Last updated: November 19, 2016

Northern songs

Northern songs
Victoria Laurie
The Pilbara’s rich cultural heritage is at the heart of an inspiring arts project.

Where Anglos fear to tread

Where Anglos fear to tread
CHRIS BOYD
Nakkiah Lui’s mind sings like an F1 engine: sweetly and loudly.

Lord of the Ring

Lord of the Ring
MATTHEW WESTWOOD
Stefan Vinke returns to reprise Wagner.

Legendary dancer farewelled

Legendary dancer farewelled
VICTORIA LAURIE
Legendary indigenous artist, sculptor, dancer — and ‘rainmaker’ — Nyilpirr Spider Snell has died.

One dance step at a time

One dance step at a time
Jane Albert
A visiting US activist and dancer, Carole Johnson, helped to spark an indigenous dance and political movement.

Can’t salvage impossible melange

Can’t salvage impossible melange
Martin Buzacott
This two-performances-only, single-day season isn’t exactly reassuring for Opera Queensland.

Powerful revival of an old-timer

Powerful revival of an old-timer
Graham Strahle
State Opera of South Australia wraps up a testing year with a splendid revival of Tosca.

To Vanya, with love

To Vanya, with love
PETER CRAVEN
Nadia Tass, creator of the Aussie film classic Malcolm, is relishing the opportunity to stage Chekhov.

Pitching picture visions

Pitching picture visions
JOHN McCALLUM
In Andrew Upton’s production the interactions ­between these three flawed characters are interesting.

Flatmates outshone at poker table

Flatmates outshone at poker table
CHRIS BOYD
The Odd Couple cleverly deconstructs marriage by presenting it as a fraught male-male bond.

Mirth in the message

Mirth in the message
Penny Durham
Indonesian female standup comedian Sakdiyah Ma’ruf on conservatism, burqas and the virtues of eco-terrorism.

Spotlight on treatment of rape

Spotlight on treatment of rape
VICTORIA LAURIE
The image of a 12-year-old girl lacing up her rollerskates lingers as the horrors at the heart of Project Xan unfold.

Extra garnish taints truffle

Extra garnish taints truffle
Murray Bramwell
South Australia’s State Theatre Company presents a modernised version of the master of French farce’s Tartuffe.

Wedding bells for Rockdale

Wedding bells for Rockdale
MATTHEW WESTWOOD
Sydney’s Rockdale Opera figures in the early careers of many well-known professionals.

‘Heard’ of wild horses

‘Heard’ of wild horses
MICHAELA BOLAND
Heard harnesses 30 coloured raffia horses with found objects to a soundtrack by Matavai Pacific Cultural Arts.

Making the Brand one’s own

Making the Brand one’s own
ASHLEIGH WILSON
Playwright Joanna Murray-Smith last night won the inaugural Mona Brand Award for Women Stage and Screen Writers.

You bark more than you bite

You bark more than you bite
Chris Boyd
Little of the dramatic power of the original actually makes it to the boards.

Donizetti rises again

Donizetti rises again
PETER BURCH
In the title role, Elena Xanthoudakis was compelling, effortlessly negotiating Donizetti’s challenging vocal writing.

In a farce of its own

In a farce of its own
JOHN MCCALLUM
There’s a self-awareness in the adaptation and the production ends up working as an extra layer.

Bolshoi’s steps and stumbles

Bolshoi’s steps and stumbles
Debra Craine
The Bolshoi is perceived as a snakepit of intrigue and corruption, and a new book does little to dispel that idea.
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