Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, 21 April 2024   Reviewed by Len Power   Promising stormy vocal works by Baroque composers, Apeiron Baroque presented works for voice by Ariosti, Vivaldi, Handel and Hasse. In addition, there were instrumental works of other baroque era composers Biber, Uccellini, Cazzati, Vilsmayr and Bononcini. The instrumentalists were John Ma, violin, Marie Searles, harpsichord, Lauren Davis, violin, Brad Tam, viola, Clara Teniswood, cello, and Henry South, double bass, with Tobias Cole, countertenor, performing the vocals. Both John Ma and Tobias Cole gave the au ..read more

Ayşe Göknur Shanal, soprano Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye, Yarralumla 18 April 2024   Reviewed by Len Power   Ayşe Göknur Shanal has won many prestigious awards and scholarships here in Australia and overseas. She has performed widely in the USA, UK, Europe and Asia including Opera Australia, Turkish State Opera and Opera Queensland. She was accompanied by John Robinson, oud and guitar, Tarik Hüseyin, kanun, and Faruq Bin Buchari, percussion. In the embassy’s beautiful Lalezar Hall, the seated audience surrounded the performers on all sides, giving the concert, Falasteen in Song ..read more

  Presented and performed by PRINNIE STEVENS. Piano accompaniement by Dave McEvoy – Lighting Design by Darren Hawkins The Street theatre, Canberra on April 20, 2024.  Reviewed by BILL STEPHENS. Prinnie Stevens and Dave McEvoy at The Street Theatre. Already a seasoned performer when she attracted attention during the first season of the television talent show The Voice, battling her friend Mahalia Barnes, Prinnie Stevens has gone on to establish herself as one of the country’s most accomplished performers. The veteran of musicals “The Bodyguard”,”RENT”, “HAIR” and “Thr ..read more

Exhibition Review: Photography | Brian Rope Life in the Old Dog, Yet | Brian Jones M16 Artspace Gallery | 18 April 2024 – 12 May 2024 Canberra photographer Brian Jones says he is continually fascinated by the world around him, and that is reflected in his diverse and ever-changing photographic interests. He has a Graduate Diploma in Visual Art (Photography and Media Arts) from ANU School of Art. Previous exhibitions include his 2009 ANU Graduate Exhibition (A glass half full: portraits of an age) and 2012 Bowerbird Central at Hugh Davies Gallery. Jones has written too often, senior citizens ar ..read more

      Billy Elliot – The Musical.  Book and Lyrics by Lee Hall.  Music by Elton John. Free Rain at Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre,  April 9 – May 5 2024. Reviewed by Frank McKone April 16 CREATIVES Director: Jarrad West; Asst Director: Jill Young Musical Directors: Katrina Tang & Caleb Campbell Choreographer: Michelle Heine Set Design: Dr Cate Clelland; Costume Design: Tanya Taylor Lighting Design: Jacob Aquilina; Sound Design: Dillan Willding ORCHESTRA Keys 1/Conductor: Caleb Campbell; Keys 2: Vivian Zhu / Katrina Tang Reed 1: Lara Turner; Reed 2: Caleb ..read more

  RBG Of Many,One by Suzie Millar. Directed by Priscilla Jackman and performed by Heather Mitchell. Designer. David Fleischer. Lighting Designer. Alexander Berlage. Composer and Sound Designer Paul Charlier. Assistant Director Sharon Millerchip. Voice and Accent Coach. Jennifer White. The Playhouse. Canberra Theatre Centre. Bookings:02 62752700 or www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au. Reviewed by Peter Wilkins   It is almost two years since I reviewed Sydney Theatre Company’s production of RBG:Of Many, One. (See below) Last night at the Canberra Theatre Centre’s Playhouse, I viewed t ..read more

Written by Suzie Miller – Directed by Priscilla Jackman Designed by David Fleischer – Lighting Design by Alexander Berlage Composer and sound design by Paul Charlier. Assistant Director: Sharon Millerchip – Voice & Accent Coach: Jennifer White. Ruth Bader Ginsburg performed by HEATHER MITCHELL Canberra Theatre Centre Playhouse 11-24th April 2024. Opening Night performance on 12th April reviewed by Bill Stephens. You may not know much about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, or any of the other justices who sat on   Supreme Court of the United States of America for that matter. However, Rut ..read more

    The Shoe-Horn Sonata by John Misto. Lexi Sekuless Productions at the Mill Theatre at Dairy Road, Canberra, April 10-27 2024 Reviewed by Frank McKone April 13 Production Team Director: Lexi Sekuless Sound Designer and Composer: Leisa Keen Production Designer: Annette Sharpe Lighting Designer: Jennifer Wright Production Stage Manager: Katerina Smalley Production Photography and Film: Daniel Abroguena Interviewer voice: Timmy Sekuless Set Construction: Simon Grist Producer: Lexi Sekuless Productions Publicity Photographer: Robert Coppa Publicity Hair and Makeup: Vicky Hayes Major ..read more

  Fergus Paterson as Billy Elliot - Joe Dinn as Billy's father Jackie Elliot in Free-Rain Theatre's production of "Billy Elliot" Book and Lyrics by Lee Hall – Music by Elton John Directed by Jarrad West – Choreographed by Michelle Heine Musical Direction by Katrina Tang and Caleb Campbell Set design by Cate Clelland – Costume Design by Tanya Taylor Lighting Design by Jacob Aquilina – Sound Design by Dillan Willding The Q, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre April 9 – May 5, 2024 Opening night performance on April 11 reviewed by BILL STEPHENS Janie Lawson as Mrs Wilkinson wi ..read more

  RGB: Of Many, One by Suzie Miller.  Sydney Theatre Company at Canberra Theatre Centre Playhouse, April 12-21 2024. Reviewed by Frank McKone April 12 Director Priscilla Jackman Designer David Fleischer Lighting Designer Alexander Berlage Composer & Sound Designer Paul Charlier Assistant Director Sharon Millerchip Voice & Accent Coach Jennifer White Associate Designer (Tour) Emma White Associate Sound Designer (Tour) Zac Saric With Heather Mitchell Understudy Lucy Bell Marketing image Rene Vaile Production photos Prudence Upton RGB Of Many, One brings together three e ..read more