Torben Brookman in Conversation with George Torbay

Join us at St Paul's Creative Centre for an exciting conversation between Torben Brookman and George Torbay revolving around music theatre.

Creative Revolutionaries and the Elder Conservatorium at the University of Adelaide is proud to present a conversation with Torben Brookman, Joint Chief Executive Officer of GWB Entertainment Pty and George Torbay, Head of Music Theatre at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, University of Adelaide. Special thanks to St Paul's Creative Centre, the Music Development Office and the Government of South Australia.

While Torben’s musical theatre productions have been experienced by large audiences across Asia, his company is based in Adelaide. How has Torben managed to create an international best of breed company from Adelaide and what are the opportunities for being based in Adelaide? What does the future look like for music theatre nationally and internationally? How can the education system create a pipeline that aligns and supports the music theatre business?

These are some of the questions that Torben and George will discuss. Please reserve a ticket to join us in person for this unique conversation between two of Australia’s creative experts in music theatre.

This event will be also be streamed live, please register your interest to be notified of the stream link the day before.

This event is on Level 1 of St Paul’s Creative Centre, accessible only by stairs. For questions on access, please contact St Paul’s staff on 7320 3337

Torben Brookman

Torben Brookman is an Australian based director and producer with decades of experience, specialising in Australasian productions.

Iconic British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber trusted Torben to produce many of his legendary musicals in Australasia. These include School of Rock: The Musical, Phantom of the Opera, We Will Rock You, Jesus Christ Superstar and Cats.

Torben is a founder and co-owner of GWB Entertainment. GWB is an internationally renowned production and management company - specialising in conceptualising, producing and managing plays, musicals and concerts.

Currently, GWB is the general management and tour booking for two Lloyd Webber musicals: The Phantom of the Opera World Tour (in South Korea and soon to be in Taipei) and Cats (South Korea Tour).

In the past decade, GWB has produced such acclaimed tours such as: Matilda the Musical (International Tour 2018/19), West Side Story (Australia, NZ, Germany 2019), The King and I (West End 2018, UK and Asian Tour 2019), Ghost: The Musical (Asia and Australia 2014-2016), Ultimate Broadway (Shanghai 2011, 2012, 2015), Avenue Q (Seoul 2013) and Disney's High School Musical (Hong Kong and China 2010, Taiwan 2011).

In his home state of South Australia, Torben has been essential to the Adelaide arts scene.

For two years, he was deputy Executive Director at Adelaide Festival (2017-2019). Between 2011-14, he was the Executive Producer of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. He spent 2011 as both Producer at the Adelaide Festival of Arts and Acting General Manager for the Australian Festival for Young People.

George Torbay

Hailed by The Sydney Morning Herald as ‘one of Australia's leading musical lights’, George Torbay completed studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts USA, the University of Sydney and the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.

A distinguished conductor, music educator, singing teacher, adjudicator, performer and director, Mr Torbay has served as Artist in Residence and Lecturer for Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore, Chief Conductor for the NSW Department of Education, Lecturer at Federation University, advisor to Hal Leonard Australia and as the Director of Music for the television series Battle of the Choirs. He is currently Head of Music Theatre at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, University of Adelaide.

Mr Torbay is a published arranger with Warner Brothers, Morton Music and Hal Leonard Australia. For Hal Leonard he has published eight books entitled CHORALTIME. Most recently he was the author of the musical theatre syllabus for the Australian Music Examinations Board and currently serves as their Chief Examiner.

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