Robyn Archer is a singer, writer, director, artistic director, and public advocate of the arts, mainly in Australia though her reach is global.

Many fans remember her from her stage successes such as A Star is Torn and Tonight lola Blau: some know her only as one of the world's foremost exponents of German cabaret songs. She is known for her own writing, including political songs in shows like Pack of Women and Kold Komfort Kaffee. Those who are just getting to know Robyn Archer may have only seen her as Artistic Director of arts festivals. Very few people have the full picture. Robyn Archer is one very energetic woman who still doing all the above and more.

She always has new things on the radar so it's worth stepping into the lounge from time to time to catch up. She's been a real gypsy for many years now so this site is the very best way to pin her down for five minutes. Enjoy.

Recent updates...

Last week the Belgian Ambassador in Canberra conferred her honour of appointment to Officer of the order of the Crown.
In Canberra on May 10 she gave a ripper concert ( with Paul Grabowsky)  to a packed and cheering house as part of the Canberra International Music Festival.
Robyn was a participant in the 2020 Canberra Summit
She traveled to Havana, Cuba for the first time in March to be a juror for the Caribbean Contemporary Dance Rencontre - her invitation came from Culture France

Much of Robyn's back catalogue, inlcuding the sought after Brecht albums recorded at Abbey Road  and her first album, The Ladies Choice ,have been digitised and should soon be available as i-tune downloads - or contact Chaos music from this site

Review of Norwich concert on May 10th 2007

IAN COLLINS

May 11, 2007 Norwich Playhouse (Norfolk and Norwich Festival)

"... Robyn Archer was a legend - and a star who gained further lustre from her concert in Norfolk.This veteran performer has a strong mezzo voice and a personality as big as her native Australia, and she invests her favourite material - culled from the archive of Bertolt Brecht and his peers and collaborators - with awesome passion.Aided by splendid pianist Michael Morley, these songs worked as cabaret (or, with so many from Weimar Berlin, as Cabaret).Spoken lyrics added poignant poetry.But a cycle moving from 1920s decadence through songs of economic and then moral collapse, to bitter refuge in America and false dawn in East Berlin, provided a surgeon's survey of the 20th century's icy heart.As Robyn sang, grainy newsreel images of terror and horror flashed through my mind.And as Tony Blair prepares for profitable retirement, leaving young British soldiers to die pointlessly in Iraq, the singer would doubtless agree that the messages of Brecht, Eisler and Kurt Weill resonate to this day."

You can read Robyn's introduction to Fluidity , the conference which she curated in new York in January at www.ispa.org

Her keynote in Vancouver can be found at the website of the PUSH festival, and her speech for the British Festivals Association in Cardiff in September can be found on their website.

Latest Words

Robyn's addresses from Ghent ( October 06) and New York ( January 07) now appear in Latest Words

SPECIAL OFFER

Rare copies of Robyn Archer books, no longer published, are offered for sale.

Pack of Women - A$ 55 incl GST plus postage

Mrs Bottle Burps - A$ 44 incl GST plus postage

Cafe Fledermaus - A$ 33 incl GST plus postageTo order the books contact Rachel Skinner at Rick Raftos' Management - cheques or electronic transfer only.