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Kimberley Hodgson as the titular character in Mackenzie – the costumes evoke the whole early 2000s vibe.

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.

  • John Shand, Chantal Nguyen, Harriet Cunningham, Peter McCallum, James Jennings, Kate Prendergast and Cindy Yin

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Playwright Yve Blake takes us behind the scenes of her new musical.

‘What if my writing is terrible?’: The six-week sprint to opening night

What does it take to turn Shakespeare’s Macbeth into a glitter-soaked tale of child stardom set in 2006?

  • Yve Blake
Australian Ballet dancers training for new show

These ballet dancers eat hundreds of bananas a day. Here’s why

Australian Ballet stars have never trained harder than they have for Copland Dance Episodes. Weirdly, peak fitness has also made them vulnerable.

  • John Bailey
Pink opened the Tonys with a spectacular number.

John Lithgow makes history, Death of a Salesman wins big and Pink flies high at the Tonys

Hosted by the pop star Pink, this year’s Tonys was a spectacular affair – but there was no luck for Rose Byrne.

  • Kathryn Lurie
A scene from the work Sheoak, choreographed by Frances Rings.

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.

  • James Jennings, Cassie Tongue, Peter McCallum, Chantal Nguyen, Kate Prendergast and John Shand
Rosamund Pike in Inter Alia.

‘You know who you are’: Rosamund Pike lashes theatre patron for texting during play

The Olivier award-winning star gave the audience a dressing down following a West End performance of Suzie Miller’s play Inter Alia.

  • Kayla Olaya
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Eddie Perfect at QPAC ahead of the opening of Beetlejuice: The Musical.

‘I couldn’t complain because it was all my fault’: Why Eddie Perfect quit Beetlejuice

Perfect’s hit Broadway musical is about to tour the country without him. But that’s fine – turns out being dead can be hard work.

  • Nick Dent
Journalist Cheng Lei’s experience of being wrongfully imprisoned in China has been adapted for the stage and premieres this week.

‘Like I’m back in China’: Cheng Lei accuses arts festival of censorship

Imprisoned for three years in China, Australian Cheng Lei says she now feels like she’s being silenced again.

  • Kerrie O'Brien
Paula Arundell takes on every role in The Birds – and does a superb job.

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.

  • John Shand, Bernard Zuel and Peter McCallum
Paula Arundell is tackling The Birds.

‘I’m the lads’: The big challenge Paula Arundell faced doing a one-person show

Arundell’s turn in The Birds marks yet another one-person show to land on Sydney’s stages.

  • John Shand