Shhhh – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Loneliness. Pain. Emotional connection. Desire. Sexual kinks. Consent. Read more

Idomeneo: an opera review by Alex First

Superb staging is a hallmark of Mozart’s dramatic opera Idomeneo, set on the island of Crete shortly after the Trojan War. Read more

Is God Is – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Revenge is the cornerstone of Is God Is, an incendiary play that explodes onto the MTC stage. Read more

Aida – an opera review by Murray Dahm

Verdi’s Aïda (1871) is a remarkable opera for all sorts of reasons. Read more

Robyn Archer: An Australian Songbook – reviewed by Alex First

The highly entertaining two-hour show could be called the soundtrack of the glorious Robyn Archer’s life. Read more

The Culture: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Will (Mina Asfour) and Katie (Laura Jackson) are millennial best friends who live together. Read more

Death of a Salesman – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Almost three-quarters of a century after it was written, the power, passion and desolation intrinsic to Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman (1949) remains intact.

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Rocky Horror Show – a Melbourne theatre review

Half a century on, the Rocky Horror Show remains a delightful, bizarre and engaging romp that encourages audience participation. Read more

Climbers – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

It’s all good, clean, innocent, engaging, adventurous and flirtatious fun, until it isn’t. Read more

The World According to Dinosaurs: A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Having just sat through The World According to Dinosaurs, I am sorry to say I can’t really tell you much about the narrative, save for an extinction event.
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Jacky – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Racism, disadvantage, “the mob” and money collide in the incendiary new work from Declan Furber Gillick, five years in the making. Read more

Back in Oz: Mamma Mia!

This show is not for you if you hate ABBA’s music, great singing, great dancing, great production and a custom-built heart-warming story incorporating lyrics sung by the Swedish four. Read more

Worstward Ho: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Irish writer and Nobel Prize winner Samuel Beckett’s works can be difficult to get your head around. Read more

Catch Me If You Can: The Musical – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Tony Burge, who assumes the role of lead FBI agent Carl Hanratty chasing boyish con man Frank Abagnale Jr. excels in Cloc’s production of Catch Me If You Can. Read more

I Wanna Be Yours – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Navigating the vicissitudes in a relationship can be tricky at the best of times, but cross-cultural unions, more often than not, face additional difficulties. Read more

Beautiful Highness: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Today, deteriorating mental health is spoken about far more often than it used to be, which is a good thing, but what does it look like up close and personal? Read more

Once (Darlinghurst Theatre Company) – A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

A brilliant slice of musical theatre, Once has an inspiring, ear and eye-pleasing balance of heart and humour. Read more

Happy Days (MTC) – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Absurdist and existential, Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days is a play strictly for selective tastes. Read more

The Critical Marriage – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

A new Australian work, The Critical Marriage by Mark Andrew, is the inside story of a relationship between a couple of intellectual heavyweights. Read more

Driftwood The Musical – reviewed by Alex First

Set against the backdrop of the Holocaust, Driftwood The Musical is a deeply moving tale of tribulation and triumph. Read more

Australian Whitney Tribute Show – I’m Every Woman: Reviewed by Alex First

The plaudits are mind-blowing, the statistics staggering, the downfall tragic, but her musical legacy lives on. Read more

Selling Kabul: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

We are in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2013, as the US troops are starting a major withdrawal from the country. Read more

True West – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Cain and Abel – biblical brothers at loggerheads. Read more

Michael Shafar – Well Worth the Chemo: as reviewed by Alex First

He’s such a naturally funny guy, quick-witted, endlessly talented and responsive. With his boyish charm and relaxed attitude, he welcomes audience interaction. Read more

The Marvellous Elephant Man – The Musical: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Nominated for eight Oscars, David Lynch’s 1980 dramatic biographical film The Elephant Man – featuring Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft and John Gielgud – remains seared into my consciousness. Read more

Berlin: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Joanna Murray-Smith’s remarkable insight, attention to detail and writing prowess are front and centre in a captivating production of Berlin at Melbourne’s The MC Showroom. Read more

Pear-Shaped: A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Having closely watched all 75 minutes of Pear-Shaped, I remain utterly confused about what I just saw. Read more

Rolling Thunder Vietnam (Australian tour) reviewed by Alex First

Rolling Thunder Vietnam is a deeply emotional, richly rewarding musical and narrative experience that takes you to the heart of the highly divisive Vietnam War. Read more

Julia: A Sydney theatre review by Alex First

Brilliantly performed by Justine Clarke, who, as the 27^th Australian Prime Minister, displays determination, indignance and frustration, I would suggest one’s political predilection will have a fair say in how Joanna Murray-Smith’s words go down. Read more

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever: A Sydney theatre review by Alex First

What a hoot! Read more

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