Get ready for an electrifying and deeply personal tribute to an Australian rock icon. This June, Amplified: The Exquisite Rock and Rage of Chrissy Amphlett blazes into the University of Melbourne Arts and Culture (UMAC) as part of RISING, bringing the defiant energy of the Divinyls frontwoman roaring back to life.
Chrissy Amphlett – a seismic force in a school uniform and the audacious front woman for the Divinyls – exploded onto the male-dominated music scene, taking the band from the sticky carpets of Australian pubs to the top of the charts. Her raw talent, stage-conquering energy, rock ‘n’ roll rasp, and unique blend of sexuality and vulnerability defined a generation.
Now, beloved performer and writer Sheridan Harbridge (My Brilliant Career, Prima Facie) fronts a four piece band led by musical director Glenn Moorhouse (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) in Amplified, a new cabaret that channels Amphlett’s fierce spirit through a collection of unforgettable songs.
Co-created with award-winning director Sarah Goodes, this is a potent ode to Amphlett’s enduring legacy and her monumental impact on the music industry, both in Australia and internationally.
Developed by Jacaranda Productions and UMAC, with support from Geelong Arts Centre, Amplified sees Sheridan Harbridge weave her personal experiences with reflections on the icon’s influence and a series of hit songs. Like Australian classics Puberty Blues and Monkey Grip, the complex female experience of a society in flux are part of these impressions.
Amplified marks the debut production from Jacaranda Productions, a new venture created by Sarah Goodes and actor and producer Diana Glenn – who are dedicated to exploring stories across various mediums – theatre, screen, and interactive experiences – providing ideas with the space and time to develop into their most impactful form for the widest possible audience.
“Diana and I created Jacaranda to offer a new way of working across mediums. We want to give good stories the life they deserve, finding each new work the right team then the right home, whether that be stage, screen or audio,” says Amplified director and co-creator Sarah Goodes.
Amplified: The Exquisite Rock and Rage of Chrissy Amphlett
Union Theatre – Arts and Cultural Building, 15 Monash Road, Parkville
Season continues to 13 June 2025
Information and Bookings: www.umac.melbourne
Amplified: The Exquisite Rock and Rage of Chrissy Amphlett will also be presented as part of the Brisbane Festival at the Brisbane Powerhouse from 19 – 21 September 2025.
Image: Sheridan Harbridge stars in Amplified: The Exquisite Rock and Rage of Chrissy Amphlett – photo by Laura Du Ve