STAGES SPOTLIGHT: CONVERSATIONS REVISITED - REG LIVERMORE from September 19th, 2019

STAGES with Peter Eyers

With over 230 episodes in the STAGES archive, it's time to revisit conversations featured in previous seasons. STAGES showcases such episodes in case you didn't catch them, first time around - or perhaps for you to enjoy, a second time. Either way, you're accessing vibrant oral histories of around, and on, our stages. Reg Livermore is one of our greatest showmen. A trailblazer whose career has encompassed roles as playwright, performer, presenter and one of the country's finest actors. His artistry is iconic and his pioneer performances in a succession of one-man masterpieces birthed characters such as Betty Blokk Buster, Vaseline Amilnitrate, Irene, Beryl and Leonard. Such personas perfectly entwined risqué and social sensibilities; and cheekily unsettled, and aroused, an awakening Australian audience. Reg is a composite super-talent informed by burlesque, vaudeville, music hall, weimar cabaret, the ballet, the opera, the classics and Gilbert & Sullivan - all forms have contributed to a most unique and vital talent. His work has transformed the Australian theatre industry. Cavorting in a pair of high-heels in the original Rocky Horror Show; he then developed a small cameo in Jesus Christ Superstar, into a 9-minute showstopping star-turn. He stirred profound empathy in the seminal musical Hair and in subsequent turns on the Musical stage he has given us an assortment of vivid portrayals - P. T. Barnum, The Wizard of Oz, Max Biallystock, Dr Pangloss, Henry Higgins and Alfred P. Doolittle. Our theatre heritage is richer because of his countless contributions on stage and off. He has offered us a chance to laugh at ourselves, embrace the mischievous and be changed by reverberant and dynamic performances. Reg was featured in Season 2 of the STAGES podcast in a 2-part conversation.