Month: January 2009

    KATONA JOZSEF THEATRE and the SYDNEY FESTIVAL present IVANOV by Anton Chekhov at the Drama Theatre at the Sydney Opera House. IVANOV (1887) was written before the famous four great plays (The Seagull; Uncle Vanya; Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard) that are a regular part of the International repertory. Three earlier plays exist: Platanov; The Wood Demon and then Ivanov. Ivanov is generally regarded as a play that was a part of the apprenticeship of the great writer, Chekhov. But Mr David Hare in his introduction to his translation / adaptation (1997 for the Almeida Theatre) suggests…

      Photo by Eva Vermandel SYDNEY FESTIVAL present MATTHEW HERBERT BIG BAND at the Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House. “Matthew Herbert is one of electronic music’s most versatile and prolific figureheads.” At a desk downstage centre he has all the gadgetry necessary to sample the sounds around him and process into the sound mix, that is being collaboratively created by a Big Band, Some 16 instrumentalists – trumpets, trombones, saxophones, piano, bass and drums – and a soloist singer. Dressed in a very beautiful set of tails he twists and twiddles with his electronic knobs and jauntily dances…

Fool’s Paradise – Photo by Erin Baiano THE WHEELDON COMPANY and the SYDNEY FESTIVAL present MORPHOSES at the Theatre Royal. “Morphoses / The Wheeldon Company is a new, dynamic ballet company founded in 2007 by Christopher Wheeldon and Lourdes Lopez. The Company, is based in New York and London, has as its mission to broaden the scope of classical ballet by emphasising innovation and fostering creativity through collaboration……. In calling the company Morphoses, Wheeldon underlined his emphasis on versatility and the ability to change shape, implying the magical power of transformation……. All Wheeldon wanted to do was create works for…

  Photo: Virginie Schreyen ONTROEREND GOED and the Sydney Festival present THE SMILE OFF YOUR FACE at the Pilgrim Theatre. OTROEREND GOED is a theatre performance group from Ghent. The name of the group roughly translates as Feel Estate. the “Feel” part is very apt for this show. When you arrive you are, sat one by one, into a wheelchair, your eyes are blindfolded, and you hands are lightly but firmly bound with rope at the wrists. You are then wheeled – individually, separately – behind a door and curtain and guided through a set of experiences. Deprived of sight…

  No Dice – Photo by Peter Nigrini NATURE THEATER OF OKLAHOMA and SYDNEY FESTIVAL present NO DICE at The Abraham Mott Hall. Firstly, this is a show that was only $25 a ticket. Secondly, it was according to my booking agent sold out. Thirdly, this meant I had to rise at 5.45 am to get myself to Martin Place and wait for the TIX FOR NEXT TO NIX booth to open at 8am. Fourthly, as you can tell I got tickets. And now… Fifthly this is the best show I have seen in this festival so far. NATURE THEATER…

  Faith Healer – Sydney Festival 2009 – Photo by Trent O’Donnell   GATE THEATRE DUBLIN and the SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2009 present A Celebration of the Work of Brian Friel: FAITH HEALER at the Parade Theatre. FAITH HEALER is the first of three plays that, at the invitation of the Sydney Festival, the Gate Theatre Dublin are presenting as a celebration of the work of Brian Friel, Irish playwright, celebrating, this January, his 80th year. This was the company that two years ago, in the same venue, presented a season of Beckett plays. Brian Friel is one of the great…