Reviews

Timothy Daly unearthed this intriguing, true story of a German couple who kept a Jewish man hidden in their attic for two years beyond the end of the War, living off his resourceful work as a jeweller and watch repairer.  Hitler, thought The Jew, had won the war.

The Man in the Attic won Daly the prestigious Patrick White Playwrights’ Award but in the decade since – despite five productions overseas – has never been performed in Australia. Until now.

Collaborations have the potential to produce wonderful pieces of art. In this production creative minds come together to experiment and blend technical dance and wordless theatre.

The Spinners is the latest work from Victorian College of the Arts graduate Lina Limosani and Scottish director Al Seed.

Limosani is joined on the stage by fellow dancers Kialea Nadine-Williams and Tara Jade Samaya. The trio take on the roles of Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos, each a cog in the wheel of humanity. The show is based upon the Moirai, or Fates, of Greek Mythology.

I was privileged to see the first production in Australia of Rossini’s last opera, William Tell, since 1876. This was a night I will long remember. I recently encountered Semiramide, another of Rossini’s dramatic operas, so I shouldn’t have been surprised at the power of this work.

Facing a small auditorium, on an even smaller stage, a friendly welcome of seemingly unrehearsed candour followed by a welcoming song in similar style introduced a range of acts that, if original only in minor details, had the virtue of being unmistakably close up and thereby occasionally a test of audience nerve.