Culture
Theatre
This play based on an advice column is exactly what we need right now
Tiny Beautiful Things, drawn from Cheryl Strayed’s collection of advice columns, invites audiences to feel big emotions.
- by Hannah Story
Latest
★★★★½
Review
This improbable play is a sad, fierce, funny and intoxicating emotional ride
Our critics check out the latest shows around town.
- by John Shand, Peter McCallum, James Jennings, Bernard Zuel and Shamim Razavi
Play whose cast made Palestine protest wins two Sydney Theatre Awards
A play about one of the most significant days in Australian history has won the best play category at the Sydney Theatre Awards.
- by Helen Pitt
The celebrated play taking on bathroom bigotry
Set in a women’s bathroom, Overflow is a one-woman show that tells an intimate and powerful story. It makes its Melbourne debut this week.
- by Stephen A Russell
Golden oldies: Wendy Harmer brings The Grandparents Club to the stage
The comedian and broadcaster has turned her hand, and her wit, to a musical about the bond between grandparents and their children’s children.
- by Hannah Story
No grumbles from the star who’s playing Groundhog Day again and again
Andy Karl has spent eight years in an on-stage time loop as cranky weatherman Phil Connors. But as he prepares to play the show’s Melbourne premiere, he’s not complaining.
- by John Bailey
Saplings, sticky slopes and African beats fill final weekend of Sydney Festival
As January rolls to a close, the Sydney Festival enters its final weekend of theatrical frivolity.
- by Helen Pitt
Rugby play continues to kick goals for its writer
John Breen’s play tackling a spectacular upset in the rugby world changed his life forever, and is now playing in Sydney.
- by John Shand
Analysis
Performing arts
Dear audience. Please don’t give up on the standing ovation
Opera Australia CEO Fiona Allan says she’s not quite ready to let go of the time-honoured show of appreciation.
- by Fiona Allan
Knocks on dorm rooms, trips to Cinema Nova and other ways love blooms in Melbourne
Performer Willing learnt a few lessons in creating his new cabaret: “There’s so much love in the world, which is a weird takeaway for a jaded, cynical meme admin like me.”
- by Tara Kenny
Sydney Festival show honours the lost children of Luna Park at Coney Island
A deeply moving story about loss and childhood innocence opens Monday at Luna Park as part of the Sydney Festival 2024.
- by Helen Pitt