Arts

Restrung Festival is returning to Brisbane next month for its third season of cross-genre and contemporary classical strings-driven ensembles, bands, soloists, dance and physical theatre. From August 17 to 19,  Brisbane Powerhouse will host an all-star line up of international, national and local guests for three huge days of  ticketed concerts and free events. More…

After kicking off in Sydney last year, The Festival of Death and Dying is set to arrive in Melbourne for the first time, from the 9 – 10 September 2017, with workshops, performances, talks and ceremonies on a huge range of topics. Highlights who will be headlining the festival include performance maker Allan Schacher with…

In Theatre Works’ latest showing, Frankenstein gets an 180-degree turn in a shadowy and modern portrayal of a horror icon, however, this portrayal felt overly simplistic despite the theatrical reframing. This premier season directed by Phil Rouse tells the gothic story by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley flipping gender and turning to a somewhat contemporary angle by…

The Actors Benevolent Fund is a non-profit, charitable organisation who has been providing financial and practical assistance to professional performers since 1944. They support individuals who are unable to work due to illness, injury or disability. This charity recently held a fundraising night at Dendy Opera Quays where they screened a recording of the 2015…

The new production of Blackrock, a play written by Nick Enright some 20 years ago, opened at La Boite Theatre in Brisbane last night. Its opening coincided with the acquittal of four men found not guilty of the gang rape of a fifteen year old girl in the Blue Mountains; it’s clear this horrifying narrative is as…

A group of teenagers come together for a party on the beach. But come morning, a fifteen year old girl is dead, raped and then beaten to death. The work of late playwright Nick Enright, Blackrock follows the aftermath of this terrible act, as the party-goers explore their guilt, whether as perpetrators or as bystanders,…

From international touring comedians to rising local stars, Bris Funny Fest is back for its second year and it’s bigger and better than ever before! With over 50 shows to choose from, the festival will take place in various locations around Brisbane from the 2nd-20th of August. A Game Of Thrones improvised parody, a pleasure…

If only all world rulers had the same approach to legacy building as the Chiefs from the Wadagadum tribe on Mabuiag Island, who in their role as leaders bring a different creative expansion to their culture through art and story telling. When Jimi Bani’s father Dimple was the chief of Wadagadum tribe he was a singer, dancer…

Have you ever said to yourself, “this weekend I want an uber-cheesy, sparkly glittery, overly accented, pyrotechnic spectacular?” Well then maybe The Bodyguard – which just kicked off its four week run in Brisbane – is for you. Whether or not you’ve seen the movie is not in the criteria to enjoy this show. It’s…

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and its boisterous, ribald and ultimately devastating story of a psychiatric clinic and its inhabitants has long been considered amongst the great pieces of literature, theatre and film. This August Sport for Jove are bringing Cuckoo’s to the stage once more. We caught up with Stephen Madsen (who will play Ruckly,…

Melbourne is hosting a winter arts festival over ten nights in August, bringing lights and colour to the winter darkness of Stonnington. As the sun sets each night from the 10 – 20 August, the iconic venues and public spaces around the city of Stonnington will illuminate for this year’s Glow Winter Arts Festival. Each…

David Sedaris, the best-selling American author and humourist is returning Down Under to host a series of live shows in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane in January 2018. After previous sold out tours, Sedaris is hitting the Aussie road for his fourth sojourn, following the recent release of his latest book the Theft By…

I’ve always felt an affinity with Bridget Jones. I, too, am hopeless in the realms of romance, and struggle daily to balance my desire to look like Margot Robbie with my simultaneous love of all things chocolate coated. But, after viewing Jude Perl’s comedy show Let’s Hang Out, I’ve realised that I am Jude Perl….

Language warning: if the title makes you uneasy you probably won’t enjoy this show. It slaps you across the face with vulgarity, ugliness and brutality. But if you love innovative, challenging theatre, you must see SHIT at the Seymour Centre this July. SHIT is not so much a narrative as it is a profile of…

A lot of us aspire to be well. It’s estimated that the wellness industry, which sells everything from day spas, retreats and yoga classes to supplements and detox diets is a multibillion dollar one that’s rising. Guardian journalist, Brigid Delaney is well-acquainted with this alternative church having been a devotee of various health and wellness…

The 2017 Arts Music Awards have been announced, with some of Australia’s best composers and performers in classical, jazz and contemporary music joining the list of diverse finalists acknowledged across 11 categories. Presented every year by APRA AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre, the Awards recognize achievement in the composition, performance, education and presentation of…

Enoch Arden is a stirring tale written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson in 1884. It tells the story of three children growing up together in a seaside town and the complicated love triangle between them. Enoch Arden is the rough sailor’s son who wins Annie Lee’s heart over his rival Phillip Ray. The performance at the…

In a theatre hidden in the back of a pub in the depths of Wolloomooloo gather a motley cast of characters who look to have stepped straight onto the stage from the street outside. Throw in a hefty dose of humour, a smattering of nostalgia and a generous amount of alcohol and you have This…

After the death of their Mother, two estranged half-sisters enter into a heated debate over which one of them owns a coveted stamp collection. Jackie (Kitty Hopwood) is the younger of the two and she sees the sale of the stamp collection as her ticket to a better life. Standing in her way is Mary…

It’s worthwhile taking Brisbane Festival Artistic Director David Berthold’s advice on how to attack this year’s just announced stellar line up of art and entertainment, “It’s a feast not a snack, don’t just taste one little tit-bit dive in and sample the whole range, use both hands and take risks!” Brisbane Festival launched on Tuesday morning over coffees and pastries,…

If you feel like your current workout regime is just not doing it for you anymore, and you need a little something extra, a little bit of inspiration to get that summer body back on track, might I suggest a night out at the theatre. Noises Off is quite literally the funniest show you will ever see,…

Scandalously funny, thought-provoking and heartbreaking, Cloud Nine is an enduring theatrical masterpiece. However, after seeing it last week we had some questions… and who better to answer them then someone close to the heart of it all? Cue Matthew Backer, who takes on the dual roles of Joshua and Gerry in the production, and who has managed to dish…

The National Geographic Photo Ark Exhibition has made its way to Australia and can I just say, what an absolute privilege it is to have it nestled at our own Melbourne Zoo. The Nat Geo family has always been a huge inspiration to a lot of people in not only educating them about our wondrous…

If ever there was a time to escape reality and just have a good old belly laugh, then you may just want to head to the theatre and see what has been described as the best farce EVER written. Noises Off cast member Emily Goddard graciously took some time out of busy schedule to chat about this…

Submissions are now open for the third edition of the 2018 Keir Choreographic Award. Eight finalists will be given the opportunity to present their work at Melbourne’s Dancehouse in March 2018, where four will then be chosen to do a season at Carriegworks in Sydney. The winner will receive a $30,000 reward, with a $10,000…

The design of seven new Brisbane River ferry terminals by Aurecon and Cox Architecture, has won the Australian Good Design of the Year Award.  I met with Brendan Gaffney architect from Cox Architecture at the Holman St Ferry Terminal Brisbane to talk about his award winning design. The ferry terminal is a combination of world first…

In a bleak midwinter comes forth STC’s Cloud Nine– surprising, hilarious, shocking and magnificent. The staging bespokes a Kip Williams production in its minimal design, allowing focus to solely rest upon its carefully selected cast. A layer of dirt covers the ground, upon it a glass box to which the actors retire occasionally to be…

When the Sydney Symphony Orchestra first planned a concert series based on the music of George Michael, it was envisioned as a celebration marking 30 years since the release of his first solo album, Faith. But in December last year, Michael’s name was added to the heartbreakingly long list of stellar artists that were lost…

If you’re looking for a good time, call Belvoir! The iconic Sydney theatre’s latest production, The Rover, will have you doubling over your doublets with laughter. A delightful classical script, paired with comedically-gifted actors and a theatre company who knows how to have fun, make this show a must-see. Written in 1677 by Aphra Behn,…

While waiting for Fiona O’Loughlin to come on stage at the new St Kilda winter garden known as Map 57, we see a guitar and a few mics set up next to the stand up’s own microphone. While thinking that O’Loughlin may have turned her wares to a musical act, it was actually a separate…