Arts

YouTube star Todrick Hall finally made it to our shores as part of his Straight Outta Oz tour; a show that will defy any preconceived idea you had about a musical or a concert. The evening began with a series of Hall’s videos projected onto a large screen showing his most famous videos dating right…

Cabaret is an art form that has something for everyone. The Adelaide Cabaret Festival, running from the 9th to the 24th of June showcases this perfectly. In its 17th year, it has a great mix of classic and contemporary performers from both Australia and overseas. We have listed some of the must-see acts for you…

Following David Bowie’s death in 2016, internationally renowned composer Warren Willis felt compelled to write a musical. He wanted to create something that celebrated the music and captured the lives of both Bowie and Freddie Mercury, two of the UKS most beloved performers. And so was born Bowie & Mercury Rising. Premiering in his hometown of…

The majority of us know Mark Holden thanks to reality television. He was the touchdown-loving judge of Australian Idol and he made a number of infamous performances on Dancing With The Stars. But there are many feathers to Messer Holden’s cap and his memoir, My Idol Years touches on all of this and more, including…

In one way or another, Elvis has been a part of everyone’s musical exploration. He is an artist who has transcended generations with his groundbreaking songs, and it’s incredibly hard to think he’s not with us anymore. His music does live on however, and with Elvis Live: The Wonder of You touring the country at this…

Have you ever wanted to sit on the couch eating a tub of ice-cream whilst wearing an elegant ball gown worn by one of the characters in Baz Luhrmann’s famous 1990 production of La Bohème? (How can one be sad when one looks so glamorous?). Well now is your chance! Opera Australia has dug deep…

The tragedy (or triumph) of George Orwell’s 1984 as a book is that it is too real for today’s world. It’s a complex, evocative piece of writing where one Big Brother overrules all and controls our thoughts feelings and dare punish us for getting independent thought. This production, adapted by UK company Headlong, first came…

We consider philosophers, world leaders, writers, artists, musicians and comedians as good sources of wisdom. But we don’t rate pirates, hackers and gang members quite so highly. Author Kyra Maya Phillips disagrees and thinks we should look to social misfits as sources of inspiration as she describes in her book, The Misfit Economy. The Venezuelan writer…

Australia does not tread quietly during the winter, with major events and festivals all over the country through the month of June. Here’s just seven unmissable events, festivals and productions not to miss around the country this month! Dark Mofo (Tasmania) Embracing the darkness of the southern winter solstice, Dark Mofo transforms the city of…

It doesn’t matter if you’re the biggest technophobe or if you’re a digital whiz kid, there’s no denying that algorithms are becoming a pervasive part of our lives. Companies like Google know more about us than ever, Amazon can predict our shopping purchases and Facebook likes can be used to distinguish your class, race, gender…

What would you do if your father told you he’d written an erotic novel?  Would you cover your ears and ask him to never speak of it again?  Or would you invite some friends around for a reading, and record it for the world to hear… Jamie Morton chose the latter, and so the podcast…

The first fifteen minutes of the live discussion saw Jonah Peretti, CEO of Buzzfeed, probed by Leigh Sales, anchorwoman of ABC’s 7.30, Dr Phil-style. This was Vivid Ideas’ first Game-Changer talk for 2017, and quoting Peretti, following questions on where he was born, what his childhood was like and which teachers supported him the most,…

In a unique display unlike any other orchestral performance, the internationally acclaimed Hubei Chime Bells National Chinese Orchestra brings The Imperial Bells of China – Chimes in Concert to Australia for concerts in Melbourne on Thursday 20 July at Melbourne Recital Center and in Sydney on Sunday 23 July at Sydney Opera House. Together with…

Following the critically acclaimed, sell-out season of The Laden Table (March 2017), bAKEHOUSE Theatre Company is presenting the world premiere of Jatinga – an international co-production inspired by the daughters of sex-workers in Kamathipura, Mumbai’s oldest and Asia’s second largest red-light district. Named after the village Jatinga, a place most famous for the phenomenon of…

Last Friday, the Marvel Creating the Cinematic Universe exhibition opened at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) and what a visual, popular cultural feast it is, with over 500 objects including the costumes, props, sets and characters all spectacularly animating the voluminous rooms of GOMA. Art and God-like archetypes have been an intrinsic part of…

It’s one of Shakepeare‘s most famous tragedies and the Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC) is bringing Macbeth to audiences with a modern day touch. Starring none other than Aussie actor Jai Courtney in the title role and Geraldine Hakewill as Lady Macbeth, this is sure to be an outstanding season of Australian theatre. Macbeth opens next week and the cast…

Sophie Foster, a WAAPA graduate and contemporary vocalist, was the main headliner for the first night of the Perth International Jazz Festival. Instead of attempting to conjure sonic textures via paragraphs of high falutin’ words, I’ll just say that her r’n’b/neo-soul stylings reminded me a lot of Alicia Keys and a little bit of Prince, two…

If you’re looking for a drug-free night where you’ll still be tripping, I recommend booking VIP tickets to Matt Hollywood’s Illusions Magic Show; although it’s been rumoured that Matt Hollywood doesn’t really exist. Rumour has it that he’s a figure of the imagination, an illusion that can disappear in the blink of an eye. He…

Tonight, Vivid officially kicks off in Sydney with the lighting of the Opera House sails and performances under them – with indie rock stars Fleet Foxes one of the big opening night attractions. Around the city, projections, lights and artworks will give locals and tourists alike the chance to explore Sydney in a new way….

Mumu Mike Williams has become the first ever winner of the Footscray Art Prize, taking out the title from more than 800 worthy admissions. The Pitjantjatjara artist’s entry, Postbag Painting, used re purposed Australia Post canvas mailbags to create the winning piece. The Prize, currently in its first year, is a unique collaboration between Victoria…

ASOS Supports Talent is a global initiative which helps young creatives turn their ambitions into real-life projects. One of the talent selected for 2017 is dance activist and choreographer, Amrita Hepi. With a practice that focuses on intersectionality, Hepi choreographed four routines with four dancers who she considers to embody incredibly political practices. The separate pieces…

The Patrick White Playwrights’ Awards will be taking place tomorrow night at The Wharf. The winner will receive $7,500 and the opportunity to work with a director and actors, as well as have a rehearsed reading of their play at the event. This year 106 entries were received, and from those 106 the following five…

Since 1992, Primavera has helped kick-start the careers of young Australian artists aged 35 and under. Now in its 26th edition, the class of Primavera 2017 have been selected and will showcase their work at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia from the 23rd of August. Curator Sophia Koyoumdjjan will work with eight artists handpicked…

Mark Vincent is an insanely busy opera singer. In a show of how much of a workhorse he is, Vincent has released seven albums since winning the third season of Australia’s Got Talent. More recently he’s been performing as part of the current Australian production of My Fair Lady, which somehow has been interspersed with recording his…

Aladdin has been drawing massive crowds since it hit the stage at Her Majesty’s in Melbourne. We have given you our opinions here at the Arts on the AU about the performances in Sydney and Melbourne and many interviews with cast and crew of the productions showing in Australia. Just after the Melbourne production, book writer of…

The Northern Territory Government has this week announced the appointment of Rhonda Roberts AO (Order of Australia) as curator of the second annual Parrtjima – A Festival in Light event in Alice Springs, which will run from Friday 22nd September to Sunday 1st October 2017. A Festival in Light is the first authentic indigenous festival of…

Liz Newell and Emily McLean have returned to The Blue Room Theatre with Toast, a charming exploration of grief, loss, and family. Following the sudden death of their mother, three sisters come together to clear out their childhood home. The headstrong Candice (Alison Van Reeken), recovering alcoholic Alex (Amy Mathews), and adoptive sister Sydney (Anna…

Yirramboi First Nations Festival kicked off in Melbourne on the 5th of May for 10 days bringing with it a city wide ‘blakout’ of more than 60 events, including dance, music, visual art, film and discussions in laneways, art spaces and public places. As part of the program the “The National Indigenous Dance Forum” was…

International best selling recording artist and concert performer Richard Clayderman is in Sydney performing two concerts at Palais Theatre, Melbourne on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 June. Richard Clayderman’s distinctive piano style has earned him superstar status all over the world. Today he has recorded over 1,200 melodies and, in the words of a German…

The full Australian cast for the global musical sensation MAMMA MIA! has been announced, with Natalie O’Donnell leading the pack. Starring as mother-of-the-bride Donna Sheridan (the role brought to life by Meryl Streep in the 2008 film) the production will see O’Donnell coming full circle, having played the role of Donna’s daughter Sophie in the…