Aurora Kurth – Biography.
Aurora is an award winning singer, actor and theatre maker.
In 2002 she received her Advanced Diploma in Acting from The Actors Centre Australia, Sydney. In 1996 she completed a Certificate in Theatre Making at The John Bolton Theatre School, Melbourne.
Aurora recently returned to Melbourne, after studying singing, acting and movement, in India and Germany, for 8 months, with the assistance of Victoria University’s, Study Abroad Program.
Upon her return in January 2010, she performed in the award winning play, One Hundred, directed by Megan Jones and presented by Machination Ensemble.
In June 2009 Aurora performed in Ariel's Dream, a circus show, directed by Megan Jones, presented by the National Institute Of Circus Arts (NICA).
In April 2009 she performed in, Evening - A Cabaret, written and directed by Casey Bennetto, presented by Comedy@Trades, as part of The Melbourne International Comedy Festival. In March 2009 she performed in, The Glass Threshold, directed by Megan Jones and presented by Machination Ensemble.
In November 2008 Aurora performed in Grimm, directed by James Pratt and produced and devised by Company 13 (nominated for the Best Independent Theatre Ensemble) as part of Short and Sweet Festival at the Fairfax Studio at the Arts Centre.
In October 2008 she appeared in Casey Bennetto’s - A Largely Fanciful History Of The Spiegeltent, directed by Casey Bennetto and presented by The Melbourne International Arts Festival and The Spiegeltent.
In June 2008 Kurth was Master of Ceremonies and guest singer at Cabaret Vertigo, presented by the National Institute Of Circus Arts (NICA).
In May 2008 Aurora performed/directed and devised, From Little Things... the inaugural production of the Australasian Chinese Theatre Company.
Aurora also performed two shows in the 2008 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, her critically acclaimed solo cabaret show Take the L out of Lover presented by Jonah Klein and Manchester Lane and the live radio play,The Trades Radio Variety Hour, directed by James Pratt and presented by RRR Radio and Comedy@Trades.
In 2007 she performed Take the L out of Lover, directed by Jonah Klein and presented by the Malthouse Theatre, as part of the And The Coloured Girls Go Cabaret Festival.
Earlier in the same year she co-devised and starred in the musical comedy All of Me – The Ménage Dubois Story, presented by The Frotters and Comedy@Trades, as part of the 2007 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
In 2006 she performed in Spit, directed by James Pratt and presented by Company 13 and La Mama.
Throughout the same year she also performed at numerous festivals in the singing comedy duo, The Brides, directed by Carolyn Connors.
In 2005 she performed in Walkabout, a musical directed by Richard Frankland and presented by Chamber Made Opera and ACMI.
That same year she co devised, An Aye For An Aye, which she performed at The Store Room and the Wellington Fringe Festival, New Zealand.
In 2004 she performed in Burning Embers a musical directed by Douglas Horton as part of The Melbourne International Arts Festival, presented by Chamber Made Opera and The Famous Spiegeltent.
In 2003 Aurora joined State Of Play Theatre Ensemble, founded by Nick Enright and Julian Louis and performed in the production Aulis.
In 2001 she won the Melbourne Fringe Best Theatre Award for her self- devised show Finding The River performed at the North Melbourne Town Hall and the Wellington Fringe Festival, New Zealand.
Aurora’s short films include:
Welcome To Freedom, written and produced by Rob Reid & Elliot Summers. Directed by Nick Bufalo.
Breeders, written, directed and produced by Douglas Brook.
Running Towards Me, written and directed by Laura Ainscough. Produced by the VCA Film School.
As a singer Aurora has 20 years experience and training. She performs regularly with, Bella Ciao a 50’s style Italian show band and The Charcoal Club, with Aboriginal singer/songwriter Richard Frankland.
She has performed at many festivals and venues including: The Melbourne International Arts Festival, St Kilda Festival, Woodford Festival, Commonwealth Games Arts Festival, Queenscliff Festival, The Malthouse Theatre, The Arts Centre, Federation Square, Crown Casino, BMW Edge, The Royal Melbourne Show, KL Pac – Malaysia, and Bat’s Theatre – New Zealand.
Aurora also has extensive experience teaching, directing and facilitating acting and vocal workshops for corporate and private groups, universities, schools and correctional facilities including:
- 2008/Current: National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) Swinburne University, Melbourne – Singing and performance teacher.
- 2008/2010: The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, Malaysia – Guest singing and Physical Theatre tutor.
- 2009: Teltow-Fläming e.V., Berlin, Germany – Guest singer and international studies teacher.
- 2008/current: Dattner Grant: Corporate consulting firm, Melbourne – Vocal workshops facilitator.
- 2007: HM Prison Barwon, Melbourne – Guest singing and performance mentor.
- 2004: Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, Wellington – Guest acting tutor.
- 2001/2003: Actors Centre Australia, Sydney – Singing tutor.
- 2001/2003: The Scots College, Sydney – Co-curricular drama tutor.
- 2003: Just Enough Faith: Caring for Sydney’s homeless, Sydney – Guest director and co-devisor of the theatre show Destiny’s Way, performed by the homeless at Roselle Gardens and also featured on A Current Affair, Channel Nine.
Media Quotes.
‘Aurora dramatically binds the scenes together with her flamboyant presence and imposing voice.’
Herald Sun – Stephanie Glickman 2009
‘Evening: A Cabaret is a gently paced, deeply engaging work which superbly showcases the skills of its four performers; from Casey's lyrebird-like ability to pay homage to every musical genre under the (setting) sun, to Aurora Kurth's seductive torchsong charms ‘.
The Age – Richard Leigh Watts 2009
‘...And there’s a singer in a red dress, and elbow length gloves with matching red heels. Oooh. her voice is great and boy, she’s kinda smokin’.
Rabbit Hole Urban Music - Steve Smart 2009
‘Aurora Kurth is mesmerising – part Marina Prior angel, part Marlene Dietrich vamp’.
Funny Tonne - Joseph Crichton 2009
‘Aurora is one of this world's very few "naturals" – to hear her sing is to hear someone do exactly what they were born to do.’
ARIA Award winner – Clare Bowditch 2006
‘Kurth is a natural comedian with huge stage presence and a singing voice that could charm birds from trees.’
The Age – Cameron Woodhead 2008
‘Kurth has a voice as embracing as Joan Baez’
The Age– John Slaven 2005
‘Kurth is inventive and entertaining, establishing distinct and contrasting characters.’
The Age – Helen Thompson 2005
‘Kurth is a highly physical, musical and multi–talented artist.’
Herald Sun – Chris Boyd 2005
‘Aurora Kurth’s understated physical comedy seems almost inexhaustible’.
The Pun – Pat McGrath 2007
‘Ms Kurth is clearly a talented singer. She has the kind of voice that can stop traffic, hell, her voice could probably engender world peace.’
Groggy Squirrel – Karla Dondio 2008
‘Her vocal range was truly amazing as she tackled songs that spanned all musical genres with an energy that never wavered despite the enormous physical and vocal demands such a complex performance required.’
Artshub – Stephen Rhys 2008