A whip smart dramatic and comedic script and a couple of stellar performances characterise a seedy story set in Singapore. Singaporean Chinese Girl (Merlynn Tong) is 14 and her brother Boy (Charles Wu) is 21. Boy moved out of home seven years ago and became a gang member, which he regards as a badge of…
From high octane pop and rock to soulful melodies and operatic arias, this is a rampant, raucous, defiant, unabashed and provocative celebration of cabaret. These divas and deviants know how to party and ensure all of us are along for a particularly wild ride. They’ve been upending the art form for 20 years, doing things…
A political firestorm is brewing as the Far Right and LP the Far Left clash in the incendiary new work from writer Van Badham and director Gary Abrahams. There is no shortage of satire in this political thriller, which is bombastic and loud and revolutionary and proud of it. Between them, Badham and Abrahams set…
Perhaps the most anticipated opening of Queensland Ballet’s 2024 season, Coco Chanel: the Life of a Fashion Icon was sold out before the curtain even went up. It is fantastic news for the arts in Brisbane, and well-deserved, as this production delivered everything a theatre-going fashionista could dream of. The ballet is a co-production between…
The combination of the new and the old is intoxicating in The Australian Ballet’s double bill Etudes/Circle Electric. Up first is Circle Electric, which combines modern dance, ballet, sound and light to create a maelstrom of movement, majestic and, at times, harried. I was totally sold on choreographer Stephanie Lake’s first full length commission for…
The all-ages spectacular of Cirque du Soleil’s LUZIA promises an imaginary flight to Mexico. And from the moment our traveller clown (Eric Koller) parachutes falls to its marigold field Earth, it’s clear we are in for quite the impressive journey. From his first encounter with a colourful hummingbird to final high-flying acrobatics, the combination of…
Ruva Ngwenya is simply the best in the dynamic musical tribute to the late, great Tina Turner, Tina. What Tina experienced in her lifetime (26th November 1939 – 24th May 2023) was more than anyone should. Yet, she overcame exploitation and abuse to become one of the greatest singers and performers the world has known….
Based on the whimsical work of Theodor Seuss Geisel, known as Dr Seuss (2nd March 1904 – 24th September 1991), Old Carey Performing Arts Club’s (OCPAC) production is slick and sassy. It is lively, energetic and highly entertaining. Musical direction comes from Olivia Jackson and Julian Smith-Gard. There are many rousing up-tempo numbers in the…
This Pride & Prejudice is a delightful combination of words and music. This heartwarming representation of Jane Austen’s romantic novel takes a decidedly different, but nevertheless compelling, form. Since it was anonymously published in 1813 and well received by critics and readers, the book has never been out of print. It is feted as a…
The title LIMBO – The Return may imply more of the same sort of circus stuff as seen in previous Strut & Fret works. However, the reality is far from it with this 100-minute show. Indeed, having toured 17 countries, the original award-winning LIMBO has come back, re-imagined and more jaw-dropping than ever, full of…
