanne Glover incredible presence. I’ve toured with her, recorded for Hear Meow Meow in conversation with Iain Grandage on Sat 22 Feb at 5.30pm at Perth Concert Hall. Clarinet Allan Meyer, Alexander Millier her and hugged her around the world, and this show she’s Bassoon Jane Kircher-Lindner, Chloe Turner bringing will be yet another singular, fascinating, complex Sat 22 Horn David Evans, Robert Gladstones, Julia Brooke, Palmer experience. Francesco Lo Surdo Amanda Palmer - There Will Be No Intermission contains adult themes Trumpet Jenna Smith, Peter Miller, Mark Underwood Rufus and I met at a party in a year earlier, at Trombone Joshua Davis, Thomas Gilmore, the launch of John Cameron Mitchell’s film Shortbus, Philip Holdsworth where, amongst other things, we talked about Portland Tuba Cameron Brook Oregon and we realised our connection was the divine Alex Timcke Thomas M Lauderdale. We keep meeting up as we both There is a special relationship in the performing arts between creator, performer and audience. Without any one of Timpani Brian Maloney, Francois Combemorel, tour the world, from intimate shows to watching him those elements, the ceremony of performance ceases to exist. In choosing to be here, we thank you for your act of Percussion Robyn Gray, Paul Tanner summon the stars through the roof of . community as we celebrate the artists on the stage and the imaginations of those who have given them environments Anthony Maydwell Most recently we recorded a celebration of Edith Piaf’s to inhabit, words to embody and songs to sing. Harp Keyboard Graeme Gilling famous duet with Théo Sarapo À quoi ça sert, l’amour? for Thomas’ and my new , Hotel Amour. Listening to Perth Festival 2020 is a celebration of us – our place and our time. It wouldn’t be the same without you. the golden-voiced Rufus record on the famous Nat King RUFUS WAINWRIGHT – DOWN SOLO WAINWRIGHT Cole mic at Capitol Records Studio in Los Angeles last Iain Grandage, year was something sublime that I shall never forget. I am Created & Performed by Rufus Wainwright Perth Festival Artistic Director so lucky to have these music makers and true friends in FOH Engineer Tony Bryan my life and I am so happy to invite them to our Festival. FANFARE Management Jörn Weisbrodt, Breakers Management and Paula Quijano, Little Empire Music We are kicking off the Kabarett Haus season with You were called to your seat tonight by ‘Match’ composed by 21-year-old UWA student Jet Kye Chong. the mayhem of Meow Meow’s Pandemonium, which Visit perthfestival.com.au for more information on the Fanfare project. premiered with the London Philharmonic Orchestra AMANDA PALMER – THERE WILL BE NO INTERMISSION under the guest baton of Maestro Grandage. Iain and I are LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO AFTER THE SHOW? Created & Performed by Amanda Palmer both so honoured that our friend Thomas Lauderdale, founder of the mega mini-orchestra – with Wind up or down and grab a drink and bite to eat with artists, friends and strangers at City of Lights. Kick back under whom I have been lucky enough to record and tour the stars to free music Thursday – Saturday. – will join us on piano for this very special symphonic extravaganza.

Joy and thank you!

Meow Meow Image: Magnus Hastings Image: Josep Echaburu

MEOW MEOW’S PANDEMONIUM RUFUS WAINWRIGHT DOWN SOLO WAINWRIGHT Q&A WITH MEOW MEOW The Kabarett style was subversive and although the Q&A WITH RUFUS WAINWRIGHT RUFUS WAINWRIGHT BIOGRAPHY music can sometimes seem light and frivolous, the lyrics What can audiences expect from an evening with and messages are usually quite political. So you can How different is this Kabarett Haus show to a regular Praised by The New York Times for his ‘genuine Meow Meow? experience it on two levels – come for the beautiful Rufus Wainwright gig? originality’, Rufus Wainwright has established himself Orchestrated chaos! What I love about this show is that music, stay for the important message. You can also get A little more theatrical than usual I suppose, though I’m as one of the great male vocalists, songwriters and it’s exquisite music performed with a full orchestra but away with things a lot more when you’re presenting them pretty dramatic to start with. Look out! of his generation. The New York-born, it’s full of madness and mayhem. It’s a great balance with music, and with a laugh! -raised singer songwriter has released seven of exquisite beauty and wildness. It’s comedy and Does performing on an evening between concerts by studio to date with, three DVDs and three live shenanigans and manages to be very playful while also Why did you decide to perform this show with an Meow Meow and Amanda Palmer help you make certain albums, including the fantastic Grammy nominated being topical and political. orchestra? repertoire choices? Rufus Does Judy at . Musically Wainwright It was originally Thomas Lauderdale’s suggestion – I’ve been both a fan and a friend to these two amazing has collaborated with artists including , Burt It’s incredible how relevant the politics of this music from to take what is traditionally an intimate, club-style Bacharach, , David Byrne, , Joni the 1920s still is. What I love about the Weimar period is gals over the years and they always up the ante. I am performance and to perform it with the full weight looking forward to trying to at least match them. Mitchell, , Heart, , Jessye the collision of musical and linguistic experimentation. of a symphony orchestra. And I tell you, it’s a magical Norman, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, and producer On the one hand you’re experiencing intense drama and experience. It will feel like the roof is coming off the Who or what has been the biggest inspiration for your among many others. He has made a name on the other there’ll be a novelty song. Concert Hall. There’s something so powerful about work? for himself in the classical music world with his much For this program I’m performing music from the 1920s people experiencing a live music event together – being Being brought up surrounded by serious old school folk acclaimed first , , premiering at the – songs from artist like Kurt Weill, Piazzolla, Brecht – present, in the moment rather than watching something music definitely laid the groundwork for my foundations. Manchester International Festival in July 2009 and being but also more contemporary works. There’s Megan on a screen. Later discovering opera infused my work with colours I performed in London, New York, Paris, Buenos Aires still dream about. Sprinkle in a little Annie Lennox, Prince and Hong Kong. His second opera based on the story of Washington, Radiohead’s Fake Plastic Trees, all given the To be able to perform this show with Thomas Lauderdale Meow Meow extreme cabaret touch of course! and Sonic Youth and we have an interesting mix. the Roman Emperor and premiered and Iain Grandage – two of my dearest friends as well in October 2018 at the in What first drew you to cabaret and in particular the as special musical collaborators will make this a truly Your work is quite diverse – even extending into opera. and won a Dora Award for Outstanding New Weimar era? wonderful celebration. Is your writing process very different when composing Opera. Wainwright has also distinguished himself by It’s been a lifetime of discovery – it’s like a magnet, a an opera score? playing original orchestrated pop songs, his orchestral MEOW MEOW BIOGRAPHY force that has been coming into my life over a long time, It is incredibly different. Writing songs and making settings of five Shakespeare Sonnets and pieces from Post-post-modern diva Meow Meow has hypnotised, drawing me to it. I love the sense of drama being told albums is about me, my life and the world we live in. an extensive classical repertoire with orchestras around inspired, and terrified audiences globally with unique through music and the fact that it has a strong dance Opera composing is directed at the characters, the the world and he has appeared at many of the world’s creations and sell-out seasons from New York’s Lincoln element. It was heavily influenced by the tango craze drama and the crazy universe that is opera. greatest concert halls and festivals. He has written and Center and Berlin’s Bar Jeder Vernunft to London’s West sweeping Europe at the time. Combine that with really recorded songs for a wide variety of movies and TV End and the Sydney Opera House. What are the good and not so good things about being profound lyrics, add to it the influx of jazz happening an international touring artist? shows including , , Judy, Meet in the ‘20s, the beginnings of surrealism in art – it all Named One of the Top Performers of the Year by Doing what I love most (good!) and 14-hour flights (not so the Robinsons, The Aviator, Moulin Rouge and Boardwalk combines to make for a wild time. The New Yorker, the spectacular crowd-surfing tragi- good, thanks !) Empire. He and his sister continue comedienne has performed award-winning solo works the legacy of their mother, Canadian folk icon Kate Is the act of performing a political statement? curated by David Bowie, Pina Bausch and Mikhail What is your favourite music to listen to? McGarrigle, and raise funds for the Kate McGarrigle Fund Absolutely but it’s also a spiritual one. The two are Baryshnikov and numerous international arts festivals. Opera and Leon Russel funding sarcoma research and a music therapy program. intertwined. There is such a connection between As well as being a prolific music and theatre creator He has completed a new studio pop album with LA- performer and audience in a live performance. And she specialises in the Weimar repertoire and French based producer to be released globally when that’s a Meow Meow show it can be an extreme chanson. She has recorded and toured extensively with with BMG in the spring of 2020. The album’s songs and connection. You might suddenly have this crazy Pink Martini and her TV appearances include for the production harken back to his explosive debut album performer stage dive right near you. My performances ABC, John Bishop (BBC) and Graham Norton (BBC). that celebrates the sound and musical heritage of take the idea of ‘touching the audience’ to the extreme. Los Angeles. EVELYN ‘CHAMPAGNE’ KING

Image: Kahn and Selesnick & MONDO FREAKS THU 27 FEB AMANDA PALMER THERE WILL BE NO INTERMISSION CHEVRON LIGHTHOUSE Ladies and gentlemen of all genders, please find your Does such a thing as work / life balance exist when DOORS OPEN 7.30PM seats. This performance will last approximately both you and your husband have such busy lives? seven years. How do you manage your family life and a huge career? I don’t know how ANYBODY manages to have children. It’s ‘Life-affirming, upbeat and zestful.’ You will experience: so bizarre. We just make it all up as we go along. Two abortions Doesn’t everybody do that? BBC (one out of your control; another, totally your choice). The death of your best friend after a four-year dance While you and Neil Gaiman are both at Perth Festival with cancer; you will hold him in your arms as he takes can we expect any surprise collaborations? his last breath two months before your first child is born. I can imagine that you might get a surprise Amanda at The unexpected death of another beloved friend Neil’s show. Or perhaps even the other way around. (you will stumble across him, sitting there, on his There’s also the fabulous Meow Meow, she just might Book Now perthfestival.com.au Presented by Perth Festival, Founder The University of Western Australia, Principal Partner Lotterywest favourite chair in the living room. You will hold his cold, appear. Or maybe we’ll open a secret speakeasy in an Supported by Community Partner Chevron Australia, City of Perth, Audio Technik, PAV Events, The Westin Perth, Gage Roads Brewing Co. & Vasse Felix dead hand in your own). abandoned yacht. Anything’s possible in Perth. One ex committing suicide, with a handgun. One childbirth AMANDA PALMER BIOGRAPHY (a 24-hour labor, in the woods, with no drugs). Amanda Palmer is a singer, songwriter, playwright, Parenthood pianist, author, director, blogger and ukulele enthusiast ‘Personal tragedy transformed into something (during which your baby will fall from a shelf, a few beds, who simultaneously embraces and explodes traditional and other high places). frameworks of music, theatre and art. She first came I’M A PHOENIX, epic, beautiful and so, so moving. ’ One miscarriage to prominence as one half of the Boston-based GRAHAM NORTON (alone, in a hotel room, on a very cold christmas night). punk cabaret duo , earning global applause for their inventive songcraft and wide-ranging BITCH Strobe light, smoke and other special effects may be theatricality. Her solo career has proven equally brave used. There is adult content and graphic language. and boundless, featuring such groundbreaking works as 26 FEB - 1 MAR the fan-funded . In 2013 she presented STATE THEATRE CENTRE OF WA Q&A WITH AMANDA PALMER ‘’ at the annual TED conference, which How has your music changed over time? has since been viewed over 20 million times worldwide. I think my music has become much simpler, more honest The following year saw her expand her philosophy into and more direct over time. I’ve learned that there’s a real The New York Times best-selling memoir and manual, magic in being straightforward. Or maybe that’s just a The Art of Asking: How I Learned To Stop Worrying phase I’m going through, hard to tell. And Let People Help. Since 2015 Palmer has used the Is the act of performing a political statement? patronage subscription platform Patreon Yes. Any person getting up on any stage is making a to fund the creation of her artwork. This has enabled her political statement. Even if you’re just choosing to do to collaborate with artists all over the world with over covers in a wedding band, you’re choosing songs, and 14,000 patrons supporting her creations each month. choosing stories to tell – YES, ABBA TELLS STORIES In 2019 Palmer released her new solo piano album and accompanying book of photographs and essays, There Wandsworth – and you’re feeding a deeper thread of culture and Council Will Be No Intermission, a masterwork that includes life, the political stories that are handed down to the next Founder Principal Partner generation. death, abortion and miscarriage among its tentpole

themes. Co-commissioned by Battersea Arts Centre, Arts Centre Melbourne, Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts and supported by and British Council. As you travel the world on this 80-show tour, do you Book Now perthfestival.com.au Financially supported by Arts Council England. In association with Avalon. see common themes that connect or divide us all? Yes. Everybody deals with suffering. All the time. And everybody wants relief, and to be seen. WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT

FOUNDER PRINCIPAL PARTNER COMMUNITY PARTNER

CIVIC PARTNER FESTIVAL PARTNER VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM PARTNER

LEADERSHIP PARTNERS LEAD MEDIA PARTNER

PRODUCTION PARTNERS PREMIER PARTNERS

MAJOR DONORS TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS

ADRIAN AND THE MCCLEMENTS MICHELA FINI FOUNDATION

MAJOR PARTNERS

PUBLIC FUNDING PARTNER HOTEL PARTNERS

With thanks to Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre Trust board, management and staff.

SUPPORTING PARTNERS CHAIR’S CIRCLE DONORS Discoverer $1,000+ $2,500+ Fred & Georgina Nagle Warren & Linda Coli Adina Apartment Hotels Anonymous The Birman Family Megan Enders & Tony Dale Dr Walter Ong & Graeme Marshall Paul & Didi Downie Advance Press Philip & Helen Cardaci Coral Carter & Terence Moylan Marco D’Orsogna & Terry Scott Zahra Peggs & Anthony Maguire Adrian & Michela Fini Archie Rose Distilling Co. Jock Clough & Bobbie Salmon Katrina Chisholm Adrian & Michela Fini Mark & Ingrid Puzey Arian Cullen & Mark Hands City of Fremantle Paul & Didi Downie Emma Fletcher The Goodlad Family Véronique Ramén Tim Day City of Subiaco Adrian & Michela Fini David Flynn & Bree Donaldson Kathryn Hogan & Gary & Jacqueline Steinepreis Camillo Della Maddalena City of Vincent The Humanity Foundation Brooke Fowles & Graham Droppert Tim & Chris Ungar Sarah D’Onofrio & John Palermo Copyright Agency Keith & Alana John Dane Etheridge Jim & Freda Irenic Yannis Vrodos Marco D’Orsogna & Terry Scott Escala Partners Ltd Gina & Ben Lisle Rosalind Diana Lilley Busi O Sharon Warburton & Fogarty Foundation GMA Garnet The McClements Foundation Lynn Murray Bill Repard & Jane Prendiville Damian Johnston David & Sandy Heldsinger Mello House John Poynton & Di Bain Rosemary Pratt Michael Wise & Kathryn Teale Murray & Christine Westphal Kathryn Hogan & Graham Droppert Music Feeds Phil Thick & Paula Rogers Joan Retallack Anonymous Donors Terri-ann White Jon & Tracey Horton RTRFM 92.1 Tim & Chris Ungar Margaret Seares AO Melvin Yeo The Humanity Foundation $1,400+ See Subiaco Bonney Tulloch Jim & Freda Irenic FESTIVAL CIRCLE DONORS The Backlot Perth Diana Warnock & Neil Archibald & LEGACY CIRCLE DONORS Keith & Alana John Inspirer $20,000+ Town of East Fremantle the late Bill Warnock Alan R Dodge AM Anita & Jim Clayton Victor G Kailis Travel Beyond Group Michael & Margrete Chaney Anonymous Donors Zelinda Bafile Nigel & Dr Heather Rogers Jody & Tony Lennon Vision Australia Radio Gina & Ben Lisle John Barrington & Fiona Harris Anonymous Donors Ben & Gina Lisle The McClements Foundation Explorer $500+ Robert Bayliss & Simon Dufall Sallie Anne & Michael Manford DRINK. DINE. DREAM. PARTNERS Bernard & Jackie Barnwell John & Linda Bond COMMISSIONING FUND DONORS McClements Foundation Visionary $10,000+ Dilly Dally Fred & Georgina Nagle Deborah Brady & Stephen Boyle Charles Bro & Inspirer $20,000+ Double Rainbow at The Rechabite Eureka Legacy Tania Chambers OAM & Anne Marie Brittain Bill Repard & Jane Prendiville Garum Jim Litis Eddy Cannella Mark Clapham & Minderoo Foundation Phil Thick & Paula Rogers Hadiqa Prof Fiona Stanley Shane Colquhoun & Dr Andrew Mulcahy Ungar Family Foundation Lisa & Andrew Telford Friends of the Festival Halford Leigh Cathcart Dr Jeff & Julie Ecker Visionary $10,000+ David Wallace & Jamelia Gubgub Lalla Rookh G & K Donohue Giles & Sally Everist Ron & Brigid Woss Innovator $5,000+ Garry & Wendy Prendiville Long Chim Perth Andrew Doyle Paul & Susanne Finn Rhonda Wyllie Maureen Connaughton Petition Kitchen Gerie & Ole Hansen Andrew & Mandy Friars Innovator $5,000+ Anonymous Donors Warwick Hemsley Post Greg & Lisa Hutchinson Derek Gascoine & Dale Harper Ulrike Klein AO Mimi & Willy Packer Explorer $500+ Santini Bar and Grill Janet King Julanne & David Griffiths Joan Retallack & Alexandrea Thompson & Uma & Bar Uma Mary-Ellen King & Jackie Dillon Griffiths Architects Miriam Angus Peter Mallabone Peter Smith Wildflower Vincent & Fiona Lau Terry Grose & Rosemary Sayer Mark Clapham Linda Savage & Stephen Davis Michael & Helen Tuite Gaye & John McMath Mack & Evelyn Hall Warwick Hemsley PATRON LOCAL HEROES Peter Smith & Chris & Jaye Weaver Kerry Sanderson AO Janet Holmes à Court AC Janet Holmes à Court Alexandrea Thompson Anonymous Adrian & Michela Fini Frederick Sim Jon & Tracey Horton Susanne Finn Michael & Helen Tuite Creator $2,500+ Vicky May Taylor Pei-Yin Hsu JL PATRON CREATIVE LEARNING David Wallace & Margaret Whitter Fiona Kalaf John & Linda Bond Marylyn New Fogarty Foundation Jamelia Gubgub Anonymous Donors Janet & Rob Kirkby McQueen Véronique Ramén PATRON MAJOR NEW WORKS Creator $2,500+ Chris Shellabear Lorton Investments Pty Ltd Discover $1,000+ MEDICI DONORS Daniela Simon Anonymous Joanne Cruickshank John & Elizabeth Mair $5,000+ Tony & Corinne Barton Wayne Teo Delys & Alan Newman McClements Foundation PATRON WA ARTS SECTOR Jody Lennon Nick Blakiston Bonney Tulloch Grant & Libby Robinson Ian McCubbing DEVELOPMENT Greg Lewis & Sue Robertson Alan Boys Terri-ann White Gene Tilbrook Morris-Johnson Family JL Gavin Bunning & Julienne Penny Melvin Yeo Ungar Family Foundation Anonymous Donors Craig Merrey & Michael Murphy Anonymous Rowan & Susannah Clarke Anonymous