Reviews

Kimberly Akimbo

Score by Jeanine Tesori. Lyrics and book by David Lindsay-Abaire. State Theatre Company South Australia and Melbourne Theatre Company in association with Wagnan Productions Sarah Rohrsheim. Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide, Jul 8-19, 2025 and Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse, Jul 26 – Aug 13, 2025.

Welcome to New Jersey 1999 and the life and times of an eccentric, somewhat unpredictable collection of characters who endure a few surprising plot detours (no spoilers here though).  With a phenomenal cast commanding the stage at Her Majesty’s Theatre and a dream crew fashioning the magic behind the scenes, opening night attendees were passionate in their appreciation of this production.

STILL

Late works by Samuel Beckett. Adapted for the stage by Robert Meldrum and Richard Murphet. Victorian Theatre Company and Theatre Works. Explosives Factory, Inkerman Street, St Kilda. 10 July – 26 July 2025

‘Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood,’ wrote T S Eliot.  Whether these ‘late works’ by Samuel Beckett are ‘poetry’ or not, in this show his texts communicate emotionally – even viscerally - before we understand them rationally.  They leave behind an emotional residue; there is no narrative thread (until perhaps the last piece), there is no context.

Sincere Apologies

By Dan Koop, Jamie Lewis & David Williams. Based on an original concept by Roslyn Oades & David Williams. An Alternative Facts production. Bondi Festival. Seagull Room, Bondi Pavilion. July 10 – 12, 2025.

Imagine a theatrical production where the words are all sourced from dozens of different people, and the performers are all members of the audience?

It sounds like a recipe for a very problematic piece of theatre – but instead it was lyrical and moving.

Entering the Seagull Room of the Bondi Pavilion, around 80 chairs were lined up in a circle around a box containing 50 envelopes. Microphones were spread around the audience.

Numbered from 1 to 50 the envelopes were handed to audience members. It soon dawned on me that we were the only actors on the stage.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Adapted for the stage by Rona Munro. Directed by Kathleen Del Casale. The Limelight Theatre, Civic Drive, Wanneroo, WA. Jul 10 - 25, 2025

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein doesn’t just attach the author’s name as a way to differentiate it from other adaptations of this classic horror tale. Featuring Mary as the lead character, the play explores Mary’s struggles with writing the horror, her relationship to the characters and her emotions as the story progresses.

Ravel & Falla

Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House. July 12, 2025

No wonder French composers kept writing great impressionist works inspired by their neighbour.

The Pirate Queen

Book: Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Richard Maltby Jr. Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg. Lyrics: Alain Boublil, Richard Maltby Jr. and John Dempsey. MLOC Productions Inc. Frankston Arts Centre, Melbourne. July 11 – 19,

The Australian premiere of The Pirate Queen musical has docked in Melbourne with grandeur, heart, and a fiercely talented creative team. This is a coup for MLOC as part of their 80th year celebrations, performing this largely unknown but equally exciting musical from the composers that gave us Les Misérables and Miss Saigon, and the producers of the phenomenon that is Riverdance.

Carrie The Musical

Music by Michael Gore. Lyrics by Dean Pitchford. Book by Lawrence D.Cohen. Based on novel by Stephen Kind. Directed by Liam Boyd. Choreographer Suzie Seawright. Musical director Mark Smith. Vocal director Morgan Eldridge. North Queensland Opera and Musical Theatre Company, Denise Glasgow Performing Arts Centre, Townsville. 9 – 12 July 2025.

A PRODUCTION like this raises two points that are very often overlooked.  That community theatre would not exist without the huge voluntary effort and dedication of so many people, and that there is prodigious talent in our community, particularly given the three strong central performances in this production.

Beanstalk

By Sam Longley. Directed by Philip Mitchell. Spare Parts Puppet Theatre. Ellie Eaton Theatre, Gate 1 Claremont Showground, WA. Jul 5-19, 2025

Beanstalk is a gorgeous piece of family entertainment that has returned  to Spare Parts Puppet Theatre these school holidays to delight a whole new cohort of children. Written and performed by Sam Longley, it tells the story of Jack and the Beanstalk from the Giant’s point of view, revealing lots more about The Giant and his world in the process.

Dare to Dream Jr, A Disney Musical Revue

By Patrick Sulken and Britt Bonney. Western Theatrics. Directed by James Leber. Koorliny Arts Centre, Kwinana, WA. July 10-23, 2025

Western Theatrics’ Dare to Dream Jr, A Disney Musical Revue, is the WA premiere of this new Disney show. Featuring a cast aged from 7 to 15, it was mounted by a production team aged 16 to 19, with the exception of mentor Nicola Beard. 

Mamma Mia!

By Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Stig Anderson and Catherine Johnson. HAMA. Directed by Olivia Jade. The Regal Theatre, Subiaco, WA. Jul 4 - 19, 2026

Mamma Mia! Here we go again. With many productions of Mamma Mia! In Perth in the last decade or so, you might think that this city would have lost their enthusiasm for this ABBA tribute musical. HAMA’s latest big production, playing at the Regal Theatre, proves that there are still plenty of people keen to see this show again, and HAMA is ready with a well-produced, well directed musical, peopled with a fabulous cast.

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