As a director, Watson leans into the rough and energetic physicality of a rugby match, drawing out exuberant performances from the ensemble, despite the relatively small stage and cast size…Alone it Stands is a real crowd-pleaser, and the most enjoyable show I’ve seen at Ensemble in years
Review: The Importance of Being Earnest at STC
The irony of Sydney Theatre Company staging a production that skewers the upper classes while also selling tickets that often cost upwards of $100 is not lost on me. I know that many students, like myself, might not be able to afford to see this show, which is a shame because it really is a very witty, very fun night out.
Review: Summer of Harold at Ensemble Theatre
Summer of Harold, written by Hilary Bell and directed by Francesca Savige, is a triptych of three short comedic plays performed by two actors (Berynn Schwerdt and Hannah Waterman)—two monologues and one duologue. It’s ostensibly an ode to the nostalgia and memories that come from household objects. Watching it (before reading the program), I was a little confused about what these three plays had in common. It’s not the most obvious triple bill, but after sleeping on the show and starting to write this review, I realised how these audiences are connected: four older characters reflecting and obsessing over their past: the good, the bad and the ugly.
Review: Glitter Punch at Flow Studios
Stacks On, a small indie company making theatre out of Flow Studios (an art gallery/performance space in Camperdown) are back with another intimate show. After the charm of April’s share house comedy For The Time Being, the team return on a more serious note with British playwright Lucy Burke’s Glitter Punch, a coming-of-age drama about…
Review: Benefactors at Ensemble Theatre
Frayn’s script, which won the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 1984, explores these two intersecting debates— fixing ‘broken’ housing and fixing ‘broken’ relationships— through the complex relationship between four wealthy middle-aged friends in 1960s London.
The narrative is told through alternating monologues and flashbacks… which meant that, despite Frayn’s obvious ability to write smart, punchy dialogue, it was very hard to get ‘sucked in’ to the drama of the play.
Review: Expiration Date at Meraki
Although obviously the work of a playwright who is still finding her voice, I think it is an admirable debut play that discusses important feminist issues. I’m sure that many couples in their twenties and thirties will find Expiration Date relatable in its exploration of the difficult conversations regarding having or not having kids. The one-location storytelling and brilliantly simple set were perfectly engineered for indie theatre, and the creative team should be applauded for achieving more with less.
Review: Fantastic Mr. Fox at Roslyn Packer Theatre
Never have I seen a children’s storybook rendered on stage so effectively, while maintaining the colour and personality of the source material. I got a ticket based off the dynamic trailer alone, and I was not disappointed.
Review: Fences at STC Wharf 1
Wilson’s writing is soulful and monologue-heavy—this is one of those ‘Mount Everest’ roles for actors at the top of their careers, and LaBonté and Newman live up to the challenge brilliantly.
Review: For The Time Being at Flow Studios
“It’s always refreshing to see contemporary australian work that takes the elitism out of theatre and brings in a young, new audience. I went with friends that aren’t ‘theatre people’ who really enjoyed it, and found the depiction of the twentysomething sharehouse experience amusing and relatable. It’s the theatrical equivalent of a well-written TV sitcom (in a good way).”
Review: CAMP at the Seymour Centre
As a young person in my twenties, many of my peers see Mardi Gras as another excuse to party. It was powerful to be reminded of Mardi Gras’ origin as a protest, particularly considering I saw the matinee show on the day of Mardi Gras. As a piece of theatre, CAMP isn’t particularly groundbreaking, but it is an important story that everyone should watch to learn about this crucial piece of Australia’s history.
Review: Sex Magick at Griffin Theatre Company
Brown and Greene have created a bold and brash story that combines social satire with a deeper reflection on masculinity and queer love across Australian and Indian cultures, although those two story elements aren’t weaved together as effortlessly as they could have. If you like your theatre provocative, risqué and loud, this is the show for you.
Review: Choir Boy at Riverside Theatres
The talented directing team of Dimitriadis and Okenyo have taken McCraney’s writing and delivered a tender and moving story that reckons with masculinity, sexuality and spirituality amongst young black men. As the cast took their bows to a standing ovation on opening night, many a tear was shed in the audience.
Scribbles of Stage and Screen 