A celebration of diversity ably led by perfect showman
The Sydney Comedy Festival gets off to a great start with a line-up of 15 comics from all over the world, led by the impressive showman Rhys Nicholson.
Stage
Warwick Fyfe a standout in MSO's impassioned Carmina Burana
The baritone invested this performance with a heightened vehemence.
The Rabble interrogate Joan of Arc's authentic voice beyond the male gaze
Joan review: The Rabble
Theatre
The Rabble interrogate Joan of Arc's authentic voice beyond the male gaze
Joan review: The Rabble
Mulvany delivers masterful turn as Bard's crippled villain
Kate Mulvany brings the brilliant, bloody Machiavellian prince to life in a performance so totally inhabited and transforming you believe utterly in her Richard as a man.
Turning theatrical catastrophe into comedy
The longrunning West End comedy hit has made a success out of a disaster.
Dance
Hills Hoists, thongs and tutus: a rare Aussie story on stage
Graeme Murphy's Nutcracker remains one of the few attempts to tell Australian stories in ballet form.
Dancers' athleticism displayed but Faster lacks variety
In the Australian Ballet's latest triple bill, Faster, diversity is missing.
Toned and terrific: Ballet gets a sporty makeover
''Faster'' is a modern ballet that plays out like an MGM musical with a Hitchcockian soundtrack.
Musicals
A musical Sesame Street aimed at adults
Supa Productions brings this blend of puppets and people to the stage and warns it might be best to leave the children at home.
Lauper's thigh-high show lacks soul
Movie reboot musical has the gloss and gleam but loses something in translation
Broadway spectacular in a league of its own
Aladdin's flawless technical wizardry and gorgeous visual delights offer a taste of Broadway at its best. ★★★★½
Opera
Fifties Fledermaus a comic change of direction for Canberra Opera
The Johann Strauss operetta makes for a lighter night in the theatre.
The Princess and the Pea review: Fast, furious, farcical and musically rewarding
Austrian-born Ernst Toch's 1927 opera, in the hands of Victorian Opera, updates Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale to the digital age.
Shipshape rendition of Gilbert & Sullivan classic
Melbourne Opera delivers a fine production of HMS Pinafore but it's almost too energetic for its own good.
Comedy
Gadsby ends stand-up career on a high with coveted prize
It's a case of third time's the charm for the Melbourne-based comedian.
How Jason Byrne turned to memoir and children's books
Writing a book was a very different proposition for the Irish comedian Jason Byrne. But he knuckled down to produce his memoir – and he didn't need any props.
Sick, delirious and self-deprecating, but not dead yet
Success has not stemmed New Zealand comedian Rose Matafeo's self-deprecating style.