The Next 14 Seconds | Phluxus2 Dance Collective
The Next 14 Seconds was, in essence, a call to recognise and embrace the humanity in friends and strangers alike in a matter of seconds. Its attempt to answer it in its uniquely unpredictable way was laudable.
Big Name, No Blankets | Andrea James with Anyupa Butcher & Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher
Each of the actors presented a compelling portrayal of the members of the band. Baykali Ganambarr’s Sammy was humble, modest, honest and a great narrator of the story. Definte highlights included the fantastic vocals and performances by Cassandra Williams (Suzina, Mum & Ensemble), and the superb stage presence and singing by Taj Pigram, as the Warumpi Band frontman.
Trent Dalton’s Love Stories | Tim McGarry, Trent Dalton and Fiona Franzmann with Brisbane Festival and QPAC
Following the resounding success of Boy Swallows Universe as a novel, play, and Netflix series, it was almost a given that we would see another of Trent Dalton’s books adapted for the stage. Walking into Love Stories it is nearly impossible to not have expectations. But comparing the two adaptations is unfair, Love Stories is its own experience with a very different narrative approach.
GRIMM | Shake & Stir
Shake & Stir are one of Queensland’s best known theatre companies and they know how to put on a show. GRIMM, their latest offering, was no exception and soared into the self aware, campy horror I love with both glee and skill.
Eucalyptus - The Opera | Brisbane Festival, QPAC and Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Eucalyptus – The Opera might be about the everyday of a small town, full of small people but their grandiose experience of that mundanity is portrayed to dazzling effect here. Evocative, haunting, and distinctly Australian, this work is one I hope to see do very well and thus usher in a new wave of Australiana at the opera.
Straight from the Strait | Opera Queensland, Yumpla Nerkep Foundation and QPAC
Straight from the Strait is a joyful unfolding of a History lesson taking off on the pulsating wings of soulful songs and reverberating through stamping feet carrying ancestral rhythms and wisdoms. It held me captive from the get-go and set my spirit free by the end of the night.
Dreams & Stories | Queensland Symphony Orchestra with William Barton
Sculthorpe’s Kakadu followed, which was a standout in terms of William Barton’s additions through didgeridoo. Note that this was not part of the original score and something Sculthorpe included after hearing Barton play. In part a beautiful homage between musos. I loved the harmonic shifts of the different instruments mimicking birds, trees, nature and the sometimes flight, fright, freeze and fawn.
Horizon | Bangarra Dance Theatre
If you are new to Bangarra’s work, then Horizon is for you. If you are looking for a memorable creative and cultural experience, then Horizon is for you. If you want to admire exceptional cutting-edge contemporary dance, with great music, lighting and costumes … Horizon is also for you. angarra’s Horizon is an unmissable experience.
Dangerous Goods | Polytoxic
If you want to see a subversively hot, femme-fuelled show full of hot babes smashing the patriarchy, go see Dangerous Goods at QPAC. It’s one of the best shows I have seen. Bonus is, there'll be various guest artists throughout this season so no two shows will be the same. You’ve got another three weeks to see this unmissable show.
Duck Pond | Circa
If you enjoy seeing circus performances, you’ll enjoy this show. The cast do a wonderful job and display a wide range of fabulous skills. It won’t be a production that leaves a life-changing impression on you, but you will enjoy it even if you leave somewhat confused by the overall narrative. If, like me, you go in as an audience member with a critical eye for circus and dance productions and with a knowledge of the classical greats however, you may leave somewhat disappointed and confused.
Common Dissonance | Na Djinang Circus
Under the purposeful glare of the spotlight, the sight of two bodies cocooned in a tight embrace appeared before us. I saw their fingers endeavouring to make imprints on the skin of the other, pressing and digging into soft tissue. As they pushed themselves into each other while trying to simultaneously pry and peel themselves off the other, I gathered that the uneasy, uncomfortable yoking of their physical beings underscored the theme of common dissonance deliberately right from the get-go.
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.
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.
The Wharf Revue: Looking for Albanese | Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott
The Wharf Revue is an irreverent adventure combining popular culture, cabaret and politics cleverly executed just as much as Scomo ruled the nation singlehandedly and got away with it till he didn’t. This show is just as ambitious as Clive Palmer spending $123 million to win one seat to open another iron ore mine. With such a huge field of contenders to choose from, this show delivers one punch line after the other, meticulously crafted to squeeze out every climate denying, debt defying, corrupted and lying gag possible.
"It shows how much views are changing on sexuality." The cast of Blush on making a 'sexy adult circus' more subversive & inclusive
Some of the reviews we received had a bit of a stab at the male nudity, but not the female nudity, because Australian audiences especially are very used to women being sexualized in that way… And the success of the show sort of shows how much people are changing, like how much views are changing on sexuality.
Slava's Snowshow
here were marvels galore, and an endless stream of giddy slapstick, which is the simplest and most beautiful form of comedy that exists. It punches neither up nor down. To understand it requires no language not even the speech of toddlers, for they too grasp the innocent amusement of slapstick effortlessly. To try and fail is the human condition, we know it implicitly.
Blush | Highwire Entertainment
This isn't one of the typical cabarets that tries to sell sexy as performers brushing past each other, femme figures as objects and same-sex desire as queer baiting. Blush makes the titillation of such shows seem like childhood flights of fancy. There is something truly for everyone here, with each performance celebrating love, lust, passion and desire in various forms.
Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap | QPAC
For a script written in the 1950s, I was pleasantly surprised by the strong female leading the show. Played by clearly talented actress, Anna O’Byrne, Mollie Ralston was a witty and electrifying character. O’Byrne’s energy filled the stage and was captivating to the very end. The entire cast was incredibly well-suited. I particularly enjoyed Laurence Boxhall’s performance of Christopher Wren, a delightfully peculiar character that was often times the comic relief.
Sunshine Super Girl | Andrea James & Brisbane Festival
It was heart-warming to watch audience members on both sides of the ‘court’ standing for an ovation as the actors took their final curtain call. I can’t remember the last time I lept to my feet with such joie de vivre.
Holding Achilles | Dead Puppet Society & Legs on the Wall
Morton’s Holding Achilles’ queer lens, and re-gendering/de-gendering of key roles, offers fascinating new insights into an old story. My two strongest ‘ah-ha’ moments connected with the themes of parent/child legacies, and about the true nature of heroism - are heroes those who have the short lives that are celebrated in epic tales, or those who seek the ordinary long lives that are celebrated on the warrior’s shield?