Since the age of Aristotle and Euripides, politics has been a subject for the stage. After all, history tells us that politicians communicate through a haze of buzzwords and double-think that situates them in a unique section of society. Since we already live in a world where a reality TV performer can be the US president, maybe in the future, the very idea of a “theatre actor” will be over, and only politicians will be allowed to grace the stage. Let me be clear: The President, the latest production to grace the stage at Sydney’s Roslyn Packer Theatre, is a baffling and futile experienc ..read more

Probably like many Aussies, I first encountered UK comedian Adrian Bliss’ droll existential and absurdist sketch comedy on TikTok (where he has nearly eight million followers), having been introduced by a friend. He’s known for dressing up as historical figures, personifying sperm, atoms and amoebae, fruit and vegetables, and producing really polished short comedic sketches playing all the characters as himself, in his polite and softly spoken English accent. Read: Comedy Review: Elf Lyons: Raven, The Greek, MICF 2024 There’s usually a bureaucratic debacle, or an argument between body parts th ..read more

Boundaries, binaries, categories. We’re all grappling with being in between something. But, as Sashi Perera reminds us, maybe it’s all made up? Or more grey than we realise? The individualist/collectivist binary, and the worry of being too white and not brown enough comically haunts Perera’s comedy show, Boundaries – a resonant dilemma for many people living between different cultural contexts.  Playfully existential and full of curiosity, Perera’s personal and social insights make up a hilarious hour of embracing the weirdness and blurriness of life. Together, we laugh in acceptance of c ..read more

Melbourne-based dancer/choreographer Sarah Aitken’s Make Your Life Count was first performed at Arts House in Melbourne in 2022. Since then it’s been restaged for Platform Arts in Geelong as well as exhibited as a purely digital work at various venues. The current season at PICA presents the work in its original form, juxtaposing live dance and movement with projected images. Staging the show in the Central Galleries atrium space as the opening work of PICA’s ‘Performance in the Gallery’ season, Aiken uses shadow-projections and digital technology to explore scale and perspective, appearance a ..read more

Andy Balloch is a vision in a black sequin jumpsuit. With a martini in hand, he welcomes us into his warmly lit apartment where a game night is ready to commence in approximately one hour. Coincidentally, about the length of the show.  Balloch is charming, warm and immediately likeable. He has stellar comedic timing and a great use of props combined with clever set design. The evening has a variety of different elements, including stand-up, sketch comedy, character work and slam poetry/lyric recitation. His material ranges from light-hearted reminiscing about growing up in the 90s with d ..read more

It sounds like a fairy tale: a suit leaves his high-powered job to travel the world and play with tiny bricks. But that’s exactly what happened. American Nathan Sawaya, once an attorney in New York, needed an outlet to assuage his deadline-driven life, so turned to a childhood toy. These miniature building blocks became his creative raison d’être, the medium that inspired his large-scale sculptures and allowed him to quit the strictures of corporate slavery for a life of whimsy and imagination. Art of The Brick first launched in Melbourne in 2011; the exhibition is now returning here as part o ..read more

When a strange clown welcomes you into their ‘scary show’, there are a few ways the night can go. But there’s no way to be prepared for the specific genre of unhinged brilliance that is Elf Lyons’ Raven. This is the kind of evening that bonds a room together in initial trepidation, subsequent awe and ultimate delight. Born from a deep love of Stephen King, horror films and general terror, Raven succeeds at being equally hilarious and chilling. If you are a fan of all things that go bump in the night, this is absolutely the show for you. And if you’re not a fan of the dark and strange, go anywa ..read more

Jump to: This week’s top arts news stories Top reviews for the week Jobs and education chatter this week This week’s top arts news stories We take a look at the arts news that pushed to the top of the heap this week. From Venice Biennale commentary, to mental health and actors, to revitalising a national asset, these were your top reads this week. Yayoi Kusama next up for 2024 NGV summer exhibition Melbourne’s first major retrospective of Japan’s famed nonagenarian artist is heading to the NGV next summer. Italian heritage group decries ‘biennalisation’ of Venice Italia Nostra says a new sc ..read more

As part of ArtsHub‘s partnership with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF 2024) this year, we are also sharing a twice weekly round-up of some of the best reviews from the 2024 Funny Tonners. If you’re unaware of this component of the Festival, it’s where the MICF arms a small group of ‘die-hard fans of funny to dive deep into the Festival program and pen engaging and enthusiastic show reviews’. Ahead of the announcement this weekend of the winning review and reviewer, here is a final batch of contenders for the prize. Douglas Rintoul: Brave and Bold ★★★★★ Douglas ..read more

A Case for the Existence of God makes a strong case for the importance of male friendships. Ryan (Darcy Kent) is a white, straight man who comes to Keith (Kevin Hofbauer), a black, gay man, to enquire about getting a mortgage. These two men who seemingly occupy very different worlds slowly develop a friendship over the course of the play. Samuel D Hunter, best known for the award-winning The Whale, explores material that is not often seen on stage with great care and sensitivity.  This friendship is based on what Ryan describes as a ‘shared sadness’. The sadness is in relation to their da ..read more