I want to briefly mention the production of Midnite I saw on Saturday at New Theatre… adapted by Richard Tulloch from Randolf Stow’s “The Story of a Wild Colonial Boy”, directed by Jodine Muir and Jennifer Monk. Read more

Photo: Garth Oriander

Sometimes, you just want a show that is tight, clever and completely entertaining- with The Pitch, Darlinghurst Theatre’s current prodcution- you are in safe hands and guaranteed a fun night at the theatre. Read more

To review or not to review- that is the question.
What to review, if you review- that IS the question.

I could review the story- the text- the production… but in this pre-review entry I am going to review audience expectation. Read more

Photo: Heidrun Lohr

Sometimes when I really enjoy a piece of theatre the last thing I want to do is describe the best surprises and outline the plot in full- I think it devalues the spontaneous experience of the audience. I’m not sure who reads reviews- and I am certainly not clear on who reads my reviews. In 2007 when I first started reviewing I found it very curious that one of my fellow reviewers never reads anyone but himself. I always read reviews- especially shows I have reviewed- I like to follow the show through all terrain to get a sense of how the show travelled and which reviewers highlighted specific aspects of production. Read more

My last review of the year- I may very well squeeze a review of the year in theatre- but this is the last show I was needing to write up… which I will admit was a little tricky for a couple of reasons- the opening night being on the 23rd of December… also thinking alot about Verbatim theatre as a style/genre of theatre making, what it means for The Sydney Theatre Company to be so closely linked to an international community of filmmakers and yet seemingly so far away or disconnected from Sydney’s Theatre community. Read more

Someone told me once that the reason why the name “Macbeth” is not to be uttered in the theatre is not because of its supernatural/bloody themes- but because it is the show that is produced to financially save a theatre on the verge of bankrupcy- and so “Macbeth” has become synonymous with a theatre in trouble. Also apart of this old theatre knowledge- which like all gossip doesn’t know its source nor author- is that A Midsummers Night’s Dream has the same function for a theatre in trouble- because it is a crowd pleaser. Read more

When I enter the space- not through the usual entrance there is a steady dark drone that growls its throaty hum. Performers walk in the space- three walk slowly along the tops of antique pianos- another welcomes me at the door- another has a goldfish bowl with the sacred undergarment he asks me to respect- another asks me to show her my underwear- another is dragging bodies onto the floor and undressing the ensemble down to their underwear. Light spills lazilly over the bodies slumped in the semi-dark allowing each occasional detail to be amplified- the glint of a toe ring- the curl of a tattoo on a rested foot… Read more

Sydney Ghost Stories is a collection of plays from creative producer Katy Alexander written by six of Australia’s most celebrated and up and coming playwrights: Rebecca Clarke, Verity Laughton, Tobsha Learner, Lachlan Philpott, Toby Schmitz, Stephen Sewell. This collection according to the program notes, started off as a “bare bones” production harking back to the “round the campfire” setting. And from this beginning point it has blossomed into the production that is now playing. Read more

Independent theatre productions are one of my favourite things- I am always more impressed with what can be acheived by a committed group of artists than a corporate brand. Shining City is one of those shows that you know you just want people to see because it is a really interesting story told well by a group of impressive actors. Read more

This is the much awaited debut for The Sydney Theatre Company’s Residents- a collective of hand-picked young actors who have been brought together to be hothoused and nurtured for a period of 18 months… with a view of creating work. Words being bandied around include: “edgy”, “young”, “collaboration.” Read more