Performing Arts Reviews:
2008–2022

Photo by Clare Hawley Jackrabbit Theatre and bAKEHOUSE Productions presents, TONSILS & TWEEZERS, by Will O’Mahony, at the Kings Cross Theatre (KXT) In the Kings Cross Hotel. January 12th – 27th. TONSILS & TWEEZERS is a new Australian play by Perth writer Will O’Mahony. It is exciting to report that this new work is as interesting as BURIED. Both are worth seeing if you are interested in new Australian playwriting. Both plays concern themselves with the shadows/’ghosts’ of a traumatic past on the present with consequences for the future. In this instance Tweezers, real name Lewis (Hoa Xunade), has been suffering…

Wheels and Co Productions presents the Australian Premiere of BURIED. Two Short plays by Xavier Coy, at The Old 505 Theatre, Eliza St. Newtown. 17 – 27 January. BURIED is the overarching title for the Australian Premiere of two short plays: THE SANDPIPER and SMOKIN’ JOE, by new comer, writer, Xavier Coy. It is an auspicious debut. Both plays have distinct character voices within the context of a very dramatic arc of storytelling that keeps one suspended and enthralled. Says Mr Coy in the program notes: In THE SANDPIPER and SMOKIN’ JOE I am exploring (the idea of) trauma in…

  Sydney Festival presents The Wooster Group production, THE TOWN HALL AFFAIR, in the Drama Theatre, at the Sydney Opera House. 7 -13 January. The Wooster Group grew from Richard Schechner’s The Performance Group in 1980, under the leadership of Elizabeth Lecompte. It works in a deliberate theatrical form of experimental presentation. Its reputation is formidable and the fact that the theatrical explorations/methods of this company have been an inspiration for similar groups such as The Sydney Front (1986) and other participants regularly appearing in the Performance Space repertory – now seen mostly at Carriageworks – is tantamount to their…

Red Line Productions in association with the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) presents, THERE WILL BE A CLIMAX, by Alexander Berlage and The Company, at the Old Fitz Theatre, Cathedral St, Woolloomooloo. 9th January – 3rd February. THERE WILL BE A CLIMAX, began as part of the 2016 Directors and Designers Graduating Productions at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, written (devised?) by Alexander Berlage – also the Director – and The Company of performers: Toby Blome, Oliver Crump, Duncan Ragg, Geneva Schofield, Alex Stylianou and Contessa Treffone. On entering the theatre we meet a red curtain which, when…

Griffin Theatre Company and The Last Great Hunt present FAG/STAG, written and performed by Jeffrey Jay Fowler and Chris Issacs, in the SBW Theatre, Kings Cross. 10 – 27 January. FAG/STAG was first presented in Perth in the Blue Room Theatre’s Summer Nights in 2015. It is written and performed by Jeffrey Jay Fowler and Chris Issacs. Jimmy (Jeffrey Jay Fowler) is a FAG and does Grindr in his search for sex. Corgan (Chris Issacs) is a STAG and does Tinder in his search for sex. Jimmy and Corgan are long standing best friends – they play Donkey Kong regularly…

Photo by Daniel Boud Belvoir presents a Queensland Theatre production in association with Sydney Festival, MY NAME IS JIMI, based on a story by Dimple Bani, Jimi Bani and co-created by Jason Klarwein, in the Upstairs Theatre, at Belvoir, Surry Hills. 5 -21 January. Jimi Bani is an actor/artist of big heart and attractive personality exuding a charisma that is all enveloping. His welcome and invitation to hear his story, MY NAME IS JIMI, is irresistible . Jimi was born on a remote island: Mabuiag (Jervis Island) in the western part of Torres Strait to the north of the Australian…