theatre Archives – J-Wire

Beau Jest

Alex First — Wed, 20 May 2026 07:09:16 +0000

A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First I can’t think of a Saltpillar Theatre endeavour that I have enjoyed more than this delightful production of Beau Jest. Premiering in Chicago in 1989, the romantic comedy written by James Sherman moves along at pace and is simply so much fun. It concerns a nice Jewish […]

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Cast announced for Australia’s Fiddler on the Roof

Rob Klein — Tue, 19 May 2026 07:23:38 +0000

Troy Sussman began preparing for Tevye before he knew the role was his. As soon as he found out he was auditioning for “Fiddler on the Roof”, he stopped shaving. By the time he sat down to talk about the part, the veteran Australian performer had grown the full beard he plans to take onto […]

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Eddie Jaku’s granddaughter reflects on “The Happiest Man on Earth”

J-Wire Newsdesk — Fri, 15 May 2026 00:47:03 +0000

By Danielle Jaku-Greenfield You wouldn’t believe how strange it is to see a man you don’t know perform as your grandfather on stage. That’s what I did this week when I watched Anton Berezin play my grandfather, Eddie Jaku, in the theatre adaptation of his memoir “The Happiest Man on Earth”, written by US playwright […]

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Tradition revisited: Fiddler on the Roof returns

Rob Klein — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:42:36 +0000

Few musicals have endured like ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, but its staying power has never relied on nostalgia alone. Since opening on Broadway in 1964, the story of Tevye and his family has travelled across continents and cultures (it ran for more than 50 years in Japan), returning again and again because its central questions […]

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Sydney Jewish comedy showcase returns with laughs, stories and a stacked line-up

J-Wire Newsdesk — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 23:51:35 +0000

Sydney’s Jewish comedy scene is gearing up for a lively night, with the Sydney Jewish Comedy Showcase returning next month as part of the Sydney Comedy Festival. Back for another year, the show features a mix of emerging and established comedians, each offering their own take on culture, family and the chaos of everyday life. […]

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West Gate

Alex First — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 07:31:31 +0000

A Melbourne Theatre Company production reviewed by Alex First It happened more than 55 years ago – on 15th October, 1970 – and was Australia’s worst industrial accident. I speak of the West Gate Bridge collapse. Thirty-five workers died and 18 were injured. In fact, due to several issues before the bridge fell – identified […]

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FLORA (The Australian Ballet x Bangarra Dance Theatre)

Alex First — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:31:54 +0000

A Melbourne ballet reviewed by Alex First How to create a compelling world premiere program with life-sustaining plants at its epicentre. That was the challenge. Combining the supreme talents of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre for a fourth time was a masterstroke … for the result is astounding. The creative excellence is next […]

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The Doll Trilogy

Alex First — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 06:38:12 +0000

A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First What an experience! I speak of a searing, at times humorous trilogy covering 16 years and lasting seven hours, in which, on several occasions, the characters eviscerate one another. And “yes”, I approached it with fear, simply because even for an unashamed theatre enthusiast like me 420 minutes […]

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The Diary of Anne Frank

Alex First — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 04:26:21 +0000

A theatre review by Alex First Anne Frank’s story is a tragic but inspiring one and it is played out in dramatic fashion on stage. As Jews, when her Dutch family was forced to go into hiding during the Holocaust, she was gifted a diary, which she wrote in religiously. It contained her innermost thoughts […]

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Asi Wind brings more than magic to Sydney

Rob Klein — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:26:57 +0000

For Israeli-born magician Asi Wind, magic is not about fooling people. It is about reaching them. Speaking to J-Wire during his first visit to Sydney, Asi explains how magic can serve as a rare bridge between strangers, allowing them to lower their guard and experience something deeply human. “My love is not for magic. My […]

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