Year: 2016

Interviews, Theatre

INTERVIEW: 7 Questions with Hellie Turner for Project Xan

Editor

A long time in the making, Project Xan, a powerful performance documentary, is coming to PICA performance space in November. The result of a five year collaboration between playwright Hellie Turner and Xan Fraser, Project Xan brings Fraser’s story to light: a young girl becomes intoxicated to the point of unconsciousness and is violated by three young men. Throughout the subsequent trial, she is subject to victim-blaming while the young men get a ‘slap on the wrist.’ Writer/director Hellie Turner tells us how the project came about, and how she and the creative team have approached this very difficult territory. You have been working with Xan … Continue reading INTERVIEW: 7 Questions with Hellie Turner for Project Xan

Reviews, Theatre

REVIEW: TANK | CHAOS Ensemble

Editor

TANK Reviewed by Rhys Tarling 18.10.16 TANK is a curious production. The adorably whimsical set design (Sara Chirichilli) and the candy-coloured lighting (Scott McArdle) bely a show that’s agitated, dark, and filled with dread. The basic premise: four fish (Izzy McDonald, Geordie Crawley, Tristan McInnes, and Nick Maclaine) occupy a tiny tank that’s fast becoming uninhabitable. Exacerbated by terrible conditions like low oxygen and claustrophobia, and coupled with each fish being devoured by their own neurosis, that by the time an inevitable murder occurs – a gruesome scene upon where every excruciating gasp and moan is lingered on to uncomfortable effect … Continue reading REVIEW: TANK | CHAOS Ensemble

Circus, Interviews

INTERVIEW: 7 Questions with Ross Vegas for Cirquepop

Editor

  Fremantle Festival is just around the corner, and promises 10 days of curated events that highlight Fremantle’s vibrant arts and culture. CircusWA is as a vital part of the city’s unique flavour, and their youth troupe Sliders is an integral part of the organisation’s mission of fostering circus skills in the community. Sliders is taking part in this year’s Festival with a show called Cirquepop, directed by the multi-skilled Ross Vegas, who has traveled the world as a circus performer.  He takes a moment to give us the low-down on the high-flying world of circus. How do you go … Continue reading INTERVIEW: 7 Questions with Ross Vegas for Cirquepop

Dance, Reviews

REVIEW: KAYA [Hello] | OCHRE Contemporary Dance Company

Editor

KAYA [Hello] Review by Cicely Binford 14.10.2016 Cultures fuse and create a hybrid of Indigenous, Indian and contemporary dance in the enthralling new work by OCHRE Contemporary Dance Company called KAYA [Hello]. Presented at UWA’s Dolphin Theatre, directed by Mark Howett, dramaturged by Phil Thomson, and choreographed and devised by the ensemble, Ian Wilkes, Lynette Narkle and Gail Yorkshire, KAYA is replete with prestigious artists, beautiful imagery, and stirring music. KAYA is dance theatre done right and done well. Noted theatre, television and film performer Trevor Jamieson struts his charismatic stuff as he and Melinda Eades guide us through two overlapping … Continue reading REVIEW: KAYA [Hello] | OCHRE Contemporary Dance Company

Interviews, Opera

INTERVIEW: 7 Questions with Sam Roberts-Smith for The Pearl Fishers

Editor

Bizet’s romantic opera The Pearl Fishers gets a makeover by Australian playwright and director Michael Gow, and WA Opera brings his revised production to His Majesty’s Theatre and WA audiences in just one week. Gow has made the three main male parts European, with Perth home-grown baritone Sam Roberts-Smith performing the role of Zurga. Roberts-Smith has had a very welcome homecoming from WAO in the production after travelling the world with The Ten Tenors; he gives us a few insights into the secret of his success. How is this role and the production challenging you as a performer? Vocally it’s demanding. Most … Continue reading INTERVIEW: 7 Questions with Sam Roberts-Smith for The Pearl Fishers

Cabaret, Interviews

INTERVIEW: 7 Questions with Amelia Ryan for Lady Liberty

Editor

Amelia Ryan is on her way back to Perth for a few days Downstairs at the Maj as Lady Liberty. She’ll be donning a bed sheet and belting out a few numbers in a reprise of her Fringe World appearance earlier this year, and by the sounds of it, we might be in for a slightly different show this time around. Ryan gives us an insight into the life of a cabaret artist, and what she likes to eat on a Sunday. Both sound pretty delicious. When you’re touring a show like Lady Liberty to different festivals and venues over time, does … Continue reading INTERVIEW: 7 Questions with Amelia Ryan for Lady Liberty

Interviews, Music

INTERVIEW: 7 Questions with Jessica Gethin for Beethoven, Beer & Bratwurst…& Bjork!

Editor

It’s October, which means it’s time to become temporarily German by celebrating Oktoberfest with beer and sausages. Perth Chamber Orchestra is getting into the Teutonic spirit with their upcoming Beethoven, Beer & Bratwurst…& Bjork!  at Fremantle’s B Shed on October 22. The program will feature old and new works performed under the baton of Perth Symphony Orchestra conductor Jessica Gethin. Gethin chats to us about PSO and PCO’s mission, what goes into producing an event like BBB&B!, and a little bit about her aspirations and achievements. PSO/PCO’s mission is to make classical music accessible, and to do this, you create events like … Continue reading INTERVIEW: 7 Questions with Jessica Gethin for Beethoven, Beer & Bratwurst…& Bjork!

Circus, Reviews

REVIEW: Blanc de Blanc | Strut & Fret

Editor

Blanc de Blanc Review by Cicely Binford 7.10.2016 If you’re in the market for something quite naughty to spice up your week, then look no further than Blanc de Blanc. It’s chock full of naughty bits from start to finish, as well as some jaw-dropping, nail-biting circus acts that might have you ducking for cover, or at least covering your eyes. Blanc de Blanc takes up residence at the Regal Theatre for their Perth stint, and this mad crew have plenty of the bubbly stuff on hand to turn the titillating night into a tipsy-turvy dance party. Blanc de Blanc is a celebration of champagne, decadence … Continue reading REVIEW: Blanc de Blanc | Strut & Fret

Interviews, Theatre

INTERVIEW: 7 Questions with Andrew Baker for Gutenberg! The Musical!

Editor

Holland St Productions are sure-fire winners, with a slew of awards and hit original shows on their company resume. But just to shake things up a bit, they’ve decided to produce a pre-existing work: Gutenberg! The Musical! written by Scott Brown and Anthony King, first produced in NYC in 2005. Producer Andrew Baker (who is also co-starring in the show with Holland St’s Tyler Jacob Jones) hopes to make Perth audiences LOL as much as he did when he first saw the show. He takes a moment to talk about his grand and probably very welcome plans for musical theatre in … Continue reading INTERVIEW: 7 Questions with Andrew Baker for Gutenberg! The Musical!

Reviews, Theatre

REVIEW: Big Bad Wolf | Windmill Theatre & AWESOME Festival

Editor

Big Bad Wolf Review by Cicely Binford 5.10.2016 Before I begin my third and final AWESOME Festival review for 2016, I must first emphasise how joyous it has been to see such marvelous work for children (and their adult companions) on display in our fair city, and express my regrets that I couldn’t devote my entire week to seeing the rest of what the festival has to offer. Well done to all involved for an experience that truly lives up to its name. Wednesday night was the opening night of Windmill Theatre‘s delicious Big Bad Wolf at the State Theatre Centre of WA, written by Matthew … Continue reading REVIEW: Big Bad Wolf | Windmill Theatre & AWESOME Festival