Reviews

Imagine the grief of a travelling salesman who wins a fortune in the Opera House Lottery, only to see his eight-year-old son kidnapped for ransom and then found murdered in bushland. 

Australia’s first kidnap-for-ransom case in 1960 is the inspiration for this tender and strangely funny new play by Richard Sydenham, who directs, and Jamie Oxenbould, who plays a version of the grieving father.

Galileo is a new contemporary ballet by choreographer Francesco Ventriglia, the artistic director of the Sydney Choreographic Centre. Founded by Ventriglia and Neil Christopher   in early 2021, the centre made its mark on the Sydney dance scene at Riverside Theatres in April last year with its stunning production, GRIMM. It returns to Riverside with its latest production that is equally as stunning.

Don Carlos is an epic production in every way. Verdi’s longest opera, this production comes in at approximately four and a half hours and is presented in its original French instead of the usual Italian, taking the production back to its roots. However, the Met’s claim of presenting the original version is in some doubt. It is more like the five act Italian version sung in French with several additions from the original.

Written by Elena Carapetis, Antigone (after Sophocles) is a lot. As it should be, given the strident call to female power the work embodies. Its scope is grand - its themes, many big ideas, ideals and heightened emotion unfold over the 1 hour and 40 minute work.