Adrift | Counterpilot
If we think in terms of pure impact? In terms of that basic audience question of - well, what did it matter? It’s hard for me not to call Adrift some kind of masterpiece.
Kitchen Studio | Elizabeth Willing
Elizabeth Willing blended sculpture and food in a way that meant visually the two were almost indistinguishable. It also meant that as well as focusing on the food, I was also drawn to the tactile feeling of the plates, menus and tables.
The No Bang Theory | Oliver Hetherington-Page
The show itself is a delight, but it stands out against the current landscape of mainstream theatre - Hetherington-Page’s call to action for greater representation and platforming of neurodiverse artists within theatre spaces is a powerful act.
![[gameboy] | Amy Zhang](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64c498e140a63f71397ea8cc/1718763322394-3ERKI10YSQK9NAC2K6E7/Gameboy-byJadeEllis-highres-232.jpg)
[gameboy] | Amy Zhang
All-in-all [gameboy] is an evocative night of dance that can be read as a commentary on internet gaming and culture or as a thesis on the game of life and the role of intersectional identity in determining how well we are allowed play. Brilliant and evocative; legible to the intellectual and viscerally affective for those just wanting to have a good experience at the theatre. Brava.
Spooktacular | Brisbaret
The night’s hosts Sophie Banister and Thien Pham have been running this event for three years now and so know their comedic style and their audience very well, and it shows.
ITEM | Dance Masala's Nakhre Crew
The all-female Nakhre crew comprising main performers Andrea Lam, Angela Nair, Ashwin Singh, Janaki Gerard, and Mugdha Khatavkar brought so much vivacity into their respective art-making that their personalities really shone through as the piece unfolded itself in a tight, well-paced composition which spanned an hour.
CAKE | IMRSE
This extravagant new work by IMRSE is a feast for the senses and an unapologetic exploration of cancel culture and the concept of an invariable history writing itself. Expect no less than extreme over-dramatics–in the best way, I promise! CAKE is hilarious, sexy, and high energy, offering a deeply satisfying way to spend a night out.
Hold Me Closer Tony Danza | The Farm
Hold Me Closer Tony Danza took me by surprise. I expected a show that was much more focused on pop culture references and punchlines. These aspects were undoubtedly present, but the show was more impactful and thoughtful overall. The common ground of pop culture and music was used to bring the audience together and prime us for more complex topics. While watching, I felt simultaneously unsure of what was coming next and excited to see where the performers would take us. This show will be stuck in my head for a long time, alongside the slightly altered chorus of Elton John's Tiny Dancer.
Breaking | Counterpilot
A heavy feeling of helplessness and hopelessness overcame me as my anxiety increased with the unsettling news bulletins becoming grimmer and grimmer, sometimes bordering on the absurd, sometimes tinged with the darkest humour. Overall the weight of the well-scripted news bulletins was nothing short of palpable.
Babushka Regifted | Babushka
Yet, underneath all the laughter, Babushka Regifted included a lot of great social commentary. They delved into love, despair, poverty, consent (sitting on Santa’s lap), and particularly feminism. Some memorable quotes include “a woman’s duty should not be stuck in kitchen”, “ovaries should not be stuck in the oven”, singing ‘We Three Queens’ instead of ‘We Three Kings’ following the Star, and singing from the ‘Hyrrs’ (Her) book instead of ‘Hymm’ (Him) book.
Batshit | Leah Shelton
Leah Shelton’s BATSHIT was fast and frenzied. Inspired by Leah’s grandmother’s experiences of mental illness and forced medical treatment, the show was equally intimate and hard hitting. Kicking off with an ear shattering soundscape that was brilliantly timed with the lighting design, the precision of the scenographic elements were a highlight of the show.
Mistero Buffo | Rhum & Clay
The old archetypes of the Fool and the foolish are threshed out and made fresh in this fantastical satire presented by Rhum and Clay. I had done a little reading in advance but I was unprepared for the sheer force of personality and the wildly physical performance from Julian Spooner. It’s a firecracker of a show.
Our Blood Runs In The Street | Shane Anthony and Ensemble
All in all, Our Blood Runs In The Streets does the job it set out to do. It provides audiences with a hidden history of this place and does so in a way that is emotionally evocative rather than destructive – with a slightly more nuanced range of representations and more rehearsal I think this work could have left me a sobbing mess rather than a lightly weeping one.
The Sunny Tribe District | Robert the Cat
The cast were tight knit; not a move or beat out of place in delivering this chaotic script. Each member of the cast effortlessly carried the weight of the responsibility placed on the ensemble. From the Olivia Rodrigo sing-along, to the synchronised, lavish dance sequences to the perky rap battles to the overly sexual demonstration of how to pour water over each other, everything that they threw at us no matter how absurd or obscene was executed to glorious effect.
Between Olas | NUDO
It was evident how dedicated the performers are at their craft. Each performer excelled in what they do, both bringing their own cultures to the stage, and performing in sync with each other, culminating in the dance routines coming off as flawless.
The Long Pigs | We3
I strongly feel like dark humour such as this plays an important role in fostering our resilience as humans. For this reason, the Long Pigs is a brilliant example of disruptive theatre and highlights for me the importance of the fool in creating social commentary through clowning. It was the perfect balance between dark and light.
The Anniversary | Salvador Dinosaur
I’m not even going to try to mince words, The Anniversary is a physical comedy masterclass. The performances, direction, physical comedy, sets, props, puppetry – basically everything - combine to create a rollercoaster of a ride that had me crying with laughter throughout. If you are a fan of absurdist comedy, clown or dark humour, do not miss this one if it comes to a theatre near you.
Assume People Like You | Melon The Human
Melon the Human demonstrates clowning at its finest, providing an hour’s worth of circus with the skill of a yesteryear street hustler. He kept us there. Melon’s fluidity in all the balancing, balls, rings, giant cube gags, tennis ball decoys he scatters throughout his performance are masterful. A stellar performance for his first time running this show. Most definitely worth a looksee.
Face to Face | Emily Wells & Playlab Theatre
Growing up in an Indigenous community, many of the issues that impact our mob happen so frequently that I personally found and still find it difficult to properly process a lot of the grief and my own trauma. Sitting in the crowd and watching the characters speak gave me some time to truly reflect and allowed me to be vulnerable as they expressed their own vulnerability.
Leotard | Boyle & Waters
Gorgeous leotards adorn the walls of the set. Leotards with hand-sewn sequins, with tinsel wrapped into tutus, with spangles and silk and cheap organza and above all else, lycra. Leotards with contrasting spandex panels. Leotards which costs hundreds, and leotards that are worth pennies. Leotards you wished you had owned, then, and now.