Reviews

Everything Flickers

By Eliza Smith, William Gammel, Nathan Calvert and Clea Prerkis. stop, drop, and roll theatre company. Directed by Eliza Smith. The Blue Room Theatre, Perth Cultural Centre, WA. Oct 31 - Nov 18, 2023

Presented at the Blue Room by stop, drop, and roll theatre company, Everything Flickers is a striking examination of art that asks important questions but is self-aware and doesn’t take itself too seriously despite its poignant and important message. A warm and embracing piece of theatre, it is a joy to watch.

Clue

By Sandy Rustin, adapted from the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn. Directed by Isaac Owen Theatre on Chester, Epping. 3-25 November, 2023

Clue was inspired by the board game from my childhood, Cluedo, and I have vague memories of being utterly confused and bewildered by the endless possibilities of who did what, where and how.

Friday night’s opening of Clue at Theatre on Chester created an atmosphere of nostalgia, no doubt not simply for me alone, as we were welcomed to the home of Mr. Boddy by his officious, immaculately presented butler, Wadsworth, played by Clive Hobson with oodles of formality and drole humour.

Girl, Shut Your Mouth

By Gita Bezard. PAANDA (Performing Arts at Notre Dame). Directed by Pip Hunter and Sophie Kelly. Prindiville Hall, University of Notre Dame, Fremantle. Nov 2-11, 2023

University based theatre company PAANDA (Performing Arts at Notre Dame) are frequently at their strongest performing young, new works, and they are in their element with Gita Bezard’s provocative work Girl, Shut Your Mouth.

A Migrant's Son

By Michaela Burger. Riverside Theatre, Parramatta. November 3, 2023

A Migrant's Son, directed by Jane Smith and created/ performed by Michaela Burger, is a moving theatrical production that explores the themes of migration, family, and cultural heritage.

Defoe’s Plague

Devised by Alicia Benn-Lawler, Shannon Woollard and Phil Roberts. Director: Alicia Benn-Lawler. . La Mama HQ, 205 Faraday Street, Carlton. 1-12 November 2023

Daniel Defoe, who we know as the author of Robinson Crusoe and a major literary figure, in 1722 is a jobbing author trying to sell his lately published book, “A Journal of the Plague Year”. During his sales efforts, a Friend (Shannon Woollard) appears and accosts him. Defoe (Phil Roberts) is cross examined about his lose association with the truth including a change of name and the appropriation of his uncle’s story of being in London during the Black Death for his book.

Orlando

By Rachel Lewindon and Willow Sizer, adapted from the book by Virginia Woolf. Presented by Antipodes Theatre Company. Directed by Margot Fenley. fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. 2 – 11 November 2023.

The story of Orlando as conceived by Virginia Woolf in her influential novel is very mystical in its exploration of gendered identity positions across history. The idea of an individual spirit remaining unaltered and undefined by gender is beautifully explored in this story. The book has been transformed into a film and various stage productions including opera. Antipodes Theatre Company now imagines this iconic tale as a musical.  

The Lives of Eve

By Stephen Sewell. White Box Theatre in association with bAKEHOUSE Theatre. KXT on Broadway. Oct 27 – Nov 11, 2023.

Stephen Sewell is never short of words. An important Australian playwright and screenwriter for over four decades, if in and out of fashion, his stories are epic in theme and dense with socio-political ideas and well-crafted language.  The challenge for actors is to root out their character and find a human truth in the verbosity.

Juan Diego Flórez in Recital

Presented by Castiglione Arts & Culture. Hamer Hall, 100 St Kilda Rd, Southbank. Thursday 2 November 2023.

Internationally renowned tenor Juan Diego Flórez is best known for his outstanding bel canto style and French Romantic repertoire. His incredibly smooth and sweet vocals make him especially suited to these romantic and emotional arias. In his Australian recital he delights audiences with highlights of performances that have characterised his sensational career. Flórez is accompanied by award winning pianist Cécile Restier who regularly works alongside him.

Sibyl

By William Kentridge. Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House. 2-4 November, 2023

William Kentridge creates across the arts. In drawing, writing, film, performance, music and theatre he creates works that transverses cultures and generations. His work is represented in museums around the world. He has directed operas in New York, Milan, London, Lyon and Sydney. And for three days he returns to the Sydney Opera House with his cross-disciplinary work, Sibyl.

The Face of Jizo

By Hisashi Inoue, translated by Roger Pulvers.Presented by Omusubi Productions, in association with Red Line Productions. Directed by Shingo Usami and David Lynch. Old Fitz Theatre, Sydney. 28 October – 11 November, 2023

Jizo is the guardian deity of Japanese children. His stone heads are everywhere in Japan and are said to have powers of protection that predate Buddist beliefs... though not much protection in Hiroshima on 6th August 1945 when a single atomic bomb extinguished the lives of 140,000 people.

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.