First-time director Jordan Peters has hit the ground running with UMMTA’s The Hatpin, a story surrounding motherhood and friendship in the midst of a terrible tragedy. With a powerful ensemble, succinct direction and the perfect balance of comedy and poignancy, the production exceeded my expectations, and delivered what is surely one of the most impressive productions of the year. The performances in The Hatpin were … Continue reading Hats Off
Sexual assault is an ongoing social issue, particularly in a college environment, as is the victim blaming and sexism that so often surrounds rape. In light of this, International House’s choice to perform Blackrock, which explores the aftermath of the rape and murder of a teenage girl, is both bold and commendable. Directed by Holly Nugent, the production was as gripping as it was thought … Continue reading Disturbingly Relevant
Four Letter Word’s production Triptych introduces three new works written and directed by students from or affiliated with the University of Melbourne. Cherry Bomb, The Mutineer, and Terrorism vary widely in tone and subject matter, ranging from the politics of student theatre, to colonialism, to terror and surveillance. They combine to present a refreshing and thought-provoking collection of theatre. James O’Donoghue’s Cherry Bomb, directed by … Continue reading Triple Threat
The Melbourne University Chinese Theatre Group’s production of The Physicists, directed by Shan Huang and Bauhinia Lam, presents a satirical view on the dangers of scientific development. Relying on subtitles in theatre was a new experience for me, and yet the charisma and strength of the cast ensured an entertaining and involving production. On the whole, the production was entertaining, with strong performances and a … Continue reading E=MUCTG²
Lady Macbeth is notorious as one of Shakespeare’s most powerful female characters, but her role is often secondary to that of her husband. Twelve Angry’s production of [Lady] Macbeth, directed by Fiona Spitzkowsky, seeks to challenge this, giving Lady Macbeth an equal role to that of her husband and creating ties between the female characters that bring new meaning to the play. The production’s primary … Continue reading Reclaiming Lady Macbeth
Performing Shakespeare’s plays presents any theatre maker with numerous obstacles: the language must be relatable, without losing the flavour of the original; the setting, if modern, must be unpretentious; and if traditional must still be meaningful to a modern audience. Ultimately, MUSC’s production of Henry IV Part 1, directed by James Christenson, manages to overcome these hurdles, and present a relevant modern adaption of Shakespeare’s … Continue reading Long Live the Queen
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