Rossum’s Universal Robots is a science fiction play written by Karel Capek and directed by Robrecht Herfkens. It is a four act play with two intervals, lasting about two and a half hours.
This production is set in the past and the main actors really set the tone of the era. Tod Trotman is amazing at delivering continuous dialogue and does a remarkable job with his mannerisms to capture the era. Candice Preston, who plays Helena Glory, is passionate and does a wonderful job with her expressions. She makes the audience feel included with her dialogue. The production includes a wide cast of all ages and the robots do a magnificent job at making you feel on the edge of your seat as they begin to take over the world. The performance of Radius, played by Stephan Pfister, is unnerving. The actors who play the group of managers continue acting in the background, creating realism to the scene. The way they portray the characters after the interval makes them believably older.
Both the set and costumes also do a wonderful job of setting the era. The set painting is a work of art and in between acts, there are massive changes to the impressive set build, giving the audience plenty to look at. The interior and exterior set is very unique, allowing the audience to view both sets at the same time. Lighting changes are infrequent but effective, especially towards the end, when there is a short strobe light sequence. The costumes are simple but effective. The robots wear simple white jumpsuits and the humans wear dresses and suits. As time passes throughout the performance, the costumes and hair changes reflect the passage of time.
Music is scarce but when it is played, our attention is drawn to it. Sound effects during the performance surround the audience, making us feel included. During the intervals, robotic-like music is played for our entertainment and during the second interval, the theater becomes immersive with the theatre staff dressing up as the robots.
It is very interesting to think about how this play was written in the 1920s but still captures the issues of A.I. that are rising today. I think it was an excellent choice of the theatre to choose this play (and to keep it in the era it was written, as opposed to reimagining it in our future) as the themes are still relatable and it is interesting to see how the robot takeover was envisioned in the past. This is a great show for the science fiction lovers among us.
Rossum’s Universal Robots is playing at Roxy Lane Theatre on May 23rd, 24th, 29th, 30th, 31st and June 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th.
There is something genuinely special about watching a child experience live theatre for the first time — and Freeze Frame Opera’s Little Red captures that magic effortlessly. Attending with my three-year-old, I spent much of the performance glancing sideways at her permanent smile, wide eyes and spontaneous giggles as she sat completely captivated by her first opera unfolding onstage. For a production aimed at introducing young audiences to opera, Little Red succeeds brilliantly in making the art form feel joyful, accessible and wonderfully alive.
Inspired by Mozart’s Don Giovanni, this clever reimagining follows Little Red as she navigates life with her mother’s new boyfriend, Don, before unexpectedly befriending his talking dog, Wolfie. Running at just 40 minutes, the show understands its audience perfectly — energetic, fast-paced and packed with humour, while never sacrificing musical quality or emotional warmth.
Charis Postmus bursts onto the stage with infectious energy, immediately commanding the attention of even the youngest audience members. Her performance is vibrant and playful, grounding the production with warmth and charisma. Sholto Foss is an absolute delight as Wolfie, delivering physical comedy with precision and enthusiasm. His expressive movement and comedic timing had both children and adults in fits of laughter throughout.
Sam Claxton brings an easy charm and humour to Don, while Michelle Pryor’s phenomenal vocals elevate the production to another level entirely. Her voice is stunning — rich, expressive and technically impressive — providing moments of genuine operatic brilliance within the playful framework of the show.
Another standout is the interaction with pianist Tommaso Pollio, whose presence becomes part of the storytelling itself. Rather than remaining hidden in the background, Pollio’s engagement with the performers adds another layer of fun and accessibility, helping demystify the operatic experience for younger audiences.
One of the production’s greatest strengths is its post-show Q&A and interactive component, where children are invited to ask questions and learn how opera singers use their voices by engaging in interactive activities and singing themselves. Rather than opera feeling distant or intimidating, Little Red opens the door wide and invites children inside.
Having previously seen director Penny Shaw perform onstage herself, it is exciting to now see her creative vision shaping productions from behind the scenes. Her signature warmth, intelligence and energy are evident throughout the entire show. Shaw clearly understands how to create theatre that respects children’s intelligence while remaining playful, engaging and deeply entertaining.
Perhaps most importantly, Little Red demonstrates why introducing opera to children early matters so much. When presented in an accessible and imaginative way, opera loses any sense of cultural distance or exclusivity and instead becomes what it should be: storytelling, music and emotion shared with everyone.
Freeze Frame Opera continues to prove itself as one of Perth’s most important companies for young audiences. If you have ever wondered how to introduce children to opera, this is the perfect first experience. Go and see it or get it out to your school — you may find yourself just as enchanted as the children around you.
The Black Swan Theatre Company, presents The Shepherd’s Hut at the Heath Ledger Theatre. Adapted by Tim McGarry and directed by Matt Ejertton and taken from the novel by Tim Winton.
Just wow…what a performance. I couldn’t fault it. I was gripped from beginning to end!
The story follows young Jaxie Clackton through the agonising heat of the desert, only to be matched by the internal agony of his past. While battling to survive the Australian outback, Jaxie stumbles across a dwelling on the edge of a salt lake in the middle of nowhere where he finds Finton McGillis, a disgraced Irish priest. Finton is isolated and desperately seeking salvation from a damaged past, purposely deprived of human contact as punishiment for his sins. The dynamic between Finton and Jaxie is remarkable. The tension, raw emotion and sense of danger between the two, created an atmosphere in the theatre that kept everyone on the edge of their seat.
Finton was played by George Shevtsov, who brought an element of compassion and empathy to the very angry and hot blooded Jaxie, played ever so powerfully by Ryan Hodson. Often I felt like Shevtsov was trying to tame an injured, wild animal. The two very masculine characters pushed each other to the limit and pressed each other until cracks from their past would surface, leaving the audience in a gasp, but raising more questions then answers. Each heated debate between the two drew the audience in even more.
A large sand-covered stage stretched almost endlessly across the space, creating the feeling of the harsh Australian outback. The set design was probably the most simple I have ever seen on a stage. But it added to the raw, exposed landscape, which set the tone and sense of isolation, loneliness and helplessness. The clear sand contrasted beautifully against the textured drapes, which added important visuals when needed and the lighting against the sand and drapes were beautifully orchestrated with the mood.
The stripped-back design felt intentional rather than minimal, as our focus remained on the physical movements and rapid psychological changes of the characters. The brilliant story telling by The Hat (Ben Mortley) and The Hair (Ella Prince) amplified the emotional weight of the performance. With their dynamic tones and rhythm, we were able to imagine ourselves in different scenes instantly.
Personally, I loved how this story is fragile in ego, dangerously honest, and strangely tender. Both men, clearly needing help but refusing to show weakness, are a mark on society and confront young men in crisis and how they respond to fear and trust. Clearly ashamed of their past, they are literally screaming out for redemption but unable to forgive their own sins or the sins of others.
This truly is a powerful play and you must experience it the energy of it. It does however, contain coarse language, adult themes and references (or abstract simulations) to violence including family and domestic violence which can be triggering.
The Bubbles Festival Melbourne: A celebration of all things sparkling!
Natalie Pickett founded The Bubbles Review 10 years ago, when her first blog educated those who thought Moet was spoken like the end of the word, “ballet”, with a silent T, when really, it’s pronounced “Mo-wett.” Natalie should know. When working as a tour guide in Europe, on a guided trip to Moët et Chandon, she confirmed this exact fact.
Natalie’s ‘Bubbles Reviewers’ Club’ offers members monthly rewards, tasting technique masterclasses and more discoveries and invitations via www.thebubblesreview.com
I met some of her club members on Saturday, 2nd May, for Bubbles Festival Melbourne, at River’s Edge Events in the World Trades Centre – in a room with a stunning view of the Skyline Wheel and Polly Woodside. Holding our complimentary Riedel sparkling glasses (included in our tickets), we were all thirsty to begin when Natalie welcomed our group and spoke about some important terms to remember before sampling the bubbles on offer. She reminded everyone to hold their glass by the stem, as best to view the bubbles in the middle. We were advised to enjoy the experience of each sparkling with each of our five senses; even holding the glass to our ears – as though listening to a seashell on the beach – and to take in the scent with our noses, as far as they’ll go into the glass before tasting.
“Bubbles – Just like a hug in a glass” and “ABC = Always Bring Champagne” slogans called to us from TV screens around the room. After this, we would visit all the Exhibitor tables to indulge in the exquisite selection.
In between tastings, we were served trays of various Canapés – including Truffle and Mushroom Arancini. We also indulged in a succulent seafood station and a cheese station – perfect bubbly food companions.
Ian was the friendly host from Clover Hill. He poured my first tasting with CLOVER HILL TASMANIA EXCEPTIONELLE MULTI-VINTAGE, (59% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 6% Pinot Meunier) – a light straw/green hue in the glass, vibrant citrus and stone fruits on the nose and crisp acidity on the palette.
My second tasting was the CLOVER HILL TASMANIA ROSÉ MULTI-VINTAGE (66% Chardonnay, 29% Pinot Noir, 5% Pinot Meunier) with fresh vibrant strawberry notes upfront on the nose. The palate was layered and creamy with red forest fruits, to a balanced, long finish. This one was sweeter than the first and a little too perfumed for my taste – still a lovely sparkling.
My third taste was the CLOVER HILL BLANC DE BLANCS MULTI-VINTAGE – Tasmania with 100% Chardonnay. This one reminded me a tad of the lovely Billiecart-Salmon Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV from France. It too, is characterized by aromas of citrus, white peach, and brioche with a creamy texture.
Tasmanian cool-climate sparkling wines are dominating at the moment, having taken out all the trophies at the 2025 Australian Sparkling Wine Show and Clover Hill is no exception, having been recognised by The Real Review as one of the best producers in the country. They are consistently ranked among Australia’s top producers with a 5-star Halliday rating.
Ian had a fourth offer in CLOVER HILL ROSÉ D’ASSEMBLAGE MULTI-VINTAGE (63% Chardonnay, 29% Pinot Noir, 8% Pinot Meunier), which I didn’t get to sample as I felt drawn to the French table while there was a lull in the crowd.
I met Jean Paul at the Philippe Fourrier table for a quick chat. Since 1847, this family Champagne house located in Baroville, is anchored in an exceptional terroir, the Côte des Bar, in the south of Champagne appellation area.
JP’s first French pour was the CHAMPAGNE PHILIPPE FOURRIER – ROSÉ DE SAIGNÉE (NV) (90% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay) with a light red to deep rosé hue and orange reflections, its fine and persistent bubbles adding elegance in the glass. The nose opened with ripe raspberry and fresh red berry aromas.
JP’s second French pour was LOUIS PERDRIER FRENCH BRUT (NV) – Bordeaux – France (100% Chardonnay), an exceptional French Sparkling. Deliciously toasty notes melt into the scent of golden apples. Gentle and harmonious on the palate with some richness tempering the citrus finish. For me, this was the best sparkling of the day.
The third French pour was CHAMPAGNE PHILIPPE FOURRIER – PINOT MEUNIER BRUT (NV) – Champagne, France (100% Pinot Meunier), with a beautiful pale-yellow hue and fine bubbles bright in the glass. The nose offered fresh red fruit aromas of subtle blackberry, hints of peach and plum. This one seemed a tad light to me after the Brut.
Lastly, I met Kathy at the Sutherland Estate stand – a small, second-generation family-owned enterprise located at a picturesque location in Dixon’s Creek, a mountainous area, past Yarra Glen in the Yarra Valley. Her first pour was SUTHERLAND ESTATE – 2021 BLANC DE BLANC SPARKLING – Yarra Valley (100% Chardonnay). Made from 100% Chardonnay in the Méthode Traditionelle, with secondary fermentation and ageing in the bottle.
Kathy’s second pour was her SUTHERLAND ESTATE – 2023 SPARKLING TEMPRANILLO (100% Tempranillo.). This renowned sparkling red is unique because we don’t often see a Tempranillo here in Australia. Sutherland have been making it for more than 12 years, and it’s all grown onsite. It has spent twelve months in seasoned barriques before undergoing secondary fermentation on lees in the bottle made Méthode Traditionelle, having a powerful burst of mid-palate fruit of berries, dark cherries, a bit of liquorice, with peppery spice and earthy undertones to finish. The palate is medium-bodied and well structured, with fine tannins and a persistent bead. A great match with cheese and charcuterie. It had the power of a sparkling Shiraz and I’m keen to visit their Cellar Door for more.
I tried the SUTHERLAND ESTATE – 2025 SPARKLING ROSÉ (with 100% hand-picked Pinot Noir). Whole bunches of Pinot are harvested from the vineyard and come into the winery and straight into the press immediately leading to the gorgeous pale salmon colour. The aromas are bright and enticing with rose petal, strawberry and perfume. On the palate were strawberries and cream. A delightful summer’s drink, but for the last glass of the day, I had to return for one last taste of the Sparkling Temperanillo.
Illustrator, Susan Kerian, who some recognised from her work with retailer, ‘Blue Illusion’, returned to showcase her original illustrations – perfect for ‘Emily In Paris’ fans and Francophiles.
All sparkling wines and Susan’s artwork could be purchased on the day so, I happily departed with my order for delivery of four of the LOUIS PERDRIER FRENCH BRUT (NV) from Bordeaux, two of the CHAMPAGNE PHILIPPE FOURRIER – PINOT MEUNIER BRUT (NV) – from Champagne in France and six of the SUTHERLAND ESTATE – 2023 SPARKLING TEMPRANILLO from the Yarra Valley, because according to F. Scott Fitzgerald, “Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right.” Well, that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!
All of the exhibitors offered great deals for purchasing on the day. I’ve never understood why tastings sometimes don’t allow that, but at Bubbles Festival, you could take the wine with you on the day, or get it delivered later, which was ideal. $5 from each ticket went to the Sacred Heart Mission, St Kilda. Natalie chooses a different charity to donate to in each of her state’s events.
It was a sunny 25degree day in Melbourne and I tasted some new and exciting Sparklings and Champagnes, met like-minded and vivacious souls, feeling the fresh bubble of life, therefore, I thoroughly recommend attending the Bubbles Festival.
Here are the other states’ Bubbles Festivals, coming soon:
Brisbane – 9 May 2026 – Get your tickets here! Sydney – 22 & 23 May 2026 – Get your tickets here! Adelaide – 6 June 2026 – Get your tickets here! Perth – 20 June 2026 (TBC) – Join waitlist here!
