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

Fences: a Sydney theatre review by Alex First

We’re among African-Americans in a working-class suburb in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the 1950s. Read more

The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? A Sydney theatre review by Alex First

Melbourne-based, I flew to Sydney to catch up on five shows over five nights. One I was keen to see was The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? Read more

Madama Butterfly: An opera review by Murray Dahm

This Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour (HOSH) production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly was first seen in 2014 and here makes its triumphant return ‘home.’ Read more

Silly Little Things: A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Rosie is a 20-something-year-old florist shop owner and party girl for whom life has its challenges. Read more

Don Quixote (The Australian Ballet):  Reviewed by Alex First

I was mesmerised by the performances of the two leads in an intoxicating production of Don Quixote by The Australian Ballet. Read more

Green Day’s American Idiot: A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Three disaffected young men are at the centre of punk rock band Green Day’s rock opera American Idiot. Read more

Wolf Play: A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Put succinctly, intriguing. Read more

Berhardt/Hamlet: A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

We are in Paris in 1899. Read more

When the Rain Stops Falling: A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

What a phenomenal piece of writing by Andrew Bovell (who wrote the powerful Australian film Lantana, which debuted in 2001). Read more

& Juliet: a Melbourne musical review by Alex First

A riotously fun, thoroughly entertaining musical for our new, enlightened times, & Juliet picks up Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet where it ended and kicks it up a gear. Read more

Made in China 2.0: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

I am faced with a predicament that I can’t say I have confronted too many times in four decades of reviewing. Read more

Cruel Intentions: The 90’s Musical – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Cruel Intentions: The 90’s Musical sizzles with powerhouse performances and a rousing score. Read more

The Rocky Horror Show: reviews by Henry Benjamin

With a massive musical intro, it was time again to see the Roxy Cinema candy seller part the curtains and send us off on to the wild ride that is The Rocky Horror Show. Read more

The Mousetrap: a theatre review by Alex First

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap opened in London’s West End on 25^th November 1952 and has been running continuously (save for the COVID lockdown) ever since. Read more

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