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Forget Me, Please

05/09/2026 Elleirah Moon

Forget Me, Please Rating

★★★★★

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Forget Me, Please
Presented by Sophie Davis
At Old Fitz Theatre

From the moment the lights dimmed at The Old Fitz, audiences were captivated by the screeching sound of an anxiety inducing track followed by immediate ear piercing silence, setting the tone for a tense and thought provoking evening about relationships, trauma, and the heartbreaking notion that most people have experienced at least once in their life – I wish I could forget you.

Written by Sophie Davis and Directed by Jessica Dicosta, the production tells the story of two people, Andi and Sasha, who meet by coincidence in triage after both suffering concussions. As the story progresses, they pair develop into friends, and eventually to lovers, whose experiences are shaped by Andi’s unravelling post-concussion symptoms. Beneath the surface, it explores themes of co-dependency, trauma bonding, and the effects of mental health on relationships. These ideas come to life most clearly through Andi’s recollection of experiences in its non linear form, inviting audiences to share the complexity of her brain.

At the centre of the story, Kala Gare and Shannen Alyce Quan produce raw, emotional and witty performances as they recount the experiences of Andi and Sasha. Through times of hardship, love, play, and vulnerability, these two actresses’ insanely strong chemistry carry the story of Andi and Sasha in a way that is truly breathtaking to the soul, and devastating to the heart, whilst still bringing moments of joy and laughter to the audience.

The set contains a pair of white boxes that the cast move and shape to set different locations, creating seamless set changes that are equally impressive by design and simplistic by execution. Similarly the wardrobe, lighting, and props also remain in all white for the majority of the show and is a reinstating factor of Andi’s supposed insanity. The use of colour in the conclusion of the piece is a subtle yet powerful reminder that sometimes it’s the things we love that drive us mad, and it may be healthier to forget than to hold on.

Music and sound wrap around the production beautifully, adding a level of intensity to the moments of psychosis that otherwise may have been missed. Whilst minimal in its use, the music involved in the scenes and scene changes are an essential world building tool that should not be overlooked.

Throughout the performance, the audience responds with sharp inhales, giggles, silence, and visible emotion. The moment of a seemingly innocent spider kill sparked a particularly interesting reaction from the audience, as they along with Sasha felt the betrayal performed by Andi, foreshadowing her later (or earlier) action, showing just how successfully the cast connects with the room.

Altogether, Forget Me, Please is a moving and thought provoking piece of independent theatre. Its greatest strength is its simplicity in conveying its story through relatable and real world experiences. By the time the final bows arrive, the production leaves its audience with emotional stimulation as they leave pondering what they would do if they had the option to forget the person that broke their heart the most.

Forget Me, Please is a gut wrenching yet charming reminder of the human experience regarding mental health from both the perspective of the person experiencing it and their loved ones. For audiences who enjoy an intimate and relatable story, this is a production well worth stepping into.

Forget Me, Please is running at the Old Fitz Theatre from Friday the 4th of September to Friday the 11th of September. For more information and to book tickets, head to https://sydneyfringe.com/events/forget-me-please/

Review by Elleirah Moon

To book tickets to Forget Me, Please, please visit https://www.oldfitztheatre.com.au/whats-on-1.

Photographer: Lucy Parakhina

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And The Winner Of Best Show For The Sydney Fringe Is…

05/09/2026 Papa Potanoski

The Man Rating

★★★★★

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This was a masterclass in naturalist acting and storytelling. Mike Howlett deserves to win every single award possible for his performance in this beautiful show. The show deserves to be sold out every single night and in a much better performance space.

Producers who HAVE MONEY need to take this somewhere bigger!! Please go see this show!!!

The description of the plot of the show doesn’t really sound too appealing. The title of the show, without context, makes you think you’re going to see a show about something to with manosphere – yuk. Please look beyond that.

It starts as a quirky interactive comedy about a meek and mannered guy but by the end you’ll have laughed, cried and been changed for the experience.

“Tax makes Ben anxious. As a sole trader, he’s been hoarding receipts all year. Now, he must go through them all and the audience are going to help.

Every receipt tells a story, every audience member gets a receipt (the first three rows). Audience members will be called on at random to produce a receipt, and the performer will deliver the corresponding monologue. Every performance is totally unique, with the order of scenes changing every night.”

I didn’t think a show about doing one’s tax return would so poignant. With every transaction evoking the good times and the bad memories of things gone wrong, gone right, journeys taken, relationships that have begun and ended. Prompted by frequent calls to the Inland Revenue helpline. There are humiliations, successes and tragedies of the last twelve months, stitching together his memories of the last financial year.

The story of his twin packs a particular punch. I don’t want to give any spoilers on that.

The character of Ben is clearly neurodivergent in the best way. There is a spark that he starts to realise the powers he has with his particular brand of neurodivergence. I don’t know if this was the playwright’s or lead actor’s plan, but it hits you right in the face in a wonderful way.

I was not in the first three rows, so I did not receive one of the receipts but this device of giving the receipts to audience members is genius. Due to the randomness of which ones come up, it really brings you straight into the moment. This must have been a challenge in rehearsals. I’m sure there are certain plot points to jump back too but each section/monologue would have been like its own separate play to learn. This was masterfully taken care of by Howlett. From the moment he stepped on stage you knew you were in safe hands, and we would have gone anywhere with him.

The production team have done a disservice by not putting Mike Howlett’s name on all of the promotional material. Having to search the internet for the only person in the play is a massive faux pas by them.

I would like to give a shout out to the costume and set designer/s, also not listed anywhere. The contrast of the stark set with the magic pop of colour of Howlett’s costume worked perfectly together.

Jo Bradley doesn’t try to heavy handle anything in this production, which to me means they have done their job as a director perfectly.

James Graham has won a ton of awards for his writing for stage and screen. “The Man” is another great example of beautiful work and captivating and very individual point of view.

Handy tip for theatre goers – There is very little parking near the theatre, and it isn’t the easiest place to find if you don’t know the area. You go to the basement of the community centre and there is the performance space.

Run, don’t walk, to Lane Cove – Pottery Lane Performance Space before it closes on Sunday!!!!

To book tickets to The Man, please visit https://sydneyfringe.com/events/the-man/.

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A Great Way To Spend 90 Minutes

03/09/202603/09/2026 Leonie Bingham🌱

Sydney True Crime Tour – The Rocks Rating

★★★★★

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Dark Stories: Sydney’s True Crime Tour | The Rocks

Dark Stories runs true crime tours in the heart of Sydney, bringing to life exciting tales of the dastardly crimes and misdeeds of Old Sydney Town.

This reviewer attended the true crime tour of The Rocks, meeting at a designated spot near the southern pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Our guide, Chloe, welcomed us with a lovely smile, welcoming us with a snapshot of the history of the bridge and its surrounds. We were regaled with dark tales of ill-fated lovers, the slapdash unreliability of firearms, and an urban myth that continues to percolate today.

Chloe was a terrific guide projecting her voice, at times against traffic noise. She spoke clearly, was polished and professional, and full of interesting information.

The tour meandered through the often infamous streets and laneways of Millers and Dawes Points. Starting at Parbury Lane, we wandered, at a leisurely pace, along cobblestone walkways and narrow lanes, in an area which once housed merchants, convicts and sailors. We stopped at various points of interest to catch our breath and listen to another twisted and dark tale. It’s hard to imagine a time when these quaint, winding laneways were so feral, raw sewage ran alongside houses, and rats ran amok.

The Rocks was Australia’s first port town and dockyard, and its streets were rough and mean, ruled over by the Rocks Push, a violent gang of larrikins (thugs) with a predilection for robbery, assault and murder. They also viciously fought other local gangs. Walking these areas now, it seems a world away from such levels of colonial brutality and violence.

The walk took us to colonial ruins in Ferry Lane, through the Argyle Cut, past the Garrison Church, and up perhaps 50 steps to the start of the bridge climb. This was the steepest part of the tour but easily manageable. At Observatory Hill, we stood in the rotunda taking in the spectacular view of Sydney Harbour, the backdrop for one of Australia’s most horrifying unsolved true crimes.

From there, we trekked through back streets where Chloe offered more intriguing tales of ill-deeds and the macabre. There were many information plaques on buildings and walls, which complemented each story and added depth and mystery.

The tour finished at Cadman’s Cottage, which housed the watermen who made deliveries on the harbour, much like today’s water taxis. Here, we heard a mortifying tale of deceit and murderous intentions. The cottage is closed to the public, which seems a shame, as it would make a great little museum.

A few tips to get the most out of the tour. The walk goes for 90 minutes, so take the offered toilet stop at the start point. Be sure to bring water and a hat. If walking from Circular Quay, allow a good 15 minutes to arrive at the meeting place.

Dark Stories also offers a tour through the underbelly of Sydney crime with its Razor Gangs Tour around Darlinghurst. True crime tours are also available in other cities across Australia, including Maitland, Newcastle, Brisbane, Fremantle, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne.

I highly recommend Dark Stories: The Rocks True Crime Tour. It was fun, informative, and a spookily forensic foray into Old Sydney Town.

To book tickets to Sydney True Crime Tour – The Rocks, please visit https://darkstories.com.au/sydney-true-crime-tour/.

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Gioia Mia – Sweetheart

03/09/2026 Catherine Wright⭐🔥🎭

Italian Film Festival – Sweetheart (Gioia Mia) Rating

★★★★★

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‘Gioia Mia’ or ‘Sweetheart’ is a gentle, coming of age film with a wonderful cast. It is a moving and thoughtful journey addressing abandonment and the young and old who have loved and lost, with secrets that still hurt. Written and directed by Margherita Spampinato in her feature film debut, we are enveloped in a young boy’s life where his only communication is with his phone.

Sent off to live with an old aunt who is full of regrets and frustration, the two clash as age, technology and a different way of life collide. Nico is played by Marco Fiore and his face flashes with obstinate retorts, trembles with hurt and sadness and finally beams with joy. Every event and conversation sweeps across his face. His aunt, Gela, played by Aurora Quattrocchi, is the classic, traditional religious aunt who has shut herself and her heart away. Her life is acted out quietly with restraint but with a fullness of emotion as she and Nico spark against each other as both are at different ends of a lifecycle. They learn how to bond and there are sweet moments as Nico moves from technology to tradition and Gela accepts him into her heart.

Without giving away the gentle plot, there is a tribe of grandmas hilariously offering advice when none is requested. They bake sugar cookies as that is their answer to grief, shouting orders from balconies in the traditional way whilst others use technology. It is a fading world in a beautiful fading town. The women have gone through life together and forgiven what could be as they observe their grandchildren play and grow.

A group of children is feisty with the leader, Rosa, a growing young girl played by Martina Miami, resenting an outsider. Martina is a foil to Nico as they clash and reject each other. They finally recognise they are both abandoned children with similar feelings, they bond together and there is a lovely sense that all will be right in the end.

With shades of ‘Cinema Paradiso’, the glorious Italian light is a backdrop adding to a sense of the summer heat and oppressiveness of life and emotions. With an emphasis on close up cinematography all of the acting is in the faces and is played without over-dramatising for effect. That being said, it is Marco Fiore and Aurora Quattrocchi who hold our attention and draw us in.

To book tickets to Italian Film Festival – Sweetheart (Gioia Mia), please visit https://italianfilmfestival.com.au/films/iff26-sweetheart.

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