Nancye Hayes and Reg Livermore in
Turns
devised and written by Reg Livermore
A reflection on identity, family, show business....and completely losing your marbles, Turns brings you two icons of Australian theatre, Nancye Hayes and Reg Livermore, as you've never seen them before.
Pantomime star Marjory Joy is on her last legs (or is she?) As she reflects upon a life spent in show business (or was it?) her son Alistair tries to understand this woman, all women - and to come to terms with one woman in particular...
Created especially for these two stars from the pen - and vivid imagination - of Reg Livermore himself, Turns is an intimate and intriguing portrait of two people walking an emotional tight rope. Let these two legends take you on a theatrical journey which will surprise and delight you, as Nancye and Reg make you laugh, make you think, and even make you cry.
A kaleidoscope of theatrical styles, Turns is a richly entertaining, whimsical, very funny and ultimately moving theatrical event not to be missed.
"Hayes is feisty, very funny and nimble....Livermore delivers beautifully" (Sydney Morning Herald)
".....singing, dancing, vaudeville routines and splendid comic monologue..." (The Australian)
"Livermore has written some clever gags ... that make this production stand out..." (Daily Telegraph)
"a crackerjack production...energetic and polished. It's more fun than you can poke a shtick at" (Stage Whispers)
"..incisive, edgy....a superb showcase of song and dance....Turns is a delight to behold" (Adelaide Advertiser)
Nancye Hayes OAM is one of Australia's favourite theatrical stars. She was catapulted to stardom by the role Charity Hope Valentine in the 1966 Australian Production of Sweet Charity. Since then Nanyce has gone on to appear in both musical and non-musical drama, often creating roles for the Australian premiere seasons. An accomplished cabaret artist, Nancye has appeared in concert and cabaret with the West Australian Symphony, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and at the Regent Hotel (Sydney). Her one woman auto-biographical show Nancye with an E has been performed across Australia. She has choreographed several major productions including Here Comes Showtime! (Marian Street Theatre), My Fair Lady (IMG/VSO) and for Sydney Theatre Company Merrily We Roll Along, Noel & Gertie, The Venetian Twins and Falsetto's. For Opera Australia Nancye has appeared in My Fair Lady and A Little Night Music and in 2007 she toured Australia with Todd McKenney in the CDP/Ensemble Theatre production of Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks. Amongst her many awards are a Green Room Award, Norman Kessell Memorial Award, three Lifetime Achievement Awards (Sydney Theatre Critics, Variety Club and Green Room), a Critics Circle Award and a MO Award. In 2010, Nancye directed Todd McKenney in The Boy from Oz for the Production Company, and appeared in Murderers for the Ensemble Theatre.
Reg Livermore AO has a stellar career spanning 50 years on stage and in television. His achievement as an actor, author and designer are legendary. As a performer he is best remembered for show stopping appearances in Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar, as the original Dr Frank 'n' Furter in the Australian production in The Rocky Horror Show and for his performance in the musical Barnum. He enjoyed major successes with his series of ground breaking one man shows during the 1970's and 80's, starting with Betty Blokk Buster Follies propelled him to the forefront of Australian popular theatre. After the phenomenal success of the first show, he wrote and Wonder Woman, Sacred Cow, Son of Betty and Firing Squad. In 2005/06 he starred as Max Bialystock in the new Mel Brooks Musical The Producers. He was awarded an AO in 1996, and an Australian Artists creative Fellowship enabled him to write his biography Chapters and Chances published in 2004. He has been a regular television presenter on Burkes Backyard and Our House and has made many appearances with Opera Australia including in My Fair Lady, The Pirates of Penzance, The Gondoliers and Iolanthe.