After 30 years, Nine arrives in Perth

One of the best musicals to hit Broadway in the past 30 years is about to make its West Australian debut.

One of the best musicals to hit Broadway in the past 30 years is about to make its West Australian debut.

Directed by Paul Treasure at Roleystone Theatre, Nine is a musical based on Federico Fellini’s semi-autobiographical film 8½ where a director tries to make his next movie while being distracted and inspired by the women in his life.

It won the Tony Award for best musical in 1982, beating both Dreamgirls and Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Treasure said he fell in love with Nine when he first heard it more than 20 years ago.

“I am a big fan of Fellini so this musical and Sweet Charity, which was also based on one of his films, have always been favourites of mine,” he said.

“After waiting two decades to see someone do it in Perth, I decided I would have to do it myself.

“When they announced that they were finally making a film of it, I knew the time had come.”

While Nine is the basis for the film that came out in early 2010, Treasure says many liberties were taken with the show.

“They even removed the title number,” he said.

“Many of the characters in the film are very different to their stage versions and, in one case, totally different.

“The musical also plays around quite a bit with time and place so, even though there’s only one set, it’s meant to represent a number of different locations, sometimes simultaneously.”

Involved in theatre since 1989, Treasure has appeared in more than 100 productions, from Aristophanes’ Lysistrata through to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s By Jeeves, with Marloo, Roleystone, Blak Yak, Kwinana, KADS, Garrick, Park, Pit and Acorn Theatres and the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre.

He has also been in numerous television advertisements, short films and, more recently, the music video for Boys Boys Boys’ Ticky-Ticky Boom.

With Nine, Treasure says it’s something of a challenge having a large, predominantly female, cast.

“Thankfully, we have at least one male to make that less of a problem,” he said.

“Nine has been very popular in the rest of the world but has never been seen here before, making it a chance to experience a good musical without any preconceived ideas about how it should be performed.

“People will also see the show as it was written and can judge for themselves whether the changes made for the film were good or not.

“The musical also has a lot to say about the creative process and how an artist’s brain works, as well as a lot about the relationships between a man and the women in his life.”

Nine plays at 8pm, November 19, 20, 24, 26, 27, December 1, 3 and 4. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 children – book on 9397 5730 . 

Roleystone Theatre is located at 587 Brookton Highway, Roleystone, opposite the Croyden Road junction. More information is also available at www.roleystonetheatre.com.au.

Photo: Kimberley Harris, Clara Helms and Priscilla Busher star in the WA premiere of Nine.