Reviews

It’s no surprise that queer cabaret artist Andy Freeborn writes and sings about themselves.  Talking about yourself is logical for any young solo artist, especially in this current wave of theatre from trans performers with so many stories newly heard.  But with just a keyboard for company, Andy is such an intelligent lyricist and expressive fantasist that their songs speak way beyond their spotlight.

Garrick Theatre, renowned for its ghost, started 2026 with its darkly themed One Act Season, Theatre to Die For, featuring three very different short plays, all with darker themes.

The line-up for the 2026 California Crooners Club, is led by Adelaide favourite son, Hugh Sheridan, with a style that is a mix of stylised contemporary crooner, jazz-infused pop, and high energy cabaret-style showmanship. He is joined by former musical collaborator, Emile Welman, an internationally recognised jazz and R&B performer. The trio is completed by new member, Isaiah Firebrace, known for winning The X Factor Australia in 2016 and representing Australia in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. He primarily sings in the pop, soul, and R&B genres.

Now is a lyrical work that edges into what might be called Theatre of the Absurd.  It is a tale of parallel worlds: the quotidian, everyday world that we think is real, and another world, a world of the mind, called Now where imagination can make dreams come true.  At least, this is my understanding of Helene Tardif’s short play.

A young man, a Son (Andrew Drava) is seen by his parents – Father (Marc Opitz), an overworked advertising man, and melancholy Mother (playwright Helene Tardif) – as a lazy layabout.