Reviews

Image: Vasily Petrenko. Photographer: Mark McNulty

Nobody really knows why the famous premiere of Stravinsky’s ballet The Rite of Spring caused such a riot at Ballet Russes in Paris in 1913.  One scholar says Stravinsky spent his long life telling lies about it.

Zaffé is an exuberant, inclusive celebration, a defiant party, bringing people together in the face of loss, destruction and separation from homelands.  It’s the work (over three years, according to director Stephanie Ghajar’s program notes) of ‘young artists from the Middle East diaspora’ – from Lebanon, Syria and Egypt - responsible for design, music and performance.  (Apologies: the program lists many names, each with impressive credits) but does not tell us who does what.)   

Grand Horizons, currently being performed by Castle Hill Players under the direction of Jason Darlington and AD Leigh Scanlon, is a remarkable portrayal of family dynamics, love, and the complexities of long-term relationships. The play, written by Bess Wohl, deftly combines humour and heartache, offering audiences a relatable exploration of life's unpredictable turns.

Image: Liam Wallis screaming with frustration at a phone.

Thank You For Waiting is a comedic triumph that turns the everyday frustration of automated phone systems into a hilariously absurd modern-day epic. Directed, written, and produced by Bailey Smith, this one-act play weaves meta-humour, clever staging, and sharp performances into an experience that is as relatable as it is laugh-out-loud funny.