Darlinghurst Nights

Bringing Kenneth Slessor’s poetry to life, the timeless Australian musical Darlinghurst Nights is showing at the Hayes Theatre.

Exploring the depths of life, the musical is based on memories of the cross and searches for a world without fear of intolerance. Composer, Max Lambert explained.

“It’s about someone thinking back on their life, Slessor lived in the cross in the 30s and he wrote a book of poems called Darlinghurst Nights which had his memories of the characters in the cross and what the cross was like.”

The musical aims to provoke audiences to look at life with a new perspective, to open their eyes and prompt them to consider how they should be living.

“It’s about a time that’s lost I think so I’d love audiences to walk out of the Hayes Theatre, which is where it’s all set and actually see those streets and the harbour in a different way, it’s great for us to have to think about what future we think for ourselves and what city we want to live in and how we want to live our lives,” Lambert said.

In full control of the music, Lambert wrote the songs with a mix of “1920s good fun, ballads which are reflective of people’s loss and there are a lot of tempo songs with lyrics which are from the poems. It was really interesting creating this 30 years later and I think it’s a very important musical,” he concluded.

Until Jan 27. Hayes Theatre, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point. $55-$65. Tickets & Info: www.hayestheatre.com.au

By Jade Morellini