Wednesday, 19 February 2025

The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts has released its 2025 Performance Program, with over 200 performances and concerts on offer throughout the year ahead.

“This program marks the end of an era, as WAAPA bids farewell to ECU’s Mount Lawley campus and moves to ECU City next year,” says Professor David Shirley, Executive Dean of WAAPA.

“This brand-new performance space and state-of-the-art facility will ensure WAAPA continues its place at the forefront of performing arts training, both nationally and internationally. Until then, I invite audiences to join us for our exciting and remarkable final performances in our much-loved Mount Lawley venues.”

From drama to music to dance, there’s something for every performing arts lover in this year’s program.

Top of the highlights list is a classic Greek tragedy staged by the co-artistic directors of one of the UK’s most acclaimed theatre companies, and the world premiere of a brand-new musical from Australian arts legend – and WAAPA graduate – Eddie Perfect.

Each is the result of a three-year creative residency process supported by Minderoo Foundation through the Premier Visiting Artist Fund. Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod of the internationally renowned Cheek by Jowl theatre company will stage their version of Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone with WAAPA’s 3rd Year Acting students in August/September.

In November, Eddie Perfect brings his brilliant new musical Tivoli Lovely to life with the graduating Music Theatre cohort. Composed as a love letter to Australia’s theatrical past, this hilarious black comedy about a Tivoli-conquering dance act, The Eleven Kevins, is a riotous celebration of dance and variety.

A stellar line-up of visiting artists from around the world will supercharge WAAPA’s music concerts throughout the year: percussionists Steven Schick, Pavan Kumar Hari and Marcus Perrozzi; vocal/guitar duo Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse; singer/songwriter Ainslie Wills; saxophonists Melissa Aldana, Nick Russoniello and Troy Roberts; trumpeters Tom Avgenicos and Ellen Kirkwood; jazz bassist Jonathan Zwartz; and new music ensemble Rubik’s Collective.

Every music genre is covered, from classical to jazz, contemporary to new music. There are free concerts for all, and free weekend music workshops for high school students.

WAAPA’s Voice students will perform a piano-accompanied opera double bill of Cinderella by Pauline Viardot and Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini in August/September. Then in October, the WAAPA Gospel Choir celebrates its 10th anniversary with a special concert that will lift the roof off the Geoff Gibbs Theatre.

Lovers of piano music are in for a real treat this year: WAAPA’s marvellous new Head of Piano, Tonya Lemoh, will showcase her extraordinary talent in a number of concerts, while a three-day celebration of the piano in October, Piano Panoply, offers free talks and an exhibition, plus four incredible piano concerts.

WAAPA isn’t leaving its Mount Lawley campus without a fitting farewell performance. Echolocation, performed by Performance Making students, LINK Dance Company and Music students, celebrates over 40 years of creativity and community. With over 60 performers, this unique promenade-style performance across WAAPA will incorporate puppetry, dance, music, film, and more.

These are just a few of the exciting performances that WAAPA has in store for its audiences that showcase the extraordinary accomplishments of its highly talented students.

2025 WAAPA Performance Program
Get your copy of the 2025 WAAPA Performance Program in person from the WAAPA Foyer, Building 1, ECU, 2 Bradford St, Mount Lawley or download your copy here. If you would like a hard copy sent to you, email your name and address details to waapaboxoffice@ecu.edu.au.

For further information, please contact:
Anton Maz, Marketing Manager, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts  
Phone: (08) 6304 6817 / mob: 0404 699 772 / email: a.maz@ecu.edu.au