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READ MORE After days of turmoil and anger that threatened to tear the Sydney Symphony Orchestra apart, the orchestra’s board has staged a stunning back-flip on the issue of same-sex marriage, admitting their neutral position was “misjudged”. The board went on to publicly to proclaim its support for the “yes” vote. SHARE Share on Facebook SHARE Share on Twitter TWEET Link Emma Dunch: Dramatic intervention  The move comes alongside a dramatic intervention from New York from incoming chief executive Emma Dunch – who has been in a relationship with her same-sex partner for 17 years – and who also unequivocally declared her support for same-sex marriage. “As the incoming chief executive officer of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra next January and an out, gay leader, I am proud to express my personal and professional commitment to advancing equality and inclusion for the LGBTQIA community, and to affirm my unflinching support for...

READ MORE THEATRE HAY FEVER ★★★½ SHARE Share on Facebook SHARE Share on Twitter TWEET Link Chocolate box production: Hay Fever plays out on a lavishly detailed period set.  Photo: Brett Boardman Photography Melbourne Theatre Company Noel Coward comedies at the MTC – from Miriam Margolyes in Blithe Spirit to Private Lives with Nadine Garner – tend to sport starry casts and be reliably entertaining. This chocolate box production of Hay Fever is no exception. Played out on a lavishly detailed period set, the classic comedy of bad manners delivers us into the clutches of the Blisses – a family so vividly eccentric Coward didn’t need to bother giving them a plot to lose. But who needs a plot, when you can finesse the architecture of farce in a way that transforms style and symmetry into substance? Despite a giddy premise, Hay Fever is less feather-light than it first appears. Each of the Blisses – retired actress Judith, h...

READ MORE To add insult to injury, Adelaide Crows players still reeling from yesterday’s grand final loss have been delayed at Melbourne Airport. At 1.39pm the Crows’ official Twitter account confirmed players had been delayed at the airport because of a computer system outage. Up Next ‘Incredibly proud’: Hardwick reflects the day after More AFL Real Footy Videos When Tigers fans go wild When Tigers fans go wild Singing, nudity and shooeys: wild scenes on the streets of Richmond on Saturday night as frenzied fans revelled in the end of Richmond’s 37-year premiership drought. Up Next ‘Incredibly proud’: Hardwick reflects the day after ‘Incredibly proud’: Hardwick reflects the … ‘Incredibly proud’: Hardwick reflects the day after Tigers coach Damien Hardwick says the team wanted to join fans on Swan Street in Richmond on Saturday night, but safety concerns prevailed. Up Next Jack Riewoldt’s on-s...

READ MORE Key Socceroos midfielder Aaron Mooy may have had his pride dented after his Huddersfield Town team was taken apart by Tottenham this weekend, but the former Melbourne City man had little time to rest on his laurels. Mooy had to head straight to the airport to travel to Malaysia, where he will join up with the national team squad for the crucial World Cup qualifier against Syria on Thursday, a match that has enormous ramifications for the game in this country. SHARE Share on Facebook SHARE Share on Twitter TWEET Link Malaysia-bound: Aaron Mooy will feature in the Socceroos’ play-off against Syria.  Photo: AAP At least Mooy can take some consolation from the fact that the Syrians, tough and competitive as they are, have no players of the quality that he faced at the weekend. Harry Kane up front, Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Harry Winks ran riot for Tottenham as they cruised to a 4-0 win. The Australian was eventually subbed off in the second ha...

READ MORE Rainbow flags will not be banned from the NRL Grand Final, the management of ANZ stadium confirmed on Sunday, correcting erroneous reports that security officers would confiscate the items from fans during compulsory bag checks.  As tens of thousands of fans prepare to attend Sydney’s ANZ Stadium to watch the showdown between Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys on Sunday night, the venue was forced to issue a clarification on its flag polic y, noting that fans were “allowed to express their views.” SHARE Share on Facebook SHARE Share on Twitter TWEET Link ANZ stadium has confirmed that rainbow flags won’t be banned from Sunday’s NRL grand final.  Photo: Peter Harrington “There has been no ban on rainbow flags for today’s NRL Grand Final that meet the standard conditions of entry for all major events,” the statement said. “Fans are encouraged to bring colour and energy to the e...

READ MORE Wizard of Odds: Live Odds, Form and Alerts for all Racing David Payne is confident Gloaming Stakes winner Ace High can provide long-time client John Cordina with a first group 1 triumph in the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. SHARE Share on Facebook SHARE Share on Twitter TWEET Link Getting Higher: Ace High takes out the Gloaming Stakes.  Photo: Craig Golding The son of High Chaparral looked the strongest stayer in the Gloaming as he surged away in the final 100m and a group 1 win would be a reward for the Payne-Cordina association. “We have won plenty of group 2s together and had group 1 placings from horses like Centennial Park and Gallant Tess but just haven’t been able to get the big one,” Payne said. “He has been with me for a long time and this horse might be the horse to do it for us. “I have always said he would get better as the races got longer and to see him win at 1800m was a bit of a bonus.” Tye Angl...

READ MORE Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has backed US President Donald Trump’s combative rhetoric against North Korea, crediting him with bringing China to the negotiating table. Ms Bishop said the careful and patient approach of Barack Obama had not worked and Mr Trump had at least “changed the debate”. Up Next Trump defends response to Puerto Rico More World News Videos North Korea says US has ‘declared war’ North Korea says US has ‘declared war’ North Korea’s foreign minister says Pyongyang reserves the right to take countermeasures, including shooting down US strategic bombers. Up Next Trump defends response to Puerto Rico Trump defends response to Puerto Rico Trump defends response to Puerto Rico US President Donald Trump defended his administration’s response to the devastation in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. Up Next US embassy staff to leave Cuba US embassy staff to leave Cuba US embassy staff to leave C...

READ MORE The strong involvement of China in backing new sanctions on North Korea seems to have changed the calculations for the rogue regime, Australia’s foreign minister believes. Julie Bishop says the world will know the sanctions are working when North Korea agrees to come back to the negotiating table. Her US counterpart, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, has revealed he’s been “back channelling” North Korea – or sending messages via non-conventional routes – in a bid to get them to that table. “He indicated to me that part of his efforts to bring China into the collective strategy, to impose economic sanctions on North Korea, he was also back channelling … North Korea to make it clear to them that the United States was prepared to talk,” Ms Bishop told ABC TV on Sunday. “The messages so far have been through the media – you know, Pyongyang news puts out a statement and the (US) President responds.” Mr Tillers...