Archive for the 'Reviews' Category

YAK Summer Residency Showings| Shopfront

YAK_Poster_Jan
Organised by YAK events (a collective of emerging artists based at Shopfron Contemporary arts Centre), the Yak Summer Residency is a new two week intensive residency based at Shopfront Contemporary Arts Centre for Under 25’s in which time and space equal freedom. Freedom to explore and uncover and investigate any idea or concept and which resulted in a showcase of some of the findings. I am a little late reporting on this as my own project is gearing up and I have had to prioritize my writing for the Sydney Festival shows I have seen.I know … excuses… excuses… more…

Trolley Boys| Tamarama Rock Surfers & Wild Oat Productions

Trolley Boys

A notoriously difficult time of year, January is a tricky time for independent theatre in Sydney- the post glow of Christmas gluttony has left everyone feeling a little less generous with their money- the razzle dazzle of the Sydney Festival’s international acts descend upon the city with a budget quadruple (at least) than most independent theatre’s see in a year- and then there is the hydra-headed short play festival which gulps up time and talent feeding itself on guilt and competition- and then the rival of all theatre: wonderful weather with it’s cricket season and beckoning beach adventures… so its a tough time to be on… more…

Happy As Larry | Sydney Festival & Shaun Parker and Company

480[1]
After a hugely hot day, supposedly the hottest day in Sydney in four years, it was a welcome relief to walk through the streets of Parramatta as a fine mist of rain started to fall. James Waites and I had caught a train after a brief sprint (I was later than anticipated due to unanticipated trackwork)- and within half an hour had found ourself in “The geographical centre of Sydney.” Shaun Parker’s latest creation started its Sydney Festival leg of a wider tour at 2.30pm, 23rd Jan at Parramatta Riverside Theatre- we caught the later session and it was really fascinating. more…

Six Characters in Search of an Author | Sydney Festival & Headlong UK

sixcharacters

A very brief note about my experience of Six Characters in Search of An Author which has been programmed as a part of The 2010 Sydney Festival. Luigi Pirandello’s play written in 1921- arguably one of the great classic texts in the Western Canon- is a self-reflexive examination on the creation of theatre, character and life and a comment on the shifting sands of reality. In this version, by Rupert Goold and Ben Power- the framing of the production has shifted to that of a TV station which produces documentaries- and is under deadline to find an ending to a documentary on a child who is about to euthenased. It has been delivered to us with a string of raving snippets from UK reviews- in one of the trickiest of venues- The York Theatre at The Seymour Centre. more…

The Arrival| Sydney Festival & Red Leap Theatre

thearrival_wideweb__470x300,0[1]

The 2010 Sydney Festival has afforded me many first experiences- and The Arrival is another- my first experience of New Zealand theatre AND the first theatre production I have seen at Carriageworks. In the past three weeks I have been experiencing a range of Children’s theatre- ranging from local Australian adaptations to large scale adaptations of foreign stories- now an adaptation of a graphic novel by Shaun Tan – “The Arrival”. more…

The Fence | Urban Theatre Projects

thefence_wideweb__470x313,0[1]

Last Thursday night was my first adventure into the world of Urban Theatre Projects, a company I had long heard about but never experienced their work… why? Perhaps I was frightened off site-specific work during my performance studies degree… perhaps because I am a die-hard L-plater/public transport advocate who feared the late train ride and obscure locations in the Western suburbs of Sydney? I don’t know. more…

Smoke and Mirrors | Sydney Festival

Speigeltent
It has been one of the most talked about festival shows- this is very much a show for anyone who has ever wanted to run away and join the circus. If you have tickets- good on you- these and hens teeth etc etc… for those who are wondering about tix for next to nix- yep its worth it if you can have a nap in the middle of the day- coz its a late night you don’t want to be drowsy for! more…

MIDNITE at New Theatre and thinking about children’s plays

MIDNITE

I want to briefly mention the production of Midnite I saw on Saturday at New Theatre… adapted by Richard Tulloch from Randolf Stow’s “The Story of a Wild Colonial Boy”, directed by Jodine Muir and Jennifer Monk. more…

The Pitch | Darlinghurst Theatre

Photo: Garth Oriander

Photo: Garth Oriander

Sometimes, you just want a show that is tight, clever and completely entertaining- with The Pitch, Darlinghurst Theatre’s current prodcution- you are in safe hands and guaranteed a fun night at the theatre. more…

Hamlet | Schaubuhne & Sydney Festival

2Hamlet[1]

To review or not to review- that is the question.
What to review, if you review- that IS the question.

I could review the story- the text- the production… but in this pre-review entry I am going to review audience expectation. more…