Reviews

In this play the villainy of Iago is a perplexing phenomenon, and the ease with which the Moorish General falls prey to his own weakness of character is indicative of the insecure masculinity that dominates the story. While the male characters are often the focus of this play, this production goes to great lengths to ensure that the female voices are not only strong but also rebellious. Desdemona (Elizabeth Nabben) retains her sweetness and innocence while also proving she is wilful and resistant to her fate.

The Australian premiere of Welsh playwright James Graham’s delightfully poignant play sits beautifully on the intimate Ensemble stage. First produced in Wales in 2009, the play has been acclaimed in the UK and Broadway. It’s a gentle, touching story about love, fear … and some of the good things about modern technology. In the deft hands of director Nicole Buffoni, this production finds the “all heart and love” the play deserves.

The Johnston Collection of Georgian, Regency and Louis XV paintings, furniture, objet d’art and bric-a-brac is held at ‘Fairhall’, an 1860s house in East Melbourne.  Now a private museum, it was the house of William Johnston (1911-1986), an antique dealer and collector.  He bequeathed his Collection and the house to the people of Victoria ‘as a place of historical and educational interest’.  He wished for his collection to be accessible – no velvet ropes and restricted areas – and for it to be regularly rearranged, which it h

There is a small core of classic playwrights, but some are eternal, and some are of their time; not thematically, for they all use the same tropes and traditions of universal storytelling, but in terms of language, sophistication and their ability to connect with us years later. Shakespeare wrote for the masses 500 years ago, and yet is timeless. Eugene O’Neill wrote less than 100 years ago – yet seems dated in his storytelling, even though both wrote about the same themes many times over.