Pacific Harmonies | Opera Queensland
review, opera Triss Niemi review, opera Triss Niemi

Pacific Harmonies | Opera Queensland

One hour with Pinkasova could have easily been many; her voice, her stories, her presence were all so enchanting. The way she connects her personal history and the history of the pacific and to song is masterful; just like her vocals.

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Yuldea | Bangarra Dance Theatre
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Yuldea | Bangarra Dance Theatre

Ultimately I felt it was a kind of accounting. There is no want, no ask from the audience of many peoples, each with their own reason for coming to witness. There is just the accounting. The storytelling. The truth telling.

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ITEM | Dance Masala's Nakhre Crew
review, dance Ranjini Ganapathy review, dance Ranjini Ganapathy

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.

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The Poets Club | Hope One
review, poetry Writeousness review, poetry Writeousness

The Poets Club | Hope One

It was a magical night indeed to be entertained by a group of multi-talented brown and black artists from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and ranging in ages. These aunties and their contemporaries were brave enough to share their journey of language, loss, love, community, hope and more.

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The Elephant in the Review
article, poetry, op-ed Claire Alcock article, poetry, op-ed Claire Alcock

The Elephant in the Review

Shows like The Bigger Picture have value whether a white reviewer approves of it or not. As much as I enjoyed it, my review is ultimately an incomplete understanding of the work, because I will never have the lived experience that would allow that level of depth in analysis.

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The Bigger Picture | Sachém, featuring Matt Hsu’s Obscure Orchestra.
review, poetry Claire Alcock review, poetry Claire Alcock

The Bigger Picture | Sachém, featuring Matt Hsu’s Obscure Orchestra.

With the colourful ensemble of Matt Hsu’s Obscure Orchestra providing a sonically vibrant depth to Sachém’s poetic innovation from his 2021 debut EP Part of the Picture, The Bigger Picture is explosive but not unstable, complex yet entirely focused, and expansive without ever being overwhelming. Altogether, the experience is simultaneously the manifestation of the incredible skill and ambition of one man while also being an unreservedly proud celebration of a rich, inclusive community. 

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Dominoes & Rum | Nicholas 'Prince' Milverton
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Dominoes & Rum | Nicholas 'Prince' Milverton

The engaging, entertaining and punchy script does lay bare the real truth that migrants grapple with after leaving their country. It is obvious from the plot that reconnecting with one’s roots forms an integral part of identity while belonging to a community of like minded individuals is priceless. It also raises the burning question of cultural assimilation versus acceptance.

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"This has been years in the making and sharing it with our communities is also years in the making" Director Te Arepa Kahi at the local premiere of his film 'Muru'
article, film Treyci Maynard article, film Treyci Maynard

"This has been years in the making and sharing it with our communities is also years in the making" Director Te Arepa Kahi at the local premiere of his film 'Muru'

For many indigenous māori whānau or families who have migrated to Australia, some even born here, any New Zealand film, theatrical performance, showcase or concert we choose to attend is such a privilege. It may arrive months later, but the support shown at Muru was one where these examples were evident. Why? They reconnect us to home, they remind us who we are as a unique individual and culture and they tell the lives we once left. They too portray us.

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Tiddas | La Boite
review, theatre Gloriana Grace review, theatre Gloriana Grace

Tiddas | La Boite

There is a context to the play which must be remarked upon, which is the industry-wide dire lack of strong Aboriginal characters on our stage in general, and especially female Aboriginal characters. Despite the under-development of the characters, the actors performed the roles believably and naturally. It was truly delightful to see First Nations female characters on stage played by such fantastic calibre actors, and adapted from the book written by an Aboriginal author.

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Brown Church | The Naavikaran Collective
review, theatre Ranjini Ganapathy review, theatre Ranjini Ganapathy

Brown Church | The Naavikaran Collective

It is not long before I find myself completely taken in by the artists who have now formed a circle of celebration, clapping their hands to time. Naavikaran’s white flowy skirt accented with silvery foil-like material has a life force of its own. The other performers look equally royal in their costumes, twirling, swirling, locking eyes with one another, immersing themselves in the beauty and safety of friendships they have forged amongst themselves. I smile so much at the unfolding of this dance sequence simply because it is unadulterated, unpretentious joy.

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Show Ponies | Brisbane Writers Festival
poetry, review Virag Dombay poetry, review Virag Dombay

Show Ponies | Brisbane Writers Festival

essa may ranapiri was the final one to take the stage, delivering an intoxicating and hypnotic poem threaded with the personification of an echidna as a woman who has no choice but to be violent for their voice to be heard. Accompanied by a beautiful score from their homeland, it was a poem that will stay with me for some time. Utterly striking.

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Arterial | Na Djinang
circus, review Ofa Fanaika circus, review Ofa Fanaika

Arterial | Na Djinang

This performance for me showcased the new storytellers of our time, the holders, and caretakers of ancestral message. The work of Arterial to me was a deep dive into what it means to be living now, as a First Nations person in so-called Australia. Ritual and Relationship a strong theme throughout, upheld in a deep respect of Country, Culture and Self.

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Club Culture Cabaret | Briefs Factory
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Club Culture Cabaret | Briefs Factory

At night, the Brisbane Powerhouse is a towering structure. When awash in a coloured glow, the industrial legacies of its brick exterior are exposed and amplified. Standing tall, it looms above the heads of those swallowed by its glass doors. Yet on Sunday night, with Fez Fa’anana (as Shivannah) sauntering amongst arriving audiences and flashing smiles over diamantéd shoulders, the building had never felt so warm.

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BRED | Briefs Factory
circus, review Jaydem Martin circus, review Jaydem Martin

BRED | Briefs Factory

As impressive as the physical elements were, some of the more powerful moments were the dialogue parts. Emily delivers a powerful spoken word poem that had everyone in the room listening and Luke Hubbard stole the show for me in a closing performance that delved into the ongoing racism in the Australian police force and Indigenous deaths in custody, something that resonated with me deeply.

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Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner | Darlinghurst Theatre Company & Green Door Theatre
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Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner | Darlinghurst Theatre Company & Green Door Theatre

Before they know it, Cleo and Kara are thrust deep, deep, deep inside the rabbit hole of racism, colourism and the ongoing, relentless commodification of Black women. But when tweets resurface that question @INCOGNEGRO’s stance on homophobia, the battle is no longer fought in cyberspace. It becomes very personal. Gender preferences, shades of skin-colour, types of hair, beauty… are on the table as these two rip into each other while delving headlong into their very own pain and anguish.

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NONSTOP | Dots+Loops
music, performance art, review Tristan Niemi music, performance art, review Tristan Niemi

NONSTOP | Dots+Loops

The ebb and flow between classic and future sounds was so well balanced the similarities between the two became more apparent as the festival progressed. Almost as if we were guided through a showroom full of refurbished antiques and new things that had been aged so well, we could not tell the difference.

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Rhythmology | Tyson Goddard & Backbone
dance, performance art, review Ofa Fanaika dance, performance art, review Ofa Fanaika

Rhythmology | Tyson Goddard & Backbone

It’s 7pm and I don’t want to be late and as we arrive a few minutes past the hour and do the obligatory check-ins, we see the place is teeming with POC people, the familiar feel of Backbone Youth Arts reeks of that uniquely old ozzy bowlo vibe, but as we enter through the next room, the set slips into a shimmering pink backdrop, fully seated with fabulousness dripping, geometry in the ceiling, warm hues with lighting low, you can feel the vibration from the punters peaking with jittered excitement.

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