Musical theatre takes over Launceston: Q&A with Tyran Parke
23 April 2025.
In just a few weeks, the Australian Musical Theatre Festival will once again transform Launceston into a buzzing hub of creativity, music and storytelling.
Now in his fifth year as Artistic Director, Tyran Parke is a driving force behind the festival’s growing momentum. A respected performer, director and educator, Tyran is also Head of Music Theatre at the Victorian College of the Arts, where he leads the next generation of stars. His passion for bringing together emerging and established artists is evident across the festival’s rich and diverse program.
We caught up with Tyran ahead of the 2025 festival to talk about the power of collaboration, his Launceston must-dos, and the joy of programming the country’s only dedicated musical theatre festival.
Artistic Director of the Australian Musical Theatre Festival, Tyran Parke.
Hi Tyran, what are you most looking forward to about returning to Tasmania?
I’m so excited about how the Australian Musical Theatre Festival continues to grow. This will be my fifth year as Artistic Director and in many ways, the 2025 program is the pinnacle. To have reached a point where we are going to collaborate with the TSO on an evening that combines the best of Broadway with some of Australia’s favourite singers is truly incredible.
Part of what makes the festival unique is the access audiences get to the artists. Can you tell us more about that?
Absolutely. I love that we can place these extraordinary artists in musical presentations you would never see anywhere else. And they’re not just on stage – they appear in 'in conversation' sessions and workshops, they hang out at the Festival Bar, and they’re around town. That kind of access makes the experience much more direct and personal than in standard musicals.
Tell us about some of the headline artists this year.
Each year I’m delighted by the mix of international headliners, local stars and emerging talent that meet at the festival. Caroline O’Connor is our international queen of musical theatre. She’s played every great role you can imagine in Australia – and this engagement in Tasmania sits between two major international performances. She’s just finished Hello, Dolly! in Paris and will soon travel to Los Angeles to star in Stephen Sondheim’s Anyone Can Whistle. This is a rare chance for us to see her on home soil, and she’ll appear in a range of concerts, including with the incredible TSO.
Caroline will be joined by Mark Vincent, who many Australians will remember as the 15-year-old who won Australia’s Got Talent singing Nessun Dorma. Since then, he’s appeared in musicals including Dirty Dancing and My Fair Lady, and he’s presenting an intimate evening of music theatre exclusively for the festival.
Musical theatre star Caroline O'Connor.
Actress, singer and songwriter Alinta Chidzey.
Alinta Chidzey is also joining us. She’s probably best known for her roles in West Side Story, Chicago and most recently as the lead in Moulin Rouge. She’s performing in several shows and will be hosting her own Diva Den – our nightly Festival Bar where people meet and mingle in a relaxed, celebratory atmosphere.
And, of course you can’t get more legendary than Nancye Hayes. She’s our first lady of musical theatre, having starred in so many shows since her breakout as Charity in Sweet Charity in 1967. Words like ‘icon’ and ‘legend’ are thrown around a lot, but they truly apply to Nancye. I’m thrilled she’s joining us for a special 'In Conversation' to share her incredible story.
Do you have any tips for people planning to spend a few days in Launceston for the festival?
People often ask me why the festival is based in Launceston, and to me it’s obvious. Aside from the fact that Tasmania is mad about musical theatre, the city is the perfect size – you don’t feel like you’re attending a series of isolated events, you feel like you’re in a festival. The whole city gets swept up in the energy.
So many of our shows are site-specific, too. There’s Ghostlight, which tells the history of the Princess Theatre; Food, Glorious Food, which celebrates Launceston’s global recognition for gastronomy; and Sunday in the Park, which brings together our stars in a beautiful historic setting. We’ve got shows in alleyways, pubs, the Hotel Grand Chancellor, and even the Harvest Market – the breakfast rolls there are the perfect way to start a Saturday!
What do you love to do in Launceston when you’re not at the festival?
I never go to Launceston without a moment at Cataract Gorge. It’s ancient and beautiful and grounding. Amongst the energy and pace of the festival, it’s such a gift to have a place of reflection so close to the city.
Launceston's Prince's Square. Photo by Ness Vanderburgh.
We’ve talked about the stars – who are some of the up-and-coming artists we should look out for?
Alongside our established headliners, I’m thrilled to highlight the next wave of talent. Johanna Allen, who’s just finished an international season of Sweeney Todd, will perform a tribute to Harold Arlen. Mark Dickinson, a West End performer, appears in Chasing Oscar, a celebration of film musicals. Glenn Hill, a favourite of many, is also returning.
And then there’s the incredible local talent. Lisa Crosato, Prophecy Mudzingwa, Samantha Hammersley, Deklan Haas, Rod Anderson, and Jack Lark – who’s recently returned from London – are all appearing. We’re also welcoming back Cassie Ogle as part of our Made in Tasmania program, which celebrates local artists at the beginning of their professional journey. I can’t wait to see what they bring to the stage.
The Australian Musical Theatre Festival takes place in Launceston this May. On 24 May, the TSO will perform in Some Enchanted Evening. Book now via our Concerts page.
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