Turner’s Turn

The word ‘legend’ is thrown around but when it comes to Geraldine Turner, the boot seems to fit. In an extensive career she has traversed on the big and small screen, played leading lady in some of our best-loved theatre in plays and musicals that have been written, recorded and produced. Yet it is the pull of cabaret that occupies her prodigious talents this time around. For three Sundays only, at the Hayes Theatre, musical theatre fans will be able to see and hear this legend close and personal.

“I really enjoy playing in such an intimate space”, says Turner, “where you can almost touch the audience. I’ll be doing some old songs and new, telling some funny stories from my career and I’ll be wicked every now and again. Musical theatre fans should really love it”.

Turner has a special place in her heart for the music of Jacques Brel and Stephen Sondheim and is enamoured to be performing some of their works.

“Sondheim is incredibly clever – I always feel he is standing to the side, watching people in life and commenting”, says Turner, “but Brel’s music demands the performer to be present. He is right inside you, therefore it demands that you ‘live’ the song – it is wonderful music for an actor to do”.

Sunday 22 February, 1 March, 8 March, 7:30pm, Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point, $50, hayestheatre.com.au, 80657337.