Storylines

The opening night of the StoryLines Festival was abuzz with an energy, a certain excitement as we walked through the glass doors of NIDA, Kensington. The StoryLines Festival is a landmark cultural event of theatre, art, dance and music; a forum showcasing the stories of Sydney’s Malaysian, Islamic, Indigenous and African Refugee communities. With the bAKEHOUSE Theatre Company in association with NIDA Parade Theatres & Tamarama Rock Surfers, the night began with an upbeat and thrilling performance from Sibo Bangoura on drums. Joshua from EmilyMax silenced the audience on Chinese Zither, creating a sombre and reflective mood leading gently onto special guest, Chris Edwards-Haines, a member of the Kinchela Boys Home and Stolen Generation. His contribution of an acknowledgement of country and self-written songs on acoustic guitar touched every member of the audience deep inside, he whispered to their hearts. Following this introspective performance, Anthony Treacy entertained by spicing up the traditional art of playing the Didgeridoo by adding a light, contemporary spin as he became the segue to ‘The Saints’ contemporary dance team of entertaining hip-hop, pop-n-lock.

The exhibition itself begins with a very personal and moving display of art works from the stolen generation and refugees from detention centres, created as part of a process of rehabilitation. While many of these pieces are for sale, the very individual touch of each work seems delicate and fragile. Each story, no matter how treacherous or troublesome, is under the scrutiny and examination from strangers and yet, they move you to your core. As you process through the exhibition into the Playhouse theatre, you walk in, peer through the darkness and observe the setting for the first play performed- A Land Beyond The River. This is a surprising and very thought provoking reinvention of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer-Prize winning novel To Kill A Mockingbird. Indeed, this play is quite simple and yet effective, as the talented actors strive entertain and all the while pushing a very clear and sombre message- a social commentary of 1960’s segregation in a contemporary application. This play is easily accessible and yet borderline personal. Through lighting and use of staging and props, this play is both a mental and visual spectacular. Junction follows as the second play for the night and in quite a pleasant surprise, this two-man performance is both moving and thrilling. While both plays are presented consecutively, they address very different themes with their plot content in stark contrast. Junction manages to use minimal props, high-beam lighting and two powerful actors to create an intricate space of dilemma and tension, with only your imagination as the woven thread to hold it together. Don’t’ miss this festival from July 31st until Augst the 4th.

Reviewed by Regina Su

All the Rage - Review

All The Rage

Written by John AD Fraser

Presented by Tamarama Rock Surfers

Directed by Leland Kean

Reviewed by Catherine Hollyman

If you’ve been to the Old Fitzroy Theatre, you’ll know that the small performance space doesn’t afford the production company much scope with set design. All The Rage takes this to the extreme. The plain white back drop, two doors and lone chair tell us very little about what’s to come.

Like all good Irish plays, it gets off to an energetic start with a good ol’ Irish jig that has everyone tapping their feet. Right off the bat, despite the accents being difficult to understand, Fraser’s sharp-witted writing laced with sarcasm shines through and it’s drier than The Great Victoria desert.

The Boiler and the Baker make the perfect comedy duo. I would love to have seen their relationship develop more. It felt like a cross between Laurel and Hardy with Tom and Jerry – a collaboration that earned them plenty of laughs from a captive audience.

There were a couple of special effects some of which worked some that weren’t quite as effective, or even necessary. Although the visual impact of red blood against the white wall is striking.

The ending crept up all too quickly which made it feel untimely and rushed. In the main though, I was completely absorbed, so much so that I forgot I was watching live theatre. I'm not sure if it felt like I was at a cinema or a fly on the wall, but real time stood still and I was happily swept up into a different world for an hour.

Booking Information

Dates: on until July 14th

Times: 8pm

Venue: The Old Fitzroy Theatre, Cnr Cathedral and Dowling Sts Woolloomooloo

Book: Here or call 1300 241 167

Tickets: $25 Conc, $33 Adult

Address Unknown by Katherine Kressman Taylor

Known for their commitment to quality, contemporary theatre, Tamarama Rock Surfers once again don’t disappoint with their latest offering Address Unknown, currently playing at Bondi Pavillion Theatre.

First published as a short story in 1938 and set in 1932, Address Unknown by Katherine Kressman Taylor spans San Francisco to Germany and chronicles the relationship between two German business partners via their letters to each other. German born Martin Schulse (Patrick Dickson) communicates details of his return to Europe and his reconnection with his homeland to Max Eisenstein (John O’Hare), a German Jew still residing in the USA. As details of Martin’s increasing sympathy for the National Socialists becomes evident via his written word, cracks begin to form in the once strong relationship between the two men.

Through details of Martin’s sympathies for Germany’s new order and Max’s inability to comprehend the regime, the once shared ideologies of the two friends become increasingly different and the warmth between them changes to thinly concealed distrust and ultimately hate at dramatic speed. The underlying racist sentiment and the frightening human ability to inflict unspeakable harm on each other - even those we once called friends - are themes that are disturbingly relevant today.

The Importance of Being Earnest Dragons

Yes, that is the title, well the whole title is actually The Importance of Being Earnest Dragons, and Other Classic Tales, As Told By An Octopus, written by Alli Sebastian Wolf.  It is playing at the The Old Fitzroy Theatre and is a production by the Tin Shed Theatre Company and Deep Sea Astronauts in association with Tamarama Rock Surfers Theatre Company.
This is a must see production, you just have to see it to believe it, you don't need to take any hallucinogens before you go it is all there - werid, wonderful and wacky! If you are stressed at the moment this is a good cure, it takes you to another world where you can escape and indulge in a piece of fantasy.
The Octopus is there in his armchair narrating and bring the audience into the production.   There is a band above the stage all in real 70's rock and roll costumes, they too become involved in the play as well as the music.
There are three stories taking you from Oscar Wilde to Greek mythology to glam rock in Hell!
The Importance does have dragons in it and if you have never seen this version, well I am sure Oscar would approve! The dragons fall in love and eat people, what more do you want?
The Greek Mythology has Hip Hop lesbian Gods, of course! Though they won't admit they love each other, jealousy comes in and an unnecessary death ensues. The last one is a rock off with the Devil!
The whole show is very funny, the Old Fitzroy is a great theatre to host it, it is small and they kept the lighting very dark.  The costumes and acting by all the cast was very good. I am surprised that the two Demons didn't pass out with all their head shaking!

Go and see it, you won't believe it and it will keep you smiling for a few days!