Culture
Live reviews
Hold Me Closer Tony Danza: A show that brings joy in a sea of gloom
The show has an irresistible prankster vivacity, with fake endings, improvised role playing, audience dress-ups and a daggy dance battle.
- by Andrew Fuhrmann
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A rare act of impersonation: Heather Mitchell’s enthralling RBG
Inhabiting someone as illustrious as US Supreme Court judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg is no mean feat, but Mitchell doesn’t just capture her likeness – she captures her spirit.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Nadia Bailey, Jessica Nicholas and Vyshnavee Wijekumar
One-man show about Sudan makes spirits soar above the sadness
Our reviewers check out the best shows around town including those offered by Belvoir, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Comedy Festival.
- by Peter McCallum, John Shand and Daniel Herborn
When this play premiered, its actors were arrested for obscenity. Now it’s back
A controversial classic, and a smart contemporary response to it, takes the stage at La Mama in an excellent double bill.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Karl Quinn, Tony Way and Sonia Nair
Everyone feared this festival would implode, but there’s Alice Cooper waving a boa constrictor on stage
Despite the rough lead-up and dropping half of its acts, Pandemonium music festival didn’t live up to its name – and was ultimately a pretty good time.
- by Will Cox
★★★
Review
Did you hear the one about the girl on the bus with a dead squirrel? Sydney Comedy Fest kick off
Our critics give you their verdict on the best shows around town from the Sydney Comedy Festival, singer James Taylor and the latest Hayes Theatre production directed by Blazey Best.
- by Cassie Tongue, James Jennings and Daniel Herborn
★★★½
Review
Pain and sensuality abounds in revival of Italian classics as British rockers deliver chaotic experience for the apocalypse
Our reviewers check out Sydney performances of the Australian Haydn Ensemble, Bring Me The Horizon and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
- by Kate Prendergast, Peter McCallum and Michael Ruffles
Melbourne undies on stage at Tom Jones? It’s still not unusual
Tom Jones has been touring for six decades, but his arena show was anything but nostalgia.
- by Will Cox, Cameron Woodhead and Tony Way
★★★★½
Review
Who would have thought a cost of living crisis play could be so funny?
Our reviewers give their verdict on acts all over town from the No Pay, No Way, Carmen, Chris Isaak and Grease.
- by John Shand, Peter McCallum, Harriet Cunningham, Chantal Nguyen and Shamim Razavi
★★★★★
Melbourne live reviews
He was playing the ‘wrong’ instrument – but nailed the concert anyway
Listeners were dazzled with the dizzying accuracy of Vikingur Olafsson’s fast hand-crossing, which was made far more perilous on a modern piano.
- by Tony Way and Cameron Woodhead
This revolutionary feminist was executed at 31. Her ideas never died
Farewell Lady Autumn at La Mama is inspired by the life of Qiu Jin, who was executed after being implicated in a failed assassination plot.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Kosa Monteith, Jessica Nicholas, Barney Zwartz and Tyson Wray