Theatre

Adelaide Fringe Review: Playwright Henry Naylor brings Afghanistan to life

British playwright Henry Naylor presented his personal journey, a one-man monologue entitled, “Afghanistan is Not Funny” at Holden Street Theatre for the Adelaide Fringe. The original show was directed by Holden Street’s Artistic Director Martha Lott, and then was further developed by New York’s Soho Playhouse’s Artistic Director, Darren Lee Cole. The title is the…

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Adelaide Fringe Review: Lydia Lunch and Joseph Keckler tell “Tales of Lust and Madness” – The Garage International (14.03.24)

Lydia Lunch and Joseph Keckler are both one-of-a-kind New York performers. The Garage International theatre is a converted church behind the Adelaide Town Hall and is an appropriate venue for the evening’s spoken word entertainment. Chandeliers incongruously light up the seating area in what was the hall, while ushers frantically add chairs to accommodate the…

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Interview: David West Read on blending Shakespeare and Max Martin-penned pop for & Juliet

What if Romeo’s ending, was Juliet’s beginning? The Emmy-winning writer of TV’s Schitt’s Creek flips the script on Shakespeare in this hilarious and poignant story of self-discovery and second chances. Legendary songwriter Max Martin delivers one of the most addictive and joyous soundtracks to ever hit the stage, in this inspiring new musical that proves…

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Rejoicify, Melbourne. Wicked is here!

Melbourne’s esteemed Regent Theatre was draped in pink and green on Thursday night as the city welcomed, for the second time, the Australian production of Wicked presented by John Frost for Crossroads Live. With a green carpet, Ozmopolitan cocktails, the Ozdust Boutique and, of course- lots of bubbles, the foyer of the grand theatre was…

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Juliet

Theatre Review: (Pop) cultures collide in high-energy new musical, & Juliet

Well, dip my eyeballs in glitter. The brand-new musical, & Juliet, is now in Sydney, and it’s a high-energy mash-up of Shakespearean storytelling, 90s pop music, and gender-bending progressiveness. Re-working the story of Romeo & Juliet (1597), the story starts with William Shakespeare (Rob Mills) and his wife Anne Hathaway (Amy Lehpamer) (yes, you read that…

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The Lehman Trilogy

Theatre review: The Lehman Trilogy is an absolute theatrical masterclass

The Lehman Trilogy opens in 1844, where a young man from Bavaria, Hayum ‘Henry’ Lehman (1844 – 1855), arrives in New York with a dream to work his way up in a bold new world. Lehman is joined by his two brothers, Mendel ‘Emanuel’ Lehman (1847 – 1907) and Mayer ‘Potato’ Lehman (1850 – 1897),…

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Adelaide Fringe Review: Plenty of Fish in the Sea is a rollicking shanty story

A sparse looking bedroom; a bed, wardrobe and a mirrorless mirror stand are the only props on stage. A nun drags the bed by a rope slung over her shoulder. Gazing out to sea, she casts a rod, landing herself a wayward traveller, apparently lost at sea. He lands on the bed, dazed and confused,…

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Mona Foma Review: Dancenorth’s Wayfinder is a visual and aural feast for the senses

Dancenorth is a collective based in Townsville (Gurambilbarra) and is described as a centre for dance making, collaboration and artistic exchange, based on the lands of the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun, and the Bindal of Thul Garrie Waja. Led by Artistic Director, Kyle Page, Executive Director Hillary Coyne and Associate Artistic Director Amber Haines,…

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Theatre Review: Rent’s narrative lacks impact, but the iconic songs stand strong

The streets of New York’s East Village are bustling with love, art, culture and spirit. Despite oppressive powers threatening to break friendships and crush dreams, this resilient group of friends celebrate the power of the human spirit, bringing people together to stand up for what they love. This is Rent. Jonathan Larson’s hit musical has…

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Adelaide Fringe review: Prinnie Stevens is back with Lady Sings the Blues Vol 2

After the success of Lady Sings the Blues at the Adelaide Fringe in 2022, Prinnie Stevens is back this year with the second instalment of her show. With such an incredible array of blues artists that have shaped today’s musical world, it’s only fitting that the music deserves a second chance. This year the show…

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Adelaide Fringe Review: The Inflatable Church is Europe’s quirkiest wedding venue

One thing that the Adelaide fringe is known for, is bringing strange and unusual events to the city. One of those is The Inflatable Church, which has come all the way from the European Fringe circuit. It’s like a giant inflatable jumping castle, but all the fun happens on the inside. It’s unholy matrimony, where…

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State Theatre Company of SA present a delightfully thoughtful production of The Children

British playwright Lucy Kirkwood has crafted a delightful tale of social consciousness with a serious message. The Children tells the story of the aftermath of a nuclear power station meltdown, focussing on three former nuclear engineers. Set in a cottage in an unnamed coastal area of England, the play opens with Rose (played by veteran performer…

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Theatre Review: Belvoir’s Tiny Beautiful Things reminds us of the power of human connection

To know Tiny Beautiful Things, at Sydney’s Belvoir, is to know the heart and mind of Cheryl Strayed, the woman upon whose New York Times bestselling book the play is based. For two years Strayed wrote an anonymous advice column for the website The Rumpus under the name ‘Sugar’. It is the letters received during…

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Theatre Review: Grease the Musical is a non-stop extravaganza of electrifying hits

Calling all gals and guys – welcome to Rydell High, where romances are flourishing, tensions are rising, and most importantly, grease is the word. Grease the Musical has grooved its way back to Australian shores, and this time it’s bigger, slicker and sexier than ever before. Sandy, Danny, the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies all…

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Theatre Review: Choir of Man celebrates the good vibes of the humble pub

You’ve never been to a pub quite like this. Where music, mates and good times collide, Choir of Man is more than a musical – it’s also a play, a concert and a celebration of the pub as a place to share a laugh, some banter and your feelings. From creatives Nic Doodson and Andrew…

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Miss Saigon

Review: Miss Saigon is an incredibly moving story told in a sumptuous way

From the moment the curtain rises on the Miss Saigon stage, the audience knows that they are in for an incredible journey. The Adelaide Festival Centre stage has been skilfully transformed into a Saigon war zone. Soldiers run roughshod through busy villagers’ lives, choppers flying noisily overhead, bombs exploding in the distance, and chaos and…

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Theatre Review: A Christmas Carol is the must-see festive event of the year

Journey to Victorian London and immerse yourself in the joys of Christmas with this stunning Old Vic revival of the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. A truly unique theatre experience, this production encompasses the heart, soul and meaning of what makes the festive season so special. After travelling through London, Broadway and across the US, winning five…

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Theatre Review: Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya is an amusing social commentary study

Under the direction of Connor Duncan and adapted by Annie Baker, Chekhov’s classic play Uncle Vanya is brought to life in Adelaide’s Little Theatre by the Theatre Guild Student Society. Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) is considered one of the great Russian playwrights and a key figure in the 19th Century movement towards dramatic realism and naturalism….

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Theatre Review: Complex or confused? Oil at the Sydney Theatre Company may leave you scratching your head

Set across five distinct time periods, Oil at the Sydney Theatre Company depicts different moments in the modern history of petroleum (crude oil) and its far-reaching impacts. Written by UK playwright Ella Hickson and directed by Paige Rattray, the play follows the journey of May (Brooke Satchwell), a strong-willed woman who longs for a better…

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Theatre Review: Cameron Mackintosh’s Miss Saigon is a beautiful journey of love, longing and loss

Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed production of Boublil and Schöberg’s award-winning musical, Miss Saigon, premiered at Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre on Friday night and let me tell you now – you’re not going to want to miss this one. With a star-studded guest list, the red carpet was rolled out and the drinks were flowing as attendees…

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Theatre Review: Sydney Theatre Company’s The Dictionary of Lost Words at the Sydney Opera House proves that the pen is mightier than the sword

Adapted by Verity Laughton from the novel by Pip Williams, The Dictionary of Lost Words centres around the Scriptorium, where the very first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary is being compiled. It is 1886, and researcher Harry Nicoll (Brett Archer) is working while his four-year-old daughter Esme (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) plays under the table. The…

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A man and a woman in period costume embrace on a lounge. His arm is around her waist as she tries to pull away.

Theatre Review: Legend Nancye Hayes AM steals the show in A Little Night Music at Hayes Theatre Co. in Sydney

With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the Tony Award winner, A Little Night Music at Hayes Theatre Co. encompasses love, desire and regret. Indeed, regret is the most poignant emotion of the production, touching everyone in different ways. Directed by Dean Bryant, we follow the story of two couples, each with their own secrets and…

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Ink is an entertaining story of Rupert Murdoch’s first Fleet Street success

Ink, a play by James Graham, tells the compelling story of the first year of Rupert Murdoch’s purchase of The Sun newspaper in 1969. Initially performed in London’s West End in 2017, this performance from the University of Adelaide Theatre Guild by directors Robert Bell and Rebecca Kemp takes place in the Little Theatre, buried…

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Theatre Review: Elvis: A Musical Revolution is a (mostly) rockin’ good time

Leather jacket? Check. Guitar? Check. Blue suede shoes? Uh-huh. Get ready to relive the life and music of Elvis Presley, the global phenomenon who would go on to birth a musical revolution. Going from his upbringing in Tupelo, Mississippi all the way to his iconic 1968 NBC Comeback Special, Elvis: A Musical Revolution tells the…

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Theatre Review: Sydney Theatre Company’s Is God Is is a rollicking journey through Black revenge

Twins, Anaia (Henrietta Enyonam Amevor) and Racine (Masego Pitso), get a letter from their estranged mother (Cessalee Stovall), whom they long thought dead, to come to her nursing home in the dirty south. Bedridden with the effects of major burns, she reminds them of the incidents preceding their father’s leaving, having set her and the…

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Theatre Review: The Importance of Being Earnest is a feast for the eyes and a delight for the ears

The first thing you will notice about The Importance of Being Earnest at the Sydney Theatre Company is the stage. Impressive seems an inadequate description for such an elaborate set design. Created by Charles Davis, the audience is transported to another world, a world of excess, decadence and extremely high ceilings. With incredible attention to…

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Theatre Review: Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill is beautifully raw and emotional

Adelaide’s Space Theatre has been wonderfully transformed into Emerson’s Bar and Grill. With moody dark lighting, café seating near the stage and a three-piece jazz band, the audience is transported back to the 1920s. Kym Purling plays the part of pianist Jimmy Powers, who introduces us to the band, with Victor Rounds on Double Bass…

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Get ready to “jump in the line” for tickets, as Beetlejuice announces Melbourne premiere for 2025

Michael Cassel Group, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures and Langley Park Productions have just announced that the Ghost with the Most is heading Down Under, with the eight-time Tony Award-nominated hit musical Beetlejuice set to premiere at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in 2025. Based on the iconic Tim Burton comedy-horror of the same name, Beetlejuice centres around…

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Constellations

Theatre Review: Sydney Theatre Company’s Constellations is an impeccably performed exploration into the multiverse of relationships

Boy meets girl. Then meets again. And again, and again across various states of time and space in numerous dimensions. Some meetings see a failure to launch, others bloom, with the couple going through a number of relationships across the multiverse, with only minor alterations making, in this case, literal worlds of difference. Ian Michael…

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Theatre review: Bernadette Robinson mesmerises with star performances in Divas

Directed by Simon Phillips, Divas is a captivating journey through time, exploring the (often quite short) lives of the biggest music stars to ever grace stage and screen. There are ten, in fact, each with their own unique personality, connection to music, and outlook on life and love. Unbelievably, there is one star who brings…

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