Category: Perth

★★★★★ When it comes to Aboriginality, who gets to decide your identity? Does it come down to the colour of your skin or the mob who raised you? Or is it just ‘a feeling’? In Australian colonial history, Tasmania came as close as possible to genocide. From an estimated population…

★★★★★ Steel Magnolias was first brought to life as a play by Robert Harling in 1987 in the US, inspired by the death of his sister from Type 1 diabetes. It was then turned into a movie in 1989 starring huge names like Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts, and now…

★★★★☆ When it comes to mental illness, does creativity belong to the illness, the medication, or the person themselves? Black Swan State Theatre Company’s production of The Almighty Sometimes tackles this question head-on in a gripping and emotionally charged drama. Eighteen-year-old Anna is an aspiring writer who has been on…

After stunning performances in The Lieutenant of Inishmore and Dance Nation, the WAAPA third-year acting students are back with a stellar production of Romeo and Juliet. This is a cohort that oozes talent and professionalism, and it has been a joy to witness their work as their time at WAAPA…

On Thursday night, FANE hosted the iconic American author and commentator Fran Lebowitz for an In Conversation at The Regal Theatre in Perth. In attendance was a sold-out audience of people eager for a night of witty one-liners and sharp observations of contemporary society. Fran’s Australian and New Zealand tour…

★★★★☆ When Tim Winton’s book The Shepherd’s Hut was published in 2018, it received strong praise for the unique vernacular voice of its teenage protagonist Jaxie Clackton, its depiction of the harsh landscape of Western Australia’s desert, its spiritual and moral reckoning, and its brutal, high-impact ending. Black Swan State…

★★★★☆ Which Way Home, presented by Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company, is a beautiful play filled with warmth, humour, crackling dialogue, and a whole lot of heart and soul. Based on writer Katie Beckett’s own childhood – she lost her mother young and was raised by her Dad – it radiates…

I arrived at Subiaco Arts Centre on opening night with little knowledge of what Dance Nation is about. Having only read the blurb, I did not anticipate the absurdity and familiarity that unfolded on stage. Originally written by Clare Barron and directed by Alexandria Steffensen, Dance Nation fully leans into…

Brutal, absurd, and darkly comic, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, the second play in Martin McDonagh’s Aran trilogy, turns a sharp eye toward sectarian violence and the fractured ideologies behind it. It is presented by the 3rd year Acting students at WAAPA for a limited season. Through its exaggerated bloodshed and biting…

Dragons are often representative of important elements of humanity. Whether it’s Smaug hoarding gold, Puff getting abandoned by an aging child, or even the dragon slain by St George being analogous to a generally intimidating situation, dragons are heralds of significance. This brings us to Dragon I, the newest show…

★★★½ Meow Meow is an international cabaret figure known for blending virtuosic singing with anarchic, unpredictable performance. Equal parts diva, clown and provocateur, she constructs shows that veer between glamour and collapse, humour and menace, intimacy and spectacle. And in Meow Meow’s The Red Shoes, co-presented by Black Swan State Theatre Company for Perth Festival, she…

Jaha Koo invites us into the story of his ‘home’ in a work that blends poetic, vulnerable storytelling with striking visuals and sound media. Haribo Kimchi is a hilarious, intimate and mouth-watering take on what it means to emigrate, assimilate and find solace in unfamiliar places. Presented as part of…

Parents are supposed to guide and support their children. But what if they aren’t able to do that? What if an illness is holding them back? More problematically, what if it’s a mental illness? How do we talk to our kids about mental health? POV, created by re:group performance collective…

Reuben Kaye’s website boldly declares, “Reuben Kaye already knows he’s an icon. It’s time for you to find out too.” Hard to Swallow proves he isn’t exaggerating — he’s simply ahead of the curve. From the moment he storms onto the stage like a glitter-drenched gale-force hurricane, it’s clear he’s…

Created by Tim Lawson and Simon Painter, Now You See Me Live contains bona fide magic of the highest degree, guaranteed to astound. This spectacular stage production reimagines the Lionsgate franchise, eliciting a quality of awe rarely experienced beyond early childhood.  The first surprise appears mere seconds into the show, closely followed by…

If you’re looking for a Christmas show filled with emotional depth, quirky radio quizzes, dry Australian humour and a triumphant ending, Andrea Gibbs’ Carol, presented by the Black Swan Theatre Company, delivers just that. The Christmas season is often painted as one of joyous family reunions and festive celebrations. But for…