MATTHEW KEEPS ON SINGING IN HIS NEW PROJECT

DanceLife recently caught up with multi-award winning composer/lyricist Matthew Robinson to discuss his new project Sing On Through Tomorrow – a new musical revue featuring the most acclaimed songs from Matthews’s decade-long career.
The young and talented, Hollie Andrew (The Sapphires), Kate Maree Hoolihan (A Little Night Music), Shaun Rennie (Cats) and Matthew Robinson (The Pirates of Penzance) bring to life the beautifully wistful, Sing on Through Tomorrow from Thursday, 4 August to Sunday, 14 August at Sidetrack Theatre for nine performances.
Using songs from his critically acclaimed first musical Metro Street, as well as his hit cabaret shows, right through to his latest musical in development Happy People, Sing On Through Tomorrow tells the story of four thirty-somethings who must travel back in time to rediscover their reason to dream on.
Matthew’s chat with DanceLife below.
1.Sing on Through Tomorrow is a collection of your work tied into a new story. What made you decide to go down this path, A revue?
A: Musical revues are a special beast. They have the ability to travel interstate and internationally much quicker than a full musical. The musical theatre world is always looking for new, exciting material that can be produced simply and effectively and musical revues are great for that. Hence, this ‘best of’ will allow performers and producers across the globe to come in contact with my songs in a format that ties them together artfully.
2. Where did your love of music come from and how did you go about fine tuning your craft of writing songs for musical theatre?
A: My mother is a primary school music teacher and she entered me in the Rockhampton Eisteddfod from the age of six! I started writing songs at the age of twelve and by the time I graduated from WAAPA, my musical palette had expanded considerably! Also, practice makes (closer to) perfect. Loving the job helps too.
3. You are currently developing a project entitled Happy People with Stephen Schwartz. How have you found working with an award winning composer and lyricist such as Stephen?
A: Stephen has the ability to cut right to the chase. Is that the BEST lyric you can find? Have you heard that idea expressed similarly before? Does this music REALLY reveal who the character is? I’m very blessed to have access to someone so well practiced and innately gifted.
4. The cast for Sing on Through Tomorrow is a very talented one. How did you get everyone on board?
A: They’re my friends! We’ve been kicking around in shows together on and off for a while now and they’ve all been part of my musical journey in some way. I believe in them and they believe in me. It’s a healthy mix.
5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
A: Sing On Through Tomorrow will have helped expose my work to the musical theatre world at large, I’ll have followed it up with my second musical Happy People having had productions both here and overseas. I’ll also be passing on what knowledge I have to up and coming musical theatre composers and lyricists. I want people to know it’s possible, no matter what field of the arts they pursue.
SING ON THROUGH TOMORROW
The Songs of Matthew Robinson
Music & Lyrics by Matthew Robinson
August 4 -14
Mon – Sat 7.30pm; Sun 5pm
SIDETRACK THEATRE
142 Addison Road Centre, Marrickville
(Free onsite parking or catch the 428 bus to the door)
02 9550 3666 or www.sidetrack.com.au
Adult $35; Student / Concession $28