Raising the Curtain is a celebration of the Australian voice through the history of our live theatre.  

Through a kaleidoscopic mix of dramatic re-enactments, archival footage, 3D photographs, rear projection, musical interludes, voice-overs and intimate interviews, this four by one-hour series will immerse our audience in the rich and colourful timeline of Australian stage performance.

Presented by the theatrical royalty of a Cate Blanchett or Geoffrey Rush – the theatre’s vibrancy is transposed to film – bringing the characters, stars and stories from our theatrical past right up into the present.

Raising the Curtain traces the emergence of an Australian voice through the stories, playwrights, actors and entrepreneurs that ebbed and flowed in different waves of nationalism against competition from Imperial, American and European forces.

Featuring interviews with Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Robyn Nevin, Andrew Upton, John Sumner, Ray Lawler, Jim Sharman, Jack Charles, Graeme Blundell, John Bell, David Williamson, John Romeril, Jack Hibberd, Louis Nowra, Stephen Sewell, Michael Gow, Wesley Enoch, Barrie Kosky, Simon Stone and many more; narrated by Ewen Leslie.

This series uses archival footage and intimate interviews with a roll call of our lauded theatre professionals to illuminate hundreds of years of the Australian stage.

Ep. 1 – The Movers And The Shakers

From the convicts to the 20th Century trail-blazers, explore the entrepreneurs who helped create Australian theatre.

Ep. 2 Not The Queen’s English

This episode explores the struggle for free speech and the playwrights who defined the Australian voice in theatre.

Ep. 3 The Shock Of The New

Explore how vaudeville and circus influenced Aussie performance, and how we redefined old theatrical traditions.

RAISING THE CURTAIN is available now on DVD ($29.95srp).