The Top Five Sydney Festival Shows It’s Not Too Late To See

Sydney Festival 2012 may have wrapped up on Sunday, but you can still catch a number of Concrete Playground's highlights — all presented in conjunction with Sydney's theatre companies — on stages around town for the next few weeks.

These are the top five shows worth grappling for tickets to.

1. I'm Your Man (Belvoir)

The most surprising thing about this Sydney Festival show is that we love it despite its not-so-palatable subject, boxing. But this documentary theatre work immerses you in the world of a boxing gym that has more depth than you would have thought it could possibly contain. Knockout.

2. Thyestes (Belvoir and The Hayloft Project)

Simon Stone and his stellar collaborators have been nice enough to bring Thyestes up from Melbourne so we could see what all the fuss was about. Turns out this thoroughly modernised version of the Greek tragedy that birthed all other Greek tragedies is brilliant, a true shock and a joy to watch.

3. The Boys (Griffin Theatre)

This revisit of a past classic is as devastating as it feels real, and nightmarish in its intensity. The Sprague brothers, headed by the fresh-out-of-jail Brett, head out to enact their vendetta against women.

4. A History of Everything (STC and Ontroerend Goed)

Fast, kinetic and incredibly thoughtful theatre from these Aussie-Belgian collaborators. Their careening ride through the history of human society, organic life, tectonic shifts and the birth and expansion of the universe takes you to some amazing places.

5. Never Did Me Any Harm (Sydney Theatre Company and Force Majeure)

Think your parents messed you up? Share in stories of child-rearing and suburban life that are alternately painful and amusing, infuriating and touching in this powerful dance theatre work.