REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN | Vena Cava Productions
REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN is an audacious and bold production. Breaking down text, vocabulary, and vernacular to its most surreal roots, it explores how words and society’s changing definition of them, have shaped the way we perceive and behave towards women, and placed arbitrary – and often absurd – boundaries around gender roles.
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.
Nineteen | Underground Theatre Company
Overall, the actors as an ensemble were quite tight and captured the emotional repression and despondency that their characters were feeling. A special mention to Dominic Graves, who gave his character Noah’s broken masculinity and repressed trauma nuance and an emotional depth that was called for.
Brisbaret at Queensland Cabaret Festival
I can see why Brisbaret is a popular feature in the Brisbane arts scene, as a firmly local platform for a wide variety of music, comedy, drag, and cabaret artists. Variety is a tried and tested format—at its finest when hosted by talented MC’s, who program an eclectic collection of invited artists and keep the evening on track.
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.
The People's Dance Party 7 | Bring a Plate Inclusive Dance Company
The People’s Dance Party was pot-luck banquet for lovers of movement, where you get to sample and play as much as you like. While each course was a little light for my tastes, it was ultimately a satisfying night that filled my dance cup. With so much damn talent in our fair city, it’s sure to return too, so book your spot on the dance floor when Bring a Plate returns with the next round.
Choir Boy | Riverside's National Theatre of Parramatta
With any play-with-music, the sudden shifts into musical numbers can snatch the viewer out of the story and prevent them from fully experiencing pathos. It’s actually the opposite in this case. The music is phenomenal and these moments are the most affective of the show both due to the immense vocal talent of the cast and the emotional intensity they bring to the songs. It is the spoken scenes that have to justify their presence in my opinion.
I Love You, Bro | THAT Production Company
Quick, now’s your chance to experience an excellent young actor in a small black box theatre before he hits the big time and is too famous for all of us. In all seriousness, Jordan Stott was flying - his performance leaps forward with presence and electricity, never leaving the audience behind. This performer knows how to work a crowd, and this piece was perfect for him.
The Mystery of the Valkyrie | Woodward Productions & PowerArts
Sherlock Holmes aficionados will love the twists and turns of the story that Director & Writer Michael Futcher brings and the relationship established by an exceptionally well-cast Holmes and Watson duo. Eugene Gilfedder really is Sherlock Holmes, and Anthony Gooley’s Dr John Watson was suitably endearing and enjoyable.
Macbeth in Concert | Opera Queensland & Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Macbeth in Concert is an object lesson in what is possible when a group of people who have trained to do something exceptionally their entire lives gather in a room together and do that something exceptionally. The orchestra, led by conductor Umberto Clerici, is truly a wonder to behold. Their work in combination with Opera Queensland’s company meant the sheer sonic power of a number of sequences left with me chills, in particular the full-company scene that takes place after King Duncan is murdered.
A Life in Theatre | Ad Astra
An absurd satire and love letter to theatre, director Pierce Gordon brought the text to life with such nuance; acknowledging the slice of the theatre industry it represents and finding parallels to contemporary theatre practices. From the actor’s relationship to the space, the dynamic role of the sets and the combination of naturalistic and comedic acting styles, Gordon expertly captured Mamet’s chaotic world.
From Little Things | Casus Creations and Flipside Circus
I went to this show expecting a fun show that has that fuzzy feeling of community, but I got a lot more than that. It’s a beautiful creation, with artistry and skill that sometimes made me forget how young many of these performers were. Their opening season has been a sell-out, and I hope they bring this show back, so more people can see this delightful piece of art and circus culture.
Drenched | Caetlyn Watson
Brisbane was indeed privy to an extraordinary dance performance brought to the stage by a phenomenal dancer/choreographer/director. Such is the magic of performance art that it felt as if this particular choreographer had unwittingly reached inside each dancer, ripped out their ‘soul’, placed it on stage and said “I give you permission to bare yourself to the audience.’’
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.
Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes | Josie Cross & Stephen Hirst
The emphasis on Jon’s inner thoughts and Hirst’s delivery poses the question of whether it is he who should be telling the story? Why aren’t we hearing the nineteen year old’s side? All of this gets resolved and answered in the most delicious way near the closing of the play. I actually shrieked in my seat and grabbed my friend’s hand in delight. Can you get better writing than that?
Bloom Girl | Charli Burrowes
Bloom Girl takes us to her world, a world of instant attention, interaction, gratification. Of being hyper alert ready for the next beep and armed with the next retort complete with the right hashtag. It reminds us of how demanding being connected to social media is, and what it like to be an influencer seeing what other influencers do. I’m led to think perhaps social media is a virus when I hear the mispronounced influenza spoken.
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…
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.
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.