Where? La Boite Theatre, Kelvin Grove When? Feb 10 – Mar 3 Existentialism meets environmentalism in La Boite’s powerful new mainstage production, and it is excellent. The debut season of Kathryn Marquet’s The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek, directed by Ian Lawson, examines human nature and the sanctity of life and death. It is, quite... Continue Reading →
REVIEW: Black is the New White (Queensland Theatre)
Cast of Black is the New White, photographed by Prudence Upton Where? Playhouse Theatre, QPAC When? Feb 1 – Feb 17 As responding artist Benjamin Law writes in his programme note, “Romantic comedy is the whitest movie genre of all time…race matters, especially when yours is excluded from civic life, politics, and the arts. And... Continue Reading →
REVIEW: Mamma Mia!
Where?QPAC’s Lyric Theatre When?Until February 4, 2018 …here we go again! Following a sold-out national premiere season in Canberra, the party of the year is happening now at QPAC as Mamma Mia hits the stage, and you’re invited. Be transported to Donna Sheridan’s whitewashed, bougainvillea-draped taverna on a serene Greek island…with the serenity interrupted... Continue Reading →
REVIEW: QSO and Piers Lane – 40 years (Queensland Symphony Orchestra)
Where? Concert Hall, QPAC When? October 14, 2017 Globally-acclaimed pianist Piers Lane joined Queensland Symphony Orchestra on the Concert Hall stage to celebrate 40 years since his first performance with QSO. London-based Australian pianist Piers Lane’s lists of achievements are a mile long – his discography of over 50 CDS, the many positions he... Continue Reading →
REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets In Concert (Queensland Symphony Orchestra)
Where? Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre When? Saturday October 7, 1.30pm & 7.30pm I’m a Harry Potter kid from way back (see proof below) - the books and films were an enormous part of my childhood. I waited outside the Target - our town didn’t have a bookstore back then - for the Order of... Continue Reading →
REVIEW: An Octoroon (Queensland Theatre & Brisbane Festival)
Where? Bille Brown Studio, West End When? September 16 – October 8 Nakkiah Lui recontextualises Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ play for Australian audiences and the result is a rare and knee-slappingly funny piece of theatre that explores race, culture and identity, as well as the nature of storytelling and theatre. Shari Sebbens as Zoe & Anthony Taufa... Continue Reading →
REVIEW: Low Clouds
Low Clouds creator Niz Jabour. Photographed by Thomas Manton-Williams. Where? Diane Cilento Studio, West End When? August 30 – September 2 (4 shows only) Low Clouds is the third iteration of The Rain Project, first performed by Iraqi artists in Baghdad in 2014, and then an Australian presentation at La Boite Theatre, Brisbane, in... Continue Reading →
REVIEW: The Hamlet Apocalypse (Danger Ensemble)
Where? Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts When? August 9-19 The marriage of Gertrude and Claudius. L to R: Caroline Dunphy, Thomas Hutchins, Polly Sara. Photos (C) Morgan Roberts Photography. All that lives must die Danger Ensemble’s The Hamlet Apocalypse is chaotic, messy, raw-edged and imperfect. You should go and see it. The premise of... Continue Reading →
REVIEW: My Name Is Jimi (Queensland Theatre Company)
Jimi with his mother Agnes (L) and grandmother Petharie (R) Where? Bille Brown Studio, West End When? July 22 – August 13 “The past must exist in the present to create the future. We are not a dying culture…life without culture is life without life.” Deeply touching and thoroughly entertaining, My Name Is Jimi is... Continue Reading →
REVIEW: Rice (Queensland Theatre Company)
Winner of the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award, which allows three finalists to be paid to develop their work with industry professionals, Michele Lee’s Ricemakes its world premiere with Queensland Theatre Company. Set against the corporate background of an Australian rice company, the play centres around two women – the “Indian Princess” Nisha (Kristy Best) who... Continue Reading →
REVIEW: The Winter’s Tale (The Royal Ballet)
Another breathtaking opening night from the Royal Ballet! Thanks to QPAC, we were able to see the incredible debut of The Winter’s Tale. Choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon to music by Joby Talbot, the ballet was presented as a co-production with the National Ballet of Canada. The Queensland Symphony Orchestra brilliantly performed Talbot’s atmospheric score, conducted... Continue Reading →
REVIEW: Woolf Works
We were so excited to be able to attend opening night of this special season (thanks, QPAC!). Performing in Australia for the first time in fifteen years, the Royal Ballet was always going to be spectacular. Wayne McGregor is well-known across the world for his contemporary choreography, often integrated with film and visual art, and... Continue Reading →