Theatre

Theatre Review: Glass Onion is no regular John, just a celebration of the Lennon legend (Sydney Opera House)

The walrus was Paul, Clapton was God and Lennon is Legend. John Waters knows this because he’s had a lot of practice. Playing the tribute show, Lennon: Glass Onion since 1992, he sure knows how to live and breathe John Lennon. Oh, and that’s along with a little help from a friend called, Stewart D’Arrietta….

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Theatre Review: Brett & Wendy…A Love Story Bound By Art is both visually arresting & a restless drama (Parramatta’s Riverside Theatre until 27 January)

It should come as no shock that a theatre show about one of our nation’s greatest artists looks fabulous. The world premiere of Brett & Wendy…A Love Story Bound By Art is one vivid and lyrical look at two creative tour de forces. This production is an ambitious one that covers a lot in its…

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Theatre Review: Jane and Kel go to Hell is a hilarious Dante’s Inferno for the avo-on-toast generation (to April 7th at Metro Arts, Brisbane)

After Jane spectacularly quits her awful job, she and housemate Kel decide it’s time to rent out the sunroom. Roy seems to be the perfect candidate. He’s quiet and he cooks and he’s not looking to impose on the girls’ karaoke nights any time soon. But Kel isn’t so sure and she’s ready to put…

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Review: Hand To God is the most hilarious show you’ll see this year (Performances until March 18th)

Hand To God has become one of Broadway’s classic comedies with two Tony Awards under its belt. Now Australian audiences have the opportunity to broaden their theatrical minds with a play that has no boundaries. I don’t think you’ll fully understand what the show is about until you immerse yourself into the crass and messed up…

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Caryl Churchill classic Top Girls takes to the stage in The Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Theatre Company is kicking off their 2018 season with the Caryl Churchill classic Top Girls, and will be hitting the stage from 12 February to 24 March. The production is directed by STC Resident Director Imara Savage with an extraordinary all-female ensemble including Helen Thomson, Kate Box, Michelle Lim Davidson, Paula Arundell and…

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Theatre Review: The Hamlet Apocalypse returns to Brisbane to offer a gut wrenching countdown to the end of the world (Until August 19th)

The world is ending. On the eve of the apocalypse, seven actors come together to stage Shakespeare’s Hamlet, that infamous tale of crippling indecision, madness real and feigned, and murder most foul. Over the course of the production, the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur, as the cast try to come to terms…

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POPSART: Queensland Theatre’s My Name is Jimi, preserving and expanding culture through story telling

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…

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POPSART: La Boite’s HWY – Deconstructing ‘Australian-ness’ through theatre

Australian theatre is so male and white. Main stage subscriber theatre is irrelevant. Theatre is a boutique heritage industry. I have been having these conversations for years and to varying degrees these statements are true. But culture is not static, it grows and evolves and theatre is now transforming itself; driven by the artist that…

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Theatre Review: Ladies in Black will be spoken about for years to come (Performances at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne to March 19)

It’s so refreshing when an original piece of work is brought to a wider audience, especially one that shines a light on a snippet of Australian history. Ladies in Black had such a successful premiere season last year that they’ve come back to delight audiences once again, this time touring to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and ending in…

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Film Review: Miss Saigon translates well to the screen in its 25th Anniversary & will leave you misty-eyed

Miss Saigon has been a regular favourite among theatregoers and in the 25th anniversary film showing the 2014 West End production it’s easy to see why. The musical is a high-stakes love story set in and after the Vietnam War. It also boasts an excellent score that captures the full gamut of emotions and fragility…

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Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre announces 2017 season

Five new Australian plays, eight world premieres and a host of international guests artists are set to make Malthouse Theatre’s 2017 season their most exciting yet. Speaking of the recently announced line up, Artistic Director Matthew Lutton said: “Malthouse Theatre aims to spark debate and interrogation with the theatre we create and 2017 will be…

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Hawthorn Arts Centre to present Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince

In association with Fremantle based Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, Hawthorn Arts Centre have announced a one off performance of an adaptation of beloved children’s book The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Adapted by Simon Clarke, and directed by Michael Barlow, this acclaimed production of one of the most widely read books in history (and the fourth most…

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Shortlist for Patrick White Playwrights’ Award revealed

Ahead of the May 20th announcement of the winners, the Sydney Theatre Company has released the shortlist of plays in the running to for this year’s prestigious Patrick White Playwrights’ Award. Named for Australian playwright Patrick White, the award is presented to an original, unproduced play. The winning playwright will receive $7500, and have the…

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Top 5 must-see shows at Anywhere Festival 2016

On Thursday, Anywhere Festival opens in Brisbane, for another month of innovative and independent performance, taking place just about anywhere except a theatre. With so much going on, us good folks here at the AU Review have decided to make things a little easier for you and compiled a list of the top 5 shows you’d…

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The joy of experiencing Sleep No More in New York City for the first time

The idea of the interactive theatre experience is nothing new. From “whodunit” dinner parties to whatever it is people get up to at those Rocky Horror screenings, there’s always been a market for those of us who want to feel a part of the action. Even sitting front row at a comedy show brings out…

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Theatre Review: City of Angels – Life Like Company – Arts Centre Melbourne (Performances to November 8th)

Before you all start to fantasize about Nicholas Cage and Meg Ryan, I must tell you; this musical is not the stage adaptation of the 1998 film of the same name. But, I can assure you it is just as juicy, just as sexy and just as heartfelt. City of Angels is all about the…

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