Arts & Culture

Details: Written by: Lee-Ann Khoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 18 August 2019

The Apparatus grabs your attention as soon as you walk into the theatre. Mostly because Tim Green is munching on snacks behind a mixing desk in the corner of the stage, with his face painted white, wearing nothing but his underwear. Humphrey Bower soon joins him, similarly dressed, but unlike Green, he acquires more costumes as the show progresses. (As a word of warning, the show in question does get pretty graphic, but not because of the semi-nudity.)

The Apparatus has been adapted from three Franz Kafka stories: Before the Law, The Burrow, and In the Penal Colony. In Part One of the play, a man spends his life trying to gain access to a door guarded by a gatekeeper. In Part Two, Bower seamlessly transitions into the role of an animal, paranoid about defending the burrow he has created. Finally, in Part Three, Bower transforms again, this time into a camo-wearing, broad-accented Australian man, channelling certain politicians as he showcases a new torture device.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 17 July 2019

Beneath the tranquil waters of 19^th century rural Vietnam, we see the turbulent undercurrents through the eyes of 14 year old May as she enters an arranged marriage to the head of a wealthy family in payment for her father's debt.

“The Third Wife” is a cinematically beautiful piece, showcasing the ebb and flow of life and its interconnectedness with nature and its seasons. We see the family go about their everyday routines – putting food on the table, and attending to daily chores.

As May adjusts to life with her new family, she comes of age, and soon realises that bearing a son will bring her an increase in status within the patriarchal household.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 16 July 2019

It's that time of the year as we gaze northwards to enjoy special offerings from the 2019 Volvo Scandinavian Film Festival.

Opening Night kicks off Wednesday 17th July at Cinema Paradiso, with the premier of the Danish comedy Happy Ending followed by an after party Scandi celebration of drinks, Nordic flavours and music.

This year, the film festival brings to Perth audiences movies from across Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, along with a series of highly charged Nordic noir works - Millennium Trilogy and Department Q. The Millennium Trilogy series of films pay tribute to the famous late author Stieg Larsson whose Millennium Trilogy novels – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and its sequels - sold more than 90 million copies worldwide and were made into feature films.

Here are Perth Walkabout’s top picks from this year’s #ScandiFilmFest :

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 19 June 2019

Imagine a time in the late 1890’s where a newspaper in a town called Koolgalla (think of a town somewhat like Kalgoorlie) has hired a new editor “J.G. Milford”.

She also happens to be a woman!

And so in The Torrents - Black Swan State Theatre Company’s latest co-production with the Sydney Theatre Company, the mayhem and madness begins as the staff have to cope with the introduction of the gentler sex into their traditionally masculine workplace.

On stage, in the midst of the Heath Ledger Theatre at the State Theatre Centre of WA, the set takes on a distinctive look with stacks of old newspapers piled high in the newsroom, surrounded by its period style furniture and adornments. You can almost smell the ink from the printing press. It is another triumph from the creatives at Black Swan State Theatre Company.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 04 June 2019

Fancy a short or a long short?!

Not of the coffee variety – we are talking about celluloid here. Now in its 22nd year, the Revelation Perth International Film Festival is set to be bigger and better than ever, boasting an impressive line up of independent films from around the globe.

From snails to submarines to shorts, there is plenty on offer with a large selection of genres to suit a wide range of tastes.

Here are Perth Walkabout’s picks for the 2019 #revfilmfest :

Details: Written by: Greg Letts; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 29 May 2019

It's been 25 years since the success of Four Weddings and a Funeral, but the impact of Richard Curtis' romantic comedy masterpiece is still felt in cinemas around the world, as evidenced by movies such as My Big Gay Italian Wedding.

And while the year is now 2019 and attitudes towards sexuality have changed a lot, it is not surprising that the theme of “love conquers all” still remains a central tenet of plot lines around the world.

When Antonio (Cristiano Caccamo) proposes to his boyfriend Paolo (Salvatore Esposito) in their apartment in Berlin, Paolo asks to join him on his journey back to his hometown for Easter, so that he can meet Antonio's parents and announce their impending marriage. But Antonio hasn't actually come out to his parents yet...

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 13 May 2019

Picture a family re-union at an idyllic holiday location in Perth.

What could go wrong? And what does the future hold for all of us?

What starts out as a convivial get-together gradually unravels into a sequence of events that unearth what has really been going on in each of the characters’ lives.
Ex politician Peter, a once powerful man, is celebrating his birthday with his family and the water on his island holiday home is running out.

He has had to step down because of party pressure and is in self-imposed exile at his island holiday home with his loving and supporting wife, who is awaiting the arrival of their two daughters – one having a gap year and who turns up with an uninvited stranger (Yize), and the other a successful lawyer on her way up.

It’s a cracker of a play and a timely one in light of our Federal election coming up next week and important issues to decide upon.

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The Apparatus at The Blue Room Theatre

The Third Wife at Luna

Scandinavian Film Festival 2019 at Luna

The Torrents by Black Swan State Theatre Company

Revelation Perth International Film Festival

My Big Gay Italian Wedding at Luna

Water by Black Swan State Theatre Company