Stage

Sydney Comedy Festival review: Rhys Nicholson's Eurgh imagines a world of sheep and llamas

LENNY ANN LOW Semen, semen, penis, llamas, penis, hotels, grandma, semen. Although not strictly in order, this could be an overview of Rhys Nicholson's hour of stand-up in Eurgh.

Junk mail

Offer from Will Ferrell's Funny or Die almost got treated as junk mail by two Australian comics

MICHAEL LALLO When two young Melbourne comedy producers got an email from Will Ferrell’s 'people' in San Francisco, they dismissed it as spam.

Comments

Facebook, iPads may annoy Ronny Chieng but not the (humble?) selfie

Sarah Thomas After a shy start, Ronny Chieng has found his voice in comedy.

Comedy in Sydney 2014: Stand-up ... and deliver

LENNY ANN LOW From newcomers and emerging stars to a famous face, five comedians at different points in their careers discuss the serious business of being funny.

Baring souls and solos at the Sydney Comedy Festival is a laughing matter

LENNY ANN LOW First-night nerves are old hat for them, but this time the nerves relate to the challenge of a 'first', writes Lenny Ann Low.

Dance exploration of Aids activism doesn't do justice to powerful tale

Reviewed by Chloe Smethurst 12:36pm James Welsby knows how to vogue. You know, the dance where they do those fancy poses with their hands. Like in the Madonna song. He’s been voguing around town for a while, popping up as a cute solo act.

Dancers evoke secrets of the Torres Strait

Reviewed by Jordan Beth Vincent DANCE

Audience becomes performer in contradictory choreography

Reviewed by Chloe Smethurst The contradictory nature of the work means the audience is the performer is the audience. These are not dancers and this is not a dance. But it kind of is.

Kylie Minogue's choreographer says not paying dancers a 'mistake'

BHAKTHI PUVANENTHIRAN The choreographer for Kylie Minogue's controversial new video clip says request for dancers to work for no pay was a "mistake".

Ballet mourns Gailene Stock, celebrated director and teacher

Valerie Lawson Gailene Stock's spirit and career touched thousands, writes Valerie Lawson.

Musical theatre

Wicked's nasty witch a life-changing role for Jemma Rix

PHILIPPA HAWKER Jemma Rix has become one of the work's longest-standing stars worldwide. But the role has not palled.

Tim Freedman and the musical built around his songs

BERNARD ZUEL Whitlams tunes have been turned into plot points for a musical.

The grand history of Les Miserables from Hugo's hand

BHAKTHI PUVANENTHIRAN 'We really want to show people not just what it was like for Victor Hugo in 19th-century Paris, but also what it's like to be part of the musical today.'

Foundation

Hugh Jackman starts performing arts foundation

Tony Award winner Hugh Jackman and his actress wife Deborra-Lee Furness are starting up a new charitable foundation to support the performing arts in Australia.

Dreamworks

Tim Minchin's dream works: it's an animated bilby musical comedy

KARL QUINN Tim Minchin - not a performer known to play safe - has signed on for what may be his most ambitious project yet.

Elvis

Opera gets all shook up: The Turk In Italy gets '50s makeover

BHAKTHI PUVANENTHIRAN A room full of Elvises is not what one expects from a night at the opera, but it's what audiences at Opera Australia's revival of The Turk in Italy will see in its Melbourne season.