Reviews

In Breaking the Code, playwright Hugh Whitemore used his skill with words to craft the poignant story of Alan Turing, a man forced to hide his real self as clandestinely as he had to hide the secret work he did for his government during World War II. It is an ill-fated story and one Whitemore told with caring honesty and understanding candour.

Director Anthony Skuse embraces that caring and understanding in his incredibly creative and sensitive production of Whitemore’s play.

Artistic Directors and Producers everywhere take note. If you’d like an excellent example of programming that’s going to appeal to wide demographics, Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) has been doing it right for years. 2022 is no exception, with the talented musicians treating us to our favourite orchestral works from their past performances. In preparing the program, which ranged from Beethoven’s Symphony No.5 to the theme from Star Wars, QSO asked audiences to vote for the ones we loved most.

Altar Boyz is set at the last concert of the tour of the Catholic boy band, “Altar Boyz”. We not only get to see the fabulous concert, performed by the quintet of boys - Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan, and Abraham (Abraham is Jewish) but we join their quest to save souls, find the history of the band and get to know this very interesting group of young men.

Even though I have seen the musical before, it still leaves me with my jaw on the floor at the subject matter it covers.

The ticket website says it all - with a warning of strong language, gun violence, murder, suicide, drug use, fat shaming, sex and more.

Yet remarkably, the writers of the musical have handled the subject matter in a way that allows for these issues to be handled delicately, in a rollicking night of satire.