Culture
Live reviews
This festival has the best, and worst, shows in Australia – that’s why I keep going back
A safe program is a dull program. You get exceptional shows by pushing at boundaries – the price of that, however, is that occasionally one will fall flat.
- by Elizabeth Flux
Latest
Farewell the State Theatre (for now) with a trip down the rabbit hole
This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Gluttony: A Play in Three Courses, Perhaps...Who Knows, and more.
- by Andrew Fuhrmann, Cameron Woodhead and Barney Zwartz
★★★★★
Sydney live reviews
A massive monument to the imagination, this vast performance is a triumph
Our critics take a look at the latest shows around town.
- by Peter McCallum, Cassie Tongue and Harriet Cunningham
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
It was too hot to dance until the Balkan punk band gave us no choice
An uninvited band, mixed messages, and a closed stage: the WOMADelaide festival dancing through its challenges.
- by Jessica Nicholas
★★★★★
Sydney live reviews
You’ll want to feast on this unmissable new zombie musical
Our reviewers take a look at some of the latest shows around town, including Zombie! The Musical, Holding The Man, Frame Narrative and Wit.
- by John Shand and Kate Prendergast
Move over David Williamson, we have a new five-star footy play
This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes a thrilling play about footy and racism; the Jonas Brothers’ play Rod Laver Arena on first-ever Australian tour, Fred again..’s instant arena tour; and two comedies: one about two super-Karens meeting for their weekly lunch, and another about two young men who have to deal with a sick cow.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Marcus Teague and Vyshnavee Wijekumar
★★★★
Sydney live reviews
The Human League put on a classic retro show – but it’s all about that one song
Our critics give their verdict on the latest shows around town, including the Human League, Yothu Yindi, Hannah Gadsby, the Song Company, Angelique Kidjo and Bell Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
- by John Shand, Peter McCallum, Daniel Herborn, Shamim Razavi, Michael Ruffles and James Jennings
Amy Hack is captivating as Yentl in this transgressive tale’s return
This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes Yentl at the Malthouse, a revival of The Sound of Music in St Kilda, the stage adaptation of The Hate Race, Sampha at Margaret Court Arena, Shonen Knife, and a fiery triple bill at the Melbourne Recital Centre.
- by Sonia Nair, Cher Tan, Jessica Nicholas, Michael Dwyer and Cameron Woodhead
★★★★½
Sydney live reviews
The masterful Lehman Trilogy is a work tinged with human greatness
Our critics take a look at some of the latest shows around town.
- by Michael Ruffles, John Shand, James Jennings and Millie Muroi
Women strive to define themselves in this love letter to the words the dictionary leaves out
This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes The Dictionary of Lost Words at Arts Centre Melbourne, 7 Captiva Road, and the 3MBS Marathon.
- by Cameron Woodhead and Barney Zwartz