Keeping it simple, stupid is never as simple as it sounds. Especially if you’re Andrew Barnett (aka Barney), where life is anything but simple as the father of two teenage boys who don’t yet appreciate that the ultimate sign of coolness is being able to drive yourself to the shops to buy stuff with your own money.
Ah, yes, the woes of being middle-aged while surrounded by teenagers and TikTok is the comedic stuff that dreams are made of, and Barney nails it with his wry outlook that anyone over 30 will relate to. Warning: If you have the audacity to show up below the age of 30, it’s probably best that you don’t sit in the two front rows.
His ease of delivery makes it feel like you’re just chatting at the pub, where he’s doing most of the talking. Barney’s effortless style is down to an extensive career since 2010 as a stand-up comedian, writer and media personality, including TV, radio and podcast appearances.
He currently co-hosts the Not Another F#ing Rugby League Podcast and is a familiar voice on SEN radio, aired in New South Wales and Queensland, when he’s not performing at high-profile sporting, comedy, music and fringe festivals around the country.
Reigning from Sydney to join the Perth Comedy Festival on 2nd and 3rd May, and performing upstairs of the Regal Theatre in the Regal Chorus Room is the perfect setting for Barney’s laid-back banter.
He returns to Sydney for the Sydney Comedy Festival on 8 & 9th May. Keep an eye out at various Perth venues, including The Rechabite and Comedy Lounge, for his quick-witted, relatable and endearing observational humour.
Performances: 2nd – 3rd May 2025, 7pm Regal Theatre, Regal Chorus Room, 474 Hay Street, Subiaco Tickets: $41.58
Few things are more delightful than a glass of sparkling wine enjoyed riverside. The Bubbles Festival delivered exactly that and more at this year’s Melbourne session at the stunning River’s Edge in Docklands.
The atmosphere was elegant without being stiff, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Yarra and the golden glow of autumn light. This wasn’t a crowded scramble for samples but a perfectly paced event where guests could relax, discover, and indulge.
Founder Natalie Pickett opened the event with warmth and wit, reminding us that sparkling wine is beautiful and should be enjoyed with all the senses. Her tasting tips were charming and personal: listen to the bubbles, take in the aroma, and always pair with food. The canapés were curated accordingly, with a seafood station offering plump prawns, fresh oysters, mussels, and calamari and a generous cheese station of soft and hard cheeses. Additional bites roved the room, matching the mood and the wine effortlessly.
On the tasting front, the festival truly delivered on its promise of diversity. There was something for every palate, with around 18 different wines available — including French Champagnes, Italian sparklings, and standout Australian drops from the Yarra Valley, Great Western and Mornington Peninsula. A personal highlight was the Flinders Bloom Elderflower Spritz, inspired by the classic Hugo. Light, floral, and utterly refreshing, it combined méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine with lemon myrtle and elderflower for what can only be described as springtime in a glass.
VIP guests were treated to a tasting of Champagne Philippe Fourrier Millésime 2017 Blanc de Noirs, a refined pinot noir as elegant as the event itself. With a private tasting, RIEDEL glasses to take home, and a charitable contribution to Sacred Heart Mission.
Beyond the wine, guests could browse and purchase Susan Kerian’s gorgeous Parisian-style illustrations, a lovely visual complement to the day.
If you’re a sparkling lover, this event isn’t just worth attending — it’s essential. Whether you’re discovering a new favourite Prosecco or sipping vintage Champagne, The Bubbles Festival is a celebration in the truest sense.
Visit The Bubbles Festival website to book tickets and discover more about each city’s event; dates for 2025 are: Melbourne – 3 May 2025 Brisbane – 9 & 10 May 2025 Sydney – 16 & 17 May 2025 Adelaide – 31 May 2025 Perth – 21 June 2025
Published in 1891 as a short story by Oscar Wilde, Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime was the basis of this satire adaptation by Constance Cox and presented by the Genesian Theatre Company. Although I had previously seen productions over many years at their historic 70-year venue on Kent St in Sydney’s heart of the city, this was the first time I had seen a Genesian Theatre Company’s production in 2025 in their purpose-built new theatre. Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime was performed in their new venue at Rozelle, complete with high ceilings, air conditioning, with every comfortable plush seat having an unobstructed view of the stage.
It is the late 1800’s and Aristocrat Lord Arthur Savile (Brock Cramond) is engaged to Sybil Merton (Catherine Layard), the daughter of haughty Lady Julia Merton. Lady Julia, portrayed with relish by Roslyn Hicks, clearly doesn’t approve of Lord Arthur as a suitable husband for her beloved daughter. Roslyn’s performance as Lady Julia was a standout. Her disdain towards her future son-in-law, highlighted by her finger pointing and sharp words, as well as her outrageously ostentatious white bird hat, made the audience laugh many times! With the hope of getting a dire warning and thus having an excuse to cancel the engagement, Lady Julia brings a famous cheiromantist (fortune teller) Mr Podgers (Kees Harmsen), to see Lord Arthur, who predicts the past and future by reading palms. Kees’ portrayal of a serious soothsayer was excellent, and as he loomed over Lord Arthur, cloaked in a dark suit wearing a black tophat, he created a sense of mystery and foreboding, and was reminiscent of a human grim reaper. Well done to the costume designers, Molly Haddon and Susan Carveth.
Mr Podgers predicts that Lord Arthur is going to commit a crime of the most serious nature – murder! He keeps this news from Lady Julia, and admits it only to Lord Arthur, who then decides he must complete this murder before his upcoming marriage. With the help of his loyal man servant Baines, impeccably dressed in a black suit with tails (Oliver Harcourt-Ham) Lord Arthur goes about planning to poison his dear Aunty, Lady Clementina. The circumstances surrounding this murder change as he tries to implement his plan, and the audience is left holding their breath waiting to see what happens. Lady Clementina was portrayed by Diedre Campbell, who created a character that was so likeable, it left me hoping she wasn’t going to be a victim.
The following attempts as he goes through his possible family murder victim list, conveniently given to him by an earnest and helpful Baines, involve his other Aunty, Lady Windermere (Julia Burns) and the Dean of Paddington (Christopher Hamilton). Involved with the planning and the supplier of certain possible murder items was a member of the Anarchy Society, Herr Winkelkopf, played with comical overzealousness by Sebastian Lodge. His interactions with Lord Arthur and Baines were earnest in his offer to help, and providing items of the explosive type, (that may or may not work, no spoilers) was one of the highlights of the play. The scene where he was delivering a ‘bomb’ dressed in the exact two shade colours of the wall, so as to ‘blend in’, was hilarious!
A supporting character, Maid Nellie, (Amy Silvana Thomas) added to the wealth of the Savile family. At one point, whether intentional or not, I got the impression that Nellie may be more than whom she seems with her intentions.
The playwright’s characters are quite the caricature of Britain’s high society’s wealthy people, as well as the hired help. Every character had some funny quips, which made the 2 hour, 10 min play flow at a good pace.
The music was suited to the era and emotive theme. Sound Designer Rhea Moloo set a scene of intrigue and trepidation during the introduction and interval, with classical songs, such as Palladio by Virtuoso and Ivan Dohovic, Concerto in G Minor and Flight of the Bumblebee.
Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime was masterfully directed by Molly Haddon and has all the elements of a traditional Victorian Crime – with the murder choices popular during that time, spliced with comedic drama. There is the underlying sense of social class motivations of mixed-up morality, as Lord Arthur is continually supported by ‘his people” as he desperately tries to fulfil his supposed future murder prophecy. The result is a very satisfying comedic play with unexpected twists!
The Genesian Theatre
2B Gordon St, Rozelle
25 April – 7 June 2025
Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes (including 20 min interval)
Tickets: Full $35 / Concession, Groups 10+ $30
TATAMI is the first feature film co-directed by Iranian and Israeli filmmakers. It had its world premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 2nd, 2023 and received very positive reviews from the critics and audience. It is currently part of the 11th Persian Film Festival, which is being held until the 11th of May 2025.
The program of the festival includes a competition in feature, documentary and short film categories where the festival jury will present the Golden Gazelle Award to the best film in each section. The festival opened in Sydney and will tour to Melbourne and Armidale. TATAMI could be called a meditation upon the possible role international sports could play in world politics. It’s co-directed by Zar Amir and Guy Nattiv.
Guy Nattiv is an Israeli who lives and works in the United States. His film Skin won an Oscar for best short film at the 91st Academy Awards, and he is one of only three Israeli directors to have won an Academy Award.
Zar Amir Ebrhimi is an Iranian and French actress, producer and director. She rose to international prominence for her performance as journalist Arezoo Rahimi in the crime thriller Holy Spider in 2022, for which she won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress and the Robert Award for Best Actress as well. In 2022, she appeared on the BBC’s 100 Women list as one of the world’s inspiring and influential women of the year.
The film follows Iranian female judoka Leila, played by Arienne Mandi, and her coach Maryam, played by co-director Zar Amir Ebrahimi, as they travel to the World Judo Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia. Both Leila and her coach are initially intent on bringing home Iran’s first gold medal. But doing so includes the possibility of an encounter with an Israeli athlete, which is something the Mullah regime of the Islamic Republic prohibits.
Midway through the competition, Leila and her coach receive repeated threats from the Islamic Republic ordering Leila to fake an injury and drop out of the tournament. With her own and her family’s freedom at stake, Leila faces a difficult choice: feign injury and comply with the Iranian regime as her coach implores or defy them and fight for the gold.
As an analogy for the differentiation between enemies and rivals, the story paints a poignant picture. Enemies want you to die. Rivals want you to become better, so the challenge would be worthwhile. Adding to that, since TATAMI has been co-directed by an Israeli and an Iranian it is a great piece of art reflecting what life could be if we all had our heads on right. Also, the film is shown in black and white, which lends a sombre tone, without sounding preachy.
I recommend this film, and I give it a big thumbs-up. Five stars out of five for me.
The Persian Film Festival will run from 24 April to 11 May 2025 in Sydney, Melbourne, and Armidale. For session details and to book tickets to Tatami and other films, please visit https://www.persianfilmfestival.com/.
