Reviews

Mike Bartlett’s hit play revolves around a country house of characters whose stories are slowly revealed across four acts, against the undertow theme of a post-Brexit Britain.

London businesswomen Audrey, with her reluctant daughter, Zara (Rhiaan Marquez)  and happily ineffectual second husband (Charles Mayer), has big plans to restore the old house and its once magnificent gardens – especially when the ashes of her soldier son are buried there, along with past war dead.

Australian playwrights have provided leading voices in the development of Australia’s cultural

identity, and this year Flinders University Drama Centre’s nine graduating actors have, under the direction of renowned Australian Director, Wayne Harrison AM, examined the impact of these works with an anthology performance of landmark coming-of-age stories in Australian theatre in a purpose written piece called Coming of Age in Australia.

Like a Yum Cha with every possible flavour on offer, this comedy is a feast which left the audience with their bellies full of laughs.

Walking into the brilliant set designed by Nick Fry, we were immediately transported into a Chinese restaurant that felt so authentic you almost taste the prawn cracker.

Q44 is one of Melbourne’s most interesting and bold independent theatre companies.  After lockdowns that meant they were closed for over two years, they now return at a changed venue and with a revival of one of their most successful productions to kick things off.