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Plied and Prejudice

17/10/202526/07/2025 Carmen Jenner🥉

Plied and Prejudice Rating

★★★★★

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The court was certainly aflutter during Plied and Prejudice, a racy adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice.

Featuring five unhinged actors playing 20 characters, this action-packed romp enthrals from start to finish. The night unravels from the moment the characters strut out onto the catwalk stage, running between the audience, perfect for posturing with outrageous innuendo.

Bridget Jones’s Diary fans will relish the parallels to Pride and Prejudice (minus the knickers, huge or otherwise), and Bridgerton, Little Britain, and Rick Astley aficionados will be in for a debauched treat. It’s probably just as well Jane Austen is no longer around to witness this tequila-soaked production.

Written by Matthew Semple with original direction by Dash Kruck, the swoons are aplenty thanks to director Ian Good and producer Alex Woodward from Woodward Productions. The lusty performance is hardly surprising given Mr Darcy’s soaked white shirt and the amount skulled by Elizabeth Bennett whenever there was a mention of tea, or the bell rang.

Certain cast members will be indisposed each night to keep it fresh, as if it could get any livelier. The production stars Ayesha Gibson (Elizabeth Bennet and others), Patrick Gandin (Darcy and others), Rp van der Westhuizen (Collins, Bingley, Wickham and others), Jess Lally (Catherine de Bourgh and others), Lucy Goodrick (Jane Bennet and others) Hanna Harvey (Swing) and Oliver Clare (Swing).

Set and costume designer Penny Challen portrayed Regency-ridiculousness with tongue-in-cheek aplomb. The actors’ performance, with all the grace of a frenetic ballet dancer, can be attributed to the movement direction of Dan Venz. A word of warning, this is not for the conservative or under-18-year-olds, you will be outraged while secretly longing to be invited to the after-party. Pray to Great Britain that you aren’t chosen to become part of the performance.

After sell-out shows in Brisbane and London, the Perth season has already been extended to 28th September 2025. No doubt, the extra tickets will sell quickly to the uninitiated, intrigued by the scandalous reports, and repeat theatre-goers craving more unruly decorum.

So, dust off your fascinators and get dressed (or undressed) for the booziest ball of the century at Pemberley. Mr Darcy’s shirt isn’t the only thing that will be drenched by the end.

Plied and Prejudice runs from 18th July to 28th September at Downstairs at The Maj. If you’re lucky to be invited as Lady Catherine De Bourgh’s honoured guest, tickets are $100 for a plush throne and prosecco. Front-row aristocrat tickets are $70, middle-class cabaret-style seating is $60 and the paupers on high stools will be flogged $30.

To book tickets to Plied and Prejudice, please visit http://artsculturetrust.wa.gov.au/venues/his-majestys-theatre/whats-on/plied-and-prejudice/.

Photographer: Caitlin Irving

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Good Food and Wine Show

22/07/202522/07/2025 Carmen Jenner🥉

Good Food & Wine Show Rating

★★★★★

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As the name suggests, there are endless artisanal indulgences to choose from at the 2025 Good Food & Wine Show. This year was no exception, and so much more. With over 200 stalls under the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre’s (PCEC) vast roof from 16th to 18th July, the hardest part was deciding where to start.

You could follow your nose and join the anaconda lines at the Smelly Cheese Co for gooey raclette scraped over sourdough ($15). Or visit an old favourite with a wine tasting from the Margaret River Region. Not that there was anything wrong with any of these options.

However, I preferred stumbling upon the unexpected, like Wee Smoky, a smoke-filled whisky designed for mixing, and some elusive black garlic from Black Garlic & Co. Or a sample of Manuka Wood Smoked Olives from Kiwi Artisan, along with some black lime salt from Australian Black Limes, inspired by Middle Eastern black limes. A robust selection of wines from other Australian regions, such as the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale Wine Region, conjured up dreams of a decadent escape to South Australia.

But if you’re indecisive, the masterclasses offered at one of the tasting rooms or the Gin Lover’s Class (at $89 per person) from Sonos Sound Bar, were a good place to loosen up before embarking on the heavy decision-making.

If you were keen to up your culinary game, there was plenty of inspiration served up in the Kleenheat Kitchen as talented chefs cooked live, including James Cole-Brown (Head Chef from South Cottesloe’s Gibney), Brian Cole from Hearth Restaurant (The Ritz-Carlton, Perth) or BBQ-master duo from CheatMeats. The ultimate showman and celebrity chef, Miguel Maestre’s appearance in the Harvey Norman Kitchen was a delightfully raucous affair during his Fiesta En La Cocina demonstration.

The $185 admission into the VIP Lounge included lunch, premium wines, a spot at the Cellar Secrets Tasting Room and plenty of treats, as you’d expect from your temporary VIP status. But if that wasn’t in the budget, you could certainly get your money’s worth at the free wine and gourmet tasting booths, not to mention the free cooking demonstrations, with the general admission price of $49.95 or $79.95 multi-day pass with a tasting glass.

I couldn’t leave without a truffle and some Truffle Honey from Great Southern Truffles in WA’s Great Southern Region, a region abundant in premium produce that I now intend to visit more often.

The Good Food & Wine Show continues to spread the tasty joy in Brisbane (24th -26th October), at the Sydney Christmas Market (21st – 23rd November) and the Melbourne Christmas Market (5th – 7th December). With the 2026 dates announced for Melbourne (29th – 31st May) and Sydney (19th – 21st June), keep an eye out for Perth’s 2026 dates.

To book tickets to Good Food & Wine Show, please visit https://goodfoodshow.com.au/.

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Good Food & Wine Show

22/07/202521/07/2025 Manuela Kacomanolis🥈

Good Food & Wine Show – Perth Rating

★★★★★

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As we entered the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre for the Good Food and Wine Show I didn’t know where to start, there were so many stalls. With our complimentary tasting glasses in hand, it was time to start sampling.

Maps are provided, setting out all the different stalls but we thought we would be a bit adventurous and make our way around, allowing the sights and smells to draw us in.

Alcohol tasting was first-up. The show isn’t just about wine there are many other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Gins, liqueurs, whiskies and kombucha drinks of all different flavours, even Vodka Iced Tea. I think I must have tried all the different liqueur flavours from Cello, in the end, the lemon and amaretto liqueurs were the winners.

As for the wines, there was one large aisle devoted to the Barossa Valley wines. A big drawcard to South Australia for wine lovers.

For those wanting to dial the experience up a notch, there are the Tasting Rooms where for $34 you join a small group of up to 14 people for an interactive guided tasting with a Wine Selectors wine expert.

If you have never flown business class but wanted to know what the food is like, you could purchase a VIP ticket to the Singapore Airlines VIP Lounge. The food and beverages are inspired by the First and Business Class in-flight experience. The VIP service includes 5 alcoholic beverages, a lunch prepared by award-winning chef, Andrew Ballard and a special take-home gift.

Back to the general entrants, there are still so many stalls to experience that you won’t be disappointed. One of the most popular stalls was the prawns on the stick which were selling 2 sticks for $10.

Smelly Cheese Co was also popular with their delicious, melted cheeses.

The Harvey Norman Kitchen delivered an impressive line-up of chefs and culinary icons. You could learn how to make Flamenca Eggs with Miguel Maestre and soup dumplings with Brendan Pang.

I thought it particularly clever having Australia Post setup in the corner (and no they were not handing out any free stamps or envelopes) it was for those who perhaps bought more than what they intended and rather than lugging all the purchases around they can head to the Pick Pack station and have the wines posted.

I have been to the Good Food and Wine show a few times throughout the years. Unfortunately, one of the setbacks I found about this year’s show was the closing time. I found it odd that the show’s starting time and closing time for Friday and Saturday were 10am to 5pm. I thought 5pm was far too early to end such an event. I’ve been to the show in the past on a Friday night and I loved it. It was something to look forward to after work. Likewise, I think the show would be popular on a Saturday night given that alcohol is a big part of the show. Hopefully they might reconsider the closing times in the future.

To book tickets to Good Food & Wine Show – Perth, please visit https://goodfoodshow.com.au/.

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Alice In Wonderland

20/07/202520/07/2025 Natalie Rees🥉

Alice In Wonderland Rating

★★★★★

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Stepping into the whimsical world of Alice in Wonderland has never felt more real than at New City Theatre’s latest production. With tea and cupcakes served upon arrival, the audience was immediately immersed in the delightful atmosphere of the Mad Hatter’s tea party, setting the tone for an evening of charm, creativity, and community spirit.

What made this production truly special was its original music. With beautiful, meaningful lyrics written by the young and talented Hannah, the songs added a fresh and emotional depth to the classic tale. A remarkable feat for such a young composer, the music elevated the production and should be an inspiration for young and old theatre makers alike.

Hannah-Jade Keppler’s performance of one of these original songs was a standout—her voice, clear and emotive and captured the emotional core of the story. Equally impressive was the choreography by Tamara Wolf, whose staging brought a dynamic energy to the production and I love how the fourth wall was crossed with the cast venturing into the audience so we could get up close and personal with them!

Among a 16-strong, cohesive cast, it was evident that age was no barrier and I loved how inclusive this theatre company is.

Danielle Ritchie shone in her debut lead role as Alice, delivering her lines with poise and singing her solo with confidence—a significant achievement for any first-time lead. Kayla Short’s portrayal of the Mad Hatter was another highlight, brimming with charisma and comic flair. Her performance of the Mad Hatter’s song was particularly memorable and confidently delivered.

The Queen of Hearts, played with razor-sharp comedic timing by Eloise Keppler was outstanding and when improvisation was required by a mishap on stage – she handled it like a pro, with grace and compassion. Another special mention goes to Summer who played Dinah the cat with incredibly believable physicality and vocality – the level of commitment to character was impressive.

Adding a heartwarming element to the production were the youngest cast members—Yusra, Bisma, and Rayne—whose presence on stage melted the hearts of everyone in the room.

New City Theatre, which has been active since 2013, continues to nurture young talent and foster community. The fact that three founding members are still performing is a testament to the lasting impact this group has had. I’d also like to acknowledge the invaluable work of the many helpers who served food and drinks and supported behind the scenes—a true community effort in every sense.

Perhaps the most remarkable takeaway from Alice in Wonderland was what it says about the capabilities of young people. Given the space, trust, and encouragement, they created something wholly their own—original, ambitious, and utterly delightful. This show wasn’t just a performance; it was a statement: young people are more creative, intelligent, and capable than we often give them credit for.

A resounding success and a beautiful reminder of the power of youth, imagination, and community.

To book tickets to Alice In Wonderland, please visit https://www.taztix.com.au/event/nct/.

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