Author: Jackson Kellaway
Review: Escape by Diavolo 2026 Brisbane Festival
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★★★★☆ When I told people I was going to see Escape for Brisbane Festival and they asked me what it was about, I didn’t quite know how to answer. Is it movement using structures onstage? Having now seen the production, presented by Diavolo | Architecture in Motion, I realise Escape is so…
Review: The Heartbreak Choir Sings From The Heart
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★★★★☆ The Heartbreak Choir is PIP Theatre’s yearly self-produced mainstage show and the first one I have been able to attend. When I discovered PIP Theatre last year, I was pleasantly impressed. The venue is so welcoming and has an atmosphere that feels like home. It might be the mismatched furniture,…
Review: Gilbert & Sullivan A Soirée Of Song & Satire
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★★★★☆ Gilbert & Sullivan (G&S) were a dynamic duo whose names have been ingrained in the memories of so many theatregoers over the decades. Although I have seen a lot of theatre over the years, my knowledge of this iconic duo only really extends to The Pirates of Penzance. I think…
Review: Mamma Mia! Brings Joy To The Gold Coast
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★★★★☆ Mamma Mia! Here I go again..? When I was asked to review The Very Popular Theatre Company’s Mamma Mia! on the Gold Coast, I was hesitant. Having performed in Mamma Mia! myself just one month ago, I knew I was going to be looking at this production through a slightly different lens to any…
Review: Strong Is The New Pretty 2026 Brisbane Festival
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★★★★☆ I am a theatre guy, not a sports guy. I did, however, grow up in an NRL household (insert eye roll). My memories include Broncos flags hanging out the front of the house and my parents yelling at the TV. I never understood the hype. I am, however, always…
Review: She Loves Me Brings Letters, Love & Lots Of Laughter
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There is something rather delightful about discovering a musical with no preconceived expectations. Before heading to review Phoenix Ensemble’s production of She Loves Me, I knew virtually nothing about the show, not its story, its musical style or even the era in which it was written. By the time the…
Review: & Juliet Brings Shakespeare To The Pop Era
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What do you get when you mix pop hits, ’80s and ’90s fashion, and an insanely talented cast? The Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre’s production of & Juliet, of course. If you’ve been following along on my reviewing journey, you’ll know that I love a good jukebox musical, and &…
Review: NAPA Ensemble Strikes Gold With Jagged Little Pill
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Jukebox musicals are a divisive genre. People seem to either love them or hate them. I enjoy them as productions, but their soundtracks have never been on repeat in my playlist. Jagged Little Pill, however, has changed all that for me. Inspired by Alanis Morissette’s iconic 1995 album of the…
Review: August Osage County Heralds Theatre’s Next Generation
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I walked into August: Osage County at Metro Arts on Saturday night with no prior knowledge. I had seen a production by the Acting cohort at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University before, so I knew they were good. Nothing, however, could have prepared me for the storytelling I was about…
Review: Tootsie The Musical Is A Love Letter To Musical Theatre
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There is something quite enjoyable about Beenleigh Theatre Group’s production of Tootsie the Musical. We went along knowing absolutely nothing about the show, which actually made it more fun. Taking the plot from the 1982 movie and injecting it with plenty of humour, Tootsie the Musical is a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The story follows Michael Dorsey, an actor who is struggling to…
Review: Duck Pond Takes Flight With Astonishing Grace
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★★★★½ Quality. Audacity. Humanity. The core values of Circa. Something the world needs more of. Since establishing itself in Brisbane in 2004, Circa has become one of Australia’s most internationally celebrated arts companies, touring to more than 45 countries and performing for over two million people worldwide. It feels…
Review: An Evening In Concert, 3rd Year Musical Theatre Students
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The Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre (QAEMT) has a bit of a reputation for a reason. Their alumni are all over the place working professionally, and I’ve seen a bunch of them on stage, usually with that “yep, they’re the real deal” feeling. So I went into An Evening…
Review: Freaky Friday Shine Performing Arts Academy
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You most likely know Freaky Friday from the 2003 film starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. You may also be like me and had no clue a musical version even existed. When I heard Shine Performing Arts Academy were putting it on at the local high school, I knew…
Review: Any Moment Is A Promising New Pilot Musical With Heart
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Seeing a brand-new pilot musical is always an interesting experience. The audience has never seen the show performed. They don’t know the music. The staging. Will there be dancing? Is there a band? I know I was thinking all of the above when I arrived at PIP theatre to attend…
Review: Beauty And The Beast Brings Magic To Brisbane Musical Theatre
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Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is a classic fairytale with the musical being just as magical. Premiering on Broadway in 1994 with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, it is a show that has certainly proven the test of time. The story follows a…
