Reviews

Koorliny Arts Centre’s Shrek is a fabulous looking big production, playing to capacity crowds. Joyful and vibrant with a large, energetic cast, this is a well-acted and sung production that leaves its audience smiling.

In a cultural landscape where “multidisciplinary” is often shorthand for vaguely related art forms co-existing politely, Brisbane Music Festival’s double bill bloodpaths and Orpheus proves the term can still mean something muscular, imaginative and deeply integrated. Across two richly contrasting halves, Artistic Director Alex Raineri and his collaborators offer a fiercely contemporary evening that sits somewhere between meditation, provocation and tectonic shift in how sound, movement and image can co author meaning.

Big Fish is a story about stories and a lovely blend of fantasy and reality, well understood by Director Tammy Peckover. Will Bloom’s father is a consummate storyteller. As he faces his final illness, Edward sets out to find the truth behind his tall tales. Murray Music and Drama Club’s production is full of warmth.

Every time I see a Wyong Drama Group production I am always immediately struck by the attention to detail with the scenery.  When I walked in to see this play however, I noticed very quickly that there was clearly less decoration on the stage.  Apart from the fact that this play is mainly set in the backyard, the reason for the relatively pared back scenery soon becomes very apparent:  it simply isn’t necessary.  The quality of the performances in this dramatic production is so high that any superfluous decoration would only be a potential distraction.