Archive - Sing Along Mary Poppins

The Hayden Orpheum, Cremorne, Sydney (2001)

Event Photography

Selected Archive Credit

The Sing Along Mary Poppins event was held in the Main Theatre of the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, utilising the venue’s historic stage, organ, and auditorium as part of the live experience.

Portia Turbo performing during Sing Along Mary Poppins, Main Theatre, Cremorne Orpheum, Sydney, 2001.

 

The event featured drag artist Portia Turbo, whose performance combined theatrical character work, audience interaction, and live entertainment in keeping with the Orpheum’s long tradition of cine-variety programming. Portia Turbo has been an established presence in Australian performance culture since the late 1980s, with a career spanning stage, film, television, radio, and print media.

Portia Turbo in character during Sing Along Mary Poppins, accompanied by live organ performance, Cremorne Orpheum, Sydney, 2001.

 

A special feature of the event was live accompaniment on The Mighty Wurlitzer, played by Neil Jensen. The organ forms a central part of the Hayden Orpheum’s restored heritage, installed during the theatre’s major restoration and used regularly for live events alongside film screenings.

Portia Turbo leading audience engagement during Sing Along Mary Poppins, Main Theatre, Cremorne Orpheum, Sydney, 2001.

 

I was engaged as the event photographer to document the performance, capturing both staged moments and spontaneous interactions as they unfolded in real time. The resulting images reflect the energy, theatricality, and participatory nature of the event, recorded as a complete live sequence rather than isolated promotional moments.

ART1 Archive Context

This archive entry sits within my broader practice of performance and event documentation, recording live cultural moments as they are experienced by both performers and audience.

View other professional related works prior to ART1 here in the Selected Credits.