This play about Julia Gillard will hold your attention, regardless of your politics
It’s worth seeing this show just to watch Justine Clarke transform into Gillard and, in a thrilling display, deliver the misogyny speech in full.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Andrew Fuhrmann and Jessica Nicholas
Latest
This Sunset Boulevard looks the part, but just isn’t dark enough to deliver
This production marks Sarah Brightman’s long-awaited return to musical theatre – but despite its many highlights, the show falls short.
- by Cameron Woodhead and Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen
‘The musical that Australia needed’ is about to land in Melbourne
Soundtracked by the Warumpi Band, when Big Name, No Blankets premiered it ‘had standing ovations every night, even sometimes during the show’.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen
A clever novel that isn’t afraid to poke fun at itself
Kaveh Akbar’s book Martyr! is a delight because it manages to embrace seriousness and irreverence, darkness and light.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen
An amusing take on the perils of living in a share house - in your 30s
Share-housing in your thirties is so in right now, Jude Perl has created a musical about it.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Barney Zwartz, Cameron Woodhead, Jessica Nicholas, Tony Way and Vyshnavee Wijekumar
Fiction is a sort of warning call, and we’re ignoring history
American writer Celeste Ng’s first two novels were realist domestic fiction, but her third was a more political creation.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen
Calling all Janiacs: Austen’s love of music has inspired a modern concert
Melburnians brought out their boas for Harry Styles then sequins for Taylor Swift. For a Jane Austen musical tribute, the dress code is: favourite character.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen
Taylor Swift’s new album is here, and it’s proof she needs to take a break
The megastar exorcises her past relationships with Joe Alwyn and Matty Healy on an album likely to divide fans.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen
★★
Review
Back to Black is a tasteless melodrama that tarnishes Winehouse’s legacy
No one had a voice like Amy Winehouse. The film about this once-in-a-lifetime singer disappoints.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen
A compelling debut from Australia’s most exciting electronic music artist
Underground star Logic1000 proves she doesn’t have to go hard to make an impact.
- by Barry Divola, Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Robert Moran and Annabel Ross
After a blistering Golden Plains set, this duo sets out to conquer Melbourne
This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes Gaslight, Mahler 3, The Streets, Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul, and The Human League.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Barney Zwartz, Cameron Woodhead, Nadia Bailey and Andrew McClelland