Reviews

Since the 1950s over 200,000 Korean children have been sent abroad for adoption, many of them to Australia. Michelle Lim Davison was one of them. It wasn’t until she began searching for her biological family that she realised she was one of a global community of Korean adoptees “reclaiming its past and redefining its future”.

“This play,” she explains, “is one small part of that reclamation. It was inspired by my life, but it’s not a documentary. It’s imagined from reality.”

Stepping into Gurril Storm Bird feels like walking into a dream woven from gum leaves, laughter, and ancient stories that still shimmer with relevance. The moment you cross the threshold into the warmly glowing Cremorne Theatre, it’s clear you’re in for more than just a play—you’re being welcomed into a living, breathing story circle. This world premiere production, adapted from Trevor Fourmile’s award-winning children’s book, is a generous, spirited piece of First Nations storytelling that envelops its audience in both tenderness and truth.

Two friends Phoenix (Lucy Ansell) and Nel (Laila Thaker) have superpowers – although not of the Marvel variety: Phoenix can suck the anger out of fraught situations and calm things down.  Nel has preternatural admin powers and can sort out the problems and spreadsheets of struggling fledgeling clubs and associations.  Both are idealists who want to ‘do good’ and change the world.

This elegant, super convivial drag queen is the poster girl for Qtopia’s inaugural Pride Fest running through June.  Skank Sinatra of course has her own show, singing works of Sinatra and his contemporaries, adjusted to her own lewd lyrics.