MUSC’s Othello: Exposing the Immortal Parts of Ourselves

REVIEW BY CHARLOTTE FRASER EDITED BY MYA HELOU As the lights dim in the Union Theatre, the audience buzzes and latecomers scurry in, not wanting to miss the beginning of the show. My pen is in my hand, and I flip it between my fingers anxiously – or, perhaps, excitedly (the line between the two is very blurry). I have seen Othello performed before, professional … Continue reading MUSC’s Othello: Exposing the Immortal Parts of Ourselves

Urine For A Treat at ICAC’s Urinetown

REVIEW BY AKSHITA BENNY EDITED BY OLIVIA DI GRAZIA Go Piss Girl! Or maybe not… ICAC’s Urinetown delivers spectacular performances of a musical theatre favourite. When wandering into the Union Theatre with my musical-loving friend, all we knew about this show, to phrase it crudely, was that it was about pissing. The first thing I said to my friend that night was “go piss girl” … Continue reading Urine For A Treat at ICAC’s Urinetown

Far Away, But Not That Far

REVIEW BY GRYFF CONNAH EDITED BY RACHEL THORNBY Few emotions hold the primacy that fear does. It is both our greatest strength and greatest weakness as a species: our central driving counsel; and the force that keeps us paralysed and stagnating. When entering the Above Sea Level’s production of Far Away, it is clear that fear has metastasized in this space. After a disorienting greeting … Continue reading Far Away, But Not That Far

St. Kilda Tales: Life Is Nonsense But At Least We’ve Got The Club

REVIEW BY AZMY AZURITE EDITED BY EMMA PARFITT “Humans are much worse than animals.” St. Kilda Tales is a show you could come watch night after night, and each time emerge with a different picture of the characters—and perhaps even the world around you. You sit, entranced for two hours, as vibrant and memorable characters clash with each other throughout the whole space. To your … Continue reading St. Kilda Tales: Life Is Nonsense But At Least We’ve Got The Club

Barkly Theatre’s SHIT Is Anything But

REVIEW BY BRONTE LEMAIRE EDITED BY EMMA PARFITT When I enter the theatre they’re already there. One’s facing away on a stool, slow and lethargic. Another sits at the back on a concrete block, biting her nails. The third can’t be still, ramming into the wall again and again as if this time it will finally budge. If you’ve been on public transport you’ve met … Continue reading Barkly Theatre’s SHIT Is Anything But

Medusa and the Ouroboros of Violence Against Women

REVIEW BY AZMY AZURITE EDITED BY AUDREY MCKENZIE Medusa may have been blindfolded yet I left the theatre gagged.  Medusa sheds light on the horror of being a woman in an age of gendered violence, recontextualising a famous Greek myth in such a way that it reverberated down to my bone marrow. This is the third production by Four Letter Word Theatre that I have … Continue reading Medusa and the Ouroboros of Violence Against Women

Louis Prandolini: Writer, Comedian and ‘The Most Goated Detective Of All Time’

REVIEW BY GRACE DWYER EDITED BY EMMA PARFITT A quick overview of Louis Prandolini’s already impressive creative portfolio includes writing, acting, filmmaking and stand-up comedy – like many up-and-coming Gen Z artists, he’s a jack of all trades. It’s fitting, then, that his debut Melbourne International Comedy Festival show Louis Prandolini Cracks A Cold Case is an eclectic mix of performance styles, whizzing between traditional … Continue reading Louis Prandolini: Writer, Comedian and ‘The Most Goated Detective Of All Time’

Surprising Encounters at Union House Theatre’s Theatre Takeover

REVIEW BY ELLA CALLOW-SUSSEX AND ANNA RYLEY EDITED BY EMMA PARFITT No one knew what was happening. The long-established traditions of theatre etiquette weren’t going to save us now. We furiously looked around the room for any sign of what was to come. But we needn’t have worried. Over the course of eight days, an ensemble of students devised and rehearsed a playful and immersive … Continue reading Surprising Encounters at Union House Theatre’s Theatre Takeover

Dialog Spotlight: Semester One’s Student Playwrights Chat All Things Theatre-Making

INTERVIEW BY EMMA PARFITT On this cold, drizzly day I met with Bronte Lemaire of Four Letter Word Theatre, Blue Jordan of CIPTA and Avi Walsh-Davis of Eleven Eleven Theatre. These student writers and directors have written the mainstage shows that these student theatre groups are bringing to the stage over the coming weeks. I brought them all together for a round-table chat about their … Continue reading Dialog Spotlight: Semester One’s Student Playwrights Chat All Things Theatre-Making

Whirring With Energy, Finn McGrath Takes The Stage

REVIEW BY KATYA EWING EDITED BY EMMA PARFITT Upon entering the upstairs room of the Butterfly Club, my friend remarked “well, this is intimate.” As comedy-show novices, we found a spot on some Parisian chairs in the back corner, me trying to discreetly hide my notepad, hoping not to draw attention to myself. However, it was quickly put away when McGrath threatened his wrath at … Continue reading Whirring With Energy, Finn McGrath Takes The Stage