Flinders Drama Centre. Flinders University. July 26th- 29th, 2022
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.
Devised & performed by Kimberly Twiner, Ell Sachs, Lucy Kingsley & Nicholas O’Regan. Co-devised by Fabio Motta, Maria Silva & Giovanni Fusetti. Directorial Consultant Rinske Ginsberg. La Mama Courthouse, Carlton. 26 - 31 July 2022
This show is quite extraordinary. I can’t recall seeing anything quite like it. It is bouffon – and the essence of bouffon is mockery. The famed acting and clowning teacher Jacques Lecoq, who brought the centuries old term bouffon back into usage said: ‘…the clown is alone, bouffon is part of a gang; while we make fun of the clown, the bouffon makes fun of us.’ And the bouffon does that, like Lear’s Fool, by telling or showing the truth.
By Vanessa Bates. Ensemble Theatre. Directed by Darren Yap. July 22 - August 27, 2022
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.
By Gaetano Donizetti. Librettist Salvatore Cammarano. Metropolitan Opera, New York City. Sharmill Films. Playing in cinemas across Australia from August 6, 2022
Lucia di Lammermoor is one of the staples of most large opera companies. It contains some of Gaetano Donizetti’s most famous music, including of course the famous mad scene, immortalised by Sarah Coburn, Lily Pons, Maria Callas, Nellie Melba and the legendary Joan Sutherland among others!
By Ron Elisha. Q44 Theatre. Chapel off Chapel. 26 July – 7 August 2022
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.
By C.S. Lewis adapted by Glyn Robbins. Stray Cats Theatre Company. Directed by Karin Francis. The Fishtrap Theatre, Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, WA. Jul 20-25, 2022
Stray Cats Theatre Company’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe played to enthusiastic, capacity family audiences during its brief run. A well-acted, visually fulfilling production, this incarnation was faithful to the book.
Music by Alan Menken. Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman. The Spotlight Theatrical Company, Gold Coast. Directed and choreographed by Jamie Watt. July 22nd – August 20th, 2022
2022 hasn’t been the best year for most theatre companies…. community or otherwise. But it has been a triumph for Spotlight, with hit after hit in its current season. The latest is the quirky cult classic Little Shop of Horrors, a favourite since its debut in 1982.
By Patrick Mu’a, presented by Robert the Cat and Metro Arts. New Benner Theatre, Brisbane. 23 to 30 July 2022
Sunny Tribe District is a 2018 ensemble piece by writer/director/performer/choreographer, Patrick Mu’a, a graduate of TAFE Queensland’s Acting and Performance course. Collaborator, Robert the Cat, is a collective whose aim is to provide a showcase for performance students at TAFE Queensland – and the main strength of this production is that it does give its cast a chance to show their talents – in comedy and drama – and dance! There are some very funny rap acts and comedy sequences that give each performer a chance to shine.
By Tory Kendrick. Connections Nightclub, Northbridge, WA. Jul 22-23, 2022
Somebody to Love is a vibrant and sexy cabaret, starring Musical Theatre performer Tory Kendrick. It has just finished a short season at Connections, performing to a highly enthusiastic, noisy and appreciative audience.
Twenty-one-year-old Tory takes her audience on an exploration of modern dating, which Tory equates to living through the five stages of grief, over and over again.
By Wesley Enoch and John Rodgers. Presented by Queensland Theatre. Playhouse Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Brisbane. 9 to 30 July 2022
The Sunshine Club is essential viewing – foremost for the joyous musical talent of its cast, but also for its story of local history and optimistic message of community strength in diversity. The story centres around the Doyle and Morris families in post-war Brisbane. As Rose Morris takes up a singing gig at the glamorous Cloudland Ballroom, her neighbourhood friend, Frank Doyle, has returned from active war service just in time to see her perform.
