2025 Stage Door Reviews

Camp, comedic and catchy, you won’t have seen Shakespeare done quite like this before. Old Shakey’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream becomes a bit of a fever dream in The Lovers, an Australian original adaptation that blends the classic monologue with the power of a pop ballad. The air was buzzing on arrival, and how could it not be with a gorgeous pink carpet and some famous faces. The pulsing, glowing heart on stage before the performance set the tone for the show to come. Photo c

As someone who only landed on Australia's sunny shores a few years ago, ‘Phar Lap’ meant literally nothing to me. I was, however, familiar with electro-swing, having excitedly donned a trilby or two in my university days. So, sitting in Hayes’ foyer I was excited to see how the world of swing and horse racing might combine… and I was not disappointed! From the very first blast of a trumpet I found myself wondering why I haven’t seen an electro-swing musical before? It’s a hug

Blazer buttoned, homework done, sharpie fumes thick! Backbone Festival’s latest opening, Katie is a Marker Sniffing Lesbian, is a story that captures queer coming of age with the chaos and brilliance it deserves. The play centres around Katie, an awkward yet fiercely intelligent student at a Catholic high school. Katie begins selling sharpies in the school bathroom with some girls from history class. The premise is simple, but clever comedic storytelling and imaginative stagi