A GEELONG ARTS CENTRE SUPPORTED PRODUCTION
PRIMA FACIE POWERHOUSE, SHERIDAN HARBRIDGE, SHINES AS THE ROCK ICON FROM GEELONG IN AMPLIFIED: THE EQUISITE ROCK AND RAGE OF CHRISSY AMPHLETT
The world of rock never recovered after Chrissy Amphlett came charging in.
From being born and raised in Geelong to raising hell on the world stage, Chrissy Amphlett was a once-in-a-generation talent, underscored by her signature rock ‘n’ roll rasp, sexual prowess, and school uniform stage attire. As the ferocious frontwoman of Divinyls, Amphlett redefined the rock scene, standing with a class of women in music who challenged the male-dominated industry and blanket genre, including Joan Jett, Debbie Harry, Suzie Q, and Chrissie Hynde.
Formed in Sydney in 1980, Divinyls was uplifted by Amphlett and fellow founding and mainstay member, guitarist Mark McEntee in addition to a long list of rotating band members, originally consisting of Jeremy Paul on bass (1980–82), Richard Harvey on drums (1980—85) and Bjarne Ohlin on keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals (1980–86). The band saw instant success with their initial releases, the Monkey Grip soundtrack-origin singles ‘Boys In Town’ and ‘Only Lonely’ which would be packaged under EP Music from Monkey Grip. ‘Boys In Town’ shot to number eight on the national single charts and remains a defining song for Divinyls. The rest of the decade saw the band release Desperate, What a Life! and Temperamental seeing a slew of hits spreading the Divinyls wildfire including ‘Science Fiction’, ‘Good Die Young’ and ‘Pleasure and Pain’, respectively. The charts ate up the songs but it was Amphlett who was the talk of the town. Her slightly dishevelled look, her larger than life sound, her rebellious streak, her unabashed demeanor in interviews, and her audacious blend of sexuality and vulnerability all packaged in song form were the perfect cocktail for star status.
It was further cemented with the turn of the decade, as their self-titled collection, stylistically presented as diVINYLS, came to light and ‘I Touch Myself’ became a global awakening. Shooting to number one in Australia, number four in the US and number ten in the UK, the track was met with both awe and controversy, particularly from the US radio and festival circuit. Adding to Amphlett’s already fearless front, ‘I Touch Myself’ cemented Amphlett as an icon.
With a rich career leading the ARIA Hall of Fame inducted band and as a solo artist in the years to follow, Amphlett’s image and performance package built her an enduring legacy in Australian music history - one that has been immortalised locally in central Geelong. Just a 2-minute walk from the Geelong Arts Centre just off of Little Malop Street, a large-scale Chrissy Amphlett mural envelopes a two-storey building in Denny’s Lane. Painted by Glen Smith, the mural is a dedication to the former Belmont High student and celebrated singer who lost her battle with breast cancer on 21 April 2013.
Adding to the recognition of Amphlett is the upcoming Geelong Arts Centre supported production of Amplified: The Exquisite Rock and Rage of Chrissy Amphlett. Presented under the 2026 Mainstage season, Amplified: The Exquisite Rock and Rage of Chrissy Amphlett sees beloved performer and writer Sheridan Harbridge, known for Prima Facie, embody the frontwoman. Backed by an electrifying band, Harbridge tackles the hits of Amphlett and the Divinyls in a cabaret performance aimed at amplifying Amphlett’s story and celebrated songbook.
With a credit list that boasts A Model Murder as presented at the 2024 Sydney Festival, co-writing credits for the acclaimed musical adaptation of My Brilliant Career for Melbourne Theatre Company, which won five Green Room Awards, including Best New Writing, and playing the star role of Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire, a RedLine Productions which saw her receive Best Actress at the Sydney Theatre Awards in 2024 for the second time, (the first being for her portrayal of Tessa in Prima Facie), Harbridge is a heavyweight in the Australian theatre scene.
Michael Cathcart of ABC Radio National offers a shining recommendation pertaining to Harbridge’s chameleonic stage CV, saying, “Some theatre people constantly surprise you, popping up in the most unexpected places, and whose names alone can spur you to buy a ticket. Sheridan Harbridge is one such artist.”
Amplified: The Exquisite Rock and Rage of Chrissy Amphlett is a co-created production between Harbridge and multi-award-winning director Sarah Goodes who is renowned for capturing exemplary women of Australia on stage. Her critically acclaimed Julia saw Justine Clarke transform into Australia’s first female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, in a powerful true telling of Gillard’s political rise. Enlisting the musical direction of compositional powerhouse, Glenn Moorhouse (Li’l Elvis Jones and The Truckstoppers, American Idiot, Dubbo Championship Wrestling), the musical scope for this Amplified production taps into Amphlett’s energy and is unapologetically big and bold.
Combined the forces of theatre will take you on a kaleidoscopic tour of Chrissy Amphlett through the dual gaze of the adoring public and those closest to her - a tale that treads the fine line of pleasure and pain.
Amplified: The Exquisite Rock and Rage of Chrissy Amphlett hits Geelong Arts Centre on 12 - 13 February 2026