University of Sydney Revues explained

The University of Sydney plays host to a wide variety of comedy revues each year, each typically tied to a faculty or identity group. Each revue features comedy sketches, songs and videos written and performed by students, usually commenting satirically on current affairs, the supporting faculty and general student life.

The Revues are casual student production, and as such are prone to production issues, such as when Engineering Revue was infamously saved in 2015 by a group of past-performers sourced from multiple revues whom put together a show in 2 days after the original cast fell through. The show trended across the country.

Most of the revues are performed in the Seymour Centre on the university's Darlington campus. Tickets range between $10 and $25, with various discounts for students. The revues are supported financially and administratively by the University of Sydney Union (USU) and presented in a collective "season".[1] The Revues range in budget and cast size, with the Faculty Revues using larger venues, and higher budgets as a result of Faculty funding.

Past revuers have gone on to perform, write and produce shows in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the New York Fringe Festival, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the Adelaide and Melbourne Fringe Festivals, in groups such as The Chaser, The Aunty Jack Show, The Ronny Johns Half Hour, The Axis of Awesome, Ben Jenkins & The Delusionists, and the Cloud Girls on triple j.[2]

History

Revues at USYD began with a single "USYD Revue", which then expanded to additional shows in the 1960s, with 13 revues performing in 2017. The original four Faculty revues were made up of students from Medicine, Law, Architecture and Engineering.

Of the revues, the largest are the Arts Revue, Science Revue, Med Revue and Law Revue. Engineering Revue has been staged in Manning Bar since 2006, and Commerce Revue made its debut in 2008. A Pharmacy Revue was planned for 2009, but was cancelled/postponed. The growing number of faculty revues has led to certain revues developing their own individual character, such as the Science Revue, which is known less for science specific humour, and instead for the work of its distinct troupes of singers, dancers and band, who work alongside the actors.[3]

Since 2013 a Best Of show, usually named University of Sydney Revue, has been staged as a part of the Sydney Comedy Festival, which is composed of the best performers and scenes from the previous season.

With Womn's Revue first performed in 2007, and Queer Revue in 2010, the set of Identity Revues has expanded in recent years with productions including Jew Revue, POC Revue and International Revue. From 2016 onwards, a separate, earlier Revue Season was created for the Identity Revues during the first semester of the university calendar.[4]

The popularity of revues saw a decrease, with steady drops in ticket sales recorded in 2016 from the past few years. Lockdowns in 2020 resulted in an almost non existent 2020 revue season, which put strain on revues such as International Revue, which dissolved as a society in 2022.[5]

Faculty Revues

Science Revue

The Science Revue debuted in its current iteration in 2006. The Revue is best known for having a large cast, with 92 cast members in the 2008 production.[6] This has led to the development of distinct troupes (Acting, Singing, Dancing and Band), who all contribute to the sketch development (the band being the last to join this process in 2017).[7] Science Revue is also one of the few revues to consistently use the York Theatre, the largest theatre available at the Seymour Centre.

Band Revue

In the wake of the success of the Science Revue band in 2019, members of the production and others created Band Revue as part of the Sydney University Dramatic Society (SUDS) 'Summer Slots,' running off the limited budget provided by SUDS.[8] Marketed as a "Science Revue Fundraiser", it received positive reviews for its 3 night run, but currently is not a standalone Revue.[9]

Engineering Revue

Engineering Revue is the only Revue listed to not be supported by the USU, instead running as an ad hoc organisation. The Revue is known for being planned at the last minute and featuring large amounts of both alcohol and heckling, by both audience and performers.[10] [11] Due to numerous bans from performance venues on campus, Engineering Revue is currently held in PNR Lecture Theatre.[12]

Identity Revues

POC Revue

POC (People of Colour) Revue debuted in 2015, under the name ACAR Revue (Autonomous Collective Against Racism), as a response to the lack of POC cast and crew in other revues at the time. The 2015 production was described as a "test run" given its unorthodox venue and rushed production. The Revue was rebranded as POC Revue from 2017 onwards.

Womn's Revue

Womn's Revue debuted in 2007 as "Women's Revue", returning in 2009, and then going on Hiatus until it was reestablished in 2015 as "Wom*n's Revue".[13] From 2017 the show has been titled "Womn's Revue".[14] The show is described as specifically "written, directed, performed and produced by those who identify as, or have lived experience as womn!"[15]

Queer Revue

Queer Revue debuted in 2010, as a show specifically for both members of the Queer Community, and allies. In recent years, Queer Revue has differed from other Revues by having 3 Directors, as seen in 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023.[16]

List of Performances

SeasonRevueTitleLocationDatesNotes
2006 Revue SeasonScienceQuantum Tunnelling For Dummies
2007 Revue SeasonSciencePulp Friction
2008 Revue SeasonScienceRadius of the Lost Arc
2009 Revue Season (19 August - 24 September)ScienceJurassic Quark
2010 Revue Season (11 August - 18 September)ArtsThe Wizard of Arts11 August 2010
LawHow to Lose Votes and Aggregate People
Womn'sGhoul's Night
CommerceIndustryous Basterds
QueerThe Gay After Tomorrow
EngineeringHow to Drain Your Flagon (Responsibly!)
Education and Social WorkThe Shawshank Detention
ArchitectureCeci n'est pas une revue d'architecture
ScienceSherlock Ohms and Doctor Wattson in The Charge of the Light Brigade
MedicineCadavatar18 September 2010
2011 Revue Season (8 August – 3 September)MedicineBeauty and DeceasedYork TheatreWeek 1
ArtsHow We Learnt to Love AgainEverest TheatreWeek 2
LawThe Socially Awkward NetworkYork TheatreWeek 2
Education and Social WorkGladi-ATARReginald TheatreWeek 2
ArchitectureNineteen Eighty FloorReginald TheatreWeek 3
EngineeringJames Blonde: The Man with the Golden AleManning BarWeek 3
ScienceNASAblancaYork TheatreWeek 3
CommerceEconomy of ErrorsEverest TheatreWeek 4
QueerThe QueenReginald TheatreWeek 4
2011 (Out of Season)VeterinaryCamden Campus
2012 Revue SeasonScienceSin(x) City
2013 Revue SeasonScienceHow We Built a Time Machine and Ruined Everything
CommerceLes BizEverest TheatreAugust 2013[17]
QueerPeter Pansexual[18] Reginald TheatreSeptember 2013Winner of the USU Dave Burnett Award for a Club with Fewer than 100 Members (Short Listed)[19]
MedicineWinner of the USU Best Video Award
2014 Revue Season (20 August - 27 September)LawHouse of Clerks
ArtsThe Unlimited Dream Factory
ArchitectureThe Price is Frank Lloyd Wright
Med RevueSnow White and the Seven Dollar Copayment
QueerThe Nightmare Before Mardi Gras[20] 27-29 August 2014
CommerceMoolah RougeEverest Theatre28-30 August 2014[21]
ScienceTrapeze Gets DegreesYork Theatre
Education and Social WorkThe Land Before Timetables
EngineeringAGM of Thrones: A Song of Fire (Whiskey) on Ice
VeterinaryThe Acattery Awards
2014 (Out of Season)Jew RevueTorah the Explorerlate May
2015 Revue SeasonArtsSun Tzu's The Arts of War[22] York Theatre13-15 August 2015
QueerSTRAIGHT TO HELLReginald Theatre27-29 August 2015[23]
ScienceDarwins & DragonsYork Theatre27-29 August 2015
CommerceGuys and Dollar BillsEverest Theatre27-29 August 2015[24]
ACAR A Race Odyssey[25] Red Rattler Theatre22 October 2015[26]
2016 Identity Revue SeasonACAR The Presidential Race
QueerLiberté, Égalité, Firing SquadReginald Theatre9-11 June 2016
2016 Faculty Revue SeasonScienceIt Came From Planet SpaceYork Theatre25-27 August 2016
CommerceThe Rise and Fall of Bliss IndustriesEverest Theatre25-27 August 2016[27]
2017 Identity Revue Season (11 May - 3 June)Womn'sMemories R AlwaysReginald Theatre
QueerQueer Space 9 - Escape From Trash PlanetReginald Theatre18-20 May 2017[28]
2017 Faculty Revue SeasonCommerceIn the RedEverest Theatre17-19 August 2017[29]
ScienceRational TreasureYork Theatre7-9 September 2017
2018 Identity Revue SeasonPOCPOC Revue IV: Heroes of Time Past[30] Reginald Theatre10-12 May 2018
QueerQueerer Things[31] Reginald Theatre17-19 May 2018Winner of the USU Award for Best Poster[32]
2018 Faculty Revue SeasonScienceSchrödinger's Deal and No DealYork Theatre30 August - 1 September 2018
CommerceCamp ComedyReginald Theatre6-8 September 2018[33] Winner of the USU Award for Best Revue 2018
2019 Identity Revue SeasonQueerDead Bi MorningReginald Theatre2-4 May 2019[34]
POCThe Hard SellReginald Theatre11-13 April 2019[35]
Womn'sInside the SnowglobeReginald Theatre [36]
InternationalCrazy, Broke StudentsFactory Theatre [37]
2019 Faculty Revue SeasonLawMarried at First CitationEverest Theatre[38] 29-31 August 2019
ArtsThat's a Sketch by John Hughes
Med RevueA Registrar is Born
CommerceBoardroom BlitzReginald Theatre28-31 August 2019[39]
ScienceCSI: Rogue Operation (Styled CSI:RO)[40] York Theatre22-24 August 2019Winner of the USU Award for Best Revue 2019
2020 (Out of Season)Band ††The Good, The Band & The Ugly!Cellar Theatre30 Jan - 1 Feb 2020
2021 Identity Revue SeasonPOCThe Period Piece[41] Reginald Theatre22-24 April 2021
QueerCirque Do So-Gay[42] Reginald Theatre29 April - 1 May 2021[43]
2021 Faculty Revue SeasonCommerceCommerce Revue Presents: The Logies[44] Reginald Theatre2-5 February 2022While originally in the 2021 Revue Season, COVID related issues forced the production to delay until 2022.
ScienceSeance Revue[45] York Theatre12 March 2022While originally in the 2021 Revue Season, COVID related issues forced the production to delay until 2022.
2022 Identity Revue SeasonWomn'sWomn's Revue: On Tour![46] Reginald Theatre28-30 April 2022
POCPOC Revue 3022 - Futurism[47] Reginald Theatre4-7 May 2022Winner of the USU Award for Best Revue 2022
QueerKnights of Campelot: The Quest for the Sword in the Stone[48] Reginald Theatre12-14 May 2022
2022 Faculty Revue SeasonLawPulp Jurisdiction[49] York Theatre25-27 August 2022
ArtsWipeout![50] Reginald Theatre24-27 August 2022
ScienceA B sCience[51] York Theatre15-17 September 2022
2023 Identity Revue SeasonQueerBeen Gay, Done CrimeReginald Theatre27-29 April 2023
Womn'sTake Off![52] Reginald Theatre3-6 May 2023
POCThe Family Reunion[53] Reginald Theatre11-13 May 2023
2023 (Out of Season)EngineeringEngo Revue Strikes BackPNR Lecture Theatre4 May 2023
2023 Faculty Revue SeasonScienceCosmic Relief[54] Everest Theatre17-19 August 2023
LawEvidence Everywhere All At Once[55] Everest Theatre24-26 August 2023
MedChatGP[56] Everest Theatre21-23 September 2023
† ACAR Revue was renamed to POC Revue in 2017.

†† Band Revue is technically an event made by the Science Revue

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: University of Sydney Union - Venue hire is available for clubs and societies in various spaces in Holme, Manning and Wentworth buildings. A range of equipment is also available for hire. . 2022-05-03 . usu.edu.au.
  2. Web site: The University Revue: a golden age for student entertainers? . 2022-05-04 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  3. Web site: REVIEW: Science Revue 2019 "CSI: RO Rogue Operation" . 2022-05-04 . pulp . en-US.
  4. News: Ward . Mary . 13 September 2016 . "Why didn't people see the faculty revues?" . . 3 May 2022.
  5. Web site: Sydney University Internation Revue . 8 February 2022 . Sydney University International Revue Notice of General Meeting . 4 May 2022 . Facebook.
  6. Web site: 2022-04-10 . The history of USyd's best revue: Science Revue . 2022-05-03 . Honi Soit . en-AU.
  7. Web site: 2017-09-09 . Science Revue: a scientific report . 2022-05-03 . Honi Soit . en-AU.
  8. Web site: 2015-12-13 . So you want to see a SUDS summer show? . 2022-05-24 . Honi Soit . en-AU.
  9. Web site: SUDS Presents: Band Revue! The Good, The Band & The Ugly! . 2022-05-03 . www.facebook.com . en.
  10. Web site: Honi Soit . 2023-05-18 . Engineering Revue: A big blur . 2023-08-23 . Honi Soit . en-AU.
  11. Web site: https://www.facebook.com/honisoitsydney . 2016-08-24 . Engo Revue: Like high school again. But worse. . 2023-08-23 . Honi Soit . en-AU.
  12. Web site: Engo Revue Strikes Back 2023 . 2023-08-23 . www.facebook.com . en.
  13. Web site: 2015-06-30 . High Standards and High Heels: Glittoris, the 2015 Wom*n's Revue . 2022-05-03 . Honi Soit . en-AU.
  14. Web site: 2017-05-26 . Womn's Revue is the most fun you'll ever have at prom . 2022-05-03 . Honi Soit . en-AU.
  15. Web site: University of Sydney Union - USU Clubs and Societies . 2022-05-03 . usu.edu.au.
  16. Web site: Been Gay, Done Crime . 2023-05-07 . Seymour Centre . en.
  17. Web site: 2013-08-27 . Commerce Revue: Les Biz (Alisha Aitken-Radburn) . 2022-05-04 . Honi Soit . en-AU.
  18. Web site: 2013-09-19 . Queer Revue: Peter Pansexual (Phoebe Moloney) . 2022-05-03 . Honi Soit . en-AU.
  19. Web site: CLUBS & SOCIETIES AWARDS . 2022-05-03 . pulp . en-US.
  20. Web site: 2014-09-06 . Queer Revue: Fun for the whole family . 2022-05-03 . Honi Soit . en-AU.
  21. Web site: Commerce Revue 2014 Presents: MOOLAH ROUGE . 2022-05-04 . www.facebook.com . en.
  22. Web site: The 2015 Arts Revue: Sun Tzu's The Arts of War . 2023-05-07 . www.facebook.com . en.
  23. Web site: Queer Revue 2015: STRAIGHT TO HELL . 2022-05-03 . www.facebook.com . en.
  24. Web site: Commerce Revue 2015 Presents: GUYS AND DOLLAR BILLS . 2022-05-04 . www.facebook.com . en.
  25. Web site: 2015-10-31 . A Race Odyssey Review: One Small Step For Revue Culture, One Large Step For PoC . 2022-05-03 . Honi Soit . en-AU.
  26. Web site: Huang . Eunice . Albums: ACAR Revue: '2015: A Race Odyssey' . 3 May 2022 . Facebook.
  27. Web site: 2016-08-26 . A tour-de-force of fun, farts and farce . 2022-05-04 . Honi Soit . en-AU.
  28. Web site: Queer Revue presents: QUEER SPACE 9- Escape from Trash Planet . 2022-05-03 . www.facebook.com . en.
  29. Web site: In the Red: Commerce Revue 2017 . 2022-05-04 . www.facebook.com . en.
  30. Web site: PoC Revue IV: Heroes of Time Past . 2022-05-03 . www.facebook.com . en.
  31. Web site: 2018-05-19 . Queerer Things: Queer Revue 2018 . 2022-05-03 . Honi Soit . en-AU.
  32. Web site: USU declares winners of Clubs and Societies awards . 2022-05-03 . pulp . en-US.
  33. Web site: Commerce Revue Presents: Camp Comedy! . 2022-05-04 . www.facebook.com . en.
  34. Web site: USYD Queer Revue 2019: Dead Bi Morning . 2022-05-03 . www.facebook.com . en.
  35. Web site: PoC Revue 2019: The Hard Sell . 2022-05-03 . www.facebook.com . en.
  36. Web site: Review: Womn's Revue 2019 – Inside the Snowglobe . Honi Soit . 23 September 2022.
  37. Web site: Why everyone should see International Revue . The University of Sydney . 23 September 2022.
  38. Web site: Sydney Law Revue 2019 presents: Married at First Citation . 2022-05-03 . www.facebook.com . en.
  39. Web site: 2019-08-30 . Commerce Revue 2019: It's actually just a wholesome office party . 2022-05-04 . Honi Soit . en-AU.
  40. Web site: Science Revue 2019 presents CSI: RO Rogue Operation . 2022-05-03 . www.facebook.com . en.
  41. Web site: USU POC Revue 2021: The Period Piece . 2022-05-03 . www.facebook.com . en.
  42. Web site: 2021-05-01 . Review: Queer Revue 2021 . 2022-05-03 . Honi Soit . en-AU.
  43. Web site: Queer Revue: Cirque Du So-Gay . 2022-05-03 . www.facebook.com . en.
  44. Web site: 2022-02-03 . Review: Commerce Revue - A Night at the Logies . 2022-05-04 . Honi Soit . en-AU.
  45. Web site: Science Revue Presents: SEANCE REVUE . 2022-05-03 . www.facebook.com . en.
  46. Web site: USU Womn's Revue 2022 - On Tour . 2022-05-18 . Seymour Centre . en.
  47. Web site: USU POC Revue 3022 - Futurism . 2022-05-18 . Seymour Centre . en.
  48. Web site: USU Knights of Campelot: The Quest for the Sword in the Stone . 2022-05-18 . Seymour Centre . en.
  49. Web site: Review: Law Revue 2022 — Don't be a . PULP . 23 September 2022.
  50. Web site: Review: Arts Revue 2022 . PULP . 23 September 2022.
  51. Web site: USU Science Revue 2022 - A B sCience! . 2023-05-07 . Seymour Centre . en.
  52. Web site: WOMN'S REVUE 2023 - TAKE OFF! . 2023-05-07 . Seymour Centre . en.
  53. Web site: POC Revue 2023: The Family Reunion . 2023-05-07 . Seymour Centre . en.
  54. Web site: USU Science Revue 2023: Cosmic Relief . 2023-08-23 . Seymour Centre . en.
  55. Web site: USU Law Revue 2023: Evidence Everywhere All At Once . 2023-08-23 . Seymour Centre . en.
  56. Web site: USU Med Revue 2023: ChatGP . 2023-08-23 . Seymour Centre . en.