Culture
Musicals
His music has changed the world but who is the man behind Wicked?
As the cast prepares for the Melbourne run, composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz wishes his record-breaking show was not quite so timely.
- by Kerrie O'Brien
Latest
Concussion, Katy Perry and teenage dreams: The making of the musical & Juliet
All it took was a knock to the head for Schitt’s Creek writer David West Read to reimagine the story of Shakespeare’s teenage heroine.
- by Louise Rugendyke
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Performing arts
Forbidden love. Fierce rivalry. West Side Story gets a breath of new life on Sydney Harbour
First Nations soprano Nina Korbe will make her debut as Maria while Tony will be played by tenor Billy Bourchier in Handa Opera’s 2024 production of the iconic musical.
- by Helen Pitt
★★★★
Review
Nothing is sacred in this bonkers, unexpected two-hander
In this latest round-up of Sydney festival performances our critics give their verdict on Masterclass; Tiddas; It’s a Sin; Orpheus and Eurydice; Anoushka Shankar; and Big Name, No Blankets.
- by John Shand, Peter McCallum, Harriet Cunningham and Kate Prendergast
Tim Minchin has empathy for Trump-voting, gun-toting homophobic Americans. Just don’t call him a ‘nuance bro’
In a world of tribalism, Minchin’s principles are unpopular in the liberal echo chamber of today’s social media landscape – and he’s refusing to give in.
- by Cassidy Knowlton
Kate Miller-Heidke says her singing is like ‘a yodelling ambulance or Enya on meth’
On stage, Kate Miller-Heidke’s self-deprecating sense of humour is clear – the audience laughs at her jokes about the high register of her voice.
- by Helen Pitt
Bringing someone who is half dog, half man (and all hero) to the stage
Actor and Emmy award-winning writer Kevin Del Aguila has arrived in Australia for his latest project – a musical adaptation of the beloved Dog Man book series.
- by Nell Geraets