News

Two awards at the 2024 Canberra Critics Circle Awards

We were delighted to receive a 2024 Canberra Critics Circle award in the category of Musical Theatre for our “exuberant production of this demanding musical” – Billy Elliot, The Musical, and to Amy Kowalczuk for her “incisive, sensitive and powerful performance as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire.”.

Auditions - Open Casting Call for Free-Rain's 2025 Season of plays at ACT Hub

Free-Rain Theatre Company will be staging 3 (three) productions at ACT Hub in 2025. We have two dramas and one comedy to cast. Together with the two other companies in the ACT Hub collective, there will be 10 plays staged at ACT Hub in 2025. Date, Time & Location Free-Rain Theatre Company will be holding […]

Review - The Boy from Oz, That Guy Who Watches Canberra Theatre

“Jared Newell is a singing-dancing-acting frenzy as Peter, delivering Allen’s personality and simultaneously self-agrandizing-and-self-effacing style delightfully as he drops one-liners, sings up a storm and throws his leg over a piano just like a Peter Allen should.” – That Guy Who Watches Canberra Theatre

Review - The Boy from Oz, Len Power, Canberra Critics Circle

“The performer who plays the marathon role of Peter Allen must have charisma, energy and strong vocal ability. Free-Rain Theatre Company made a fine choice in casting Jared Newall in the role. His high energy performance, acting ability and fine singing capture the essence of Allen the man and performer” – Len Power, Canberra Critics Circle

Review - The Boy from Oz, Stage Whispers

“Free-Rain’s The Boy from Oz is uplifting, moving and a riot. What more could you ask for?” – Cathy Bannister, Stage Whispers

Review - A dazzling tribute: The Boy from Oz lights up The Q theatre

“If you love musicals, Australian pop music history, or just want a fun and uplifting night at the theatre, The Boy From Oz is not to be missed.” ~ FUSE Magazine, David Blanco

The Boy from Oz, a dazzling tribute takes stage at The Q

Canberra Weekly. This highly anticipated musical is not just a performance but a vibrant celebration of Peter Allen’s extraordinary life and career.

The Boy from Oz hits The Q Theatre

Her Canberra. Peter Allen would have been 80 this year and there is a huge amount of Australian culture and nostalgia that has been woven into the show, through the costumes and props, script and songs.

Auditions - Sweet Charity

Free-Rain Theatre is delighted to announce that we will be presenting ‘Sweet Charity’ at The Q, with performances from Tuesday 29 April to Sunday 18 May 2025. Auditions will be held Mon 14 and Mon 21 October 2024 at the Cook Community Hub. Book by Neil Simon. Music by Cy Coleman. Lyrics by Dorothy Fields.Based […]

Review - August: Osage County, CanTheatreWatcher

Feeling like it summarises all the great American plays into one outsized epic,… this is a play that contains multitudes. This is an epic and powerful production.

Review - August: Osage County, Stage Whispers

The play is one of lifelong, almost epic conflicts: between honour and self-fulfilment, between honesty and peace, and ultimately between self interest and family.

Jared finds a deeper side to playing Peter Allen

CityNews article by Helen Musa.
Jared Newall is about to take on one of the giant roles in Aussie musical theatre, that of songwriting legend and gay icon Peter Allen, in an upcoming local production of The Boy From Oz.

Review - August: Osage County, Len Power

If you think your family had problems, wait until you see this bunch go into battle with each other! Moments of high drama mixed with flashes of unexpected humour are all played superbly.

Confronting dive into the difficulties of normal life

Review by Arne Sjostedt in Canberra CityNews.
“Strong acting from each actor ensured the at times uncomfortable story was played out supremely well.”

Home truths come out in bitter-sweet tragi-comedy

Tracy Letts’ Tony and Pulitzer-winning play August: Osage County is one of the great theatrical warhorses of our time.

Family secrets and dramas come home to ACT Hub

Homecomings aren’t always sweet, especially when it was the inhabitants of that home you were trying to escape. A renowned tale of generational trauma and family secrets makes itself at home at ACT Hub in August: Osage County from 5 – 15 Sept.

Louise Bennet interviewed on 2CC Breakfast radio

Have a listen to this great interview with Louise Bennet who plays Barbara Fordham in August: Osage Country. Louise had a great chat with Steven Cenatiempo on 2CC Breakfast radio program on the morning of Friday 23 August.

Cast announcement - August: Osage County

Free-Rain Theatre Company is delighted to announce the full cast for our upcoming production of August: Osage County, to be staged at ACT Hub from 5 – 15 September 2024.

Review, 'A Streetcar Named Desire' - Len Power

As Blanche, Amy Kowalczuk establishes an immediate presence and maintains it throughout the play. Her version of the character comes from deep within. There’s no playing of surface nervousness, she lives the role. This is an extraordinary performance that is a success on all levels.

Review, 'A Streetcar Named Desire' - That Guy Who Watches Canberra Theatre

Amy Kowalczuk as Blanche … strikes every note perfectly. Alex Hoskison matches her as Stanley … (who is) earthy, practical and assertive – a simple man with rage under the surface.

Triumphant production of a searing classic. Review - Alanna Maclean.

Tennessee Williams is not for the faint of heart. Free-Rain do a fine job with this searing classic. Amy Kowalczuk as Blanche and Meaghan Stewart as her sister Stella are one of the best matched set of Streetcar sisters that you could hope for. Hoskison makes a towering and pragmatic Stanley.

From the streetcar to the stage, desire lands at ACT Hub

Casting aside black-and-white storytelling and stepping into the grey, A Streetcar Named Desire is an unforgettable exploration of the human condition. The complex characters and enthralling tale come to the stage at ACT Hub on 19-29 June.

Cast announcement - The Boy from Oz

Free-Rain Theatre Company are absolutely stoked to announce our impressive lineup of talent in the cast of ‘The Boy from Oz’, who will bring the life and music of Peter Allen to The Q stage in October this year – led by Jared Newall as Peter Allen.

Streetcar Alex won't be channelling Brando

Tennessee Williams’ play A Streetcar Named Desire is one of the greatest acting vehicles in the western repertoire.

Set in New Orleans, it pits the neurotically fragile Blanche duBois, Southern belle-gone-wrong, against her brother-in-law Stanley Kowalski, the coarse son of Polish immigrants. The two almost represent the decline and fall of the western world.

Cast Announcement - A Streetcar Named Desire

Following their acclaimed production of Speaking in Tongues in 2023, Free-Rain Theatre Company returns in 2024 with one of the most influential plays of the twentieth century, with Amy Kowalczuk as Blanche DuBois, Alex Hoskison as Stanley Kowalski, and Meaghan Stewart as Stella Kowalski.

Review, 'Billy Elliot' - That Guy Who Watches Canberra Theatre

Mitchell Clement has the skill and ability to pull this off with aplomb, dancing impeccably but also giving us a Billy who is anxious, hopeful, connected and strong. ..This is a strong production of a heartfelt, powerful musical and well worth the catching.

Review, 'Billy Elliot' - Frank McKone

It’s the real-life warmth of feeling that flows off the stage that makes this production so enjoyable to see… The audience in The Q were as energetic and enthusiastic as the onstage dancers, singers and actors.
Overall, a highly successful production of a rather different kind of musical.

Review, 'Billy Elliot' - John P Harvey

The musical numbers, some of them very complicated interweavings almost operatic in their complexity, were consistently arranged and performed beautifully, and Fergus Paterson did some outstanding solo singing.

Review, 'Billy Elliot' - Len Power

The director, Jarrad West, has brought together a show that is grand entertainment. It’s colourful, has extraordinary dancing, fine singing and polished performers in this often raw and strong musical.

Review, 'Billy Elliot' - Bill Stephens

This production… contains a surfeit of excellent performances. Fergus Paterson, as Billy, He delighted in the effervescent duet ‘Expressing Yourself’ partnered by his friend Michael, this role performed with considerable panache by Charlie Murphy. Paterson astonished in the spectacular ‘Swan Lake Dream Ballet’ which he shared with accomplished ballet dancer, Jordan Dwight and broke hearts with his rendition of ‘The Letter’ with mum, Jo Zaharias.