Reviews

A Place in the Sultan's Kitchen

Presented by Brisbane Festival in connection with QPAC. Written and presented by Joshua Hinton in association with the Merrigong Theatre Company. Cremorne Theatre, QPAC. 16-20 September, 2025

Ushered into the spotlight at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, this family-affair show inspired writer/musician/performer Joshua Hilton to conceive a concept based on the mixed past traditions, cultures and general influences that have shaped his identity. And what better a way than through food, that universal stimulator of our appetites and imaginations.

The Viewing Room

By Mark Smith. Wanneroo Repertory. Directed by Tim Riessen. The Limelight Theatre, Wanneroo, WA. Sep 11 - 27, 2025

The Viewing Room is a black comedy set in the viewing room of a funeral parlour. When the not-so-dearly deceased begins to talk to his family, things take a strange turn.  Presented by Wanneroo Repertory, and directed by Tim Riessen (who has been very busy, with a One Act Play opening at Roxy Lane this week), 

Rotto Boys

By Les Pearce. Stirling Players. Directed by Phil Bedworth and Federica Longo. Stirling Theatre, Innaloo, WA. Sep 12 – 27, 2025

Rotto Boys is a locally written play making its locally written debut. Set on Perth’s popular Rottnest Island, it follows a group of men holding their annual reunion weekend - friends from a university cricket team. It features some great ensemble work and well-crafted performances.

Xanadu

By Douglas Carter Beane, Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. Art in Motion. Directed by Micheal Carroll. City of Gosnells Don Russell Performing Arts Centre, Thornlie, WA. Sep 5 - 13, 2025

If there were an award for campiest show of the year, Art in Motion’s Xanadu would have to be the front runner. This 1980s style musical, with Greek goddesses and roller-skating does not take itself at all seriously and frequently was just downright silly. Paired with a great band and quality singing and dancing, this was a highly entertaining production.

Precipice: Generator 2025

By WAAPA Second Year Bachelor of Performing Arts Performance Making Students. Directed by Alexa Taylor. The Edith Spiegeltent, WAAPA, Edith Cowan University, Mt Lawley, WA. Sep 10-13, 2025

The first chance for general audience to experience the work of this cohort, WAAPA Second Year Bachelor of Performing Arts Performance Making Students performed Precipice: Generator 2025, amidst the beauty of WAAPA’s century old Edith Spiegeltent.

A fitting venue for this offbeat cirque-style show, the audience sat facing the entrance, with the performance space circling them. The piece examined the absurdity of life, sitting between despair and hope. 

Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella - Youth Edition

By Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II, adapted by Tom Briggs. Murray Music and Drama. Directed by Lori Anders. Pinjarra Civic Centre, WA. Sep 12-14, 2025

Murray Music and Drama Club’s atmosphere is always welcoming and warm, and seated at tables, one might almost be at the Royal Ball, or the wedding of Cinderella and her Prince.

The Wedding Singer

By Matthew Skler, Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy. WAAPA Second Year Music Theatre. Directed by Adam Mitchell. The Roundhouse Theatre, WAAPA, Edith Cowan University, Mt Lawley, WA. Sep 5-11, 2025

WAAPA’s Second Year Music Theatre celebrated their public debut with a celebration of all things 1980s, in this big hair and flouncy frocked production of The Wedding Singer. The production was designed and crewed by WAAPA Production and Design Students. 

Migrating Bird

Véronique Serret. Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse. Brisbane Festival. 14 September 2025

In the intimate space of Brisbane Powerhouse, Véronique Serret performed her entire ARIA-nominated solo album, Migrating Bird, to an enthralled audience. She lovingly described each track on the classical-contemporary album as being part of ‘side A and side B’ – or thematically as ‘earth’ and ‘water’ – in a way that songs are perhaps not curated any more. I enjoyed Véronique’s introductions and the insight into her creative process.

Julius Caesar

By William Shakespeare. Directed by Andre Victor. Roleystone Theatre, Brockton Hwy, Roleystone, WA. Sep 5 - 13, 2025

In the midst of a Shakespeare trend in Perth, with concurrent productions of The Tempest, and the Scottish Play, came Roleystone’s overtly political tragedy, Julius Caesar.

Lady Macbeth Uncut.

An Australian premiere. Written and adapted by Catriona Clancy. Directed by Nicky Whchelow. Vox Productions. PIP Theatre. September 4 – 7, 2025

Of Shakespeare's many plays, Macbeth is one of the best known and here there is a marked change in the understanding of the many events that happened in the play. Basically, the change is to make the female members of the story the centre of attention instead of just being fringe dwellers. The sequence of events  has not really changed - the killing of Duncan, Banquo and Lady Macduff with her family - but the reasoning and causes of these happenings is moved to Lady Macbeth and her female friends.

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