What Did She Think?

What: 4:48 Psychosis Where: Metanoia Theatre When: 29 June - 2 July Written by: Sarah Kane Direction by: Kendall-Jane Rundle Peformed by: Alisha Eddy, Kendall-Jane Rundle, Jessica Stevens, and Jeff Wortman Costumes by: Jessica Allie Lighting by: Shane Grant PHOTO COURTESY OF ENCORE PR 4:48 Psychosis is the latest play being presented at Metanoia and is produced by Bare Naked Theatre. It is the last of six published plays by British Playwright Sarah Kane and has been staged all over the world. Kane suffered from serious clinical depression throughout her life, and 4:48 Psychosis looks at depression, but more specifically it investigates psychotic symptomology. Because of this and because she killed herself shortly after writing it, people often make the assumption this play is about her. We do not know this, but it is true that she is on record as saying 'Do what you want with it, but know that writing it killed me'. Kane as a writer was strongly influenced by Ex

What: Copy, Cut, Post Where: Metanoia When: June 25 - July 10 Curated by: Paula van Beek Created by: Sarah Edwards, Michelle Ferris, Simone French, Vanessa Godden, Janet Hoe, Tassa Joannidis, Gabrielle Leah New, George Roxby Smith, Paula van Beek Metanoia have launched their Live Works season for 2016 and to kick it off Paula van Beek has gathered a group of exciting artists to create an exciting exhibition which fills all the fun and exciting spaces at the Brunswick Mechanics Institute. Van Beek describes the exhibition as a response to the rise of selfie feminism. I admit I am not an expert of Live Works, and I like that it is referred to as an exhibition although it is a part of the Live Works season because I think this is a more appropriate word. It is really a cross discipline exhibition with performance and interactive elements. In van Beek's artist statement she says that 'these works seek to complicate the discourse around visibility' and I think parts of

What: Deadheads Where: The Owl and Cat When: June 21 - July 1 Written by: Ali Viterbi Directed by: Scotty Wings Performed by: Rian Howlett and Sophia Simmons Lighting by: Arielle Cottingham Sound by: Jacky T Photo courtesy of The Owl and Cat Deadheads is an American play written by emerging playwright Ali Viterbi, a Yale graduate. Working within the frame of the the life cycle of rockband The Grateful Dead and their famous legion of loyal followers, the Deadheads, Viterbi explores the life cycle of a romantic relationship and what it would look as it travelled the thirty years alongside. Presenting this incredibly intimate story within the intimacy of The Owl and Cat Theatre is a perfect match and enhances both the play and the theatre. Viterbi follows the relationship between Sadie and Ethan, dedicated Deadheads, as they tour with the band over thirty years. It is written in a picaresque fashion with time jumps beginning in 1965 through to 1995 when band icon Jerry G

What: Hipbone Sticking Out Where: The Arts Centre – part of the 2014 Melbourne Festival When: October 17 – 21 Written and Directed by: Scott Rankin Performed by: Josie Alec, John Bennett, Dudley Billing, Patrick Churnside, Shaneena Clanton, Cho Cleary, Nelson Coppin, Max Coppin, Martin Crewes, Maverick Eaton, Sheridan Harbridge, David Hewitt, Pansy Hicks, Trevor Jamieson, Alison Lockyer, Maria Lurighi, Lex Marinos, Natalie O’Donnell, Allery Sandy, Shaeola Toby, Yumi Umiamare, Jaymee-lee Walters, and Michael Whalley. Musical Direction by: Nate Gilkes Choreography by: Adelina Larsson and Yumi Umiamare Set Design by: Genevieve Dugard Costumes by: Tess Schofield Lighting by: Matt Cox Sound by: Jeremy Silver Video by: Benjamin Ducroz Hipbone Sticking Out is a bold and brave and important piece of theatre.  It is produced by Big hArt in association with the Roebourne community and is being presented in the Playhouse as part of the Melbourne Festival. Hipbo

What: A Piece For An Odd Place & The Want When: February 5-8 Where: La Mama Courthouse Created by:  The Stain Directed by:  Anni Davey Performed by: Cleomantra Cutcher, Penny Ikinger, KT Prescott, The Stain, The 50ft Queenie Choir, Tomoka Yamasaki, and Rebekah Zechner. Lighting by:  Simon Coleman I am just going to say it.  This performance was one of the most rousing, beautiful, energetic and intelligent experiences I have had in years.  The Stain are presenting two of their works at La Mama Courthouse this weekend.  The first is a short performance art creation aptly named A Piece For An Odd Place , which is then immediately followed by an homage to music women of modern history in The Want . I interviewed Jo Franklin and Francesca Sculli, the two creative drivers of this amazing performance ensemble, for M.A.F. earlier this week but it did not prepare me in any way for how truly mind blowing this performance would be.  I have news for everyone – performa

What: The Glorybox La Revolucion Where: Melba Spiegeltent When: Aug 20 – Sept 13 Performed by: Mama Alto, Miss Chief, Holly Durant, Moira Finucane, Yeshewambtat Maharete, Natasha May, Lily Paskas, Clare St Clare, Rockie Stone, and Azaria Universe. Set by:  Barrie Michael Baxter and Isaac Lummis Costumes by:  Isaac Lummis and Tirion Rodwell Sound by: Adam Hunt and global influences Visual Art by: Jason Ebeyer, Brydee Ray Smith, Lin Tobias, and Josh Weeks Salon Manager: Nic Dorwood So, I need to begin this review by saying wow. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow! The Glorybox La Revolucion returns to Melbourne for an unfortunately short season at the beautiful Melba Spiegeltent and it is truly roof raising. I had the opportunity to interview Finucane a couple of weeks ago and she told me that Glorybox began as an idea 11 years ago, which inaugurated as The Burlesque Hour .  Over that time the ideas and concepts of the show have evolved but never changed.  The elem

WHAT: My Life In The Nude   WHERE: fortyfivedownstairs WHEN: 16-27 July Written and performed by Maude Davey Directed by Anni Davey Design by Isaac Lummis Lighting by Bronwyn Pringle. The atmosphere of the audience as they entered the theatre for this show was one of eagerness and excitement.  This season of My Life In The Nude is an encore, by popular demand, of the original La Mamma production in 2013.  The show was a sell out success then, and will undoubtedly be one again at fortyfivedownstairs. fortyfivedownstairs can often feel like a chasmic space, but the room has been cordoned off and, as a result, a great sense of intimacy is created.  The lush red velvet curtains and cabaret tables set around the stage make the room warm and inviting and bring to mind cabaret venues of old.  The stage is a simple thrust catwalk but the attention to detail is wonderful, including glitter on the edges of the stairs.  An aura of plush decadence has been created.  Maude poin

What: Have I No Mouth Where: The Coopers Malthouse – part of the 2014 Melbourne Festival When: October 10 – 13 Written & Directed by: Feidlim Cannon & Gary Keegan Performed by: Ann Cannon, Feidlim Cannon, and Erich Keller Costumes by: Emma Downey Lighting by: Sarah Jane Shiels Sound by: Jack Cawley Video by: Kilian Waters Have I No Mouth is being presented as part of the Melbourne Festival at the Coopers Malthouse until October 13.  This play is the creation of the Irish company BrokenTalkers which formed in 2001 and who have gone on to impress the world with their innovative approach to theatre making. BrokenTalkers are all about making accessible theatre.  For them that means performing works in diverse places but more importantly, creating work with a diverse group of collaborators.  They source their skills and stories from the real world around them and although they do work with other professional artists, their main aim is to bring authentic

What: Dirtsong When: 26 March Where: Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre Performed by:  Black Arm Band and Paul Dempsey Black Arm Band is a collective of renowned indigenous singers, musicians, performers, and actors.  They showcase and celebrate Australian aboriginal music, experience, and identity.  First presented to sold out houses as part of the 2009 Melbourne Festival, Dirtsong is a powerful musical journey through Australia’s cultural heartland inspired by the words of Alexis Wright (Miles Franklin Award winner). Set against a stunning backdrop of moving imagery and text, the performance features unforgettable songs performed in 11 different Aboriginal languages from some of the most extraordinary performers in the land who are backed by an exciting ensemble of Melbourne’s finest jazz musicians.  Guest artist Paul Dempsey also brings us some English language protest songs as part of the concert. Although Dirtsong is a concert, and is set against a ba

What: The Dream When:  June 4 -13 Where: Arts Centre Melbourne, State Theatre Choreographed by:  Frederick Ashton Musical Direction by: Nicolette Fraillon Composed by: Erik Satie (MII), Cesar Frank (SV), Felix Mendelsson (TD) Performed by: Dimity Azoury, Benedicte Bemet, Joseph Chapman, Brett Chynoweth, Noah Cosgriff, Madeleine Eastoe, Chengwu Guo, Rudy Hawkes, Kevin Jackson, Ako Kondo, Natasha Kusen, Natasha Kusch, Heidi Martin, Cristiano Martino, Christopher Rodgers-Wilson, Brett Simon, Jacob Sofer, Sharni Spencer, Jane Wood, Jared Wright and artists of the Australian Ballet. Design by:  Frederick Ashton (MII) Sophie Frederovitch (SV), David Walker (TD) Lighting by:  William Akers (MII), John B Read (SV & TD) Photo by Daniel Boud This season of The Dream produced by The Australian Ballet and performed in the State Theatre at the Arts Centre Melbourne, is a celebration of mid century English choreographer Frederick Ashton. Comprising of three ballets, t

What: Close To The Bone Where: The Melba Spiegeltent When: December 11-21 Directed by:  Debra Batton with Jo-Ann Lancaster and Simon Yates Performed by: Beau Dudding, Ben Hendry, Spenser Inwood, Lilikoi Kaos, Nathan Kell, Olivia Porter, Kyle Raftery, Ania Reynolds, Matt Wilson, and Dale Woodbridge-Brown. Close To The Bone is the newest show in the Circus Oz repertoire and is one of their boutique series.  Being performed at the Melba Spiegeltent, Close To The Bone has been directed by Associate Director Debra Batton and co-directed by Jo-Ann Lancaster and Simon Yates from Acrobat. Yates and Lancaster have been Artists in Residence with Circus Oz for several short stints over the course of 2014.  A tour was cancelled and so Circus Oz decided to create a boutique show specifically for the Spiegeltent.  Batton, who had co-directed the most recent Circus Oz big top show But Wait...There’s More was invited to create the show with Yates and Lancaster and a very spec