Arts

Have you ever wanted to rock out with Jesus, Judas and the gang? Join 50 years of raving audiences and bear witness this to reinvention… this revival… this ‘resurrection’ of Jesus Christ Superstar. Guided by the lyrics and music of EGOT winners Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, this mesmerising new production has hit Australian…

Charlie Chaplin has long been recognised as a worldwide silent movie icon and is considered one of the film industry’s most important figures. In the theatre comedy show “Smile”, talented artist Marcel Cole brings to life the story of the Little Tramp and the man who created him. The Courtyard of Curiosities is a small…

To sum up Spyhard, suave English agent Antonio Tranderas (Anthony Tran) and the captivating Russian operative Faytasha Romanov (Fay MacFarlane) are caught up in a world of acrobatics and high-flying stunts. As a tribute to the action spy movies from the 80s and 90s, Spyhard ticks all the boxes. The duo, known as Circus Sorbet,…

There aren’t many culture writers in Australia who are discovering the Adelaide Fringe for the first time. So with 17 years of career under my belt, I’m windswept with a bit of self-shaming as I stroll down Rundle Street. I haven’t seen streets this alive since I was walking around Lower Manhattan last summer. The…

The Australian Platypus is an unusual animal, seemingly made from disjointed parts that somehow come together to make a creature that is both unique and adorable. The Platypus is a play that uses that creature as its motif and is also an unusual creature that is loveable. Playwright and director Francis Greenslade has compiled a witty…

Sixteen years after her passing, Pina Bausch remains the most famous contemporary choreographer in the world, and the fate of the company she founded is still inextricably tied to her. For Tanztheater Wuppertal, this is a double-edged sword. It grants a level of publicity that few other dance troupes could dream of, especially those based…

The Bearded Lady – Beardo to her friends –  is a West End institution. It’s cozy 120 capacity space has played host to acts from across Australia and beyond, from live music to poetry slams, and life drawing classes to burlesque. But, like so many other small venues across the country, The Bearded Lady is…

A few days before International Women’s Day I found myself having dinner with a male friend. Seemingly out of nowhere he mentions that ‘Women’s Day’ is coming up and because the bar is in hell when it comes to my expectations of men, I was surprised and impressed that he actually knew the date. He…

It was revealed today at SXSW that the creators of some of the world’s best immersive art experiences, Meow Wolf, are readying their seventh permanent location in the USA – New York City. The news comes less than a year after they revealed that a Los Angeles location would open in a movie theatre in…

Arthur Art Bar is a gritty Fringe venue in the west end of Adelaide that has evolved over the last few years. Formerly a furniture store, it is known for its presentation of alternative and queer performances.  This year for the Fringe, the upstairs rooms, each barely larger than a bedroom have been converted for…

South by Southwest Sydney (SXSW Sydney) began in 2023, as an extension of the well known SXSW that originated in Austin Texas in 1987. The desire of bringing the annual program to Sydney was to reach creatives in the Asia-Pacific region, and to provide creatives with avenues to help reach their aspirations. Whether that be…

As the audience files into The Flamingo Tent at Gluttony, a Deadpool like voice is making wisecracking commentary. We soon discover that there is indeed a Deadpool character seated amongst the unwitting patrons, and he is just as irreverent as the Marvel movie character. What ensues is essentially Deadpool reading us a naughty bedtime story,…

A voice cries out in the darkness. “You do a lot of crazy things when you’re eighteen. I killed Sharon Tate.” The spotlight shines on the grinning face of Susan Atkins (Helen O’Connor), one of the central protagonists in the infamous Manson murders. “How did we get here?”, she muses and launches immediately into a…

Tom Weil is a magician and mind reader with 20 years of experience. This makes for a satisfying series of gasps and applause from the Adelaide Fringe audience packed into the Kingfisher tent in Gluttony. His particular speciality of mentalism leaves many wondering if, indeed, he can read minds. How did he predict where people…

Strut and Fret company have two shows in the Spiegeltent in Garden of Unearthly Delights this year, Limbo the Return and La Ronde. Both are extravagant ventures into circus, trapeze and aerial performances. Under director Scott Maidment’s keen eye for detail, La Ronde is a spectacular and captivating performance that keeps the energy levels high…

This is the third year for the successful MAHO Magic Bar in the Garden of Unearthly Delights. The room is set up like the magic bars in alleyways in Tokyo. Many of the show’s performers work or even own one of these magic bars, which is what makes the experience so authentic. While waiting for…

Adelaide Fringe has kicked off with its typical swagger, taking over the psyche of this historic small city and filling Adelaide’s streets, venues and gardens with just under a month of fun, experimentation and exceptional food. Festival veteran Alexis Buxton-Collins lets you know how to make the most of your time at Adelaide Fringe, whether…

“Ten little soldier boys went out to dine; one choked on his little self, and then there were nine.” Guided by the words of a grim and ominous poem, And Then There Were None is yet another genre-defining murder mystery from the mind of Agatha Christie. Aussie icon Robyn Nevin, fresh off her direction of…

In just a few short weeks, Brisbane’s La Boite Theatre will bring an exciting reimagining of Shakespeare‘s Macbeth to life, putting the three Witches at the centre of it all. Co-directed by La Boite Theatre’s Artistic Director Courtney Stewart and Lisa Fa’alafi (Co-Artistic Director Polytoxic, Hot Brown Honey), with Sue Rider (former Artistic Director of La Boite) as dramaturg, this…

Limbo has been a favourite at the Adelaide Fringe Festival over the years. Director Scott Maidment has presented an acclaimed collection of shows such as Le Gateau Chocolat, The Purple Rabbit, The Party, Blanc de Blanc and of course the original Limbo. Having made its debut at the Adelaide Fringe in 2013, the show has…

I always love visiting Seattle. Between the endless culinary delights of Pike Place Market, the stacked cellar doors in Woodinville and the restorative Pacific Northwest climate, few places in the USA can charm with such gentleness and generosity of spirit. It’s not America’s most frenetic city, but it’s easily one of the most livable with…

It’s that time of year again. A time when people gather together to listen to incredible speakers discussing some of the most interesting and relevant topics facing women today. For more than 10 years All About Women at the Sydney Opera House has shone a light on, not only the discussions we are having, but…

From the producers of Baby Reindeer and the iconic hit Fleabag comes the darkly comedic Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen at the Sydney Opera House. Performed by Olivier and two-time Tony nominated English actor Samuel Barnett, the audience is taken on a wild ride of dating, neuroses, self-sabotage and those deep…

It was announced this morning that the Disney Theatrical Group are bringing Disney’s The Lion King back to Sydney for a third time. The announcement comes some ten years after curtains last shuttered on the iconic musical in Australia. Across its two runs in the country, The Lion King was seen by nearly four million…

Last week, we sat down with Cirque performer Anna Ivaseva, who detailed the experience of bringing her Water Bowl act to Hawaii for the new Cirque du Soleil production ‘Auana. Today we are sitting down with the show’s Director, Neil Dorward. Neil is no stranger to Australian shores, having directed a number of shows that…

Editor’s Update May 6th: This exhibition has been extended due to popular demand through July 17 at Las Vegas City Hall’s Grand Gallery. For the first time ever, Cirque du Soleil is partnering with for a museum for a limited-time exhibit, honouring more than three decades of history in Las Vegas. That museum is one…

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of seeing the incredible new Cirque du Soleil production ‘Auana. Before I was able to sit in the Honolulu theatre and experience the city’s first ever Cirque residency, I sat down with one of the show’s performers, Anna Ivaseva. Ivaseva brings her skills in the water bowl to…

In my life, I’m constantly looking for experiences that surprise me. Montreal’s Cirque du Soleil is one such company that helps me regularly tick that box, with their breathtaking touring and residency productions all over the world. And their new production ‘Auana in Honolulu, Hawaii, is no exception. Years in the making, ‘Auana debuted at…

This morning, Danny & Michael Philippou, ONEFOUR, Damon Herriman, Kate Mulvany, Teresa Palmer, Jack Thompson, Matt Carroll, Academy Award winner Adam Elliott, Lee Tiger Halley, Bruna Papandrea, Anaconda, and more have been added to the star-studded AACTA Festival lineup – Australia’s largest celebration of film, television and screen content, running between February 5th and 9th, 2025.. This expanded…

From February 5–9, the AACTA Festival promises five unforgettable days packed with experiences celebrating the best of film, television, and digital media. This weeklong celebration features a diverse lineup of events designed to inspire, entertain, and connect, with activities for everyone from industry professionals to pop culture enthusiasts. Set against the stunning backdrop of the…