Sleep and the City | Emma-June Curik
The performance was a thought-provoking experience that left me with a whirlwind of emotions. It combined the three things that tend to lead to the best original work: raw vulnerability, education on a misunderstood topic, and catharsis. This combination seemed to result in a unique sense of community and belonging that I hadn’t expected.
Spring Awakening | Millennial Productions
This was my second time seeing Spring Awakening live. The first time I saw it, it was done by a professional cast. However, despite this being a community theatre production, this was just as good. Maybe even better…
Girl From the North Country | Conor McPherson & QPAC
The performances from the cast were terrific across the board. Kowitz was believable as an overworked hotel manager and family man who lacks the emotional capacity to do either job efficiently, Elijah Williams was equal parts charming and allusive as the convicted boxer, but McCune stood out for her layered portrayal of a woman battling a mental illness who still finds time for joy in her life.
Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella | Crossroads Live
Advertised as a “surprisingly contemporary take on the classic tale”*, this 2013 adaptation of Rogers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella fails to deliver any refreshing takes on the outdated traditional fairy tale. While there are certainly elements that are different from the well-known story—new characters, additional parties, expanded motivations for characters, and shoe things—the main problematic and patriarchal factors from the original plot remain intact.
Gutenberg! the Musical! | Springboard Productions
Displaying amazing musical muscle and acting ability, the two leads played around 30 characters between them with multiple different accents. No costume and makeup meant they really had to rely on their own characterisation, especially when the hats and accents started to come off and on thick and fast, along with the puns and the Broadway numbers. Chaos does ensue, but it is such well-controlled chaos.
Grease | Musical Theatre Students, Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University
A massive cast of consummate performers tore down QPAC's Lyric theatre with a passionate, charming and energetic production of beloved musical Grease. The theatre was packed and the audience was buzzing, both from the excitement at seeing their loved ones dance and sing up a storm and the nostalgia of seeing the live version of the movie and megamix that we all knew so well. Or so we thought, because while the stage version of Grease is still the story of teen rebels and lost love, it isn't quite the version that we'd been raised on and the nostalgia of what I remembered from the movie didn’t match the reality of the story of Grease.
Right To Party | Babushka
Large colourful blow up props sit comfortably within the set, bright and bold objects scattered neatly around the three microphones that accommodate the stellar trio. Add some big hair, fishnets and big socks to top off the vibrancy the cast portrays and a dance party worthy lighting show. The production was kaleidoscopic.
The No Bang Theory | Oliver Hetherington-Page
Debuting at the Undercover Artist Festival and created and performed by Oliver Hetherington-Page, The No Bang Theory is a musical journey from dating disasters to diagnosis through the lens of someone who is actually autistic, unlike Sheldon Cooper and all the ones who came before him.
Same Penis Forever | Rebel Lyons
Humanising the different agents of social conditioning demonstrated that people make traditions, and traditions aren’t these immovable structures that must be obeyed at all costs. Traditions make culture, so if the diamond engagement ring was something some marketing mogul came up with to sell more diamonds, then why the hell do we take this ‘tradition’ so seriously.
A Midnight Visit | Broad Encounters
What the creative team of A Midnight Visit have created is truly something wonderful that transported me into a world where my imagination could run wild. I felt childlike exploring the rooms and listening to the characters, as though I was romping around an exciting large playground for the first time.
It Takes A Lot Not To End Up Dead | NiK NaK Productions
In this unique musical cabaret, local folk singer-songwriter Lizzie Flynn takes us on a heartwarming journey through her youth via the key people and events that inspired her repertoire of original songs. It Takes A Lot Not To End Up Dead is a fun and wholesome time. I’m a big fan of putting singing and storytelling together. Singing itself is storytelling, but add a sprinkle of honest, in-character storytelling and you’ve got something extra special.
Hard Boiled Dick | Edge Improv & Never Before Musical | Ho Hum
I rocked up on the first night of the festival to a line going out the door (and round the corner) of the Ron Hurley theatre. It seems Brisbane has been hungry for improv, and Big Fork Theatre are serving up a feast. I saw back-to-back shows of Hardboiled Dick (Edge Improv) and Never Before Musical (Ho Hum).
The Underground Hour | Claire Owen & performers
As they share their story of coming together, they dance and sing their way through a great range of classic show tunes and contemporary commercial hits. The fourth wall be damned, they performed directly to us, sharing their story and all of themselves. They love the audience as much as we love them, and crave our adulation. And we were more than happy to give it to them.
The Underground Hour | Claire Owen & performers.
The Underground Hour - a crowd-pleasing, glittery cabaret that harks back to times of feathers and Frank Sinatra. If you like your performers giving you all they’ve got and your showtunes to go up a key to hit a big finish, then this is the show for you. Big talent, big energy and a full house almost burst the seams of the small underground bar, Brooklyn Standard, in Brisbane’s CBD. Someone give these people a big band and a wall of lights. They deserve it.
Committed, Content, Confused | Grace Whitney, Gabriella Boumford, Jahla Black & Thomas Currie
Skilfully accompanied by pianist Thomas Currie, they reached musical near-perfection, with some goosebump-inducing three-part harmonies through a range of original songs and pop covers that really got the dopamine going. Stand outs were their brilliant rendition of I Am Woman, and a few wonderfully soppy love songs sweet enough to melt the iciest of hearts.
Absolute Objectivity | Backbone
A pop culture fairytale for the internet age, Sampson Smith’s new musical comedy Absolute Objectivity has finally downloaded its way into Backbone Youth Arts. Takes us on a journey to the world elections in the year 2054 where - since the mysterious disappearance of left-wing messiah Turny Banders - the CEO of the world’s largest, and only, corporation ‘Dooglecorp’ has run unopposed as World President for two decades. This journey is filled with rap battles, emotional ballads, sexy times and the most glamorous of costumes.
Absolute Objectivity | Backbone
Backbone was transformed into a glowing corporate dystopia that conjured up visions of 2001: A Space Odyssey and the Apple store. The cast of six emerged clad in matching glittery silver suits and launched into it with the aptly titled, punchy ‘Opening Number’. They brought energy, mostly synchronised dancing and set the tone for one and a half hours of playful absurdity and witty banter.