From Geelong to New York this show deftly traverses the life and story of its main protagonist Chrissy Amphlett. ‘Amplified: the exquisite rock and rage of Chrissy Amphlett’ is the incarnation in theatre of one of Australia’s most original and significant rock musicians.
The band the Divinyls headed by Chrissy Amphlett originally formed in Sydney in 1980 and continued its hit winning journey before disbanding in 1996. The bands’ continuous and core members consisted of vocalist Christine Amphlett and guitarist Mark McEntee.
The idea for this show originally came from Chrissy‘s friend Simon Morley ‘Horse’ and wasn’t realised before her premature death. Enter Jacaranda Productions with Director and Co- Creator Sarah Goodes and Producer and Co-founder Diana Glenn. This company can only be commended for enlisting the formidable skills of Sheridan Harbridge and Glenn Moorhouse to finally provide audiences with the context and history behind the exquisite rock and rage of Chrissy Amphlett.
True life stories are blended with bad behaviour, audience participation and an outstanding showcase of music in this compelling production.
Writer/Co-Creator/Performer Sheridan Harbridge as Chrissy is herself a unique force of nature who intrinsically captures the essence and power of the star performer whose rock legacy is told with truth and sensitivity throughout the 80 minutes of this show.
Chrissy’s struggle with addiction, her diagnosis of MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and her eventual and early death to breast cancer are the biographical details that are weaved into the story of her life.
For those lucky enough to have witnessed Chrissy and the Divinyls live in the 1980’s we are taken on a nostalgic journey of rock venues from Selina’s at the Coogee Bay Hotel, to the Manzil Room and live music in Kings Cross. It is the fact of this Australian music legend that Chrissy was the headlining female lead singer of a rock band during the 1980s in Sydney. This show is a stunning reminder of a period of time in Sydney’s live music history that remains unparalleled.
Amid the smoke haze and traditional rock band set with microphone, guitars, keyboard and drums the Set Designer Michael Hankin, Lighting Designer Paul Jackson and Sound Designer Michael Waters create an authentic underground club atmosphere completely reminiscent of the venues where this music history took place.
The costume designs by Michael Hankin sit comfortably in the traditional rock style gear of the period and didn’t succumb to the cliche it could have with the story behind the schoolgirl uniform for which Chrissy is infamous for. It is with defiance we are told that Chrissy adopting the school uniform made famous by Angus Young of ACDC is ‘a declaration of war’.
The musicianship between Christine Amphlett and her long-term band member and partner Mark McEntee is sensitively explored and the resulting hit songs had the audience rocking along to the memory and the beat. From the opening ‘I’ll make you happy’ to the infamous ‘I touch myself’ the skill and musicianship of these musicians is a constant presence in the soundtrack that is this show.
The band in this show are the extraordinary musicians Ben Cripps (guitar), Dave Hatch (drums), Clarabell Limonta (keyboards)and Glenn Moorhouse (guitar). The hits played don’t disappoint fans and engage a new audience of listeners.
What this show really does at its core is highlight and focus on the heritage of a woman of rock ‘n’ roll which is Chrissy’s legacy.
The raging bad girl persona and unpredictability of Chrissy’s performance style is encapsulated through storytelling and performance and brilliantly and believably executed by Sheridan Harbridge.
As Chrissy herself said ‘Australia needed a monster’ and she was only too able to provide one as the controversial person and artist she was.
But perhaps the most telling aspect of this production is the declaration by Sheridan as Chrissy that the ‘the revolution is amplified’. In Australian music history Christine Amphlett still takes centre stage as Australia’s first woman of rock ‘n’ roll.
It is this legacy and storytelling infused with the hits and loves and totems of this performer that make this such a compelling production and one that satisfies the questions and recognises the contribution of this extraordinary woman. The totem of the Crow that eerily evolves from true life in this production is used to great dramatic effect.
This is Belvoir Street’s second major show of 2026 and it doesn’t disappoint. Whether you’re a fan of the Divinyls, interested in Australian music history, fascinated by complex women and the legacy that is this formidable, confronting individual that is Chrissy this production encompasses the authenticity and truth-telling that a well written show with great material can provide. This production is a resounding success.
AMPLIFIED: THE EXQUISITE ROCK AND RAGE OF CHRISSY AMPHLETT has a short run in the upstairs theatre at Belvoir Street from 29 January – 8 February. It is an 80 minute show with no interval.
Production photography by Jade Ellis-Lowres
