David Bravos

It’s Fringe World time again, and doesn’t it come around quickly! Perth and Northbridge have turned into a hive of activity. The show, as always, seems to capture the spirit of Fringe; daring, sexy, humourous, and with a little something for everyone.

The new year is often a time for looking back and we’re looking back some 500 years to reimagine Romeo & Juliet. & JULIET explores what would happen if Juliet had decided to pursue her own life and love. What ensues is a hilarious and heartwarming journey where you’ll laugh and cry as William Shakespeare rewrites one of his classics on the fly.

What did our critic think of CHICAGO at Crown Theatre?

DIRTY BIRDS is a joyful and thought-provoking meander through a series of scenes as navigated by sisters who run the full breadth of feelings between siblings, from love and longing through to rivalry and indifference. This may be their first time sharing the pen and the stage, but if DIRTY BIRDS is anything to go by, we hope it's not their last.

Before Rent became a cultural and theatrical phenomenon, composer Jonathan Larson was a relative unknown in the industry grappling with his accomplishments. His struggles with himself, those around him, and self imposed deadlines gave rise to TICK TICK BOOM, a semi-autobiographical musical playing for a limited season at Subiaco Arts Centre.

As you sit through JURRUNGU NGAN-GA (Straight Talk), the reality of life for Indigenous people and refugees evolves from poignant to absurd as the talented performers deliver through movement and voice a series of truths with passion and anger.

What did our critic think of MARY POPPINS at Crown Theatre? A world of whimsy and magic awaits you at Crown Theatre, with MARY POPPINS floating in holding her umbrella to inject fun and wonder into a night at the theatre. The timeless story- originally a book from Australian born P L Travers before becoming a Julie Andrews classic film- is brought to the stage with charm, adding songs and telling a different story than the one we may be most familiar with. MARY POPPINS is a captivating and charming show, brought to life with wonderful acting, dancing and singing.

What did our critic think of CATASTROPHES at PICA?

What did our critic think of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW at Crown Theatre? In 1973 in a small theatre in London, a cultural phenomenon was born. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary (and with no sign of slowing down), THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW returns to Crown Perth to get you dancing, singing, and laughing.

A CHORUS LINE is rightly a classic, winning nine Tony Awards among a swag of accolades. Anyone who dying for the chance to see it now has the chance, with the show taking over Royale Theatre at Planet Royale. With a big cast providing memorable vocal numbers and wonderful dancing A CHORUS LINE makes for an excellent night out at the theatre.

Rocking and rolling into Crown Theatre this month is ALL SHOOK UP, a delightful blend of Shakespearian comedies and 60s love stories all set to the songs of Elvis Presley. Rather than resting on stories and characters we know well, however, HAMA Productions made this their own and allowed the talented cast and brilliant ensemble to truly shine.

Platinum Productions have decided it’s time to give this winter a bit of heat with their latest production of WE WILL ROCK YOU. Written by comedy legend (and a man who now calls Perth home) Ben Elton, the music of Queen is brought to the stage by a huge cast and crew that makes a promise of the title WE WILL ROCK YOU. 

Monologues have been a central part of theatre for as long as there has been theatre, so what better way for three expert entertainers to show off their skills? MONO delivers nine monologues to make you laugh and smile, whilst providing the rare opportunity to see three masters of comedy and entertainment meeting right at the junction of the two.

COME FROM AWAY is the heart warming true story of people opening their homes, lives and hearts to complete strangers as happened when many planes with thousands of passengers were diverted on September 11, 2001. Following a blockbuster East coast run (with a few diversions) it has finally landed in Perth to provide some feel-good and fun.

THE BLEEDING TREE debuted in 2014 and immediately met critical acclaim, winning a heap of awards, and has impressed and confronted audiences throughout Australia. After a successful Blue Room Theatre in 2021, this iteration of the show has been expanded and enhanced for a run in Stuio Underground, a setting which suits the play perfectly.

COME FROM AWAY has won a swag of big awards and it seems that it never fails to win hearts wherever it goes. The hit musical is headed to Perth this month and features a stellar cast of including a healthy contingent of WAAPA graduates. One of those graduates is the talented Zoe Gertz, who discussed the show and her journey there.

THE MOUSETRAP is an outstanding play that truly lives up to its reputation as one of the greatest murder mysteries of all time. The intrigue and suspense are there for all to see thanks to a simply brilliant cast, keeping the audience kept guessing until the very end by this seminal murder mystery.

Perth Fringe World 2023 may have finished, but there will always be shows that continue to sparkle long after the box offices are packed down. One such show is ORACLE, which has been extended by popular demand, with the 100th showing of this circus/burlesque/acrobatics/cabaret fusion set for March 3rd. 

MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL has burst into Perth with flair, colour and energy. It is bursting at the sequinned seams with love, light, and music. So put on your finest clothes, hit shuffle on a playlist of guilty pleasures, and prepare your senses for an absolute feast. MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL is unlike anything you've seen, heard, or felt before.

In Virginia Gay’s reimagining of CYRANO, it is stripped back and rebuilt as a play for our times in our times, without giving up the power of words and the fantasy that contribute to the narrative. In its transformation, CYRANO becomes a multi-layered and quick witted masterpiece and a perfect way for Black Swan Theatre Company to kick off season 2023.