Kookaburra Musical Theatre
Encyclopedia
Peter Cousens' Kookaburra: The National Musical Theatre Company was an Australian theatre company dedicated to musical theatre
. Launched in 2006, with its first production Pippin
in 2007, it collapsed in late 2009.
It was founded by Australian musical theatre performer Peter Cousens
in 2006 and received high profile support from many luminaries of the Australian stage, the Australian Federal government
and a variety of businesses. Throughout its short career it was plagued by troubles, including low box office figures and cancelled productions, and caused international controversy when Stephen Sondheim
demanded an apology and threatened to remove rights after major cuts were made to Company
when an actor with no understudy could not perform. It collapsed in 2008, and officially folded in March 2009, with thousands of dollars owing to creative staff and $1.6 million in debt. Although Peter Cousens creditied the companies downfall to the "global financial crisis", many people involved in the company and in the industry cited severe mismanagement.
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
. Launched in 2006, with its first production Pippin
Pippin (musical)
Pippin is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto...
in 2007, it collapsed in late 2009.
It was founded by Australian musical theatre performer Peter Cousens
Peter Cousens
Peter Cousens is an Australian actor, born in Tamworth NSW.He attended The Armidale School in Armidale and then Gordonstoun School, Scotland. He then spent a year reading Arts at St Paul's College, Sydney University before studying at the National Institute of Dramatic Art , graduating in...
in 2006 and received high profile support from many luminaries of the Australian stage, the Australian Federal government
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
and a variety of businesses. Throughout its short career it was plagued by troubles, including low box office figures and cancelled productions, and caused international controversy when Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Joshua Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award...
demanded an apology and threatened to remove rights after major cuts were made to Company
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
when an actor with no understudy could not perform. It collapsed in 2008, and officially folded in March 2009, with thousands of dollars owing to creative staff and $1.6 million in debt. Although Peter Cousens creditied the companies downfall to the "global financial crisis", many people involved in the company and in the industry cited severe mismanagement.