Kati Murphy 3/8/21 Kati Murphy 3/8/21

Seen But Not Her | Vulcana Circus

I felt like I was watching the inner workings of a glorious music box. The cogs in this microcosm represented by the musicians and their instruments, and the mathematics intrinsic to music generally, and more specifically in the complexity of a piano trio such as this. Also trapped in the music box, layered over these inner workings were the physical performers, who for me were like spirits or muses who represented the imperfect nature of creativity.

Dr Fed 1/8/21 Dr Fed 1/8/21

Hysteria | Chelsea McGuffin & Co and Backbone

I find circus to be a great interpretative tool to represent mental distress. Very much like mental health, the success of circus relies on balancing skills. The main act of Hysteria was funambulism (tightrope), with performers walking and even cycling on the rope throughout the show. What I appreciated the most about these acts of funambulism was when the performers walked together, balanced each other out, and helped each other getting to the other side of the rope. Again, just like mental health, circus is better with the support of other.

Ads J 30/7/21 Ads J 30/7/21

Chocolate Boxx Vs Charlie Love | Rumble

Haven’t heard of Rumble? Where have you been? This is the little game show that could. A night of performance shaken and stirred in all the best ways that’s been running monthly for three and a half years and counting, which just gets better with age having recently picked up best regular event at this year’s Queens Ball. Punters keep coming back month after month for the shenanigans and it always sells out. And nestled in The Outpost Bar, one of the Valley’s hidden gems, makes it all very Kit Kat Klub in all the right ways.

Kristy Stanfield 26/7/21 Kristy Stanfield 26/7/21

Lesbian Love Stories | The Local Lesbians

There really aren’t that many live shows around made by lesbians about lesbians for lesbians. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to make sense of your own story through hearing those of others, and to realise the commonalities of lesbian experiences in confrontation with homophobia, compulsory heterosexuality, the many layers of denial and the internal struggle between passion and fear. I was really impressed with the range of topics the 60 minute show managed to cover. It was well planned and well-written, unfolding in an entertaining and engaging way.

Ads J 22/7/21 Ads J 22/7/21

In the Arms of Morpheus | Robbie Curtis & ARC Circus

With In the Arms of Morpheus, Robbie Curtis not only solidifies himself as a performer to watch, he pushes the boundaries of storytelling in contemporary circus. Through outstanding skills and impressive staging, he showcases how well circus can tell moving and immersive narratives.

Dr Fed 19/7/21 Dr Fed 19/7/21

Collision | Casus Circus & Mad Dance House

I am an enthusiast of circus acrobatics and hip hop dance, but admittedly I never thought of these two next to one another. Both these physical practices involve impressive feats, but they engage bodies very differently. Bodies in circus acrobatics move vertically, and “slow” is the magic word. Hip hop relies on quick feet, isolations, and power moves. And while circus acrobatics and hip hop dance are so different, I was pleased to see how they were harmonised in Collision.

Virag Dombay 18/7/21 Virag Dombay 18/7/21

"I make work that is reflective of my own experiences or a journey I am trying to take." Chelsea McGuffin on the creation of her new work, Hysteria.

I make work which is reflective of my own experiences or a journey I am trying to take. In Hysteria I feel like I am playing one of the physical storytellers. It feels very empowering to reflect my own experiences through someone else's story.

Ads J 4/7/21 Ads J 4/7/21

How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse | Dark Stories, Brisbane

The team quickly established their very particular rules and statistics for surviving the undead hordes outside the building and reminded us to pay attention, because we’re about to be tested. And test us they do, as those of us who don’t follow their advice drop like flies over the course of the evening, until only a few remain. I, for one, definitely did not survive.

Nadia Jade 30/6/21 Nadia Jade 30/6/21

Banquet | Chevron Showgirls

I’m a sucker for sideshow, and there were some very neatly presented skills on the stage. Better than that, the sideshow was wrapped up in beautiful daydream, where beauties wandered in and out of vision doing nonsensical, fabulous, dangerous things. Sideshow is often a showman’s trick, a five-minute throwaway routine with a big bang finish. This was different, it played with the skills, made them into little stories, eddies in a dream. It was very nice indeed.

Kati Murphy 27/6/21 Kati Murphy 27/6/21

How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse | Dark Stories Brisbane

Words cannot describe how nervous I was before I arrived, yet there was something strangely comforting about this weird ride from the get-go. A little bit university science lecture meets AA meeting, with Rocky Horror vibes on slow burn; this one was definitely a creeper.

Virag Dombay 25/6/21 Virag Dombay 25/6/21

The End of Us | Rouge Theatre Co.

Full of sharp dialogue, witty exchanges and very episodic in nature, Fenton’s writing created a very surreal landscape which surprised and delighted. The thread that wove the scenes together was split into two, jumping between different stages in Meredith’s (Georgie Oulton) and Archie’s (Calum Johnston) plutonic marriage mandated by law.

Virag Dombay 23/6/21 Virag Dombay 23/6/21

Wanted for Murder | InsideOutside Theatre Company

In the second act of the show, the audience is handed a clue pack and have an opportunity to question each suspect about their whereabouts the night of the gruesome murder and their relationship to the suspect. It’s not every performance that you get thrown headfirst into the characters’ world and get an insight into their motivations and I enjoyed it immensely. Truth be told, I got quite a thrill putting my detective hat on. Maybe a little bit too much.

Virag Dombay 20/6/21 Virag Dombay 20/6/21

Undertow | Shock Therapy Productions

Using the conventions of Epic Theatre, Foster and Jones allowed us to see their transitions in and out of characters and setting in a blacked-out stage. This not only placed an onus on the writing but also connected the characters lives and conflicts, showing that the difference between humans might be a metaphorical change of hat.

Virag Dombay 20/6/21 Virag Dombay 20/6/21

Five Emerging Collectives to Look Out For

Virag Dombay puts her ear to ground and spills the beans on five exciting performance collectives you oughta be keeping a close eye on.

Nadia Jade 18/6/21 Nadia Jade 18/6/21

"People like the darkside, but they are afraid to show it." - Madeline Glasseater on making a feast out of occult and sideshow

A cult-theme sideshow but with burlesque, striptease, and danger. There’ll be lots of fire, sharp things, even a little bit of acrobatics which is a bit cute. Putting that all together will be like in a haunted mansion with paranormal activity. We wanted to do a really big theatre show for once and put it up on a big stage and use that to our advantage.

Kati Murphy 10/6/21 Kati Murphy 10/6/21

Cinemata Circus [May 2021] | Vulcana Circus

Vulcana definitely challenges any stereotypical notions of superstars, or a hierarchy amongst the talent; and they often blur the lines of audience and performer too. These are all gaps once thought impossible to bridge; and just another of the reasons, Cinemata Circus is such an exciting addition to the regular arts scene. If you want to be among the stars for the night, this is definitely the wagon to hitch yourself to!

Virag Dombay 10/6/21 Virag Dombay 10/6/21

Comedy Course Showcase, June 2021 | The Humour Experiment

As MC Dorothy May (founder of The Humour Experiment) said in her welcome address, tonight was all about stand-up tragedy and boy did the performers deliver. From toilet analogies to discussions to the social lubricant of alcohol to bad santa stories, there was no waiting at the door for the jokes at the Humour Experiment’s Comedy Course Showcase.

Virag Dombay 10/6/21 Virag Dombay 10/6/21

Wrecked | Life Out Loud Storytelling

Last weekend I went to Brisbane’s hottest storytelling group, Life Out Loud Storytelling, for a night of storytelling fun. The night’s theme was wrecked: stories about rust and ruin, which was quite frankly what had drawn me to the event in the first place. I’ve been to many storytelling cabaret-esque themed nights when the theme has been very airy fairy, so it was quite nourishing to the soul to have a theme that had some grit to it.

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Fertile Ground | Ashleigh Musk and Michael Smith

The dancers invite, cajole and even pleade with the audience to take part in the construction of the world at multiple times throughout the performance. With besser blocks involved, you can be guaranteed this isn’t your average audience participation. The interpreter guides us at times, showing us how we can contribute to the world being build around us. Not all audience members took up the offer play a part in the performance, but none of us could deny we had a role to play throughout. The wordless offers from the performers are deliberate, at times earnest or exhausted. We are invited help to build the world around us, or let others do the work, but we have to decide our role.

Jaydem Martin 31/5/21 Jaydem Martin 31/5/21

People of Colours | Naavikaran and Grace Edward

People of Colours is an important performance that has been created by BIPOC performers and creatives behind the scenes, allowing them a stage where they can express themselves and speak on various issues that impact marginalised voices and people of colour.