Reviews

Black Brass is a beautifully told story presented by Performing Lines, for Perth Festival. Based on over twenty hours of interviews with people from various African countries who have come to call Australia home, this story of an African immigrant on the evening before an interview which may lead to his citizenship, is supported by songs in Swahili, Lingala and French.

Garrick Theatre’s Managing Carmen is a well-presented incarnation of this modern Australian play, playing to Covid capacity audiences, and being very well received.

Garrick’s handkerchief sized stage is very well used in this rather episodic show, with Jake Newby’s set design consisting of well-chosen furnishings that serve multiple locales. Each location is established by excellent projections by Stuart Ridgeway, which include split screens and film. Jake Newby also provided lighting design. 

From the confronting opening scene – ‘it’s a girl!’ – to its philosophical ending, Something in the Water is a funny, silly, pointed, and relevant exploration of gender, conformity, and ‘what is normal?’.

Back to Back Theatre have presented this award-winning production at major festivals nationally and internationally since its 2005 premiere.

Director Bruce Gladwin with co-devisors/performers Simon Laherty, Sonia Teuben, Genevieve Morris and Jim Russell have created a work that is both humble and thematically complex.