WAR HORSE, SPIEGELTENT, ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS and More Set for Arts Centre Melbourne's 2013 Season

Epic tales of heroes and heroines abound in the Arts Centre Melbourne 2013 Program Highlights announced November 27 in The Playhouse, promising to make 2013 a year to remember at Arts Centre Melbourne.

The action begins when Joey gallops in for the Australian premiere of the smash-hit West End and Broadway show War Horse. Australian goddess Katie Noonan, the international Queen of Burlesque Imogen Kelly and a host of inimitable artists play up in The Famous Spiegeltent, and then Francis has his hands full with The National Theatre of Great Britain’s most successful comedy ever, One Man, Two Guvnors.

Winter arrives with the greatest artistic achievement of the 20th century, Einstein on the Beach by Robert Wilson, Philip Glass and Lucinda Childs, followed by the steadfast Wotan and the hair-raising Valkyries in the Melbourne Ring Cycle. The stars glitter with costumes and memorabilia of Geoffrey Rush, Dame Nellie Melba, Dame Joan Sutherland and Kylie Minogue, and the heroic moments keep on coming, from the swaggering Puss in Boots and shadow-pocketing Miss Orphelia that kids will adore, to the illustrious conductor of the best orchestra in the world.

“Alongside the artistic abundance of Australia’s major performing arts companies and festivals for which we proudly provide the spotlight, and the local and international wares of our commercial partners, 2013 is set to be an heroic year,” said Chief Executive Judith Isherwood. “With our program ranging from masterpieces of epic proportions to intimate one-man shows, Australian and international heroes and heroines of the performing arts will be on-stage at Arts Centre Melbourne throughout the year.”

“Our new approach to programming maximises the use of our magnificent public buildings and the sheer breadth of our action-packed 2013 program of events will, I hope, lure people away from their screens to enjoy the life-changing experience of witnessing great artists doing incredible things live on stage” said Ms Isherwood.

Arts Centre Melbourne’s second annual program is made up of three distinct seasons – Summer from December to February; The Famous Spiegeltent Season from February to April; and Winter in July and August – punctuated by special events One Man, Two Guvnors in May and June; Melbourne’s first appearance of the World Orchestra Series in November; and Opera Australia’s The Melbourne Ring Cycle for which, Arts Centre Melbourne with the support of the Victorian Government, permanently expanded the State Theatre orchestra pit to accommodate Wagner’s mammoth musical task in November and December 2013.

Closed only on Christmas Day, Arts Centre Melbourne’s year-round programming is designed to embrace a broad cross-section of the community. It also includes the largest performing arts learning and participation program in Australia, a first-class international and Australian performance program for families and youth, the ever-green Morning Melodies program for older daytime audiences, and a new suite of artistic development programs for professional artists.

For more details, pick up a copy of the 2013 Program Highlights brochure from Arts Centre Melbourne venues, read it online at artscentremelbourne.com.au or phone 1300 182 183. Become a fan of Arts Centre Melbourne on Facebook or follow @artscentremelb on Twitter.

Pictured: Image from One Man, Two Guvnors

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