Spruiking a bright and sassy brand of re-invented classics- Cry Havoc returns to Wharf 1 for the second time in the last 12 months. Anton Chekov’s Three Sisters, the third installment of Cry Havoc’s developing body of work. You’ll know Cry Havoc by their flag, by their exquisite website, their tendency to have actors drenched, bruised or covered in dairy products on their marketing materials… You’ll know Cry Havoc by their brutal, unrelenting enthusiasm – and a slogan that declares revolution is afoot. So it is hardly surprising that Artistic Director Kate Revz has taken her team to the home of revolution and the home of Chekov- Russia. Read more

Don’t get me wrong- I’m not just about short plays. I believe in (as Timothy Daly once said to me) in being “a miniaturist”- but I also believ in the juicyness of a full length play. I love watching the intertwined stories within a full length play… and Australia does fabulous stories, for example… Bang, When the Rain Stops Falling, Cloudstreet, Blackrock, The Man From Mukinupin, Bran Nue Dae etc, etc.

In Australia, and in particular in Sydney, the opportunities to have a full length play developed or workshopped can be relegated to the lucky, the few at larger high profile conferences – or on the other end of the spectrum – people’s lounge rooms. Rarely do emerging writers have the benefit of focussing in on their play, with a director of their choice. And THAT’s what Off the Shelf is about. Read more