SONGS FOR THE FALLEN Set for Arts Centre Melbourne

On January 15th, 1847, Marie Duplessis - courtesan, party girl, liar and legend - got out of bed, put on a dress, ordered a bottle of champagne, and sat alone in her Paris apartment to celebrate her birthday. She died 18 days later, aged 23... but Mademoiselle is not done yet.

Part vaudeville, part MTV-does-Baroque, Songs for the Fallen depicts the wild and unforgettable final birthday party of infamous French identity Marie Duplessis in the intimate confines of the Arts Centre Melbourne's Fairfax Studio.

Award winning actor, singer, writer and comedienne Sheridan Harbridge commands the stage in Songs for the Fallen, fresh from appearing in the Melbourne Theatre Company's acclaimed production of North by North West.

Her impressive career includes roles in The Speechmaker, Hip Bone Sticking Out and The Beast. Songs for the Fallen sees her captivate the audience with her sophisticated yet debaucherous celebration of a young courtesan's life.

Set in nineteenth century Paris, Songs for the Fallen is a glittering piece of theatre charting the life of Marie Duplessis from poverty to infamy; capturing the rise of a charismatic young woman who knew one thing: good girls don't make history.

With a lush live baroque-pop score, composed by Basil Hogios, AFI nominee (Romulus My Father) and APRA Screen Music nominee (The Killing Field), Songs for the Fallen gives insight into the decadent life and demise of a woman who defied her fate and enchanted a nation, eventually inspiring The Lady of the Camellias, La Traviata and Moulin Rouge.

Tickets: www.artscentremelbourne.com.au.