Up The Workers!

Bob Hawke & John Singleton

To harbour side Balmain and the launch of The Workers Bar in Darling Street. The Workers is part owned by media mogul John Singleton who also hosted the launch party and it's part of Unity Hall, the pub Singleton owns and the location for a legendary meeting of unionists in 1891 that coincided with the famous Shearer's Strike in Queensland.

Out of that strike and the Balmain meeting came the formation of the Australian Labor Party, the first 'worker's party' in the world and now the longest surviving political party that is still in government under the  leadership of PM Julia Gillard.

Ned Kelly (?), Benny Elias & Sally Singleto

So who better to invite to launch the Worker's Bar than the great legend himself, former trade union boss and the 23rd prime Minister Bob Hawke.
 Bob is 83 and as sprightly as a 40 year old. He's also a great pal of Singleton's and told a fairly racy joke about his friend which we won't relate here. Suffice to say it's not hard to see that Hawkie is still one of Australia's most beloved political figures who during his tenure at the top received approval ratings of around 80%.

As for Balmain it's hardly a worker's paradise anymore and the fine convict built sandstone houses and terraces are more likely to be inhabited by bankers, stockbrokers and celebrity figures like playwright David Williamson and actors Judy Davis and Colin Freils who have a large waterside mansion. Still there are plenty of young professionals living locally and The Worker's bar is bound to become a favoured watering hole.

Sydney Theatre Awards

Richard Roxburgh, Helen Dallimore & Andrew Upton at the Sydney Theatre Awards

300 MEMBERS of the Sydney theatre community packed the auditorium at Paddington RSL to celebrate the best of Sydney theatre throughout 2011.

Kirsten & David Williamson at the awards

Amongst the recipients :
Best Mainstage Production was awarded to Belvoir’s production of The Wild Duck, which also won Best Direction of a Mainstage Production -Simon Stone, and Best Actress and Actor in a Supporting Role of a Mainstage Production -Anita Hegh, Anthony Phelan.

Best Independent Production went to The Libertine, produced by Sport for Jove Theatre with Darlinghurst Theatre Company, which also garnered Best Actress and Actor in an Independent Production -Danielle King, Anthony Gooley.

Oz Of The Year ?

Best Actress in a Leading Role of a Mainstage Production was won by Cate Blanchett for Sydney Theatre Company’s Gross und Klein, for which Alice Babidge was awarded Best Costume Design.
For the full list of awards go to the awards website.
                                                             
Meanwhile the search is on for replacements for Cate Blanchett and husband Andrew Upton who are relinquishing their roles in 2013 as co-artistic directors and CEOs of the Sydney Theatre Company. Under their auspices, the STC has received rave reviews and plaudits for their productions, around the world and turned around the fiances of the company into a healthy profit.

And our favourite Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush has been nominated as a contender to pick up the Australian of The Year award on Australia Day (or Invasion Day as some prefer to call it) on January 26th.
                                                         ********************
# Should the Shuttle feel flattered or otherwise as we were ushered past the door minders at the Paddington RSL with great aplomb whilst actor and Hollywood star Richard Roxburgh stood patiently while they searched for his name on the door list ?

## Speculation is mounting as to who the VIP was as mentioned in our previous story with the bodyguard who waved a pistol in the face of a photographer in Double Bay last week. Watch this space.....

Playwright David Williamson Honoured at US film Festival

With less than three weeks to go to the Academy Awards, tributes continue to flow in for Australian film identities.

Jackie & Hailee at Santa Barbara AP

On Sunday at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival David Williamson (right) was part of the team that received the prestige Panavison Spirit Award for Independent Cinema for the film he wrote, Face to Face directed by Michael Rymer-the first time in the festival's history a non-mainstream Hollywood film has received the award .  

Face to Face stars Vince Colisimo, Matthew Newton , Sigrid Thornton and Luke Ford.

And at the same festival Jackie Weaver received a Virtuoso Tribute Award for her performance in Animal Kingdom.

Phil Noyce & Jackie Weaver AP

Also honoured with a Virtuoso Award was newcomer Hailee Steinfeld for her role in True Grit. Both Jackie and Hailee will be competing for the Best Supporting Actress award at the Oscars.

On Monday Jackie was the guest of honour at a lunch at a Santa Monica restaurant with a host of Hollywood types-director Phil Noyce and actors John Lithgow and Billy Baldwin with director Quentin Tarantino paying a flying visit.