Culture
Live reviews
Defiant and daring, this new musical takes on the story of a literary giant
Creating a musical from scratch is a difficult and laborious challenge. Stella refuses to set its sights low, and quite rightly.
- by Cameron Woodhead and Tony Way
Latest
The shows around town everyone’s talking about this week
Our critics take a look at what’s hot – and what’s not – on stages across Sydney.
- by John Shand, Chantal Nguyen, Harriet Cunningham, Peter McCallum, James Jennings, Kate Prendergast and Cindy Yin
Catastrophe and drama collide in this lavish production
John Cranko’s 1962 Romeo and Juliet is most admired – among those who do admire it – for the ensemble grandeur of its large set-piece scenes.
- by Andrew Fuhrmann, Cameron Woodhead, Tony Way, Sonia Nair and Jessica Nicholas
This show is already packed with wow factor. Then comes the Wheel of Death
Of all the Cirque du Soleil I’ve attended over the years, Kooza remains my favourite and the one I’d take kids to see.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Sonia Nair, Elizabeth Flux and Tony Way
This is the best dance work I’ve seen at this year’s Rising
The show runs for little more than an hour – with an ensemble of just four dancers – but nonetheless gives the impression of an epic drama.
- by Andrew Fuhrmann, Nick Buckley, Will Cox and Cameron Woodhead
Bangarra’s next generation arrives in style, plus reviews of other big shows this week
Our critics take a look at what’s hot – and what’s not – on stages across Sydney.
- by James Jennings, Cassie Tongue, Peter McCallum, Chantal Nguyen, Kate Prendergast and John Shand
Mitski pushes through fan frenzy and false start, plus reviews of other big shows this week
Our critics take a look at what’s hot – and what’s not – on stages across Sydney.
- by John Shand, Rod Yates, Peter McCallum, Bernard Zuel, Kate Prendergast and Shamim Razavi
★★★★½
Arts
Audience comes close to ducking in virtuosic thriller based on Hitchcock classic
The Birds made for a chilling movie – and it has lost none of its power on stage. Plus, our critics look at performances by Split Enz, the ACO and the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.
- by John Shand, Bernard Zuel and Peter McCallum
This lively adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is hard to resist
Full of brilliantly executed comic scenes, this production is an affectionate homage to Austen’s gift for social satire.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Tony Way, Kosa Monteith, Rose Lu and Andrew Fuhrmann
Peking Duk’s energetic party tunes solid but short of spectacular
Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles’ enthusiasm is infectious. But the swelling synths, flashing lights and banging bass got monotonous quickly.
- by Millie Muroi, Daniel Herborn, Kate Prendergast, Peter McCallum, George Palathingal, Nadia Russell, Harriet Cunningham and John Shand
This is one of the finest ensemble performances I’ve seen. It’s hard to believe it’s a debut
Never Closer is a love story – also a ghost story – set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles
- by Cameron Woodhead, Bridget Davies, Tony Way and Jessica Nicholas