Author: Jodie Sloan

she/her Brisbane/Meanjin I like fancy cocktails, pro wrestling, and spooky shit.

Hawthorn Arts Centre to present Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince

In association with Fremantle based Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, Hawthorn Arts Centre have announced a one off performance of an adaptation of beloved children’s book The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Adapted by Simon Clarke, and directed by Michael Barlow, this acclaimed production of one of the most widely read books in history (and the fourth most…

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Pilobolus’ SHADOWLAND to return to Australia for national tour

After a hugely successful run 2014, American dance troupe Pilobolus are returning to Australia with their innovative show Shadowland, touring the country in August and September this year. Following a young girl as she falls asleep and descends into the Shadowland, meeting all manner of strange creatures along the way, the show is part dance, part…

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Book Review: The Midnight Watch by David Dyer (Penguin Books, 2016)

It has just gone midnight on April 15 1912, and Herbert Stone — second officer aboard the SS Californian — is about to take watch. Across the Atlantic ice field that has halted his own ship’s progress for the night lies another, a passenger steamer, her lights dim. Stone is expecting a quiet night, but when…

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Anywhere Festival Review: Gremlins, Red Hill Skate Arena, Brisbane (performances to May 21)

A curious race of flight-obsessed creatures has crash landed in the remains of the Red Hill Skate Arena, just outside the Brisbane CBD. Eager to get back to “upground”, the Gremlins have thrown open the cabin doors, inviting passengers to join them as they take to the skies with their budget airline Airlinius Hippopotamus. Please…

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Fishamble’s Swing to visit Brisbane Powerhouse

Irish theatre group Fishamble are bringing their hit romantic comedy Swing to the Brisbane Powerhouse as part of a ten venue Australian tour, slated to play the Brisbane River venue in late May. Following the tale of Joe and May, the show tells the story of two strangers who meet at a swing dance class. Swing…

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Theatre Review: VELVET, Cremorne Theatre, QPAC (performances to 15th May)

After a successful run at the Brisbane Powerhouse during last year’s Brisbane Festival, raucous disco cabaret VELVET made a triumphant return to the River City, taking over the Cremorne Theatre at QPAC. Once a huge fan of the standard cabaret fare, the borderline offensive humour and the sexy-but-kinda-weird acts offered by shows like Club Swizzle, Absinthe, and La…

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Top 5 must-see shows at Anywhere Festival 2016

On Thursday, Anywhere Festival opens in Brisbane, for another month of innovative and independent performance, taking place just about anywhere except a theatre. With so much going on, us good folks here at the AU Review have decided to make things a little easier for you and compiled a list of the top 5 shows you’d…

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At Last: The Etta James Story to return to the Sydney Opera House

After a sold out season at Arts Centre Melbourne, At Last: The Etta James Story is set to return to the Sydney Opera House for a one week engagement in mid July. First premièring in 2013, the show has been wowing audiences across Australia and New Zealand, telling the story of legendary soul singer Etta James, who did…

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Darwin Festival announces first major acts for 2016 season

The Darwin Festival is set to return to the Northern Territory from the 4th to the 21st August, offering audiences nearly three weeks of theatre, music, comedy, dance, and more. Ahead of the full programme launch, festival organisers have announced some of the major productions festival-goers can look forward to this winter. From the Santos Opening Night…

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Kirby Shaw to headline International Singers Festivals in Brisbane and Melbourne

“Empowering through the arts.” That’s the motto of Melbourne based group the School of Hard Knocks, who aim to engage and encourage people through performance, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, boosting their confidence and offering them a place in a welcoming community. This year, the school’s International Singers Festival, already a success in Melbourne, will, for the first…

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Join Joel Carnegie for a live recording of radio cabaret STARDUST: The Col Brain Story

For more than twenty years, a locked wooden dresser sat ignored in the home of broadcaster and musician Joel Carnegie. When it was finally opened, a treasure trove belonging to Joel’s grandfather, swing musician Col Brain, was revealed. Now, in a unique event as part of Geelong After Dark, Joel, along with the Geelong West Brass…

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Gustoff Gremlin on aeronautical engineering, Stefan’s Big Sky Pricker, and why Brisbane is the perfect spot to launch a new budget airline.

In 2010, a family of green-skinned creatures crash landed at Woodford Folk Festival and, for the past six years, have been trying to get back in the air. After appearances at the Adelaide Fringe and Cairns Festival, Anywhere Festival has invited the Gremlins back to make another attempt at taking to the skies, and Brisbane…

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Ilan Wittenberg’s Bare Truth featured as part of Head On Photo Festival

2015 Auckland photographer of the year Ilan Wittenberg will present his latest portfolio Bare Truth as part of this year’s Head On Photo Festival, exhibiting his work in Sydney in late May. Photographed over a year, Wittenberg’s pieces feature striking monochrome portraits of a diverse selection of New Zealand men, all stripped to the waist. The men are made…

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Billy Crystal to return to Australia for winter tour

Comedy legend Billy Crystal, along with Gold Logie nominated television presenter Andrew Denton, will be touring the country in July and August. Best known for his roles in movies such as When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, and Analyze This, as well as his nine-time stint as Oscars host, Crystal will sit down in conversation with Denton…

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Making A Murderer attorneys to tour Australia

Netflix fans rejoice! Dean Strang and Jerry Buting, defence attorneys on binge watch favourite Making A Murderer will visit Australia later this year, speaking to audiences across the country about the show and the American legal system. Australian fans are invited to watch and participate in a moderated discussion and Q&A session with the two lawyers, with five dates set…

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Zoe Coombs Marr takes home the Barry at the 2016 MICF Awards

As the 30th Melbourne International Comedy Festival drew to a close, thoughts turned to the annual awards ceremony and the announcement of the recipient of the prestigious Barry. Named for festival patron and Aussie icon Barry Humphries, the award recognises the Most Outstanding Comedy Festival Show. The 2016 award went to Australian Zoe Coombs Marr, for her show Trigger Warning, making…

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The Delighted Spirit: Shakespeare at UQ (events running until November 2016)

2016 marks the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, arguably the most famous name in English literature. Ready to usher in this literary milestone, the University of Queensland has put together an impressive line-up of events. These include public lectures, symposiums, film screenings, and of course, theatrical performances, all aimed at celebrating the incredible oeuvre…

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ephemeral traces – UQ Art Museum (runs to June 26th)

Recently opened at the UQ Art Museum, ephemeral traces: Brisbane’s artist-run scene in the 1980s is a sister exhibition to their 2012 offering Return to sender, exploring the work of a select group of Brisbane artists during the mid 1980s. Where Michele Helmrich’s Return to sender focused on the artists driven out of Queensland by the conservative John Bjelke-Petersen government, ephemeral…

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Festival Review: Rock And Roll Writers Festival

The first weekend of April saw the inaugural Rock And Roll Writers Festival take over Brisbane music venue The Brightside for two days of discussion and debate, devoted to the strong relationship between music and literature. A coup for the Brisbane arts scene, festival organisers Leanne de Souza and Joe Woolley brought together a killer line-up of…

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Comedy Review: Strong Female Character – Brisbane Powerhouse (performances to 20th March)

As a card carrying feminist, my secret desire to be (and, let’s face it, be with) Indiana Jones always felt like something I had to suppress. Not because I didn’t want to get chased by giant boulders or offer up some great one-liners or have someone write “LOVE YOU” on their eyelids (I’ll win the…

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Scoundrel and feminist Rowena Hutson on growing up, wisecracking movie heroes, and the power of pop culture.

Inspired by a childhood growing up idolising Indiana Jones and Wolverine, though never the women that starred alongside them, Rowena Hutson’s show Strong Female Character examines the problematic relationships we have with the flawed male leads and their forgettable female counterparts. Ahead of her run at the Brisbane Comedy Festival, Rowena spoke to the AU Review about the…

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5 things to see at A Rock & Roll Writers Festival

The inaugural Rock & Roll Writers Festival takes over Brisbane’s Brightside on the first weekend of April. With events staggered across the two days, you won’t have to miss a single moment of the action, but just in case you need a beer break in between all the sex, drugs, and rock and roll, here’s our…

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Ruckus Slam – New Globe Theatre, Brisbane (monthly)

Once a month, Fortitude Valley’s New Globe Theatre plays host to the antics of Ruckus Slam, an open mic poetry slam, where first timers and experienced poets alike are judged by a tin foil robot with dinosaur score cards. No, really. That’s what happens. February’s event showcased work from Singapore based poets Stephanie Dogfoot and Deborah…

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A Rock & Roll Writers Festival: Full line-up revealed!

On Wednesday night, at West End’s Avid Reader, A Rock & Roll Writers Festival directors Leanne de Souza and Joe Woolley revealed the full program of events and speakers for the inaugural April event – and once you take a look at what’s in store, you’ll understand exactly why Sydney and Melbourne are so annoyed that little ol’…

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