Footlights Society 2025/26 Programme
Turandot on Sydney Harbour
This Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production, directed by Chen Shi-Zheng, is known for its lavish sets, including a 25-meter dragon and a 20-meter pagoda, and its use of contemporary cinema and Chinese acrobatics. The production features a cast of world-class singers, including Dragana Radakovic as Turandot and Riccardo Massi as Calaf, and is known for its powerful rendition of “Nessun Dorma”.
Running time - 131 mins (inc. 15 mins interval)
Turner & Constable
Pembridge Parish Hall is bringing one of British art's great rivalries to our screen. Turner & Constable, the latest from Exhibition on Screen, marks the 250th anniversary of the births of J.M.W. Turner and John Constable — two painters who transformed landscape art in completely opposite directions. Critics of the day called it a clash of "fire and water": Turner's blazing skies and emotional drama against Constable's quiet, idealised rural England.
Directed by David Bickerstaff, the film has been made with privileged access to Tate Britain's blockbuster exhibition Rivals and Originals, running until 12 April. Expect intimate views of sketchbooks, personal belongings, and expert commentary that places the two side by side — as they so often were in life. Sit back and enjoy.
La Traviata on Sydney Harbour
Verdi’s hugely popular La Traviata returns to the Sydney Harbour water stage, featuring a breath-taking soaring 9 metre high, 3.5 ton chandelier covered in 10,000 shimmering Swarovski crystals. This glamorous production was captured on location on Sydney Harbour in 2021 in front of a sold-out audience. La Traviata features timeless romantic arias, lively choreography, beautiful costumes and spectacular fireworks.
Running time - 145 mins (inc. 15 mins interval)
Girl From the North Country
Written and directed by celebrated playwright Conor McPherson and featuring Tony Award-winning orchestrations by Simon Hale, Girl From The North Country reimagines 20 legendary songs of Bob Dylan as they’ve never been heard before, including “Forever Young,” “All Along The Watchtower”, “Hurricane”, and “Like A Rolling Stone”.
It’s 1934 in Duluth, Minnesota. We meet a group of wayward travellers whose lives intersect in a guesthouse filled with music, life and hope. Experience this “profoundly beautiful” Broadway production (The New York Times) brought to vivid life by an extraordinary company of actors and musicians.
NT Live The Misanthrope
Award-winner Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) plays the title role in this razor-sharp reimagining of Molière’s classic dark comedy.
Telling the truth isn’t always that simple. Alice, a brilliant novelist, despises the carefully constructed lies of modern society. But the more she challenges those around her, the fiercer the backlash becomes. Soon, she must confront the price of speaking her truth in a world that would rather silence her.
Filmed live on stage at the National Theatre, Indhu Rubasingham directs Martin Crimp’s (Cyrano de Bergerac) highly anticipated play.
Twenty Years of the Met in Cinemas: An Anniversary Celebration
Twenty Years of the Met in Cinemas is a celebration of the Met’s two decades of onstage glory as experienced in cinemas, featuring highlights from the company’s collection of more than 185 extraordinary onscreen performances. Hosted by star soprano Renée Fleming, this special presentation will showcase unforgettable moments from some of opera’s greatest stars, selected from the series’ vast archive of broadcasts featuring such remarkable artists as Lise Davidsen, Natalie Dessay, Joyce DiDonato, Juan Diego Flórez, Elīna Garanča, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Jonas Kaufmann, Peter Mattei, Matthew Polenzani, Sondra Radvanovsky, Nadine Sierra, and, of course, Fleming herself.