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Stars are falling from the sky, but why?   Clearly, it is a portent of things to come.   The end of the world is nigh. When? No-one can say, but it is happening.   Nevertheless, it is just another nightshift for former schoolmates Sam (Ally Taueki-Gatt) and Frankie (Finn Corr). Photos by Mia Sugiyanto   The pair works casually in a grocery store, which appears to service very few customers.   Outside the door of the shop is a dying star stuck in the ground (a well realised pr

With technology continuing to advance at a rapid rate, Now deals with a new take on reality post COVID-19.   A middle-aged mother, X, played by Helene Tardif, is environmentally responsible, aware of her carbon footprint and climate change.   Her husband, Y (Marc Opitz), who has spent 25 years in advertising, is frustrated that he can’t get through to their lazy son, who is living in a world of his own. Donning a set of homemade virtual reality glasses adorned with yellow lig

Zany and deliberately over-the-top, the burlesque, drag play POKÉLESQUE, featuring improvisation and audience participation, makes for a fun night out. Photos by Jayden Byrne Written and directed by Rosie Roulette, the starting point is a love of Pokémon, originally released on the Game Boy handheld game console in 1996.   Thereafter, the Japanese media franchise responsible for it released trading cards, an anime series, comics, plush toys, films and much more.   To mark its

Why is Ed Sheeran one of the most beloved (and, unquestionably, highly talented) musical artists on the planet?   Having arrived by train from Sydney, he answered that emphatically on the opening night of a three-night stadium concert series in Melbourne, as part of his Loop Tour.   Marvel Stadium was metaphorically heaving under the collective anticipation of 60,000 plus fans.  Photo by Mark Surridge Then, spot on 8pm, he wandered into the middle of the packed arena, and del

What do Crocs have in common with the most stylish silver stilettoes?   If you answered “absolutely nothing”, you just have to hear and see fashionista and inveterate warbler Glynis Traill-Nash’s take on it. Does she have stories to tell from a stellar career that has taken in the world’s fashion capitals!   And I tell you, she could make a bar of soap sound interesting.   Put simply, she is a raconteur. She has the gift of the gab and plays dress up with words … and music. 

What an experience!   I speak of a searing, at times humorous trilogy covering 16 years and lasting seven hours, in which, on several occasions, the characters eviscerate one another. Photos by Chris Parker And “yes”, I approached it with fear, simply because even for an unashamed theatre enthusiast like me 420 minutes in a small, black box theatre seemed like a huge ask.   I should add that there are breaks within and between each play, which extend the day from midday to ju

What makes life meaningful? Why do we do what we do?   These large existential questions are dealt with humorously and poignantly in Jean Tong’s Do Not Pass Go.   Flux (Ella Prince) walks into a new job needing the money for surgery, as they are not comfortable in their own skin.   There they meet the strait-laced, by the book mother of a 15-year-old daughter, Penny (Belinda McClory).  Photos by Pia Johnson Flux has been hired after the firm with high expectations retrenched

White man has a lot to answer for … and Black Light makes it clear just how much in an expressive family drama with comedic elements.   A cataclysmic event envelopes the nation. Planes have been grounded. Blackouts are frequent. There is no choice but to wait it out.   Outside Darwin, three generations of the one clan reflect on the importance of Country and the ills that have befallen Australia’s First Peoples since colonial rule. Photos by Pia Johnson That includes displace

The power and punch of Martin Crimp’s 2019 free adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac , as superbly realised by Artefact Theatre Company, will stay with me for a long time.   It is a sharp, modern version of Edmond Rostand’s classic love triangle , set in 17 th century France, with toxic masculinity at its core.   Insecurity and self-loathing are mainstays.   The play contains poetry, rap and a liberal amount of swearing.   No prosthetic nose is within sight, nor elaborate perio

Eleven-year-old Juniper May is different.   With artists for parents, she is smart, speaks her mind and loves robots.   Her favourite is drawn from a short-lived Japanese animated 1983 television series known as Battletac. A loner, Juni doesn’t fit in with others and doesn’t want to go to school.   In the back garden is an old recycling bin she has named Gomi that contains all sorts of childhood treasures.   There is an animal mask, a doll’s head, a small robot made from thre

Bittersweet, comes this slapstick, but poignant tale of sisters looking to escape from their mundane small-town (Dumfordton, population 340 and falling) existence.   To do so, with her school dropout, songwriting little sister Shannon’s (Alana Louise) undying support, 25-year-old Jodi (Sarah Palmieri) has her heart set on winning Simon Cowell’s the X-Factor. Photos by Nina Hopley Shannon has a history of picking the winners of that talent competition and next year she firmly

Irreverent, crude, witty, clever and lyrically and vocally adept, The Book of Mormon is an hilarious religious satire.   It is a rolled gold hoot from start to finish.   Not for naught did it win nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, a Grammy and four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical.   It starts with a quick, quirky and humorous pantomime about the formation of the Church of Latter Day Saints.  Photo by Daniel Boud Then, we are into the body of the story, a cre

A star is born. Such is the impact of sweet-voiced Belle Parkinson in the lead role in the up-tempo musical inspired by many of ABBA’s hit songs.   From her first melodic note, she is utterly captivating as the bright and breezy Sophie Sheridan, who – on the cusp of her wedding day – yearns to know who her father is. Photos by Natalie Edge Photography Energetic and heaps of good-natured fun, Mamma Mia! is unquestionably a mood lifter – a spirited delight.   With music and lyr

It is 1949 and on a dark and stormy night they have gathered at Boddy Manor in New England.   They are being blackmailed, so each has a motive to commit murder.   Their mysterious blackmailer, Mr Boddy (Joshua Monaghan), who will reveal himself, has orchestrated it so that once inside they cannot leave. Photos by Jeff Busby All guests are given pseudonyms.   There is Mrs White (Rachael Beck), Reverend Green (Laurence Boxhall) and Miss Scarlett (Olivia Deeble).   So too Profes

Very smartly written and cleverly performed, Kitty Litter concerns friends who used to be more than that who fall out over a black cat.   Robin (Sian Crowe), 27, surprises Dan (Hamish Johnston) when she turns up at his apartment unannounced.  Photos by Rhonin Xu He has literally just returned from a six-month trip to Europe and South America.   After interrogating each other about whether they hooked up with anyone during their time apart, Dan prizes a shocking story out of R

Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts-trained artiste Jens Radda, aka drag queen Skank Sinatra, sure knows how to attract attention.   With powerful and melodic vocals, energy personified, attitude to burn and deprecating humour, he sashays his way through some of Broadway’s greatest hits.  Mind you, he doesn’t mind re-engineering a few of the lyrics and even manages a familiar tune in Danish. His mum is Danish and his father South African.   Skank Sinatra: The Name o

Provocative from the opening scene, Afterglow sets out to push the envelope.   It starts with shadow play of a heated ménage à trois between three buff men, two in their 30s and one in his 20s.   Thereafter, the play features full frontal nudity and steamy shower scenes. Photos by Cameron Grant Yes, a real shower with an imposingly large shower head is prominent centre stage in several scenes.   The contention is this:   Alex (Julian Curtis) and Josh (Matthew Mitcham) are mar

A heartfelt drama about identity and belonging with comedic elements, The Placeholder takes place is a small regional town in 2017.   It is just months before the plebiscite on same sex marriage, in which all assembled will vote “Yes”.   You might recall that when the vote was taken, 61.6 per cent of Australians voted that way. Photos by Darren Gill The play focuses on a group of women, known as Barb’s Bosom Buddies, whose bond is fragile.   They gather regularly in the kitch

Victorian Opera continues to delight, this time with an hilarious, uplifting and thoroughly entertaining production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s slapstick favourite.   I am in awe of the vocal calisthenics of soprano Nina Korbe. What an extraordinary talent she is. Hers is a golden voice worth travelling from far afield to hear. In fact, she is one of many to impress in a virtuoso show that repeatedly tickles the funny bone.   Premiering in New York in 1879, The Pirates of Penza

With the first Grand Slam of the year in full swing, how timely and gobsmackingly entertaining is this riotous rom-com! You simply must see it.   25-year-old Lucas is the number three tennis player in the world, who has just lost a four-set encounter with Roger Federer at the US Open.   Still, he vows to get his own back on the Swiss maestro, with the Aussie Open not far away. Photos by Sarah Clarke Lucas has also been in an open gay relationship with 31-year-old Felix for si