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The Australia Council and the Arts Centre are giving culture vultures the chance to see four new music theatre projects in development as part of the Carnegie 18 development showcase.

With a mission to uncover and support bold, innovative thinking in contemporary music theatre across Australia, both organisations called for new works in early 2010, leading to four of the most compelling being chosen. These works will now be presented ‘in the raw’ during a showcase season from January 19–25 at the Arts Centre’s Fairfax Studio.

The new music theatre projects were chosen by an industry panel and star a talented group of local artists including Melbourne queer performers Sarah Ward and Wes Snelling.

Offering audiences a diversity of musical stylings, the four pieces include a Faustian expression of celebrity culture in the age of surveillance; a heavy metal rock musical about sticking it to the man; a story of fairytale-styled filicide in the modern world and a light operetta about the ins and outs of a suburban netball team.

The alter egos of Yana Alana, Tina del Twist, Meow Meow and Mikelangelo make up the cast of composer David Chisholm’s Curtains, with the artists performing characters of their own in a loosely vaudevillian project under the direction of Sapidah Kian.

Peter Burgess’ RAWK is a piece on the ethics of being a high profile musician.

Contact! is a ‘netball musical drama’ by Angus Grant and directed by Naomi Steinborner, using the most popular Australian women’s sport to explore suburban life.

Every Angel is Terrible, written and directed by Maude Davey examines the moral ambiguities of the ultimate taboo – crimes against children.

The season is divided into two programs with the opportunity to see two performances on the one ticket. Program one features RAWK and Every Angel is Terrible from January 19-22 and program two includes Curtains and Contact! from January 22–25.

A short Q&A with the artists will be conducted after each performance.

info: For further information on Carnegie 18 or to book tickets, visit www.theartscentre.com.au