sydney

Afterglow To Receive Its Australian Premiere In 2026

Feature-AFTERGLOW

Ian Phipps

S. Asher Gelman’s international hit play AFTERGLOW is heading down under for its highly anticipated Australian premiere! AFTERGLOW will play at Melbourne’s Chapel off Chapel from 30 January and at the Eternity Playhouse, Sydney from 26 February. The stellar cast of three comprises Julian Curtis (Gaslight, Cock, Dance Academy), gold medal winning Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham (Strangers in Between, Jock Night, The Pool) and Matthew Predny (Titanique, Avenue Q, Kinky Boots). When Josh and Alex, a married couple in an open relationship, invite Darius to share their bed for a night, a new and intimate connection is ignited. As all three men come to terms with their individual definitions of love, loyalty, and trust, relationships are challenged and futures are shaken. AFTERGLOW is a raw, funny and sensual exploration of polyamory, commitment, and modern love.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be bringing AFTERGLOW to Australia!,” said writer/director S. Asher Gelman. “What began as an attempt to make sense of a painful chapter involving my own experience with loving more than one person has fundamentally altered the course of my life, and continues to do so. AFTERGLOW doesn’t provide any answers; instead it asks questions about both our individual and collective relationships to love, loyalty and trust, and I truly cannot wait for Aussie audiences to experience this labour of love, now nine years in the making.”

“Funny and sensual” ★★★★ – Queer Guru
“Achingly beautiful” ★★★★ – Everything Theatre
“Passionate and poignant” ★★★★ – Revstan
“Incredible… should not be missed!” ★★★★ – Theatre Reviews

After its critical success Off-Broadway and a season which ran for 18 months, and productions around the globe, AFTERGLOW now brings its modern, intimate exploration of desire, honesty and connection to Australian audiences!

Brandon Haagenson and Patrick Reilly in AFTERGLOW New York production (c) Mati Gelman.jpg

AFTERGLOW
Playwright/Director/Choreographer S. Asher Gelman
Lighting Designer Jamie Roderick
Set Designer Ann Beyersdofter
Producer Midnight Theatricals

SEASON DETAILS

MELBOURNE
Venue: Chapel Off Chapel, Little Chapel Street, Prahran
Dates: 30 January – 21 February
Performance Times: Mon-Thurs 7:30pm, Fri-Sat: 6:30pm & 9:30pm, Sun 5pm
Tickets: $69 (Transaction fees may apply)
Bookings: chapeloffchapel.com.au

SYDNEY
Venue: Eternity Playhouse, Burton Street, Darlinghurst
Dates: 26 February – 22 March
Performance Times: Tues-Thurs 7:30pm, Fri-Sat: 6:30pm & 9:30pm (or 2pm & 7pm 28 Feb only), Sun 5pm
Tickets: $69 (Transaction fees may apply)
Bookings: www.afterglowtheplay.com.au

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The Ride Of Your Life!

Ride the Cyclone

Ride the Cyclone Rating

★★★★★

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If you blended the dark wit of Heathers with the existential charm of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, you might come close to capturing the wild, weird brilliance of Ride the Cyclone, Sydney Musical Theatre’s latest production. This cult-favorite musical, written by Brooke Maxwell and Jacob Richmond, spins a tale that’s equal parts carnival nightmare, teen talent show, and philosophical meditation on what it means to live.

The premise is audaciously simple: six teenagers from the St. Cassian Chamber Choir die in a freak roller coaster accident. Now, trapped in a limbo-like carnival, they are offered one miraculous chance, by the mechanical fortune-teller Karnak, to sing their stories, and for one of them, to return to life. What unfolds is a haunting, hilarious, and unexpectedly moving journey through identity, regret, and the fragile beauty of being human.

Each number is a genre-hopping revelation. Ocean O’Connell Rosenberg’s biting self-importance (What the World Needs) crackles with manic energy, while Mischa Bachinski’s hard-edged rap ballad (This Song Is Awesome) hides a tender heart beneath its bravado. Jane Doe’s ethereal lament (The Ballad of Jane Doe) stops the show cold; a ghostly aria of lost memory that would feel at home in Phantom of the Opera’s darkest corners. And then there’s Constance Blackwood’s tearfully exuberant Sugarcloud, which blossoms into the musical’s emotional core: a celebration of joy reclaimed after despair.

 

Ride the Cyclone
Ride the Cyclone
Ride the Cyclone

 

Certainly a highlight of this production is the impeccable singing of the cast. Amira Clark as Ocean and Raven Swinkels as Jane Doe are absolute vocal standouts. Kielle Murillo as Constance and Xion Jarvis as Mischa display excellent comedic skills. Andrew Read and Lex Sywenkyj have the audience in stitches during their moments on stage.

The staging is a visual feast of carnival lights, decaying grandeur, and eerie automaton choreography. The ensemble choreographed by Elise Simpson works like a finely tuned ride mechanism: precise, kinetic, and emotionally fearless. Director Ssarah Shanahan has embraced the absurdity of the musical without losing the show’s heart, letting the humour sharpen rather than undercut the poignancy of the thematic concerns.

By the final reprise, Ride the Cyclone well and truly had the audience in its spell. It’s a production that dares to find joy in tragedy, laughter in death, and life in limbo. Beneath the spectacle lies a message that lingers: we are all, for better or worse, passengers on the same unpredictable ride.

To book tickets to Ride the Cyclone, please visit https://www.sydneymusicaltheatre.com.au/.

Photographer: Althaia Frost

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The Choral

The Choral

The Choral Rating

★★★★★

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Art is about being creative and defiant, while music brings people together. Ralph Fiennes leads a strong ensemble cast in The Choral, a moving film about the devastation of war and the uniting power of music. Set in a fictional Yorkshire town during the first world war, the local choral society is struggling to maintain it’s male singers as the men head off to fight. All they have left are the young boys and old men. Trying to maintain a sense of normality despite grief and loss, the community hopes to find a uniting joy by putting on their annual choral performance.

When the choirmaster volunteers to fight in France, the only replacement they can find is Dr Guthrie (Fiennes), who causes immediate scandal because he lived in Germany for many years and admires their art and culture. With most of the great composers being German or Austrian, the Choral society chooses Elgar and his forgotten production The Dream of Gerontius.

But it’s not really about that.

 

The Choral
The Choral
The Choral

 

The choral performance acts as the framework to hold a variety of rich stories about love, hope, loss, grief, and fear played by a strong ensemble cast including Alun Armstrong, Mark Addy, Ron Cook, Emily Fairn, and Lyndsey Marshal. The next generation of youth explore love and sex as they face conscription as soon as they turn 18, knowing they may not return. A wounded soldier returns from the war to find his old life is over, and looks for solace and comfort in the choral. There is the pianist, a pacifist and gay man who faces jail and shame for refusing to fight. Dr Guthrie himself struggles with the relevance of Elgar’s story about the death of an old man, when so many of the young are dying. Without permission, he adapts Elgar’s production to better reflect the pain and struggles of the community.

The film is calmly directed by Nicholas Hynter, never overplaying the sentimentality or message. There is plenty of well-placed humour to keep the mood from getting too grim. Hynter handles his characters with a great deal of care, never demonising anyone despite their flaws. Even the powerful and wealthy mill owner who funds the Choral is handled with empathy. Because of his position he expects to play the lead, but only because he loves to sing. It brings him much needed joy as he grieves a fallen son, but soon he realises that he must step aside.

The Choral is playing as part of the British Film Festival at Palace Cinemas Moore Park until December 7, with a program full of the best of British Cinema.

To book tickets to The Choral, please visit https://britishfilmfestival.com.au/films/bff25-the-choral.

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A Masterpiece of Music and Theatre: The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame Rating

★★★★★

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The Hunchback Of Notre Dame Musical is now one of my all-time favourite musicals thanks to The Hills Musical Theatre Company. I absolutely loved this powerful production, held at Model Farms High School Auditorium in Baulkham Hills, and thoroughly enjoyed the laid-back cabaret seating with BYO drinks and snacks. Luke Derrick has executed outstanding direction in this fabulous musical, ably assisted by Hannah Aouchan, Assistant Director, along with superb musical direction by Peter Thornton and Gabrielle Lanham. The entire orchestra needs a special mention for animating this magnificent musical score with impeccable professionalism. The music is all-encompassing and written to tingle every nerve and fibre in your body. Notably, a very challenging score, but The Hills Musical Theatre Company triumphed in every aspect.

The absolute shining star, Quasimodo, was played by the brilliant Andrew Schwimmer. Schwimmer blew me away with his one-of-a-kind vocals and held me captive throughout his incredible performance. Schwimmer’s performance was a delight to behold and I don’t believe a better Quasimodo could be found worldwide. The star leading lady, Aya Adel, was resplendent in her role as Esmerelda. She was reminiscent of a Disney Princess. I found her performance thoroughly engaging and sincere. Wonderful singing, fabulous dance movement, and Adel showed strong conviction to her boldly defiant character.

 

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
The Hunchback Of Notre Dame

 

Dom Claude Frollo was presented by Simon Buchner, who oozed this villainous character with the greatest of sincerity. Buchner’s dedication to his challenging character was steadfast and believable. In contrast, there was the heroic, earnest, and charismatic Captain Phoebus De Martin, who was played by Lenard Chang. Chang conveyed a splendid rendition of his role, charming the audience throughout the show.

The leader of the Gypsies, Clopin Trouillefou, is brought to life by James Waters. Waters injected fathomless spirit and energy into this complex, multifaceted role and delivered a polished and engaging performance.

The enormous ensemble and choir were absolutely brilliant. From start to finish, they exuberated enthusiasm and steadfast dedication. Their harmonies sounded fittingly ethereal and lines were delivered with clear enunciation. The choreography for the ensemble was executed with neat precision and their commitment was unwavering. The choreography by Emily Taylor was perfectly appropriate—simple and impactful, utilising resonating repetition that beautifully enhanced poignant moments.

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame Musical encompasses a stellar professional cast and is definitely one you don’t want to miss. The musical score is phenomenal and the story is as powerful today as ever. Seriously, this production leaves the Disney rendition for dead. Do not miss your chance to see this fabulous performance by The Hills Musical Theatre Company.

To book tickets to The Hunchback Of Notre Dame , please visit https://hmtc.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/153157.

Photographer: Grant Leslie Photography

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