Blueback: a movie review by Alex First

With a strong environmental message, Blueback is a feel-good story about protecting and saving the reef. Read more

A Man Called Otto – a movie review by Alex First

Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks) seems like anything but a nice man. He likes to keep to himself and is curt to the point of rudeness. In fact, he is known for it. Read more

Slava’s Snowshow: A theatre review by Alex First

Vanya Polunin is to clowning what Sir Donald Bradman was to cricket – a genius. Read more

The Possibly True Story of Martin Gardiner: A Historical Novel

Jeffrey Cohen reviews the novel written by Graham Cohen. Read more

La Boheme reaches its 200th performance

Gale Edwards’ enduring and much-loved production of La Bohème will celebrate its 200th performance when it returns to the Sydney Opera House this summer. Read more

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat: a theatre review by Alex First

A new Pharoah has stepped into Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Read more

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (G): A movie review by Alex First

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is fanciful fun for the whole family. It is lightweight fare that will put a smile on the faces of littlies, their parents and grandparents. Read more

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (PG): a movie review by Alex First

Puss in Boots (the voice of Antonio Banderas) first appeared in Shrek 2 in 2004 before showing up again in a couple of other Shrek sequels and then a standalone film in 2011. Read more

The Lost King : A movie review by Alex First

Philippa Langley (Sally Hawkins) is a quirky, intelligent, divorced mother who suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome. Read more

I Wanna Dance with Somebody (M): A movie review by Alex First

The tumultuous life of the world’s most awarded female vocalist is put under the spotlight in I Wanna Dance with Somebody. Read more

Triangle of Sadness (M): a movie review by Alex First

A black comedy focusing on beauty, influencers, ostentatiousness, excess, pretension and power, Triangle of Sadness unfolds in three parts. Read more

The Banshees of Inisherin (M): a movie review by Alex First

What does it take to ruin a friendship? Read more

Moulin Rouge! The Musical: A Sydney theatre review by Alex First

Polished performances, magnificent mashups, elegant and evocative sets, colourful and creative costumes, and charismatic choreography are the highlights of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. A striking spectacle. Read more

Avatar: The Way of Water (M): a movie review by Alex First

Avatar’s magnificent journey continues with awe-inspired distinction in The Way of Water. Read more

Handel’s Messiah: a choral concert reviewed by Victor Grynberg

Since I attended the opening of the Sydney Opera House 50 years ago, I have attended perhaps more than 1500 performances there. Read more

Andrew had nowhere to sit, so he stood up and played: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

When Andrew Haveron walked on stage at the Sydney Opera House concert hall last night carrying his violin, his usual chair was occupied by associate concertmaster Harry Bennetts. Read more

Carmen’s Don Jose: Diego Torre speaks with Murray Dahm

I spoke with Diego Torre ahead of Carmen on Sydney’s Cockatoo Island, in which he takes on the role of Don Jose. Read more

“Carmen “ on Cockatoo Island. ‘Unforgettable and a must see’ says Victor Grynberg

Carmen is probably the most played opera around the world. Read more

Monsters: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

As children, what did we fear the most? That the boogie man will get us. Read more

Murray Dahm speaks with Carmen’s bullfighter

I last spoke with Daniel Sumegi before the Melbourne performances of Wagner’s Lohengrin earlier this year. Now he returns to Australia in Carmen on Cockatoo Island as Escamillo, the bull-fighter and lover of the gypsy Carmen after she has tired of ex-corporal Don Jose. Read more

Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat: A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Straight from the West End, the new, reimagined production of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat is a delightful, fun, engaging and dynamic family musical. Read more

The Phantom of the Opera: Alex First reviews the Melbourne production

Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterful work The Phantom of the Opera sizzles. Read more

Sunshine Super Girl: a theatre review by Alex First

Respectful, determined and humble. That is the picture that emerges of Australian tennis great Evonne Goolagong Cawley in the Melbourne Theatre Company’s Sunshine Super Girl, a moniker given to her by the British press. Read more

Gundog (Three Fates Theatre) reviewed by Alex First

The rough lot of an impoverished farming clan is front and centre in Gundog, a dramatic and confronting play with lashes of humour. Read more

A beauty and two beasts: Music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Under the baton of Simone Young, the SSO turned in a stirring performance last night from the two big Bs: Brahms’ first symphony and Beethoven’s violin concerto with soloist James Ehnes. Read more

Lunch with Umberto

A Little Lunch Music is a long-running series created by the accomplished Australian pianist Kathryn Selby in 2007. Read more

The Hunt: A Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus thriller

Faye Kellerman’s book reviewed by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen. Read more

Verdi’s Attila: another masterpiece – reviewed by Victor Grynberg

Giuseppe Verdi, in the judgement of many, was the greatest ever composer of operas. Read more

Urinetown: The Musical – Melbourne review by Alex First

A 20-year drought has led to the blatant exploitation of the underprivileged. Read more

Girls & Boys: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

A sharp and witty British woman unpicks her life before our eyes and what a life it has been. Read more

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