Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom to open in Sydney

As previously blogged, Moulin Rouge director Baz Luhrmann has agreed to turn his film Strictly Ballroom into a stage show. Luhrmann is spending four weeks in Sydney at the end of this year working with Global Creatures productions which has already invested millions in the project including acquiring the theatrical rights. He will be holding a workshop and looking at the show's structure, score and choreography with them.

He has just announced that Sydney has beaten London and New York to host the world premiere of the stage musical which will open at the Lyric Theatre from September 2013.

Strictly Ballroom was Luhrmann’s first film and a great hit at 1992 Cannes Film Festival. He wants to direct the production and turn it into something that will “redefine musical theatre”. "Of all my shows, Strictly Ballroom is the most personal," he said.

Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom heading for the stage?

I love the over the top theatricality approach that Baz Luhrmann has to his musical productions, so was delighted to read this morning that he has told the Daily Mail’s Baz Bamigboye that he has agreed to turn his film Strictly Ballroom into a stage show.

The title Strictly Ballroom has been credited with setting off the television dance show craze which has caused the resurrection of Bruce Forsyth's career.

Apparently Luhrmann is spending four weeks in Sydney from late November up until till Christmas working with Global Creatures productions which has already invested millions in the project including acquiring the theatrical rights. He will be holding a workshop and looking at the show's structure, score and choreography with them.

Global Creatures is the largest animatronic design company in the world and as Luhrmann is saying the show will take some time to get ready and needs a production company who are willing to be patient and spend a lot of money on it. Sounds like another Moulin Rouge!

Strictly Ballroom was Luhrmann’s first film and a great hit at 1992 Cannes Film Festival. Lurhmann wants to direct the production and turn it into something that will “redefine musical theatre” – whatever that means. He said “I don't want to make a show for luvvies! It’s going to be a live stage musical for everyone.”

The timescale is very vague at the moment but with Luhrmann’s current film commitments we must be talking two or three years away