Sexual and trippy twists refresh beloved comedy
This production strips the familiar from Shakespeare's comedy to illuminate the play's dark sexual undercurrents. It will not be an easy sell to the school groups.
Stage
Edward Albee: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? playwright dies at 88
One of the United State's most revered playwrights, Edward Albee, died in his sleep at home in New York state on Friday. He was 88.
Anxiety and class collide in story of online shaming
4 Minutes 12 Seconds demands to be talked about. it plays on some obvious fears, most of them not unreasonable given the recent headlines about the "young sluts" Instagram account created by boys of an exclusive school.
Theatre
Circa review: Impossible shapes and breathtaking poses
Circa's Carnival of the Animals entertains with a mix of innovation and circus tradition, writes Michelle Potter.
Warehouse Circus' Polarity at the Street Theatre: a new direction
The Canberra company combines theatre and circus acts to tell the story of a troubled youth seeking a new direction.
Exposing the facts of modern life
A groundbreaking new production pulls back the covers on teenage boys and their use of pornography.
Dance
Metadata review: Dance meets science in surprising, emotional work by De Quincy
What a fascinating piece of dance theatre – unique and thought-provoking. The main thrust of this review is compliments – and regrets that it has only three performances.
Luke Currie-Richardson on choosing dance instead of basketball
Luke Currie-Richardson comes from a family of athletes but, bound for Paris as a member of Bangarra, he has no regrets about choosing dance over basketball.
Exploring shadows and space
The interplay between movement, human physicality and complex projections are brought to the fore across the two works that make up Metadata.
Musicals
High hopes to make Muriel's Wedding a musical to ears beyond Aussie shores
Could Muriel Heslop's musical debut in Sydney be the first step towards the global stage?
What the world needs now is ... men in stilettos
The multiple Tony Award-winning smash hit production written by Cyndi Lauper opens in Melbourne next month. What the world needs now is Kinky Boots, sweet Kinky Boots.
My Fair Lady review: Julie Andrews delivers bloomin' lovely anniversary show
Overseen by the fabled 1956 Broadway production's Eliza Doolittle – Dame Julie Andrews – this 60th anniversary staging of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's My Fair Lady is a fabulous museum exhibit.
Opera
Our Man in Havana Review: swaying and singing with élan
On Saturday, after half a century of neglect, came the big thaw.
Pecan Summer review: Deborah Cheetham leads strong cast in epic stolen generations story
The stolen generations has become a central story in contemporary Australia and this telling, by a member of that generation, goes to the heart of our sense of self.
Opera Australia and Sydney Opera House team up for world-first silent opera
Using the "silent disco" model, in which clubbers dance to music sent wirelessly to headphones, Sydney Opera House – The Opera: The Eighth Wonder will be performed on the Opera House steps with the sound relayed to the audience via headsets.
Comedy
Tim Ferguson takes the wheel on Spin Out
Being confined to a wheelchair hasn't slowed Tim Ferguson down. He's back in a reunited Doug Anthony All Stars, he's directed his first movie and he just might have a new TV show too.
Trevor Noah pleases with Australian material
The South African comedian's profile has risen quickly and he has broadened his material to match it.
Is this a golden age for Australian comedy?
Forget the Olympics. Our new national expertise is in taking the piss.