Starter Boyfriend | Squirt Productions 
theatre, review Lauren Hale theatre, review Lauren Hale

Starter Boyfriend | Squirt Productions 

We ventured into the mythical but very real ‘Virginity Store’ where the performers broke into song and synchronised dancing, listing some of the many ways to define sex. They drew focus away from traditional hetero-centric ideas of penis-in-vagina virginity and celebrated all the different ways to have sex, and thus virginities to be lost. It honestly got me excited for more first times in my life. There is such a big deal made over that one first time that often we forget to celebrate the others.

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Conviction | The Hive Collective
theatre, review Kristy Stanfield theatre, review Kristy Stanfield

Conviction | The Hive Collective

Beginning in darkness, four figures barely visible on stage, the tension is palpable. Together they deliver the one punchy monologue, setting the scene inside the wandering and turbulent creative mind of our protagonist, a self-critical independent writer. When the lights switch on, the characters launch into action in the writer’s latest play and we watch the action unfold seemingly as it is being written, edited, unwritten, and changed.

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The Revolutionists | The Curators
theatre, review Aaron Dora theatre, review Aaron Dora

The Revolutionists | The Curators

The play is a comedy set in Paris during the late-1700s “reign of terror” … At first glance this all seems historical and far-away, but we are brought to the here and now through a comedic exploration of real and present themes: colonial oppression, women’s rights, and the intersectional beneficiaries (and lack thereof) of revolutionary movements.

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The Revolutionists | The Curators
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The Revolutionists | The Curators

The Revolutionists is a hefty two-acter, coming in at over two hours, and Gunderson’s text is dense and full of witty one-liners and dialogue that hit you in the feels. To do the script justice, it requires a cast that can balance an impeccable comic timing with pathos and poignancy, and who are able to build the tension of the looming threat of Madame La Guillotine. All four members of the class meet the high bar set by Gunderson with ease, to the point that I don’t think the smile left my face for most of the first act.

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This Wide Night by Chloe Moss | A Moveable Theatre
theatre, review Jaydem Martin theatre, review Jaydem Martin

This Wide Night by Chloe Moss | A Moveable Theatre

With the play only having two characters, and little in set design, This Wide Night relies heavily on the dialogue and body language of the performers. Luckily, the play is in good hands, as Sharde Anne and Julia Johnson are tremendous with their performances and their wide acting range, going from humour to sadness to anger and everything in between. The dialogue sounded natural and the portrayal of Marie and Lorraine are very raw and brutally honest.

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Untitled Relationship Experiment | Big Fork Theatre
comedy, theatre, review Kristy Stanfield comedy, theatre, review Kristy Stanfield

Untitled Relationship Experiment | Big Fork Theatre

One part that stuck with me in particular was Samantha’s character’s strained relationship with her mother who refused to see her daughter’s committed lesbian relationship as anything more than a close friendship, even after marriage. It brought to light the combination of humour and pain found in the common queer experience of dealing with family members who are for the most part loving and yet wilfully ignorant or unaccepting of who they are

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Same Penis Forever | Rebel Lyons
comedy, theatre, review Lauren Hale comedy, theatre, review Lauren Hale

Same Penis Forever | Rebel Lyons

Having married and divorced at the age of 24, Rebel Lyons draws upon her own experience to paint a full picture of the discomfort of butting up against a life that has been laid out for you. What a power move. Same Penis Forever was raw, wild, and unapologetic, with a heavy dose of elevator music.

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Tit’s Up | Good Chat Comedy Club
comedy, review Nadia Jade comedy, review Nadia Jade

Tit’s Up | Good Chat Comedy Club

There was something really welcoming about an all-woman line-up. There was no bros club vibes, no borderline sexist jokes to bore the women in the crowd, no locker room humour, plenty of smut but all of it was self-directed, this was art that punches up – and really there should be no other kind – nobody made anyone uncomfortable, except in a nerdy kind of way, and it was a real relief to be honest.

It was a solid way to spend a Friday night. Would go again. Would recommend.

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The Type | Pink Matter
dance, review Nadia Jade dance, review Nadia Jade

The Type | Pink Matter

I love seeing young women who are free. It makes my heart sing. I don’t think you ever regret making art like this - fun, determined and with all your mates and for the pure joy of it and cause it’s important and just because you want to move like this.

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Leotard | Boyle & Waters
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Leotard | Boyle & Waters

Leotard by Bridget Boyle and Neridah Waters and directed by Lucas Stibbard is an ode to the glory of these stretchy fabric costumes and the costumes we put on ourselves, and those forced upon us, by two of Australia's powerhouse physical comedians. Through a mix of vignettes, interviews with Brisbanites, interpretative dance and even theatre exercises, it's explores the messy beautiy of the lives of those who have donned the armour of lycra and dared to perform for the masses. And best of all, it's side-splittingly funny.

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Under My Eye | Bianca Mackail
circus, review Nadia Jade circus, review Nadia Jade

Under My Eye | Bianca Mackail

This work stands out in a mass of sexual-sequinned glamour pusses and full-frontal theatrical wonders. It is raw and fresh and utterly unique and when there is a second season don't miss the opportunity to check out an artist in full flight.

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As If No One Is Watching | Vulcana Circus
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As If No One Is Watching | Vulcana Circus

As If showcases the diversity of these women's experiences, including the mundane life that forced upon us, our inner demons and how we can take back the night. There is something that everyone will be able to connect with here, and I dare anyone to not be moved by what they see.

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Mutating Roots | Mayu Muto
circus, review Elyse Fitzpatrick circus, review Elyse Fitzpatrick

Mutating Roots | Mayu Muto

In Mutating Roots, common aerial apparatus are cleverly transformed beyond their traditional forms in circus. Muto has added interesting textures and shapes to each apparatus, creating new depth, light and shadows to explore these themes.

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Bitch On Heat | Leah Shelton
theatre, review Nadia Jade theatre, review Nadia Jade

Bitch On Heat | Leah Shelton

Leah doesn’t pull any punches as she utilises high-camp, absurdist, lip-synching performance art to explore the history of the sexualisation and vilification of the female body through ancient myths, porn, the politics of stereotypical 50’s house wives, and revenge movies heroines.

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Umami Mermaids | Anna Straker
theatre, review Nadia Jade theatre, review Nadia Jade

Umami Mermaids | Anna Straker

The perfect piece to wander across at a festival, in a dark corner where you think there be rainbows and friendly creatures of the deep, but there are only ghouls and destruction and wanton betrayal, and slighted ladies who smell of seaweed and ageing fishes, who bide their time until they can wreak their delicious vengeance.

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