Western Sydney asks for a fair share of arts funding
Arts centres in western Sydney are crying out for government funding to redevelop ageing facilities.
Stage
Rapturous reception for return of The Ring
Conductor Pietari Inkinen was masterly, unfailingly sensitive to the singers and to the musical flow, while the 100-strong Melbourne Ring Orchestra was superb. Bring on the Valkyries.
Parodic reframing of Chekhov classic
Nadia Tass' production of US playwright Annie Baker's adaptation is sprinkled with contemporary phrases and almost parodic Russianness.
Theatre
Woden Valley Youth Choir artistic director named artist of the year
Alpha Gregory's many years maintaining the high standards of the choir have been recognised by the Canberra Critics' Circle.
Remorseless, haunting dramatic vision
The stream of strong feministwork continues with Animal – a remorseless, haunting dramatic vision developed in response to violence against women.
Up in smoke
Next week the musical satire will hit Melbourne for the first time in a two-week run at Chapel Off Chapel.
Dance
Woden Valley Youth Choir artistic director named artist of the year
Alpha Gregory's many years maintaining the high standards of the choir have been recognised by the Canberra Critics' Circle.
Protests against injustice danced into view
NAISDA celebrates its 40th anniversary with a virtuoso display of Indigenous dance.
Carriageworks' visitor numbers outstrip rival major arts institutions
Carriageworks receives more visitors, and at a fraction of the cost, than the major cultural institutions as it reveals 2017 artistic program.
Musicals
Hamilton actor says 'there's nothing to apologise for' over Pence speech
The Hamilton actor who delivered the Broadway show's viral message to Vice President-elect Mike Pence after a performance Friday said there is "nothing to apologise for" in response to President-elect Donald Trump's many tweets demanding one from what he deemed a "very rude" cast of an "overrated" show.
Woden Valley Youth Choir artistic director named artist of the year
Alpha Gregory's many years maintaining the high standards of the choir have been recognised by the Canberra Critics' Circle.
Cyndi Lauper on what goes wrong for so many parents
Cyndi Lauper may have learned the secret to sons but says she's a terrible parent.
Opera
Rapturous reception for return of The Ring
Conductor Pietari Inkinen was masterly, unfailingly sensitive to the singers and to the musical flow, while the 100-strong Melbourne Ring Orchestra was superb. Bring on the Valkyries.
The race problem in Porgy and Bess
Singers have long been troubled by the depiction of African-American people in Porgy and Bess.
The Ring goes full cycle: War, wabbits and warrior princesses
From Bugs Bunny to Apocalypse Now, Wagner's opera has become a pop culture classic.
Comedy
Absurd flights of fancy and musical interludes make for impressive comedy
Bill Bailey is one of the few modern comedians who avoids vulgarity or going dark for shock value (though there's the occasional brief bit of black humour).
Bill Bailey lets fly on 'monstrous blight' of censorship
The English stand-up comedian knows how it feels to be torn down by the tabloids, but it hasn't quite stopped him speaking his mind.
Jerry Seinfeld to tour Australia almost 20 years on
The master of observational comedy will perform Down Under for the first time in almost 20 years next August. But don't expect any cracks at Melbourne's expense.