World Premiere. Created and directed by Kate Walder. Music by John Shortis OAM. Steps & Holes Theatre Co. The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre. 26 May – 4 June 2022
If you go to Domain and look up 21 Forster Street, you’ll find a home as it was just before Kate Waldon sold it in 2019 – a grand house lovingly restored by Kate’s father with a spiral staircase, glorious stained windows, beautiful colours. Search the Canberra real estate website Allhomes, and you’ll find the house as it was previously. There’s a presence stamped here too; in quirky mezzanine bed nooks, the crazy paved splashback, a tree house and tire swing.
By Roy Clarke, based on the 90’s British sitcom. MLOC. Directed by Jane Court and Dean Mitrousis. Shirley Burke Theatre, Kingston Arts Centre, Melbourne. May 25-28, 2022.
After three postponed candlelight suppers due to cancellations, lockdowns and venue restrictions due to Covid, the play Keeping Up Appearances has finally graced the Melbourne stage, where middle class soirées belong. Based on the beloved characters of the 90’s British comedy sitcom, Roy Clark has given us a play within a play.
Book by David Simpatico. Hills Musical Theatre Company. Model Farms High School, Baulkham Hills, NSW. May 27 – June 4, 2022.
After several Covid hiccups the Hills Musical Theatre Company was finally able to open their season of High School Musical last night. The cast includes several teenagers who are taking their first, tentative steps into musical theatre and for them the safe ground of a Disney story is a good place to start.
By Simon Beaufoy. Wanneroo Repertory. Directed by Phil Bedworth. The Limelight Theatre, Civic Dve, Wanneroo, WA. May 26 - Jun 11, 2022
Wanneroo Repertory’s The Full Monty has certainly been popular with audiences, selling out before it opened. Featuring a cast of 23, this comedy set in Sheffield is very similar to the film of the same name - and contains just enough naughtiness to keep the audience on their toes. Directed by Yorkshireman Phil Bedworth (who also plays one of the major roles) there is a good understanding of time and place.
By Adam Rapp. Melbourne Theatre Company. Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio. 20 May – 2 July 2022
The Sound Inside is a story of two outsiders, a fifty-something tenured creative writing professor at Yale, Bella Baird (Catherine McClements), and her bumptious, opinionated student Christopher Dunn (Shiv Palekar).
By Stephen Carleton. Playlab Theatre. New Benner Theatre, Metro Arts, Brisbane. 18 to 28 May 2022
When I see a new Australian play, personally this is exactly the sort of story I want to see: an engaging mix of political history, current events, personal relationships, family secrets and a generous dollop of warm and witty humour. And I think the full-house audience at the New Benner Theatre at Metro Arts agreed.
By Digi Youth Arts & The Good Room. Cremorne Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). 25 to 28 May 2022
I was very happy to start National Reconciliation Week with a wickedly witty show by some of our emerging young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers – a dynamic cast all trained in dance and movement, performing arts in theatre and film, music and poetry. I really hope we see them on stage again soon: Nic Currie-Inns, Lenesha Duncan, Ethan Enoch, Elijah Manis and Misteria Towler. Wow! All these young artists have a powerful stage presence and they worked together well as an ensemble.
By David Eldridge, adapted from Thomas Vinterborg's screenplay of the 1998 Danish Dogme film Festen. Red Phoenix Theatre. Holden Street Theatres, Hindmarsh May 26 – June 4, 2022
As the Margo Channing says in All About Eve, “Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night!’.
Festen is a British stage adaptation of the 1998 Danish film of the same name. It was first presented in 2004 in London and has been staged all over the world since.
By Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II. New book by Douglas Carter Beane. Presented by Opera Australia & John Frost for Crossroads Live. Directed by Mark Brokaw. Regent Theatre, 191 Collins St, Melbourne. 26 May -17 July 2022, then touring.
This Tony Award winning musical is undoubtedly a winner. The monumental scale of the set and costumes is a feast for the eyes and the music, singing and dancing are delivered with incredible precision and perfection. This flawless show takes a very classic approach to the story of Cinderella and, although there are some updated elements that portray Cinderella as more in charge of her own destiny, this musical retains all the classical elements of this timeless tale.
By Melissa Bubnic. Griffin Theatre Company. SBW Stables Theatre. May 20 – June 18, 2022
Melissa Bubnic’s dark new comedy begins with three generations of women folding washing and sharing the best ways to kill yourself.
But it seems Granny Grace, declining at 87, is serious. She wants to die now, much to the horror of her stubbornly optimistic, needy daughter, Dorothy, and Dot’s own daughter, the surly Suzie, just back from overseas for a family funeral.
