Harpies | Eli Free
review, physical theatre, theatre Ophelia Novak review, physical theatre, theatre Ophelia Novak

Harpies | Eli Free

At times graceful and at others deliberately repugnant, these actors gave their all for this show, creating a sense of community with each other and their audience as they progressed. They also involved other artistic elements including electric guitar, puppetry and roving, and it was clear that this is a multi talented, local cast.

Read More
Us and All of This | Liesel Zink, Lawrence English, & Performing Lines
review, dance Stephanie Markwell review, dance Stephanie Markwell

Us and All of This | Liesel Zink, Lawrence English, & Performing Lines

Zink and English have achieved something incredibly special here - a true collaboration with highlights coming from both mediums present within the work, it was an honour to watch it in this iteration, with these performers, at this location. Installation art has the ability to change the world in which it exists, and nowhere have I found this to be more true than with Us and All of This.

Read More
Horizon | Bangarra Dance Theatre
review, dance Catherine Lawrence review, dance Catherine Lawrence

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.

Read More
AMOR | D.I.V.E. Theatre Collective
review, theatre Ofa Fanaika review, theatre Ofa Fanaika

AMOR | D.I.V.E. Theatre Collective

Each phrase is a delightful piece of poetry expertly delivered. I long to read the script in it’s entirety, so that what was shared could be later accessed as a source of wisdom. I contemplate returning for another night just to hear it all again. Recitals came through in various dialects and the tonality of each reminds us of love’s universality. We all can sometimes struggle in it, or thrive in it, regardless of cultural background.

Read More
Jack Sharpe and The Curse of The Forbidden Fruit | Fake Blood
theatre, review, physical theatre Catherine Lawrence theatre, review, physical theatre Catherine Lawrence

Jack Sharpe and The Curse of The Forbidden Fruit | Fake Blood

I loved the detailed research, the entertaining Harry Potter and Indiana Jones references, the story arc of the show, and the high-energy performances by each of the three artists. And I enjoyed the clever use of the apples as a metaphor for opening the eyes of performers, creatives, commentators and audiences.

Read More
Break | Cecilia Martin & The Farm
circus, review, physical theatre Catherine Lawrence circus, review, physical theatre Catherine Lawrence

Break | Cecilia Martin & The Farm

Highlights were the directness and vulnerability with which the story was told, and the interweaving of acrobatic skills. We hear insights into the close relationship between skilled performers—including the sheer joy of ‘getting it right,’ as well as the pain and pressure of training, travel, and surgeries, and we see great use of the spinning plates, walking on broken china, incredible athleticism (and skipping), and quite amazing trapeze and aerial acrobatics.

Read More
Glass Child | The Farm & Kayah and Maitreyah Guenther
review, physical theatre Georgia McKenzie review, physical theatre Georgia McKenzie

Glass Child | The Farm & Kayah and Maitreyah Guenther

In the past two days, I have found myself continuously contemplating every aspect of the performance. The show had so many subtle details that made it truly special. As someone who enjoys revisiting past reviews to gauge a show’s lasting impact and reflect on any evolving opinions, I can confidently say that Glass Child has already left an indelible mark on me. It is a production that I will undoubtedly continue to think about for months to come.

Read More
13: The Play |  Legacy Ensemble & Anywhere Festival
review, theatre Virag Dombay review, theatre Virag Dombay

13: The Play | Legacy Ensemble & Anywhere Festival

Each of the thirteen performers seamlessly snapped between different set pieces and characters, sometimes even mid-sentence and didn’t miss a beat. In a split second, one actor could be a young child complaining to their parents and in the next breath, they were a gang member. Each transition was seamless as the last.

Read More
Rough, Red and Raw | Architects of Sound
review, cabaret Kristy Stanfield review, cabaret Kristy Stanfield

Rough, Red and Raw | Architects of Sound

As architects of sound, they’re far more important, far more conceptually insightful and artistically refined, percipient guardians of the zeitgeist. They are a whole new level of artiste, and we mere mortals cannot possibly comprehend their brilliance. With a certain vivacity, an ironic holier-than-thou attitude and so much lycra, the group expertly poke fun at influencer culture. In fact, I was just thinking to myself how brilliantly they embodied the wankiness so often found in the art world when they revealed the title of their latest album: “Art Fap”. Perfect.

Read More
Red | Dancenorth
review, dance Katie Rasch review, dance Katie Rasch

Red | Dancenorth

The final image of the show was perhaps the most confronting. It lingered and encouraged me to sit with the feeling of it. It's a final statement of the show that was clearly meant to be seen in person, not read online. Being presented with a challenge like that was invigorating and I hope I get to see more work that engages the audience in that way.

Read More
Hold Me Closer Tony Danza | The Farm
review, dance, physical theatre, music Kaylee Vera review, dance, physical theatre, music Kaylee Vera

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.

Read More
Batshit | Leah Shelton
review, theatre Fliss Morton review, theatre Fliss Morton

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.

Read More
Holding Achilles | Dead Puppet Society & Legs on the Wall
review, theatre, physical theatre Catherine Lawrence review, theatre, physical theatre Catherine Lawrence

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?

Read More
RUNT | Dee, Cornelius and Wilks
theatre, physical theatre, review Nadia Jade theatre, physical theatre, review Nadia Jade

RUNT | Dee, Cornelius and Wilks

We are ruled by the body. We think our chattering minds are leading this affair but really it is the body that sings and screams, the skin that hungers for touch. You can go mad if no one touches you. You can go mad if love gets all twisted up. We know that children need safety to grow strong and true, they need enough attention to validate them, that emotional maturity and regularity is directly linked to the security we experience in our formative years.

Read More
Leotard | Boyle & Waters
physical theatre, review Nadia Jade physical theatre, review Nadia Jade

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.

Read More
Maze | The Naughty Corner Collective
theatre, physical theatre, review Georgia McKenzie theatre, physical theatre, review Georgia McKenzie

Maze | The Naughty Corner Collective

The actors used neon tube lighting to move around the space, giving shape to the maze and blocking Wray’s path as he approached dead ends. This was a very effective use of the small stage. Further, it made the labyrinth feel alive, almost like a character itself, with the lighting being the blood pumping through the veins of the tunnels.

Read More