Arts

Side Show is a stunning story of sisterhood based on the remarkable real-life story of Daisy and Violet Hilton- identical ‘Siamese twins’ who were joined at the hip. The sisters grew up touring America in a travelling ‘freak show’. But when their spectacular talent and charm was discovered, they became a national sensation and the highest-paid stars of…

Fresh from covering the role of Jean Valjean in the recent national production of Les Misérables and previous international tours as a member of The Ten Tenors, Daniel Belle is now taking on the role of ex-vaudeville talent scout and agent Terry Connor in Hayes Theatre’s Side Show. We caught up to chat about this premiere production and his experience as a finalist…

One of the many awesome (and historic) things happening as part of Melbourne Fringe at the moment is Australia’s first ever paste up project. What in the heck is a paste-up project? Well, Wikipedia defines it as ‘a method of creating or laying out publication pages that predates the use of the now-standard computerised page…

Nick Cave is set to disrupt Sydney with an explosion of colour and music, as sixty Dancers and Musicians in thirty life-sized horse-suits bring the city to life. Renowned American Artist Nick Cave will launch his exuberant first Australian project HEARD·SYD in November. The installation will see Sydney-based Dancers and Musicians come together, donning colourful…

Alfred Hitchcock’s films are renowned for their female protagonists, put in peril by a master of the suspense genre. But what did the actresses who played these women really think about the man behind the lens? Laura Johnston wants audiences to find out, as she takes them on a one-woman-led journey into the minds of…

Graeme Simsion had lots of inspiration he could draw upon for the socially-challenged professor character (Don Tillman) in his novel, The Rosie Project. Simsion is a self-confessed “escapee” from the world of IT. For over 30 years he worked with computers and he’s also studied and taught science at University. These experiences have all helped…

Michael Condron, who played Bowen Marsh in HBO’s Game of Thrones, will join the cast of parody show Graeme of Thrones for its Brisbane Powerhouse run later this year. Graeme of Thrones producer Alex Jarrett says: “Condron might have been one of Jon Snow’s killers in Season 5, and was then killed by Jon Snow…

A new streaming service from The Australian Ballet will allow audiences to watch performances as many times as they like over a 30 day period. Ballet TV offers a collection of free to watch clips and videos, including rehearsal footage, interviews, behind the scenes insights, trailers, and artistic showcases. Now, for an $8 fee, viewers…

Sydney based Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi artist Jonathan Jones‘ piece barrangal dyara (skin and bones) is the most ambitious Kaldor Public Art Project to date, with 15,000 white shields and eight soundscapes taking over the original footprint of the Garden Palace building, which burnt down in 1882. Jones is the first Indigenous artist to head a Kaldor Public…

Australia Day is a fairly contentious date in the calendar. The idea that Australia began with the arrival of the First Fleet on January 26th 1788 has long been offensive to descendants of the Indigenous Australians who already occupied the land. It also dismisses interactions between Europeans and Indigenous people that predated the landing, and…

Damien & Ross are lost in the jungle, how they got there, who the heck know? All that matters in this little production is what hijinks – or problems – will the two get up to? Including parts of the audience, the two try to figure out in the crazy-ness that is Safari Psychosis. Damien Vosk, a…

Rarely seen outside Europe and performed by The Australian Ballet for the first time, Nijinsky tells the story of a ballet icon Vaslav Nijinsky. We spoke with The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David McAllister about this masterpiece, that he calls “one of the most important ballets of our time”. Nijinsky is an acclaimed ballet about an…

Anna Seymour‘s Distraction Society is a short, different piece of dance that realises how we recognise relationships today. With the present screen culture all-asunder with the interaction of all kinds of dating apps, This piece explores all that is modern about how we transmit communication to each other through screens. Taking place in the beautiful…

Sydney Theatre Company’s dark new interpretation of the beloved Shakespeare A Midsummer Night’s Dream opened at the Sydney Opera House this week. An interpretation that is anything but a fairytale. We caught up with Matt Backer during tech week to chat about this thrilling new production and about his character Puck, or who I shall henceforth refer…

A great play and strong visual design set Edgewise Production’s The Women up for success, but inconsistent performances mean it falls just short of its potential. The Women was written in 1936 by Clare Boothe Luce. Described as a comedy of manners, with dialogue purportedly taken from conversations overheard in Manhattan powder rooms, the story…

Presented by the Northern Territory Government and AGB Events, Parrtjima – A Festival in Light is the first authentic Indigenous light festival of its kind in the world. The huge scale event will illuminate Alice Springs for ten nights this September and October, with a free program of events open to the public, showcasing contemporary…

One of Australia’s most acclaimed actors, John Bell, will be joining the Tinalley String Quartet, for the second concert from the quartet’s 2016 program. The Tinalley String Quartet consists of violinists Adam Chalabi and Lerida Delbridge, violist Justin Williams, and cellist Michelle Wood, and has established itself as one of the finest string quarters of its…

Talk about a big undertaking! For this year’s Sydney Fringe Festival, Montague Basement has tackled ‘15 books of the finest Latin poetry known to man’, by creating their own adaptation of Ovid’s Metamorphoses. What it lacks in finesse, this production certainly makes up for in entertainment value. Tracing the history of the world, from the…

Montague Basement’s Tammy & Kite is something just a little bit special, and a must-see in this year’s Sydney Fringe Festival line-up. This delightful, playful new creation introduces us to sisters Tammy and Kite (and the super-cute Philip the Duck). Through their play, we learn they are best friends, share a love of fart jokes…

Newcomer into the theatre world Ainsley Melham has had a whirlwind time in theatre lately. After staring in Hayes Theatre Co’s production of Xanadu, he grabs the Aladdin lead role currently playing at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre. Ainsley was kind enough to answer a few questions for us after we had chats with both Genie, Michael James Scott and Jasmine, who…

Promoting herself as a fresh face in ‘clean comedy,’ Hannah Boland presents a refreshing and unique one–woman stand up show as part of Sydney Fringe Comedy. There is something instantly likeable about Boland as she finds her stride on stage. While clearly pre-planned there is a natural flow to the performance as she jumps from anecdotes…

With fifteen shows spread across four venues, Sydney Theatre Company’s 2017 season aims to “challenge, stir, and entertain” audiences, with a diverse and exciting lineup, including a musical version of Aussie classic Muriel’s Wedding. Speaking of the program, STC’s Interim Artistic Director Kip Williams said: “We are excited to present a diverse season in 2017,…

Marian Blythe loves some good ‘ol creativity. She podcasts it up regularly with Lucas Testo for her show, Devotee, a delectable insight into what inspires creative people. She also has written words for The Big Issue and RRR’s own Trip Magazine, as well as hosting the odd show on RRR where her creative witticism shines. But all that imagination that’s been…

Forming part of Brisbane Festival’s Festival Focus: Snow White, and taking over the Roundhouse Theatre at Kelvin Grove’s Theatre Republic, this rendition of the Brothers Grimm classic fairytale was never going to be your standard Disney fare. Leave the kids at home, people! Featuring Snow White (Stephanie Pickett), the Queen (incredible mezzo Silvia Colloca), the Mirror (Kanen…

If you ever wanted to step back in time to the golden age of Broadway, now’s your chance, because Opera Australia and John Frost’s My Fair Lady is about as close as it comes. This is a nostalgic, faithful and lovingly-recreated production that will have musical theatre fans coming back for more. My Fair Lady…

As the CEO of the World Vision charity, Tim Costello AO has often had to discuss faith. His latest book also deals with the topic of belief and how it can be used to highlight the things that humanity has in common as well as offering a vehicle for reconciliation and hope. This series of…

The incredible Broadway production of Aladdin is still enjoying it’s Australian run at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre. We’ve been catching up with the productions principle cast to find out a little bit more about the show, and how’re they’re finding Australia and it’s audiences. Last week we brought you our chat with Genie, Michael James Scott –…

Fleeing a failed romance in 1950s Sydney, Eleanor believes a return to River Run will help her recollect her thoughts and get her life back on track. But when she arrives, her mother and stepfather have their hands full with an ambitious new overseer, the visiting Winslows, and her rebellious little brother Robbie, who believes…

Brisbane’s Greaser bar is already quite the challenge to find, nestled beneath another Fortitude Valley venue. Perhaps it’s this air of mystery and exclusivity that makes it the perfect location for the new Analogue Gallery, a monthly pop up exhibition space dedicated to supporting emerging and established Brisbane artists. Held on the first Thursday of each…

Point & Shoot – An Exploration of Music Photography has returned to Brisbane’s Crowbar for it’s 2016 run. AU Reviewer Jodie Fairclough headed to the Fortitude Valley venue to check out this year’s offering. Curated once again by The Brisbane Collective, Point & Shoot is a four day showcase of some of the local area’s most…