Cultural Binge – independent theatre reviews from Sydney, Australia (mostly).
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The Lifespan of a Fact ★★★1/2
Written by Jeremy Kareken and David Murrell and Gordon Farrell. Sydney Theatre Company. 20 September – 22 October, 2022. A thought-provoking, hilarious script. A beloved Australian actress. Sydney Theatre Company’s Covid-delayed production of Broadway hit, The Lifespan of a Fact, is finally here with the weight of expectation behind it. And it’s good. Really good.…
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Photograph 51 ★★★★
Written by Anna Zeigler. Ensemble Theatre. 2 September – 8 October 2022. This is nice theatre. That’s not a dig by any means. I need nice theatre in my life. Theatre that tickles at your brain and your emotions, filled with language that sings and moments that make you smile, and scoff, and frown. At…
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A Raisin in the Sun ★★★★1/2
Written by Lorraine Hansberry. Sydney Theatre Company. 27 August – 15 October 2022. As the lights came up at the end of Sydney Theatre Company’s production of A Raisin in the Sun I was angry. My reaction to the Younger family was at odds with the play’s intentions. Pack of proud fools! I was mad…
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Whitefella Yella Tree ★★★★
Written by Dylan Van Den Berg. Griffin Theatre, Sydney. World Premiere. 19 August – 23 September 2022. Whitefella Yella Tree is great work all round; a uniquely Australian story told by a largely indigenious cast and crew. I wanted it to be both longer and more expansive; and smaller and more intimate at the same…
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How To Defend Yourself ★★★★★
Written by Liliana Padilla. An Outhouse Theatre Co & Red Line Productions Production. The Old Fitz Theatre, Sydney. Australian Premiere. 11 August – 3 September 2022. In the immediate aftermath of a violent rape on campus, a group of college students meet up to take a self-defense course. As they learn to use their bodies…
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The One ★★★1/2
Written by Vanessa Bates. Ensemble Theatre, Sydney. World Premiere. 22 July – 27 August 2022. Read the full review on The Queer Review.
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The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde ★★★★★
Adapted by Kip Williams. Based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. World Premiere. Sydney Theatre Company. 8 August – 10 September. This is another example of fascinatingly immersive, multi-disciplined theatre that feels easily accessible to all. I’d love to see Kip Williams’ create one more show like this to cap off a theatrical trilogy…
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Welcome to Cultural Binge
The rating system is simple: ★★★★★ – Terrific, world-standard. Don’t miss. ★★★★ – Great, definitely worth seeing. ★★★ – Good. Perfectly entertaining. Recommended. Individual mileage may vary. ★★ – Fine. Flawed and not really recommended, but you may find something to appreciate in it. ★ – Bad (& possibly offensive). See more reviews over at…
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Jekyll & Hyde ★★★
Book & Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, Music by Frank Wildhorn. Hayes Theatre Sydney. 29 July – 27 August 2022. The Hayes Theatre’s revisionist version of Leslie Bricusse and Frank Wildhorn’s 1990 musical Jekyll & Hyde is a whole lot to take in. Bold, inventive and wildly uneven. There’s a lot to love and a lot…
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Albion ★★★★
Written by Mike Barlett. A Secret House, New Ghosts Theatre Company Production. Seymour Centre, Sydney. Australian Premiere. 27 July – 20 August 2022. Read the review on The Queer Review.
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