Performing Arts Reviews:
2008–2022

I am writing this in London after a couple of weeks in Berlin, Sweden (Stockholm and a friend’s farm for Christmas!) and Brussels (Ghent, Bruge and Antwerp). Much to talk about. However, here is my messy Look Back for 2012. 1. Let me start with some of the new AUSTRALIAN WRITING: THYESTES by Thomas Henning, Chris Ryan, Simon Stone and Mark Winter. Presented by Belvoir Street. Truly daring and theatrically thrilling. TRUCK STOP by Lachlan Philpott. Presented by The Q Theatre and the Seymour Centre.Following on from SILENT DISCO (2011) this sociological examination of cultural behaviour in the suburbs of…

  Sydney Theatre Company presents MARRIAGE BLANC by Tadeusz Rozewicz, adapted by Melissa Bubnic at Wharf 2. The Sydney Theatre Company, this Production at least, has forgotten to tell us, in their program notes, anything about the actual originator of this material, the writer, Tadeusz Rozewicz. Everybody else, BUT, not the writer. The adaptor even, BUT, not the writer. This is not an unusual event in Sydney theatre going. The writer is often forgotten in the flowering of the enterprises on our stages. Respect is not always discernible. (The director has never been neglected in the program notes, as far…

Photo by Heidrun Lohr Belvoir, ILBIJERRI Theatre Company and version 1.0 present BEAUTIFUL ONE DAY, in the Upstairs Theatre at Belvoir St Theatre. BEAUTIFUL ONE DAY is a collaboration with Belvoir (Devisor,Eamon Flack), ILBIJERRI Theatre Company (Devisor/Performer, Rachael Mazza) and version 1.0 (Devisor, David Williams). It is a verbatim exercise researching, organising and presenting interview and found materials concerning the now notorious, November 2004 death-in-custody incident of an aboriginal man on Palm Island and the long aftermath of a pursuit of justice. It is also “a show about the irrepressible life and times of Palm island.” This show began well.…

Heather Mitchell, George Shevtsov, Aaron Pedersen and Pauline Whyman in Signs of Life. Photography by Lisa Tomasetti. Sydney Theatre Company, Black Swan State Theatre Company and Commonwealth Bank present SIGNS OF LIFE by Tim Winton, in the Drama Theatre, at the Sydney Opera House. Tim Winton is a great, celebrated, Australian novelist. Beginning in 1981 with his inaugural book, AN OPEN SWIMMER, winning the Australian/Vogel Literary Award. He has won an unprecedented four Miles Franklin Awards and nominated twice for the prestigious Man Booker Prize for Fiction (1995 – THE RIDERS; 2002 – DIRT MUSIC). He has had two of…

The Arts Centre Gold Coast in collaboration with Golden Apple Theatrical Productions presents THE LAST FIVE YEARS, Written and Composed by Jason Robert Brown, in The Space at the Gold Coast Arts Centre. THE LAST FIVE YEARS is written and composed by Jason Robert Brown. The original production was nominated for a number of awards and garnered two Drama Desk Awards in 2002 for Book and Lyrics after its short run in the Minetta Lane Theatre, an Off-Broadway space. Mr Brown won, in 1999, the Tony Award for Best Original Score for PARADE – his first show. THE LAST FIVE…

  Little Ones Theatre in association with the Tamarama Rock Surfers present PSYCHO BEACH PARTY by Charles Busch at the Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Beach. Look, PSYCHO BEACH PARTY by Charles Busch, at present to be seen at the Bondi Pavilion, is just, great, great FUN. For most of the ‘folk’ I know well, a show not to be missed. I mean if you want big laughs and a show that reeks with an expertise of gleefully wicked innocence and glad bags of high style, than, this is a must see. DO NOT MISS. I know I went crazy for the…