Review
★★★★★
What’s on
‘I’ve never laughed as much’: This glorious Uncle Vanya is infused with the spirit of Chekhov
Joanna Murray-Smith’s adaptation enhances the experience of the Russian classic.
- by John Shand
Latest
Charming, awkward: This pop star’s joy is infectious
Girl In Red made her Australian debut in 2023 – and this year returns to play a venue seven times the size.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Cameron Woodhead, Tony Way and Sonia Nair
★★★★★
Sydney live reviews
Eloquent and beguiling: Operatic Hamlet is a triumph
Our critics deliver verdicts on the latest shows around town.
- by Millie Muroi, Cassie Tongue, Shamim Razavi, Harriet Cunningham and John Shand
Two powerful performances in this Streetcar make it a bare-knuckle fight
In this MTC production Nikki Shiels plays a Blanche DuBois who isn’t mad – her Blanche is quite fun, witty, and as likely to self-deprecate as self-dramatise.
- by Cameron Woodhead and Barney Zwartz
★★★★★
Melbourne live reviews
The ghostly theatre classic you should see at least once in your life
Daniel MacPherson and John Waters star in The Woman in Black – the second-longest running play in London, after Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Nadia Bailey and Andrew McClelland
★★★★
Melbourne live reviews
This moving and vibrant Rising show is a must-watch
Gurr Era Op, a beautifully composed dance theatre piece, is like a sea breeze: it blows strong and tastes fresh.
- by Andrew Fuhrmann, Cameron Woodhead, Tony Way and Vyshnavee Wijekumar
This play about Julia Gillard will hold your attention, regardless of your politics
It’s worth seeing this show just to watch Justine Clarke transform into Gillard and, in a thrilling display, deliver the misogyny speech in full.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Andrew Fuhrmann and Jessica Nicholas
Opinion
Perth
Dreamy songs, dirty jokes: Engelbert raises roof at sold-out Perth show
It was at first hard to tell if the 88-year’s voice had held up as the packed house sang along so enthusiastically – but he’s definitely still got the charm.
- by Mark Naglazas
Shane Jacobson and Todd McKenney work a charm as The Odd Couple
It’s the slob versus the neat freak in this Neil Simon classic, in a delightful comic pairing.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Will Cox and Tony Way
An amusing take on the perils of living in a share house - in your 30s
Share-housing in your thirties is so in right now, Jude Perl has created a musical about it.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Barney Zwartz, Cameron Woodhead, Jessica Nicholas, Tony Way and Vyshnavee Wijekumar
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