A powerful piece of verbatim theatre, based on interwoven and edited testimonies, Talking with Terrorists shows the complexity and perhaps intractability of terrorism. Particularly topical at the moment in view of Manchester and Jakarta, the play condemns unlawful use of violence and intimidation to gain political ends but also asks its audience to consider how and why individuals become involved in terrorist activity.
Winning the Pultizer Prize in 2005, Doubt is tightly constructed, topical and gripping theatre. Written in 2004 at a time when the Catholic Church was coming under scrutiny for having failed to take action against alleged child abusers, the play raises the confronting question of what is right action in an uncertain situation.
This charming, clever and very entertaining adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s beloved fables from The Jungle Book is an absolute must for the school holidays. Fast-paced, it holds its young audience’s attention from start to finish, the songs are clever and catchy and a superb cast provides some very funny stage action as well as meaningful moments.
Is an unexamined life worth living? Clearly, Edith Campbell Berry (a vivacious Sonia Todd), the central character of Alana Valentine’s adaption of Frank Moorhouse’s novel, Cold Light, does not think so. Her summation of her own 70 years of existence is that she gave everything to participate but briefly in the making of the historical moment but she “bungled her inner life”.
The frequently performed Under Milk Wood described by its author as “a play for voices” was originally intended to be a radio play. It is, perhaps, better heard than seen but its enchanting mix of poetry, poignancy and sly comedy makes it an attractive choice for small theatres. Overall, Ylaria’s Rogers’s production is well balanced allowing the sly jokes and sexual innuendo to have their place but at the same time keeping a sense of the strange wonder at the universal ironies of human existence.
Initially O’Keeffe, effectively interacting with back projection, introduces us to her family, siblings, parents and legendary Nan through a funny and affectionate home video...
The Mystery of Love and Sex is one of three plays by Bathsheba Doran referred to collectively as ‘The Marriage Plays’ exploring the ways in which socio-economic and cultural factors play into love and friendship. It is indeed a mystery that, given the complexities of our own nature and the complications of navigating cultural assumptions, we manage to have relatively enduring relationships at all.
At the close of Kate O’Keeffe’s Losing You (Twice) the audience seemed almost unable to encompass the terrible irony of the O’Keeffe family’s story. Horror at the relentless way in which events are resolved and pity for the suffering of the individuals involved give this story about an ordinary family from Geelong a classically tragic dimension.
Sixteen-year-old Indigenous Jasper Jones (Guy Simon) is a scapegoat for the town of Corrigan whose parental population are content to blame him for all their children’s wrongdoings.
Late last year the NSW Government announced its intention to demolish and redevelop Waterloo’s high-rise towers and surrounding public housing. This decision involves displacing over 4,500 elderly, disabled and low-income people who live there.
The Drover’s Wife, written by Leah Purcell and directed by Laticia Caceres, was recently at the Belvoir Theatre, with a magnificent Leah Purcell taking the role of the drover’s wife.
A South Sydney Community Aid (SSCA) initiative, Redfern… Waterloo by photographer Gary Bonner, was exhibited at 107 Projects, Redfern from August 23 to 26 and will be exhibited at the Orchard Gallery, Waterloo from October 8 to November 10.
However, Christie appears more interested in the warping effect of evil upon human personalities rather than in the employment of the well-known “little grey...
In Beirut Adrenaline the exciting Théâtre Excentrique presents us with a powerful, deeply moving, and often painfully funny exploration of that most bitter of human conflicts, civil war. A brilliant script brought to life by incredibly good performers under the compassionate direction of Anna Jahjah, gives us important insights into how people endure the fragmentation of their homeland but maintain hope for the future.
Meeting dancer and choreographer Jasmin Sheppard, whom I remember vividly as the courageous but tragic Patygarang in the Bangarra performance of the same name, she seems weightless as if she might float away unless anchored to the foyer armchair.
OUR Land People Stories brings three unique and awe-inspiring contemporary dance performances to the stage at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House. The wonderful clan Bangarra once again astonishes its audience with dazzling choreography, the power, dynamism and grace of their dancing, the authenticity of their storytelling and the originality of soundscape and design.
Meeting dancer and choreographer Jasmin Sheppard, whom I remember vividly as the courageous but tragic Patygarang in the Bangarra performance of the same name, she seems weightless as if she might float away unless anchored to the foyer armchair.
Louise Virgona has been a resident of Waterloo for three years. Several of her portraits are of well-known Waterloo residents. Louise’s solo show at the Orchard Gallery (South Sydney Uniting Church) features various prints (drypoint, lithography, lino-cut and silk-screen) and photographic works spanning the last 15 years.
These cuts seem particularly disturbing to little theatre as news has emerged of additional projects funded by Catalyst, the government’s new funding program for...
Speaking via mobile to Vicki van Hout as she catches a train, I find my own meaning for an expression used by a former student of hers: to vickify. I would define it as “to travel at high speed through uncharted territory with dedication and humour”.
The King Street Theatre has pledged itself to present theatre that is “controversial, but fascinating and satisfying food for thought” and Is It Time fulfils this mission. The issue of euthanasia remains controversial in our society and Ashley Jones’s play under the competent direction of Barry Walsh makes a strong case in support of an intelligent, loving elderly couple’s right to choose the point at which they will end their life.
Engaged as we are in the build up to an election, French-Canadian Carole Fréshette’s Seven Days in the Life of Simon Labrosse presented by the innovative and exciting Théâtre Excentrique is wonderfully, hilariously relevant.
Speaking via mobile to Vicki van Hout as she catches a train I find my own meaning for an expression used by a former student of hers: to vickify. I would define it as “to travel at high speed through uncharted territory with dedication and humour”.
The deeply engaging One Billion Beats was co-written by Indigenous poet, filmmaker and scholar Romaine Moreton and award-winning playwright Alana Valentine.
Alana Valentine’s play is set in Broome’s emergent gay community, and Ladies Day at the Broome Cup is background to a brutal revelation of its potential dangers. However, Ladies Day is concerned with much more than sexuality and gender in regional WA.
Both talented young artists feel that being artist-in-residence has offered them an invaluable experience.
Jovana says that the program helped her immensely both professionally and...
Ochres enabled its audiences then, and now in this celebratory revisiting, to experience the sacredness of the connection between earth, people and spirit integral to Aboriginal life.
Traditionally, Desdemona is characterised as both innocent and passive but the facts of Shakespeare’s play show her to be headstrong and passionate. She refuses...
The creation of an expo-style “village” provided an opportunity both for the public to connect with the work of organisations involved in the pursuit...
Lucy Neal, a theatre-maker and community activist, has been an active player in Transition since its beginnings and was co-founder of Transition Town Tooting...
