Review
A ritual once marked marriage as a spiritual death for women. It’s now a stunning performance
The Bridal Lament by Rainbow Chan brings together the ancient and contemporary to explore the line between cultures.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Barney Zwartz and Cameron Woodhead
Latest
Beauty and horror collide in this famous exploration of ‘madness’
One of opera’s most famous ‘mad scenes’ is on show in Melbourne Opera’s production of Lucia di Lammermoor.
- by Bridget Davies, Cameron Woodhead, Tony Way and Andrew Fuhrmann
★★★½
Entertainment
Before Blair Witch, prior to Paranormal, The Woman in Black chilled theatregoers
Theatre’s most successful ghost story enjoys a life after death in this national tour starring John Waters and Daniel MacPherson.
- by Nick Dent
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
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
★★★
See & Do
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
Hugo Weaving is repellent yet compelling in STC’s The President
Irish actor Olwen Fouéré and Australia’s Hugo Weaving command the stage in Sydney Theatre Company’s first time co-production with Dublin’s Gate Theatre.
- by Harriet Cunningham
★★★½
Music
Defiant Deborah Conway addresses antisemitism in autobiographical show
As songstress Conway looks back on 40 years as a performer, it becomes clear the music is only the beginning.
- by Nick Dent
★★★★
AFL 2024
Adam Goodes’ AFL exit inspires sporting comedy calling foul on racism
This Brisbane show is filthy one instance, elegiac and poetic the next – Chariots of Fire meets the frat house.
- by Nick Dent
★★★★½
What’s on
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
★★★★
Brisbane
James and the Giant Peach review: School-age critics agree, it’s peachy
Shake and Stir’s adaptation of Dahl’s fruitful adventure is an ideal holiday distraction.
- by Nick Dent