In his first Australian solo show, one of the UK’s most energetic and charming performers Joel Dommett is bringing us Conquer as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. He was kind enough to answer five quick questions, like we have done for many other acts during MICF. What do you personally find enlightening about comedy today?…
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A Public Memorial Service for Jon English has been announced for fans to come and celebrate the life and work of the loved Australian singer, songwriter, musician and actor. After playing Judas Iscariot in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney in 1972, Jon won the hearts of the Australian public. From then…
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The quite pleasurable Jan van de Stool (the character from the mind of theatre performer Queenie van de Sandt) is a woman who really enjoys he singing, dancing and therapy. It sure was a therapy mesh, but an awesome one. Jan questioning why her ‘workshop’ was supposed to be included in a comedy fest. But…
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The Adelaide Cabaret Festival this year has been programmed with the concept of what Cabaret could be and under the watchful creative eye of first time Artistic Directors Ali McGregor and Eddie Perfect, a stellar festival line up has been announced! Taking over from outgoing A.D Barry Humphries, McGregor and Perfect have taken to their new role at the…
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When the Sex Pistols‘ TV interview with the journalist Bill Grundy broke up in a barrage of four-letter words in November 1976, the incident and its aftermath filled the front pages of Britain’s tabloid press for an entire week. From this moment Punk entered the British consciousness and quickly spread around the world. It is…
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Kinky Boots, the musical from Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Mitchell, added to its awards tally of 6 Tony Awards last night picking up 3 awards at the 40th Olivier Awards. The musical which debuts in Melbourne in October won Best New Musical, Best Costume Design for costume designer Gregg Barnes and Best Actor in a…
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Furies Theatre are presenting their third production, swapping genders and bringing women to the front of Tom Stoppard‘s Rozencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. The Kings Cross theatre will be particularly looking at the role of women in the sidelines of the theatre industry, and exploring the characters they are often cast as. The play tells the…
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Hannah Gadsby current comedy show Dogmatic won’t leave the audience feeling warm and fuzzy inside. While a far step away from her manic-depressive character she has become synonymous for playing in break-out success Please Like Me, Gadsby is organically inclined to draw distinction to the somber over the sunny. A self-aware comedian, reflecting on shows…
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So the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is continuing on with the lols and we had some very good shows getting some awesome attention. At this half-way point, so many acts are looking to change styles, evoking a kind of journey with their careers each and every year. Aunty Donna likes to change things up to…
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Western Australian based collective Pony Express will be heading to Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens this May to present Ecosexual Bathhouse, an instalment that will explore the social and psychological boundaries between ecology, evolution and sexuality. The event will turn the gardens into an immersive and interactive performance area, intertwining elements of human sexuality and the…
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Boy, was it nice to put a 3D human being to the voice that is Matt Okine. Over the years we have become so fond of his vocal prowess and Instagram snaps, but seeing the boy wonder himself in the flesh, staring us right in the face, was an absolute delight. Having spoken to Okine…
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Since the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is in full swing, we here at the AU Review have decided to give a whole bunch of performers who have travelled far and wide to the most funniest month in Melbourne’s year five quick questions ahead of their performances. The first of these is with Alex Edelman who…
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We recently talked to Brian Lobel about his performance piece You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me where he spent time in people’s beds watching episodes of Sex & The City. As part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Lobel is performing another brazen piece of performance…
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“Turandot!” cue gong in the form of a giant flame-throwing dragon. “Principessa!” cue Turandot’s dazzling appearance at the top of the tall metal tower to descend towards the stage. “Vincero!” cue the dramatic note of Nessun Dorma proceeded with fireworks in the night sky above Sydney Harbour. Handa Opera really knows how to put on…
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The National Theatre Melbourne for the first time in its history, has been transformed into a hub for 30th Melbourne International Comedy Festival, hosting five shows over the course of the festival. CEO Nic Clark has said that the affiliation with the iconic Comedy Festival has allowed The National Theatre to offer a variety of…
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Calling all Brisbane mums. Desperately trying to keep it together? So is Jenny Wynter in Viking Mama! Join Wynter and release the mother warrior within from Wednesday 4 to Saturday 7 May at the Judith Wright Centre. Viking Mama sheds light on a day in the life of a Viking mother, as she tries to…
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London’s hilarious and refreshing comedian, Luisa Omielan is in Melbourne for this years International Comedy Festival from March 30 until April 9. In 2015, she visited Australia as part of the Comedy Gala with her hit 4 minute video clip Thigh Gap, that accumulated over 30 million Facebook views, expanding her presence on the Australian comedy scene. Following on…
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Bugle Boys really should be the first name you’d think of when creating a tribute show to the Andrews Sisters. Of course that’s the name – Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy is their most recognisable song. But really, the Andrews Sisters had such a wonderful back catalogue of harmonies and soul-stylin’ sounds. The close harmonies throughout their…
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If you’d like to get quite a bang for your buck in seeing two acts within the one show at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival, then Melbourne comedians Simon Cumming and Perri Cassie have got you covered with their show Simon & Perri Go Large. The show is set to be full of exhilaration,…
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A seasoned comedian, David O’Doherty is the force de jour in musical comedy. Returning to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival after two years back in his homeland of Ireland, O’Doherty settles back in seamlessly, in an hilarious night of observational comedy- with a healthy sprinkle of melodic ramblings. Still sporting his keyboard from 1986, wearing…
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After the 2015 release of her award-winning chart-topping Decca album, Greta Bradman is ready to bring My Hero tour to audiences across Australia! The tour will begin late next month and will encompass both capital cities and regional centres. We caught up with Greta before the tour to discuss the recording process of My Hero, the…
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Love will tear us apart. This song lyric by the late Ian Curtis of Joy Division seems an appropriate way to sum up the gothic romance tale, Wuthering Heights. Queensland’s shake & stir theatre co. have produced a rather faithful and intense adaptation of Emily Brontë’s story, but it also manages to add a few…
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Following the teased release of two works earlier this month; Perth’s Blue Room Theatre has now released the complete line-up for their April – July season. Comprised of seven shows the season aims to make audiences contemplate survival in all it’s forms; and hopes to prompt and embolden theatregoers to be self reflexive, to look…
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The legacy of Tom Green is one marked by a no-holds-barred approach to bold and often bonkers comedy. A preeminent influence on prank culture on MTV and YouTube, from his web series, to his cult-favourite film Freddy Got Fingered, his comedy walks its own path for its sheer absurdity and willingness to explore the unpredictable….
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April 23rd marks the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare. To commemorate the occasion the State Library of NSW is staging a major Shakespeare celebration; headlined by acclaimed Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly. The celebration will see Kelly launch his new Shakespeare inspired album, Seven Sonnets & A Song, in the atmospheric Mitchell Reading…
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After two months in Africa, Joel Creasey has returned home and boy is he happy. So much so, that he even had bestie Chrissy Swan asleep in his spare room because they had a sleep over the night before #BlessTheirCottonSocks. So much to chat about, so let’s get to it. Give us a debrief of…
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FBi Radio’s Brush With Fame is back! The online auction of musician-made masterpieces is back for a third year. And with just over 24 hours left before the auctions close now’s the time to make those last minute bids and help keep FBi Radio on the air. For those of you not familiar with Brush…
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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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Brisbane’s Jazz Music Institute (JMI) and New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) are teaming up to bring a new and exciting festival to Australia in August this year. The Essentially Ellington Down Under Regional Festival will be making its debut in Australia and be swinging by Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney offering high school…
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Emily Brontë’s classic novel, Wuthering Heights has inspired many different adaptions and other art forms since its initial publication in 1847. It has inspired everything from a Kate Bush song to a Hindi movie and a Death Cab for Cutie track, to name a few. Australia’s very own, shake & stir theatre co will also…
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