''Beach Blanket Tempest'' is an Australian musical with book and lyrics by Dennis Watkins and music by Chris Harriott, loosely based on Shakespeare's ''
The Tempest''.
Development
The musical was commissioned by the North Queensland-based New Moon Theatre Company, and developed from a self-contained sequence called "Beach Blanket Tempest" in a previous Watkins-Harriott musical, ''Dingo Girl''.
Production history
Billed as "the surf rock musical to make Shakespeare turn in his grave", New Moon's original production of ''Beach Blanket Tempest'' opened at
Cairns' Civic Theatre on 25 July 1984. The production then undertook a national tour, with seasons in
Townsville
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 3 ...
(Civic Theatre), Mackay (Theatre Royal), Rockhampton (
Pilbeam Theatre
The Pilbeam Theatre is an indoor performance venue in Rockhampton, Queensland.
History
The Pilbeam Theatre was officially opened by Australian Governor-General Sir Zelman Cowen on 6 June 1979 and was named after the city's mayor at the time, R ...
), Mt Isa (Memorial Civic Theatre), Alice Springs (
Arulen Arts Centre), Adelaide (
Adelaide Festival Centre Playhouse), Canberra (
Canberra Theatre
Canberra Theatre Centre (CTC), also known as the Canberra Theatre, is the Australian Capital Territory’s central performing arts venue and Australia’s first performing arts centre, the first Australian Government initiated performing arts c ...
) and finally a two-month season in Sydney (Footbridge Theatre), closing on 15 December 1984.
Further productions were presented by Brisbane's
TN! Theatre Company
The TN! Theatre Company (1979–1991) was a theatre company in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
History
The TN! Theatre Company had its roots in the Twelfth Night Theatre Company which was established in 1936 by Rhoda Mary Felgate. The com ...
in August 1988, Penrith's Q Theatre in November 1990, and Perth's
SWY Theatre in August 1991. ''Beach Blanket Tempest'' has also been performed by various schools and amateur theatre companies in Australia.
Canada's Muskoka Festival presented it in their 1992 season, directed by Ron Ulrich, and starring Frank McKay, Lindsay Richardson, Carol McCartney, Shane MacPherson, Joann Kirwin-Clark, George Masswohl, and Tim Koetting.
Reception
''
The Sun-Herald
''The Sun-Herald'' is an Australian newspaper published in tabloid or compact format on Sundays in Sydney by Nine Publishing. It is the Sunday counterpart of ''The Sydney Morning Herald''. In the 6 months to September 2005, ''The Sun-Herald'' ...
'' described ''Beach Blanket Tempest'' as "a high-energy, wild and whacky rock spectacular" that "satisfies all the requirements of rock opera, plus loud, raunchy rock'n'roll numbers which induce foot-tapping and hand-clapping".''
The Canberra Times
''The Canberra Times'' is a daily newspaper in Canberra, Australia, which is published by Australian Community Media. It was founded in 1926, and has changed ownership and format several times.
History
''The Canberra Times'' was launched in ...
'' said "this show is a delight" and that "it will induce ecstasy in the under-30s".
''Beach Blanket Tempest'' was named the 'Best New Oz Musical' of 1984 in ''The Sun-Herald''.
References
External links
''Beach Blanket Tempest''at David Spicer Productions (performance rights)
{{Authority control
1984 musicals
Australian musicals
Plays and musicals based on The Tempest