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Tracks After Twilight – Tales in the Shadows

Tracks After Twilight - Tales in the Shadows

Tracks After Twilight – Tales in the Shadows Rating

★★★★★

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“It’s too late to leave, the door is already locked.”

These chilling words set the tone for one of the most innovative and immersive theatre experiences you’ll ever experience this century, or the last century for that matter.

As rail mysteries of the yesteryear are revealed at The Railway Museum, there couldn’t be a better setting for “Tracks after Twilight – Tales in the Shadows.” As you’re guided among the historic carriages and locomotives, you’ll start to picture the harsh conditions railway workers once endured. You’ll also gain a sense of what rail travel was once like, especially when piled into a crammed carriage where the air is thick with the ghosts and eerie tales.

Any romantic notions of railway travel may be dispelled, or heightened, depending on your leanings. As you’re taken back to a time way before public transport was taken behind the safety of mobile phones and noise-cancelling headphones, you’re confronted with the quirks of your fellow passengers for a train ride unlike any other.

Tracks After Twilight - Tales in the Shadows
Tracks After Twilight - Tales in the Shadows
Tracks After Twilight - Tales in the Shadows
Tracks After Twilight - Tales in the Shadows

Held alongside the Midland train line at The Railway Museum, and run by Rail Heritage WA, the modern trains whizzing by further add to the atmosphere and juxtaposition of the past and present.

Without giving too much away, the allure lies in the creepy surprises. So be prepared for nocturnal moans, audience participation and partial nudity as you’re regaled with stories inspired by real events, with plenty of artistic licence thrown in for dramatic effect.

Speaking of, Elite Audio Visual Productions cleverly designed the chilling effects, shrouding the actors in mystery right up until the door is unlocked and you’re released from the shadows of the past and back into present-day reality.

Reviewed during the preview, there were a few technical issues still to be ironed out, and at times, the stories felt a bit disjointed as the narrative moved between the carriages. Nonetheless, the performance was entertaining, and anyone with a love of trains, history and drama will appreciate the immersive storytelling set among WA’s historic trains.

Keep the rail theme going by popping into a train carriage for a burger at Alfred’s Kitchen, two train stops away in Guildford.

This first showing of Tracks After Twilight is completely sold out, but pay attention to the Railway Heritage Museum for future show runs of this innovative theatre style. In the meantime, checkout their website for more information @ https://www.railheritagewa.org.au/.

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Robin Hood: A New Family Musical

Robin Hood

Robin Hood Rating

★★★★★

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If you turn the corner in Malvern’s Central Park in the late morning, you’re greeted by winding ropes cordoning off islands to seat picnic blankets or chairs. You’ll also see set pieces straight from a primary school play: a tiny wooden island and cajón drum, green and brown paint-spattered cloths tied to trees, and details like fake rocks and a shelf of plastic food with the sign SHERIFFS PANTRY.

The team behind Melbourne Shakespeare Company’s Robin Hood uses this sequestered woody space to its fullest to craft a whimsical, ramshackle and original take on a classic story.

Robin (Billy Thomas), Dame Tuck (Jackson Cross) and Little Joan (Lucy May Knight) are going about their usual business of robbing the rich to feed the poor. But when they are caught stealing from the Sheriff of Nottingham (Kaia Reyes), he devises a new punishment: shipping them off to Australia.

There, the merry men, with the help of Bushranger Bruce (Daniel Hillman), must acclimatize to a strange new world and find their way back home. The beginning feels slow and the different scenes are somewhat disconnected and potentially difficult for a child audience to follow, but it was a pleasant surprise to see a slightly different narrative in a panto show.

 

The ensemble is charming and navigates their stage perfectly. Every line is audible, every slapstick gag is visible and tight, and every spectator gets close-up moments with the characters. Lucy May Knight as Little Joan stands out with a bubbly yet sharp physicality that’s perfect for panto.

The world-building was also fantastic at blending a familiar and fun Aussie context into a classic story. The adorable Australian animal puppets were a highlight, while all the pop culture references and self-referential jokes landed well with the adult audience.

Maxwell Simon’s (Muriel’s Wedding) original score is fun and full of laugh-out-loud lines, but there was only one song where the children were directly encouraged to play along. It felt like the whole show missed out on many opportunities for audience participation, and this led to some clear confusion and lost attention among the kids at some points.

While Robin Hood has its moments of missed potential, it’s definitely a worthwhile and unique experience for the theatre-loving family. It’s a scrappy, feel-good show that keeps the much-loved traditions of panto alive in a timeless yet modern story for an audience of all ages.

To book tickets to Robin Hood, please visit https://www.melbourneshakespeare.com/robinhood

Photography: Sare Clarke Photography

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Booze & The Bard: Macbeth! The Scotch Play

Booze & the Bard: Macbeth! The Scotch Play

Booze & the Bard: Macbeth! The Scotch Play Rating

★★★★★

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With the show’s title named Booze & The Bard: Macbeth, I had a feeling this wouldn’t be your typical Macbeth play. As part of Perth’s annual Fringe Festival, five young actors bring a loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s infamous Macbeth to the stage.

Held at Four5Nine Bar at the Rosemount Hotel, a cosy little venue, the audience and the actors had no idea how the play would pan out. The concept reminded me a little bit of those “choose your own adventure books” where the reader’s choices determine the main character’s actions.

The play started off smoothly; all the standard lines are acted out with an injection of modern language sprinkled throughout (I loved this because, as someone who myself am not a big follower of Shakespeare’s plays, it made the play easier to follow and understand). When the play continued too smoothly, that’s when the actors shook things up a bit. There were drinking games (audience members could also participate if they wished), but either way, the actors are drinking throughout the play.

The major shakeup of the show was the spinning wheel. The spinning wheel had a variety of rules that the chosen actor had to follow when the tab landed on any of these rules, and this could happen at any moment throughout the entire show. The narrator would usually bring the spinning wheel to an audience member to spin.

 

Booze & the Bard: Macbeth! The Scotch Play
Booze & the Bard: Macbeth! The Scotch Play

For example, when it landed on ‘accent’ the chosen actor had to say his lines in an Irish accent for remainder of the play. I especially though it was funny when it landed on ‘western’ and the actor playing Macbeth, Ethan Milne, had to act out the rest of the play as though he was in a western movie, topping it off by wearing a poncho.

There were moments when the actors would be calling out ‘noooo’ when the spinning wheel was pulled out. I could feel their pain. It would not be easy to recite a Shakespeare play and then force put a spin on it at the last minute.

It’s ironic that Macbeth is actually a tragedy, but this show was far from tragic. The Booze & the Bard’s Macbeth, the Scotch Play was a fun, chaotic, silly, comedic retelling of a Shakespeare classic with many twists.

You certainly do not have to be a Shakespeare fan or understand Shakespeare to enjoy this show. It’s clear the actors were all having a lot of fun, and this naturally pulled the audience in.

If you are looking for a light-hearted show with plenty of laughs and, of course, drinking, then this is the show for you.

To book tickets to Booze & the Bard: Macbeth! The Scotch Play, please visit https://fringeworld.com.au/whats_on/booze-the-bard-macbeth-the-scotch-play-fw2025

This year’s Fringeworld Festival Perth runs from 17 January to 16 February. For more information, please visit https://fringeworld.com.au.

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Esther Hicks: So….What’s it like in the Vortex?

Esther Hicks is Vibrationally Speaking

Esther Hicks is Vibrationally Speaking Rating

★★★★★

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4

Last night I joined Esther and Jerry along with their ethereal counterpart ‘Abraham’ for “Esther Hicks is Vibrationally speaking” at the intimate PIP theatre space in Brisbane. The show is an engaging and quirky parody of the real-life teachings of American inspirational speakers Esther and Jerry Hicks.

From the very outset – and before we even take our seats, we’re allocated participant lanyards and instantly plunged into a simulated workshop that promises closer alignment to the vibrations inside the vortex and the laws of attraction!

The audience buzzed with playful anticipation of what was ahead of us. In just under an hour, award-winning director Elizabeth Millington cleverly guides us through the simulated interactive self-help workshop. Woven into this timeline is Jerry and Esther’s behind-the-scenes journey to inspirational speaking, which also hints at their increasingly tense relationship.

Claire Pearson (actor, writer, producer, comedian) and Kyle Walmsley (actor, comedian and RAW National finalist, 2012) hilariously bring Esther and Jerry Hicks to life with heart and conviction. Claire’s adept ability to morph into the entity ‘Abraham’ with such physical intensity made it impossible not to laugh! The show’s interactive nature encouraged the audience to ‘co-create’, ‘manifest’, and, in a mantra-like style, engage in a call-and-response communication, highlighting the powerful conformity of group behaviour.

Opposite Claire, Kyle delivers a strong portrayal of Jerry Hicks, the Ex-Amway businessman focused on sales, who grounds Claire’s whimsical Esther in the earthly plane.

Esther Hicks is Vibrationally Speaking
Esther Hicks is Vibrationally Speaking

The chemistry between Claire and Kyle is so palpable and convincing in their delivery that at one stage during the ‘workshop’ I found myself, along with other audience members reaching under our seats to find that elusive latest release book, which they hinted was there. They drew the audience into their world effortlessly, creating a shared experience that felt communal but also individual.

The minimalist set used subtle lighting to divide the stage, ensuring Esther and Jerry could be the central focus. They seamlessly moved from the cooler ‘on-stage’ left side to the warmer, soft purple glow of their home on the right side. The use of projected wall images effectively supports real-life excerpts of writings, teachings, and even a real video clip of Esther Hicks speaking.

The apt use of sound effects and music reminded me of the vibrations of a theremin instrument with an overlay of heartbeat sounds, adjusting the mood and pace of the show. The music signalling the show’s end was much more joyous and almost childlike.

Whether you’re a fan of self-help teachings or a curious sceptic, this show will resonate and make you laugh. Whilst there have been other iterations of inspirational teachings and books over the years, “Esther Hicks is Vibrationally Speaking” makes a brave move in highlighting the absurd attempts people make to find their true happiness.

If Abraham could speak to us now, he might say: “Are you ready to launch your rockets of desire and find your bliss?” With a blend of humour, tension, and unforgettable ‘mantra’ moments, “Esther Hicks is Vibrationally speaking” will leave a lasting impression and will likely resonate with audiences long after.

“Esther Hicks is Vibrationally Speaking” was performed as part of Pip Theatre’s annual Toucan Club festival, running until 21st December. For more details, visit www.piptheatre.org/toucanclub/.

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