Drama Dispatch

Written by Rett Visser Meet the Cemetery Club! Three longtime friends in their late fifties to early sixties, who are now also united by bereavement. Meeting once a month to visit the cemetery where their deceased husbands lay, their friendship and love for their husbands form the cornerstone of ‘The Cemetery Club’. As in real-life, each woman is dealing with grief differently, as every relationship is different: Doris is struggling with losing the love of her life Abe, despite it being four years since his passing, Lucille is kicking up her heels and spending the inheritance left by the unfaithful Harry, and Ida misses her Murry but realises that she doesn’t want to mourn forever. When Sam, the widower meets the ladies whilst visiting the grave of his deceased wife, a shy attraction to Ida sees cracks in the friendships begin to grow. Efficiently directed by Julie Neumann, the space was well-considered enabling the audience to feel like they were included in the conversation as the la...

Written by Jake Goodall Get ready for a night of high octane dancing extravaganza as Burn the Floor enters the Villa! Opening at the Brisbane Powerhouse for a short 3 day season before continuing on their National Australian Tour, this is the dance show of the year that you don't want to miss! Presented by Dance Partner Productions, Burn the Floor is on it's 25th anniversary tour hosted by Human Nature's Phil Burton. This Australian based production has seen many different iterations over the past 25 years from local and regional towns to Broadway and West End productions, proving that the story of dance is a lifelong commitment.  Directed by Peta Roby, and choreographed by Jorja Freeman, Alberto Faccio, Robbie Kmetoni, if you could think of a style of dance this production had it included. As always with Burn The Floor, ballroom is the featuring genre and boy do the production cast prove their talent in this tight 90-minute show. The movement is fluid and each dancer gets ...

Written by Grace Wilson The best kind of theatre is theatre that makes people question, reflect and consider how uncomfortable questions encourage people to act and change. There are not many theatre pieces out there that can make an audience consider whether to laugh or cringe, smile or grimace. However, The Reaction Theory’s ‘Scenes From a Yellow Peril’, as a part of Queensland Theatre’s Door 3 program, masterfully manipulates the uncomfortable with the comedic, the angry with the heartfelt, and asks the audience if uncomfortable questions are worth the discoveries that come with them. ‘Scenes From A Yellow Peril’ by Chinese-New Zealand writer and poet, Nathan Joe, can truly be described as poetry on stage, a turbulent experience of communication and heightened emotions. The audience is exposed to complexities and challenges of BIPOC communities across the world in a way that does not fit the traditional theatre mould. There is no way to predict what Joe writes next; each scene chops...

  Written by Mark Rickell "Company, Sondheim’s sixth Broadway musical, was his breakthrough to serious credibility. It received 14 Tony Award nominations, a record at the time. It’s a minimally plotted collection of songs and stories (more like a revue than a traditional musical) about a single man, his married friends, and several girlfriends. Robert wrestles with relationships and commitment. The show’s title has multiple facets, all important to appreciating its complexity. “Company” is the opposite of solitude and loneliness. It means being surrounded by friends and loved ones. It’s also the tightly knit ensemble of actors performing a show.” - Rick Pender, Everything Sondheim Company at Phoenix Ensemble was exactly as Rick has suggested above. A tight knit, and truly excellent, ensemble of actors performing this show. Director Tammy (Sarah Linde) and assistant director Luke (O’Hagan) are responsible for the set design and the simplicity of form and function they have elected ...

Written by Jake Goodall There’s something utterly liberating about cruising down the boundless roads of outback Australia, leaving behind the weight of daily worries and embracing the open expanse, except when there are secrets brewing. Playlab's recent revival of their 2021 hit, Horizon , captures this exhilarating sense of escape with breathtaking brilliance. In this compelling 90-minute journey, we follow Cole and Sky as they embark on a road trip deep into the heart of Australia. Sky, weary of the monotony of corporate life, and Cole, grappling with his father’s illness, find their newfound freedom punctuated by a forgotten mixtape tucked away in the glove box. But as secrets begin to seep from the confines of their vehicle, the vast Australian bush turns eerily menacing, and the road trip games that once brought joy now feel hollow. Written by Maxine Mellor, Horizon is a high-octane exploration of the Australian political landscape, pushing the audience to confront their own ...

Phoenix Theatre Company is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated production of Stephen Sondheim's groundbreaking musical 'Company.' This fresh and exciting revival will run from 2-23 August 2024 at the  Pavilion Theatre, Beenleigh Directed by the renowned Tammy Sarah Linde 'Company' promises to deliver an unforgettable theatrical experience. With a stellar cast and an innovative creative team, this production aims to capture the essence of Sondheim's visionary work while offering a contemporary twist that will resonate with audiences today. 'Company' first premiered on Broadway in 1970 and has since become a cornerstone of musical theatre. The story revolves around Bobby, a bachelor celebrating his 35th birthday, and his interactions with his married friends. Through a series of vignettes, the musical explores themes of love, commitment, and the complexities of modern relationships. With a score featuring some of Sondheim's most iconic songs, ...