Reviews

Summer Season with Butterfly 2022

The Australian Ballet School. Directed by Lisa Pavane. 8-11 November, 2022

This carefully crafted end of year presentation bears witness to the ballet students’ commitment to learning and the utter professionalism of the Australian Ballet School.

The six diverse pieces and the developing skills of the performers were well matched, and the students shone.

An Evening With Amy

Amy Lehpamer. Brisbane Music Festival. St John’s Cathedral, Spring Hill, Brisbane. 9 December 2022

The Brisbane Music Festival usually spotlights classical music, but last night at St John’s Cathedral, music fans were treated to a selection of modern classic love songs, performed to perfection by Amy Lehpamer. Amy was joined by the star musical team of Alex Raineri on feisty electric keys and Luke Carbon on a scrumptious selection of woodwind instruments.

Snow White (The Off-White Version)

By Yvette Wall. Irish Theatre Players. Directed by Peter Neaves and Virginia Moore-Price. Irish Club of WA, Subiaco, WA. Dec 8-17, 2022

Perth is in peak Panto season, and the latest offering is the very modern pantomime, the Irish Theatre Players’ Snow White (The Off-White Version). Written by local writer Yvette Wall, this show sticks to pantomime traditions with its style, but has some distinct modern twists.

Carry on Camping at The Last Resort Holiday Park

Cheap and Dodgy Productions, Primadonna Productions and the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre. Directed by Carole Dhu. Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, WA. Dec 4-6, 2022

Carry on Camping at The Last Resort Holiday Park was a wild ride of a show that attracted capacity audiences who were clearly having an absolute ball. Presented by Cheap and Dodgy Productions, Primadonna Productions and the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, this is the latest in an annual series of productions which are eagerly anticipated by the local community - not least because they star local Member of Parliament and Minister for the Arts the Honourable David Templeman.

Handel’s Messiah

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Concert Hall Sydney Opera House. 8, 10 and 11 December, 2022

What a sound! The Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Orchestra led by the inimitable Brett Weymark bringing Handel’s magnificent Messiah back to the Concert Hall of the Opera House!

What a sight! The shining, intent faces of 523 choristers and 27 musicians following the Weymark baton!  What a thrill to hear soprano Lorina Gore, mezzo soprano Ashlyn Tymms, tenor Nicholas Jones and baritone Morgan Pearse sing the arias and duets – and smile as the choirs rise to sing the choruses.

Dick Whittington

By Stephen Quinn. GRADS. Directed by Stephen Lee. New Fortune Theatre, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA. Nov 18 - Dec 3, 2022

I’m not sure that outdoor pantomime is a tradition anywhere in the world, but it probably should be - as GRADS’ Christmas Pantomime, Dick Whittington, sits very well in UWA’s open topped New Fortune Theatre, and is a great way to enjoy a summer’s evening. This pantomime, written by Stephen Quinn, and directed by Stephen Lee (who happen to be the same person) is very much of the British tradition, but adjusts to the warm weather and includes some great local references.

Summer Soirée

Queensland Ballet Academy. Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre, Brisbane. 8 to 10 December 2022

The extraordinary talent pipeline in the Queensland Ballet Academy is on show for a few performances only at the new Talbot Theatre at the Thomas Dixon Centre. The Summer Soirée is a colourful, intense, sophisticated and fun mix of styles, inspired by works in the visual arts realm by Tim Storrier AM in conjunction with Philip Bacon Galleries.

Picasso at the Lapin Agile

By Steve Martin. Castle Hill Players. Pavilion Theatre, Castle Hill. November 23 – December 10, 2023

An artist, a scientist and an inventor walk into a bar in 1904 and debate the value of art, science and commercialism in the 20th Century, exploring the creative processes behind each (as well as a duel with weapon of choice; a pencil). That sets the scene for the traffic of our stage. 

Little Eyolf

By Henrik Ibsen. Burning House and Heartstring. Director: Robert Johnson. The Explosives Factory. 2-10 December, 2022

Henrik Ibsen wrote plays which throw relationships into stark relief by applying a blowtorch of intensity to family circumstances. Little Eyolf explores how change impacts difficult parenting, marriage and brother-sister relationships by pulling them apart and giving very articulate voice to the nuances of desire, guilt and pain revealed.

The Flower That Fell From the Sky

By Heloise Wilson. Feet First Collective and Little Y. Directed by Teresa Izzard. The Blue Room Theatre, Perth Cultural Centre, WA. December 6-10, 2022

Presented by Feet First Collective and Little Y, this world premiere production was produced collaboratively with the company, and is an interesting blend of post-apocalyptic drama, an exploration of the strength of family and an examination of the power of self-belief.

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.