Reviews

In Bangarra’s remarkable history, its second artistic director Frances Rings takes a logical next step by forging a collaboration with First Nation artists from another country. From across the Tasman, Maori choreographer Moss Te Ururangi Patterson elicits from 16 Indigenous Australians an enthralling dance voyage through the winds, waters and people of his home country around Lake Taupo in Aotearoa.   

There were lots of words recited in this oratorio that were unfamiliar to the stage of the Joan Sutherland Theatre. For starters “poofter” and “cum” don’t normally appear in the translation of operas.

Also, strikingly different to regular operas was a tight, engaging, contemporary story where not a word was wasted. Sadly, this stunning and beautiful work is only on stage for four performances, after its initial season at the Adelaide Festival.

The Adelaide Cabaret Festival continues to surprise: who would have thought we’d witness the ABC’s Leigh Sales AM singing Chicago’s ‘Class’ with the Festival’s director, Virginia Gay? And mighty fine singing it was too, and an excellent opening to a live (and lively!) edition of the popular podcast from Sales and Annabel Crabb.

Set in the violent streets of Verona, Italy, this timeless play is brought to life predominantly by young-adult females immersed in the language of Shakespeare. And what a wonderful interpretation this version is.

Acted on a dystopian, post-apocalyptic set, with the rival families dressed in modern red and blue clothing, the action moves rapidly from scene to scene against a backdrop of clever lighting and haunting music.