Momentum | WOW (Women of the World) Australia
The series explored what the notion of ‘momentum’ means for the feminist movement and how it differs dependent on various intersectional feminisms. The three events – Women Who Dare, First Nations First, and The Making of Men – each opened up important conversations and placed a spotlight on feminist and other social issues.
Happy Go Wrong | Andi Snelling
The archetype of the angel, mythical creature, saviour or inner subconscious is portrayed by ‘ French Aviator’ on skates, provides the comedy against the anguish this show journeys in to help Andi to see the light.
Closing night concert feat. Aspy Jones | Undercover Artist Festival
Aspy Jones features two other equally talented siblings in the line up plus what can be guessed as two besties who write killer songs, obviously all musically click and have the chops to do this for the rest of their lives, hopefully making mega bucks along the way.
Right To Party | Babushka
Large colourful blow up props sit comfortably within the set, bright and bold objects scattered neatly around the three microphones that accommodate the stellar trio. Add some big hair, fishnets and big socks to top off the vibrancy the cast portrays and a dance party worthy lighting show. The production was kaleidoscopic.
Forgery | ADC
All of the instructions are random, which makes each transition hilarious but also breathtaking. My eyes dart from each side of the stage as they transition and morph into many different shapes and movements.
This Ain't No Pussy Show | Kate Harman
Over the space of an hour we explore tropes of toxic masculinity, are presented with provocations on positive masculinity, look at the tangle of ethical motherhood, push it up against the dark heart of a lifetime wrestling with misogyny, and dance around themes of friendship, aging, empowerment, growth, and discovery. A meaty morsel, to be sure.
Common People Dance Eisteddfod 3 | Common People Dance Project
As soon as I walked into the sold-out South Bank Piazza, I was transported back to a school sports carnival – there were banners flying, colour coded teams chanting, and lots and lots of sequins. Videos of performer’s friends and family from across the globe played on the projector, until Neridah Waters (co-founder and MC) took to the stage, donned in Lycra, looking fantastic as ever.
Restless Dream | Bob Weatherall, Halfway, Digi Youth Arts & Alethea Beetson
It’s through Uncle Bob Weatherall where the reality hits that we are experiencing more than art and performance - it’s truth telling performed with rawness and honesty. Restless Dream tells the real-life journey of Uncle Bob’s efforts of repatriation and bringing back the ancestral remains of those who have died to be buried back on their country, back to Kamilaroi. Bringing peace and ensuring a real passing can happen.
Je Suis Toi | The Sunshine Troupe
The performance began with the three performers being wrapped, tangled, and constricted by long pieces of elastic. As they danced around, they slowly began to free themselves from the constraints.
The No Bang Theory | Oliver Hetherington-Page
Debuting at the Undercover Artist Festival and created and performed by Oliver Hetherington-Page, The No Bang Theory is a musical journey from dating disasters to diagnosis through the lens of someone who is actually autistic, unlike Sheldon Cooper and all the ones who came before him.
Brown Church | Naavikaran
“Brown Church is a work in progress”, declares Naavikaran, and it’s clear that they have much to say. Thank those Gods within Naavi that they have created a space to share this. The very clearly rehearsed and intentional poetry recited is of considerable expertise, sheening the POC queer space into the light.
Nerve | Lauren Watson
The display of sheer strength and determination shone through this work brilliantly, as Lauren lifts her body onto the Lyra, in which she cleverly pulls from one of the disassembled wheelchairs on set and performs a superhuman aerial routine with impressive shapes as the haze floats peacefully on the surface floor and the mood lighting stunningly highlights her willpower.
I Liked it.... But | Joel Bray
The work did feel a little self-congratulatory on Bray’s part from time to time, but this was very well balanced against the ‘tongue firmly in cheek’ tone of the night. As someone with contemporary dance training I found the jokes made at the form’s expense accurate and hilarious.
Boy Swallows Universe | Trent Dalton
Watching Boy Swallows Universe, I felt connected to my city and curious about Brisbane’s thick history of corruption and crime. The show was quintessentially Australian and seems fit to become a staple in high school drama curriculums. I was astonished by Queensland Theatre’s ability to bring Dalton’s world to life.
Street Serenades | Brisbane Festival
I seem to have spent quite a bit of the last week lurking around Brisbane parks (and even a council pool). Don’t worry; I was waiting to see circus, dance, theatre, sword-swallowing, and to catch some local bands. And I wasn’t alone, as I was in the company of a few other hardy souls, as we waited for the latest Brisbane Festival Street Serenade.
Piano Burning | Room40
On one hand it’s a beautiful display of the tangible becoming intangible, the materiality of this world being shown before us as temporary structures, our feelings of attachment and worship of an inanimate object being torn apart before our eyes, while the other hand is pulling me to leave this machine for what it’s designed for.
For Honeyman Street | Sean Sennett & Band
Having six female vocalists to call upon meant that Sennett was able to craft a set that touched on a different aspects of love, and embraced a variety of musical styles. From country to rock, from Bowie influences through to a Beatles vibe, and from funkier pieces through to soft rock. Not at all bad for just one hour.
Red | Dancenorth
The voyeuristic tone was set from the moment I entered the warehouse. A separate audience bank on the opposite side of the bubble along with the bubble itself were constantly there to remind me I was watching. That I was invading the privacy of the individuals contained within. What could have been read as an invasive observation of an endangered species’ mating dance very quickly became an allegory for the final members of a species scrambling to preserve their world as it collapses around them.
Ishmael | Dead Puppet Society
Dead Puppet Society has created something truly spectacular with Ishmael. It captured my inner child and had a wonderful sense of play in its sets and puppets, and paired it with some really grounded critiques of capitalism and the false security presented by constant competition.
Auntie's Fiafia Night | Casus Circus
Imagine two powerful women with vibrant flower covered moomoos, fanning themselves with woven fans, and big palm leaf plant beside them, laughing and gesturing as the performers take turns trying to earn a smile from them all night long. This shows just how respected elders and women are in Pasifika culture and that was an amazing take away for those who may not be of that background/culture.