Skip to main content

Interview: Deborah Conway AM // Book of Life

 ​​

​

​ Australian music legend, Deborah Conway AM returns to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre this April as a part of her national tour of Australia. We got the chance to sit down with Deborah to have a brief chat about her new show and the music industry!

Can you share a little about your book 'Book of Life'?

Book of Life is a memoir detailing stories of growing up in an idiosyncratic household, of becoming a musician, the sordid adventures of youth, the at odds relationships musicians have with the music industry, of love, of becoming a mother, of work, of creativity, through to the full flowering maturity of all facets of growing into an adult in the most complete way.

What was the approach to bring the book to stage in this show?

I started writing in November 2019, sitting on my couch in Melbourne. March 2020 brought the cancellation of everything. I was very fortunate to have begun a project that I was finding so absorbing. As the lockdowns stretched on in Victoria, my project got longer. And still lockdowns continued and no-one was allowed to leave their houses. We were restless, online Zoom concerts could only provide so much in the way of connection. But hey we had a property, why not use it as the basis to tell a theatrical story. Willy & I wrote Songs From the Book of Life as lockdown continued. The idea was to marry all the many ways of story telling, props, sets, costumes, role-play, song, movement, technology and interactive dialogue with the past.

What can audiences expect from the show?

A fast moving, surprising evening of twists & revelations. Laughing, crying & applauding wildly have all been observed by us in the wilds of theatre-land.

What would you say to young people starting out in the music industry today?

The music business, like everything else, is changing with frightening rapidity. But the one thing that hasn’t changed is it has always been a jungle out there. The best thing anyone embarking into the uncertain seas of a career in music is to pay attention and work as hard as you can. This is not for the faint-hearted.

​

Deborah's National tour has already begun at the Sydney Festival, however, the show is coming to multiple venues across the nation:

Canberra Festival - 28 Feb 2024

Wagga Wagga Civic Centre - 2 March 2024

Burrijna Cultural Centre - 23 March 2024

Frankston Arts Centre - 24 March 2024

Queensland Performing Arts Centre - 12 & 13 April 2024

This is a show you don't want to miss out on from a LEGEND of the Australian music industry! Tickets for the QPAC show are selling extremely quickly and can be purchased at qpac.com.au

Originally Written for BroadwayWorld.com

​
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Theory of Relativity // Footlights Theatrical

  Written by Jake Goodall If Person A moves along at 3 miles per hour, and Person B trails behind slightly slower at 2 miles per hour, Their paths do not intersect, nonetheless, does B change A's trajectory?  This intriguing question lies at the heart of Footlight Theatricals' latest production, Theory of Relativity, staged at the Pip Theatre, a captivating performance not to be missed in South East Queensland's vibrant theatre scene. Theory of Relativity weaves together a tapestry of seemingly disparate songs, scenes, and monologues, interconnecting to showcase the profound ties that bind humanity. Centered around themes of self-discovery and belonging, the narratives delve into the intricacies of love, identity, and the myriad experiences that shape our existence. From the highs and lows of romantic entanglements to the quirks of allergies, the diverse array of characters invites audiences on an unforgettable journey through the rich tapestry of human connection. Under th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Chicago // Crossroads Live

Get ready to experience All That Jazz in Crossroads Live's production of Chicago at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre! This delectable production is a stunning recreation of the world-renowned Bob Fosse's original show based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins.  Every element of this production was cool and calculated, from the sultry costume design to the impressive lighting, the creative team has clearly worked hard to create this fantastic story. Most of this production is a recreation of the Broadway version giving Australia its very own slice of New York, and Crossroads Live's production lives up to the big white way.  Technical elements were stunning, utilisng patterned lights to create the jail cell, visitors room, and murder the lighting design really helped the audience to understand the setting and place in this bare staged production. In terms of set design, it was minimal, all the action happened in front of a massive bandstand (where the band actually was...
1 comment
Read more

Review: Carrie The Musical - Phoenix Ensemble

  Written by Gabriel Besa We’re back in high school but this time we’re attending Chamberlain High. Here, we meet any high school trope you can think of while also singing and dancing about the high school experience. Carrie: the Musical is based off the Stephen King novel that Phoenix Ensemble then brought to their stage. Phoenix Ensemble is full of creatives that have previously done shows like Footloose, Sweeney Todd, and The Spongebob Musical.  Carrie White is a misfit. At school, she's an outcast who's bullied by the popular crowd, and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home, she's at the mercy of her loving but cruelly over-protective mother. But Carrie's just discovered she's got a special power, and if pushed too far, she's not afraid to use it. Set in the present in the small New England town of Chamberlain, Maine, Carrie: The Musical features a book by Lawrence D. Cohen (screenwriter of the classic film), music by Academy Award winner Michael Gor...
Post a Comment
Read more