Reviews

Samuel Farr makes his directorial debut with this queer comedy set in the 1950s. Thoughtfully directed, well staged and nicely acted, this show, while funny, also provides plenty of food for thought.

This intriguing commission of seven short plays is directed and produced by Elaine Acworth and Shaun Charles (also writers in the series) with Jess Veurman as Associate Director and Saffron Benner as Dramaturg. The writers’ brief was to deal with today’s personal and political issues in just eight minutes and for only two performers – the brilliant Zoe de Plevitz (Cost of Living, Boy Swallows Universe) and Nick James (A Christmas Carol, Frankenstein).

There’s something thrilling about sitting in a theatre and feeling as if you’ve stumbled into a fever dream full of local landmarks, anthropomorphic rubbish piles, and unparalleled creative hilarity. We’re All Gonna Die!, the latest collaboration between Dead Puppet Society and La Boite, is that dream brought vividly to life in a high-octane comedy that’s as gleeful as it is thoughtful, delivering spectacle without ever losing its heart.

The Queensland Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Benjamin Northey, delivered an evening that shimmered with emotional power, musical precision, and a spirit of generosity. Including Mary Finsterer’s Stabat Mater Symphony, Nigel Westlake’s Antarctica Suite featuring virtuoso guitarist Slava Grigoryan, and the complete performance of Compassion, Westlake’s collaboration with singer-songwriter Lior, this program was as much a journey of the soul as it was a feast for the ears.