WAM member & Perth Artist Keshet has teamed up with professional production company Platinum Entertainment to mount a revival of The Diments Rock Opera.
Keshet is known in the Perth scene as a multi-media producer and often teams up with local singers (most recently with Clay Darius & Paula Parore of The Voice) to create unique productions & songs that are also accompanied by innovative videos, which he directs. He first released The Diments Rock Opera as a concept album in 2015, where he assembled 19 musicians from local bands (Tempest Rising, Gunners, and Emerald City) as well as Symphony & Jazz orchestras. Immediately after the release, Keshet started designing the stage show, which bridges the gap between musical theatre & a rock concert. The Diments stunned critics & the public alike, premiering with a sold-out run of shows at the Nexus Theatre in October 2017.
The uniqueness of the show caught the eyes & ears of Platinum producers Trevor and Katrina Patient, who were in the audience during the very limited original run. Platinum Entertainment, the company that mounted the highly acclaimed WA productions of Jesus Christ Superstar and We Will Rock You, were quick to acquire the rights for ‘The Diments’ and are taking the show to the next level; With expanded cast, larger dance ensemble, live choir & orchestration, as well as brand-new songs created by Keshet. The Diments will return to Astor Theatre for three nights only on August 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Tickets are sale from May 14th.
“I’m extremely excited about The Diments being picked up by Platinum Entertainment,” show creator Keshet said. “The show was conceived with the intention of creating collaboration between different local scenes resulting in a one-of-a-kind spectacle. We originally combined local music performers from the rock, pop, metal, jazz, and Latin scenes with an urban/hip-hop dance troupe that normally don’t get to interact in a singular show. To work with a company such as Platinum, that fully understands and embraces that vision and aims to continue the connection with the local scene and also with talent on a higher level is everything I could ask for. Sal Abate, a fixture in the Perth rock scene, known for his work in Emerald City and as his wonderful imitation of Axl Rose in the Guns ‘N’ Roses tribute band Gunners, is thrilled about the return of The Diments, “I loved playing the role of Eddie Diment because at first it’s almost as though he has been made out to be a villain, but as the story goes on you start to sympathize with Eddie and his situation and the character wins you over and from a musical perspective, I just loved the great soaring melodies and big notes!”
The Diments is a rock show with a difference, incorporating a big original rock score and a musical plot along with a dark twist. The Diments is a dark tragedy about falling from grace into the realms of insanity, as well as one man’s quest for redemption. The twisted tale centres on Eddie Diment, a successful businessman who believes he has it all – money, power and the beautiful Layla by his side. However, Eddie’s seemingly perfect world is quickly turned upside down when he discovers Layla is having an affair with his wayward brother, Barry. Soon after, a dramatic chain of events unfolds that sees Eddie consumed by loss & grief and stripped of everything he once held dear. Edging ever closer to madness, Eddie searches desperately for answers to his downfall – who or what led him here? And can he find a path to redemption?
The two Act epic combines theatrical rock performances, stunning costumes and over the top set design – think Alice Cooper, Kiss and Iron Maiden – with dramatic storytelling to create one hell of a show!
WA Show Dates
Astor Theatre, Perth
Thu 1 Aug, 2019
Fri 2 Aug, 2019
Sat 3 Aug, 2019
Tickets & info: Ticketek.com.au
