Because Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is such a virtuosic piece of writing, it’s a pleasure to see it in any shape or form. It is doubly gratifying when it’s produced well. And Simon Phillips’ STC main stage production is very good. The comedy is set in the wings of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, where Rosencrantz and Guildenstern languish in ignorance as to what they’re doing there. Their confusion is a neat analogy for the absurdist position on what it is to be alive: we’re here against our will, if we have one, we meander about in the dark and then we die. For all its cleverness, the play is extremely moving, with passages that get right to the empty gut of existence. Led by (real life) high school buddies Tim Minchin (Rosencrantz) and Toby Schmitz (Guildenstern), the production pulls off a uniquely Australian version of Stoppard’s humorous, so very English, brainy banter. Minchin has a theatrical naïveté standing next to the seasoned, adroit actor Schmitz. His artlessness is a rare thing and works well to characterise Rosencrantz as charming fool. Schmitz has taken a step sidewise from his usual Belvoir cool into comedic silliness with the frizzy hair of a 70s cop, with filthy mo’ to boot. Vocally he is limber and engaging, a far cry from the clipped, off-hand style he’s become known for. The pair’s performance is matched by a group of excellent medievalists playing the characters in the parent play, Hamlet. Heather Mitchell as an unstuck Gertrude is wild. In fact the whole lot of them are pretty damn arresting in their luscious, medieval garb designed by Gabriela Tylesova. Claudio’s shoes in particular are a precious sight. The velveteen, curvaceous clam sandals make any utterance from Christopher Stollery extremely funny. Ewan Leslie as the Player is predictably outstanding and he commands the famous, ‘“We're actors — we're the opposite of people!” speech with a shame turned to rage that is thrilling to watch. Tylesova’s bold set is a golden, raked stage with six ominous dark tunnels that act as wings to the stage of Hamlet proper. A huge black funnel descending from the ceiling extrudes an upside down, leafless tree; an inversion of Beckett’s tree in Waiting for Godot. It’s a nice touch considering that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is not only an inversion of Hamlet, it’s also a roughing up of Waiting for Godot - a piece of existentialism with barrels of humour. If you have plans to see Waiting for Godot at the STC later in the year, this production is essential prior viewing.
Can you think of a better way to spend a muggy, summer night than with an outdoor movie and quality food in Bondi? From January 24 to March 3, American Express is bringing its outdoor cinema to Sydney's coastline. Bondi hosted the original American Express Openair Cinema 15 years ago, and now it's getting an upgrade. It has moved into a new — shaded from the wind — location at the Bondi Pavilion. And this year, it'll sport two screens. Movies on these big screens will include just-released hits like Bad Times at the El Royale, Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's A Star Is Born, the Jason Momoa-led Aquaman and a beefed up Christian Bale as former Vice President Dick Cheney in Vice. Salt Meats Cheese will be supplying the movie bites, with a daily menu of antipasti and woodfired pizza, and drinks will be on offer from 4Pines, Pimm's, Giesen Wines and Black Devil Cider. In addition, there will be more than 40 events across the installation, including live music performances, DJs and trivia Oh, and it's a dog-friendly space with special picnic platter for the pooch, so you don't need to leave part of your family at home. Plus if you're an Amex user you'll get 15% off selected tickets, plus a blanket.
The NSW Government will introduce tighter restrictions for gatherings from next Friday, July 24, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian saying the state is on "high alert". This morning, Friday, July 17, new restrictions came into place for NSW pubs and hotels and these same restrictions will be applied to "all indoor hospitality venues" from next week. Group bookings will now be reduced from 20 to ten at clubs, restaurants and cafes, and larger venues will be capped at 300 people (compared to the previous one person per four-square-metre rule). All venues will also be required to have a registered COVIDSafe Plan and a COVIDSafe Hygiene Marshall. Weddings and corporate events will also be limited to 150, and funerals and places of worship 100. Everyone must be seated and there must be "no dancing, no singing, no mingling", according to the Premier. The move comes as 42 cases, as of today, are linked to the Crossroads Hotel in Sydney's southwest and Queensland declares two NSW city council areas — Liverpool and Campbelltown — hotspots. Eight new cases were recorded in NSW in the 24 hours leading up to 8pm last night, two of which were in hotel quarantine. https://www.facebook.com/NewSouthWalesHealth/photos/a.232420926957256/1347007965498541/?type=3&theater "We need to make sure we've contained this virus, we need to make sure we get on top of any potential hot spots or any potential community transmission that might be bubbling away under the surface," the Premier said. "All of us need to limit our activity, all of us need to think about what we're doing, all of us need to think about how are keeping ourselves safe, our family safe and our loved ones safe." The Premier also said that "indoor activities are the greatest threat in spreading the disease", which is why the new rules were limited to indoor gatherings. "We absolutely need everybody seated when they are in a venue... We do not want any sort of mingling, that spreads the disease." The NSW Government says it will not yet change the current 20-person limit on gatherings in homes, but it could be on the cards for the near future. "Dr [Kerry] Chant and her team have recommended that ten is a safe number," the Premier said. "We're not going to change the at this stage, but in the next little while we ask people to be thoughtful about who they welcome, how many they welcome and especially protect those most vulnerable." The new restrictions for indoor hospitality venues and limits on weddings and funerals will be introduced on Friday, July 24. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and to download a COVIDSafe Plan, head to the NSW Government website. Top image: Kitti Gould
Flowers aren't the only things that bloom in Sydney each September. The first month of spring also means a vibrant lineup of theatre, cabaret, music, dance, art and whatever else that Sydney Fringe Festival can fit within its program, all blossoming around the Harbour City. It's as diverse as flora, too, so you might start your 2024 fest experience making shapes to house music's history, then take an audio guided tour with a stranger, then get your ABBA fix. In-between, a collaboration between Ngaiire and Anna Polyviou awaits, then a parody of The Hunger Games. This year's Sydney Fringe will have the entire month flourishing — so, from Sunday, September 1–Monday, September 30 — and it has the numbers to prove it. The festival will feature four precincts, making its presence known in the Inner West, central Sydney, the city's east and at a Greater Sydney precinct. It'll span 12 hubs, including its first-ever Queer Hub. And ensuring that there's no shortage of things to see, 400-plus events will fill all of the above. From the aforementioned highlights, the Soweto Gospel Choir is doing double duty. Its first spot on the roster is with Groove Terminator, teaming up for a History of House session to commemorate dance music through the decades. For its second Sydney Fringe show, the choir is performing new concert Hope, a celebration of the music of protest and freedom. If you're keen on potentially making a new friend, that's where Two Strangers Walk Into a Bar... , the brainchild of Australian actor Tilda Cobham-Hervey (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart), comes in. ABBA fans can get excited about Abbey Paige Williams' ABBAsolutely Abbey, while the odds will forever be in your favour to laugh at Definitely Not a Hungry Game: A Parody Musical. As for Ngaiire and Anna Polyviou — and ACID FLWRS — they're joining forces for songs, florals, a dessert bar and Maker's Mark cocktails at Just Desserts. [caption id="attachment_917117" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Helen Page[/caption] Plus, Qtopia Sydney is the new Queer Hub's location, hosting shows such as MONSTER by Florian Wild, and one-man musical A Shark Ate My Penis: A History of Boys Like Me from trans musician and actor Laser Webber. Another new hub: the First Nations Hub at PACT Centre for Emerging Artists, where Coloured Stone will provide a one-night-only soundtrack, the Yalgali Markets will showcase First Nations artisans and makers, and the Koori-oke Open Mic & Scratch Night will feature everything from tunes to poems in ten-minute bites. Over the entire lineup, attendees should also make a date with Anna Dooley's endometriosis-focused one-woman show ENDHOE, Plate It Forward and The Ethics Centre collaborating on food and conversations about Sydney's cultural scene, and Joan of Arc retelling Voices of Joan. Or, there's two evenings of hip-hop battles, Bay 43 becoming a piano bar, a hub for multicultural comedy and pop-ups across The Rocks. Racing through Romeo and Juliet in ten minutes, dancing to Asian pop, sipping your way through POOF DOOF's drag brunch, seeing The Simpsons given the adults-only burlesque and drag parody treatment, dancing again to a Daft Punk tribute, a comedy gig that's also a ghost tour, an unscripted riff on Jane Austen, a drag satire of Kath & Kim: if you don't already have enough on your agenda, there's clearly more to add. Festivalgoers can also show some affection to the musicians sadly lost at the age of 27 — Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix among them — and, in a separate show, to Charlie Chaplin. [caption id="attachment_966764" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Belinda Rolland © 2022[/caption] Sydney Fringe Festival 2024 will take place from Sunday, September 1–Monday, September 30. For further information and tickets, head to the fest's website. Top image: Helen Page.
Attention all Future Beat, Broken Beat and Beat Beat heads, this one is for you: Tokimonster (aka Jennifer Lee) will be arriving in Sydney for a one night only show, to be supported by Nosaj Thing and IG Culture. If you're yet to be baptised, Tokimonster is the leading lady from LA label Brainfeeder. She's got more unsteady snares, jittery electronic swirls and inquiring bass lines than you'll need to get off. I promise. She's recently released her debut EP Creature Dreams to much acclaim, so if you're looking for an excuse to throw yourself into a pulse here it is. Tickets selling fast.
Martin del Amo's performances are like secret gifts, curious pieces placed out of the way that thrill with their mix of play and thoughtfulness. Originally from Germany, del Amo's choreography has been informed from an eclectic itinerary of dance forms - German modern dance, Japanese Butoh and Australian-style Bodyweather - which combine with his sense of humour and gift for storytelling to create engaging performances. Originally commissioned by the Campbelltown Arts Centre, It's a Jungle Out There drops del Amo into the heart of the city, a leviathan wonderland that is just as beautiful and deadly as the objects of David Attenborough's affection. Audiences are invited to journey with del Amo, as his body and voice contort, pop, rock and whirl through multilayered urban dreamscapes. Image by Heidrun Lohr, from Unsealed (2004) It's a Jungle Out There (Trailer) from Martin del Amo on Vimeo.
In Jack White’s eyes, “Vinyl is the real deal. I’ve always felt like, until you buy the vinyl record, you don’t really own the album. And it’s not just me or a little pet thing or some kind of retro romantic thing from the past. It is still alive.” UNDR ctrl thinks so too. That’s why they’ll be ushering in the Queen’s Birthday in style, with Strictly Vinyl 002, the B-Side to the inaugural event, held at Easter. From 9pm on Sunday June 8, crowds at The Cliff Dive, Darlinghurst, will be treated to six hours of vinyl spinning — not a CD, laptop, USB or touch screen in sight. Leading the lineup will be Touch Sensitive (aka Michael Di Francesco), owner of no fewer than 5,000 records and the man behind ‘Pizza Guy’. He’ll be spinning the funk, disco and Italo tracks that inspire his sound. Next up, there’ll be John Fuzzy, producer of epic festivals Parklife, Listen Out, Harbourlife and Field Day, whose collection exceeds 20,000 vinyls. He’s promised to play “some super rare ‘80s disco that [he’s] never heard out before, plus some Balearic and UK soul from ’89-’92.” And rounding the night off will be Ariane, resident at Goodgod, Flinders and beyond, and expert in all things late ‘90s and early 2000s house.
When an actor has enjoyed the kind of career that the one and only Al Pacino has to his name, there are many ways to celebrate. Or, to be more accurate, there's a plethora of films to watch — because the best way to pay tribute to the Oscar-, Emmy- and Tony-winner, formidable thespian force and one of the greatest talents ever is to bask in him doing what he does best in his movies. Enter You Can Call Me Al, a ten-film retrospective at Golden Age Cinema & Bar that does have a reason behind it, but doesn't need one. Marking the 50th anniversary of exceptional crime drama Serpico, which is home to one of Pacino's all-time best performances, is a worthy cause, of course — but so is revelling in many of his flicks. The season kicks off on Friday, November 10 with a session of The Godfather, another stunning classic, before popping up on various dates until Friday, December 15 with The Godfather Part II, Scarface, Scarecrow, Glengarry Glen Ross, Heat, Carlito's Way, Dog Day Afternoon and, yes, Serpico in a new 4K restoration. With such an impressive roster of films and performances, picking just one screening to attend is virtually impossible. Also on the lineup, and fittingly given that Golden Age recently ran a William Friedkin retrospective as well: the filmmaker's Pacino-starring thriller Cruising.
You asked — and Cadbury has gone and delivered. The confectionary giant has responded to hordes of eager fans and brought one of its most beloved creations back onto Aussie shelves: the humble but widely worshipped Caramilk. Cadbury has confirmed the rumours that its former fan favourite, with that golden-hued concoction of caramel and white chocolate, will indeed be making a comeback, returning to local supermarkets across the country from tomorrow, Wednesday, October 2. And, if you fancy being one of the first to get your mitts on the relaunched Caramilk, you can even nab a freebie this Wednesday, October 2. Cadbury will be handing out 1000 free Caramilk blocks at Melbourne Central Station from 7am, and then at Flinders Street Station from 11am. Understandably, there are plenty of sweet-toothed Aussies who are salivating at the prospect — not least of all, those in the Facebook groups dedicated to requesting its return — and the blocks are expected to move quickly. The first 500 sold on eBay last week in just 28 minutes, so you better get to Woolies early tomorrow. They'll be available to buy for $4.80.
There's been a lot of experiment across Sydney lately in the short, sharp talk. TEDx and its many local varieties do it for ideas, Bright Club did it for science and Pecha Kucha has some fast words as well. Everyone wants in, now with the focus on younger speakers. The MCA already has regular unfurling of the art ideas of teenagers and the Art Gallery of NSW has had its focus on young polemics. For the Biennale, its drawing out the easily digested ideas of Sydney's older art students at Sydney Students Speak. Each will deliver a spiel a bare two minutes longer than a regular TED talk, honing in on why you should care about their favourite Biennale artwork. And down in Casula, other young Sydney art students will have frenzied work on display in Casula for 8x8 as well. Students speak at the Art Gallery Wednesdays between August 1 and September 12. 8x8 is at Casula from July 21 to August 26. If you're an art student interested in your chance to speak, auditioning starts here. Image of Small Business: Karaoke by Jin Shi courtesy White Rabbit Gallery, Sydney. Read the rest of Concrete Playground's Top Ten Things to See and Do at the 2012 Sydney Biennale.
After a killer July bash — which mixed Tilda Swinton's signature perfume, international denim and coffee cupping workshops — Brewtown Newtown is bringing back their Attic Party for August. This time it will be held over both Saturday and Sunday upstairs at O'Connell Street Merchants. The party will be a way to mark the start of (what will probably be) a beautiful working relationship between Brewtown and Wooloomooloo's Smoking Gun Bagels. The two Sydney cafe powerhouses have collaborated to create the two-day party pop-up, which will be selling Smoking Gun's signature Montreal-style wood-fired bagels and Brewtown's great brews. It will all kick-off on 10am on both Saturday, August 12 and Sunday, August 13, and run until 4pm each day. Local clothing brand Sydney Romantics will also be running a pop-up in the attic and if you're keen to evolve your coffee palate, join Brewtown's master roaster Chris Bonney for a free cupping workshop, which'll have you tasting your way around the world with a curated selection of single origin brews. DJ Josh Leenaars of newly launched Network Connection Records will be spinning live tunes as well. By Lauren Vadnjal and Jasmine Crittenden.
With fully vaccinated Sydneysiders able to have picnics in groups of five right now, local businesses are offering luxe picnic hampers to make your first park session with your friends even better. Potts Point restaurant Dear Sainte Eloise is one local favourite that's jumped on board the picnic train, offering a hamper filled with a range of goodies perfect for a sunny day at your local patch of green. There are two picnic packs available — a $60 option and a $125 option. The $60 option is ideal for a two-person picnic, but order the $125 pack if you're meeting up with four of your closest. Depending on which pack you choose, you'll find the likes of thinly sliced mortadella, capocollo and bresaola, Dear Sainte Eloise's pork rillettes, marinated olives and a selection of cheese including buffalo brie and Bay of Fires cheddar. Topping things off is a handful of Aperol spritzes to accompany your picnic snacks. If you're looking to really take things up a notch, opt to add in a selection of wines like Wine Farm's rosé, Gentle Folk's Rainbow juice or any number of reds, white or sparkling from the Dear Saint Eloise online store. The packs must be picked up from Dear Sainte Eloise between 11am and 1pm Thursday–Sunday and can be pre-ordered online. Top image: Dexter Kim
In a flurry of metallic temporary tattoos, fuzzy bass drops and Santa Cruz singlets, Field Day made facing 2015 that little bit more danceable for Sydneysiders yesterday. And while a cheeky 214 people have been arrested for drugs — a record number for the festival, top work y'all — the high calibre of the one-day festival lineup makes Field Day a genuine reason to not completely smash the Prosecco on New Year's Eve. Sharing is caring in this day and age of festival production, with high freight and travel costs making it difficult for bigger international artists to top multiple festival bills throughout the year. Joining forces with the teams behind Falls Festival and Beyond the Valley, Fuzzy shared many artists from the Falls/BTV lineups to play their New Year's Day festival in Sydney — Danny Brown, Todd Terje, Jamie XX, SBTRKT et al — meaning the best bits of faraway camping festivals came right to The Domain. This year's Field Day kicked off 2015 with every last beat in the arsenal. Danny Brown's frenetic set sent the crowd into various states of undress, punters who remained free and breezy for Peking Duk's spontaneous blasting of Darude's 'Sandstorm' to a kneeling crowd. Gaining furious arm raising from a modest but dedicated crowd, Sydney's rap supergroup One Day hit home with the Field Day front-rowers by spinning rhymes about the HSC, while Kaytranada's set reminded us all what it means to have seriously good taste in beats hunting. Continuing said excellence in crate digging, the ever babyfaced Jamie XX generated an awkward, jolty excuse for a dancing crowd, with most newcomers to the Man of XX unsure of the Brit's unconventional beats. As the last skerricks of light left The Domain for 2015's first Friday, things went bassy. Rufus straight-up nailed it, with big lights, big sounds and one epic drum solo from drummer James Hunt. On The Island stage, UK foursome Bastille gave a few sneak previews into their upcoming second album (take a peek at our interview with bassist Will Farquarson for more), while Hamburg's Tensnake cranked out one of the crispiest, most danceworthy sets of the festival amongst the trees. Proving smaller stages are made for experimental electronica, no matter how big the artist, SBTRKT's set came up a little wanting, with the bass quiet, vocals strained and crowd mostly unfamiliar with the Brit's second, more experimental album Wonder Where We Land. Predictably hitting it out of the ballpark were Leeds's alt-J, with watertight harmonies, crisp sound, killer lighting and crowd singalongs aplenty. While this reviewer still maintains the band are secretly Furbies in human bodies, there ain't nothing like hearing Joe Newman's adorable voice growl about wanting to "turn you inside out and lick you like a crisp packet." Wowzer. Todd Terje crammed as many slick beats into one session to wrap up the night on the Left Field stage, epic British producer Dillon Francis brought huge sounds and frenetic rainbow visuals to the Centre Stage — even stopping to scull beer from a shoe. Nice. With one of its best lineups yet, Field Day remains one of Sydney's best ways to ring in the new year — even if you have to step over the odd used condom and scowl at several inappropriate headdresses throughout the day. Win some, lose some.
According to Jewish tradition, the day of rest — known as Shabbat — begins at sunset on Friday and continues until Saturday evening. To mark its arrival, families all over the world sit down at their dinner tables to relax, eat and make merry. It's to one such table that Australian playwright Jessica Bellamy transports audiences to when Shabbat Dinner comes to Griffin Theatre from September 10 to 15. You're invited to join her family (along with their fanciest glassware), watch traditional rituals in action and strap in for the ride, as family stories of all kinds unravel. Along the way, expect poetry, live music and feasting. Shabbat Dinner first appeared in Sydney in 2015 as part of Bondi Feast, before travelling to Checkpoint Theatre, Singapore. Earlier this year, Bellamy was back in Singapore, producing and performing in Thick Beats for Good Girls, which she co-wrote with Pooja Nansi. In 2011, she took home the 2011 Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award 2011 for Sprout (Playlab Press).
One of the most exciting and strange musical announcements of 2012 was that Blondie would headline Homebake for their first ever Global Edition. An equally exciting but less unexpected announcement is that she's playing a string of sideshows, one of them taking place at Sydney's Enmore Theatre on Thursday, 6 December. At 66 years of age Debbie Harry is on such top form that she was recently mistaken for a 25-year-old (okay so that 25-year-old was Lindsey Lohan but hey, Harry's almost 70). Her presence on stage is equally well preserved, with new wave classics such as "Heart of Glass" and "Call Me" continuing to transport fans 30 years after they were first written. For their Enmore Theatre show Blondie will be accompanied by The Stranglers (UK) and our own Machinations. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, 9 October. https://youtube.com/watch?v=sxTP4WLA_ig
New South Wales residents, it's holiday time. After a year largely spent staring at your own four walls, you probably don't need much motivation to head absolutely anywhere else, but the State Government is giving you some anyway. In an effort to encourage everyone to take a staycation, it's handing out $100 vouchers for accommodation in the Sydney CBD — to the tune of $20 million all up. The idea has two obvious aims: enticing folks in NSW to go venturing throughout the city, and helping support local businesses. Following similar moves in Victoria and Queensland over the past few months, the plan was announced today, Thursday, March 25, by Premier Gladys Berejiklian, as part of a broader tourism and events support package. A hefty 200,000 vouchers will be available, all worth $100 — and all to be used in Sydney's inner city. They'll be put up for grabs on a first come, first served basis, which is expected to happen around June (when things are usually a bit quieter, tourism-wise, and also when Sydney's new winter festival is slated to happen). Details are scarce for now otherwise, though. The government has revealed that you'll only be able to use the vouchers at registered accommodation providers, with a callout due to be put out to businesses in the coming weeks. That's when folks keen on a night in a hotel — and taking advantage of the state's soon-to-kick-in eased restrictions while spending time in the city — will learn how they can get their hands on the $100 vouchers, and exactly when they'll become available as well. "With international, interstate and business travellers virtually non-existent for the past year, the CBD, and in particular the accommodation industry, has done it tough," the Premier said. "This new program will be in addition to our other stimulus measures such as the Dine & Discover scheme, and will provide a boost to accommodation providers in what is a traditionally very quiet period." Premier Berejiklian also announced a number of measures to help the tourism, live music and events sectors — again, in broad strokes, with the minutiae set to be revealed at a later date. $24 million has been earmarked for tourism agency Destination NSW to administer a live music support package with Create NSW and the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner, $5.5 million is going to a business events industry support package to help businesses in Greater Sydney and across NSW, and $2 million will be put into a tourism industry marketing support package through the Love NSW campaign. For more information about the $100 accommodation vouchers and the NSW Government's new tourism, live music and events support measures, head to the government's website. We'll update you with further dates and details when they're announced.
As I settled down in Event Cinemas to see Once Chance, I didn't realise I'd also be seeing my mother's cinematic debut. But more on that later. A British film directed by David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada) and written by Justin Zackham (The Bucket List), One Chance is based on the true story of Paul Potts, a shop assistant and amateur opera singer who won Britain's Got Talent in 2007. It's a kind of hero's journey meets love story, with Potts' marriage to wife Julie-Ann (Alexandra Roach) at the core. Her patience and loyalty sustains him through a seemingly unending amount of bad luck. As does his love of opera. The film opens with Potts' troubled childhood and ends with his first audition for Britain's Got Talent, now a YouTube favourite, where he sang Nessun Dorma so beautifully he received a standing ovation, judges cried and even Simon Cowell beamed. Before we get to the happy ending, things get pretty dark. There's his bully-ridden childhood. Then there's his dysfunctional relationship with his father, his financial struggles, his chronic self-doubt (enforced by no less than Pavarotti in one of the film's most painful scenes) and his ill health, from bicycle accidents to appendicitis to cancer. Even the setting of Port Talbot is depressing. But without depicting the struggle, the film's final scenes wouldn't be quite as moving. We wouldn't appreciate how glorious a victory this was for Potts, the eternal underdog. I just wish we could have had a bit longer to bask in it before the credits started rolling. James Corden was an unusual casting choice. He's known for his cheeky, brash confidence, and at times you can almost feel him holding back. But for the most part he succeeded in giving a believable performance as the shy, self-effacing Potts. (And before you ask, no that's not him singing; he is lip-synching to Potts' voice.) Sometimes the plot and dialogue feel a tad schmaltzy, a bit 'Hollywood', potentially because it's a British story with British actors but in the hands of American filmmakers. The film could use a splash more irreverence, but there are real moments of humour, often thanks to the comedic timing of Corden, Julie Walters (as Potts' mum) and Mackenzie Crook (as his friend and inefficient manager at the Carphone Warehouse). One Chance is entertaining and tells a genuinely inspiring story. It's not the most well-written script, but if you like stories about self-belief and pursuing your dreams no matter how many obstacles life throws at you, then you should see it. Or if you want to see my mum's unwitting extra-work. She's the tourist in the white trousers in the final scene, standing in the middle of Piazza San Marco and staring straight at the camera. Hi mum. https://youtube.com/watch?v=1wtq5hN2eOE
It's been 16 years since The The last toured and three decades since they last graced an Aussie stage, but the UK post-punk legends are returning in a big way this October, with a two-night Sydney Opera House debut. The October 2 and 3 shows are part of a whirlwind tour attached to an appearance at Melbourne Festival, the band's only other Australian show. Led by Matt Johnson, The The is considered one of the most acclaimed, politically engaged bands of the 1980s, pitched among the ranks of fellow musical royalty, The Smiths, The Cure, New Order and Morrissey. Hit albums like Soul Mining (1983), Infected (1986), Mind Bomb (1989) and Dusk (1992) were staples of an entire era's angsty soundtrack. The band's just as famed for its ever-changing lineup and for this year's comeback shows, Johnson's called in one band member from each of his three previous tours to help reimagine that critically acclaimed back catalogue. He'll be joined on the iconic Concert Hall stage by bassist James Eller, lead guitarist Barrie Cadogan, Earl Harvin on drums and DC Collard on keyboards. The The's Australian dates come off the back of a sold-out series of London concerts, a fast-selling tour of Europe and the USA, and the release of new single 'We Can't Stop What's Coming'. Image: Thomas Feiner.
Whether you haven't picked up a paintbrush since high school or you live and breathe art, now is a great opportunity to stretch your creative muscles in Sydney. This month marks the return of Art Month Sydney, which will take over studios, galleries, museums and community centres across the city. The program of exhibitions, workshops, panel discussions and parties is aimed at celebrating Sydney's contemporary art scene. And, of course, Pine Street Creative Arts Centre is getting involved. On Saturday, March 23, the Chippendale studio is running a full day of art workshops, free talks and demonstrations. You can make your own sterling silver jewellery ($45), try your hand at printmaking with fabric stamping and block printing classes (both $35), or learn to paint portraits ($204). You can also design your own fabric in this all-day workshop led by Goldberg Aberline studio ($260). If you've ever thought you'd like to learn more about art and make some of your own, this is a friendly and welcoming space to start exploring. Try out some different disciplines and see if one (or more) sticks — you'll know. And if it does, you can then look into some of Pine Street's longer courses — from one- or two-day workshops to longer courses that run between six and eight weeks. To check out the full Pine Street Art Month program and purchase tickets, head this way.
Think that meditation retreats are all about early wake-up calls and lots of serious silences? Well, not anymore. Say hello to Soundscape, a three-day sensory experience to be held in NSW's Southern Highlands this August. A wellness getaway that breaks with tradition, this one's focused on music, food and great company. It's the brainchild of the team at Surry Hills mindfulness studio The Indigo Project, a progressive practice that runs naptime and mindful pasta making classes, and relatable courses like Get Your Shit Together. And for its third iteration, it's being helmed by a trio that describes itself as "an experimental chef, a rebel psychologist and an electronic music producer". Over one weekend at Highball House, The Indigo Project founder and head psychologist Mary Hoang, music producer Rich Lucano and chef Harry Bourne will guide guests through an exploration of sound, designed to help recharge, connect and unravel all that stress. Here, you'll take meditative walks through the forest, feel inspired during guided creativity sessions and experience fun sound immersion sessions based around The Indigo Project's popular Listen Up workshops. And with Love Supreme chef Bourne helping to run the show, boring food is definitely not part of the agenda. Instead, enjoy gourmet snacks and a few mindblowing woodfired feasts. There are still a few spots available if you're willing to part with around $900 for the weekend. If this sounds like your bag, you'll probably be interested in Yoga Cucina, a yoga, wine and pasta-filled retreat that takes place a couple of times a year also in the Southern Highlands.
Once again, German DJ legend Claptone is preparing to hit Aussie shores, returning to deliver the latest edition of his international smash-hit soirée, The Masquerade. Popping up in Melbourne for the third time, and returning Sydney for round two, the mysterious, multi-sensory event is being presented in collaboration with Untitled Group — the creative minds behind the likes of Ability Fest, Pitch Music & Arts and Beyond the Valley. Having toured a selection of cities worldwide over the past few years, The Masquerade's next stop is The Warehouse Collective in Sydney's Australian Technology Park on Saturday, April 6, followed by the Burnley Circus Park in Melbourne on Saturday, April 13. It's set to transform each space into a den of revelry for one afternoon, featuring a heady mix of performances, acrobats, sounds and quirky characters you won't forget in a hurry. Promising to ramp up the intensity levels, all guests will be given masquerade face wear as they enter the event — a reference to Claptone's own signature golden mask. The Masquerade is heading to Sydney's The Warehouse Collective on Saturday, April 6 and to Melbourne's Burnley Circus Park on Saturday, April 13. Tickets go on sale this Thursday, January 24, at 12pm AEDT. Melburnians can sign-up for pre-sale access here, and Sydneysiders here. CORRECTION: TUESDAY, JANUARY 22 — This article previously stated that Claptone's The Masquerade would be debuting in Sydney in 2019. It actually debuted in Sydney last year. The article has been updated to reflect.
The actual Olympics might have been postponed, but we've found a much cuter display of sportsmanship to fill the void this July. Namely, footage of four adorable guide-dogs-to-be participating in their very own paw-lympics. Yep, that's a thing and we're here for it. The folks at Seeing Eye Dogs have teamed up The Petbarn Foundation to host the inaugural Puppy Games, streaming on a device near you this Thursday, July 23. The event will see young trainee guide dogs Yaris, Meadows, Unique and Norris tackle a series of skill-testing challenges, with their every move captured on camera. Watch the pups hurtle through a time trial, take on a 'food bowl challenge' and battle it out for glory in the 'dogstacle distraction course'. The project aims to support fundraising efforts for the annual Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal, but also promises a much-needed boost of dopamine and general happy feels all round. Viewers can donate to the cause by hitting the link when they register to view The Puppy Games here. The appeal is shooting for a goal of $500,000 to help cover the costs of breeding, training and caring for at least ten Seeing Eye Dogs. Can't make Thursday's viewing? Fear not, the full event will be up on YouTube to rewatch any time you need a mood boost.
Sit in a chair. Embrace the otherworldly. Whether you're ready for it or not — physically and emotionally alike — bear witness to the dead being summoned. Speak to those who are no longer in the land of the living. Perhaps, while you're chatting, get caught in a dialogue with something nefarious as well. Talk to Me used this setup to audience-wowing and award-winning effect. Now comes Baghead, which stems from a short film that pre-dates 2023's big Australian-made horror hit, and was shot before Michael and Danny Philippou's A24-distributed flick played cinemas, but still brings it to mind instantly. Audiences can be haunted by what they've seen before, especially in a busy, ever-growing genre where almost everything is haunted anyway and few pictures feel genuinely new. Here, there's no shaking how Talk to Me gnaws at Baghead. First-time feature filmmaker Alberto Corredor adapts his own applauded short, which picked up gongs at film festivals around the globe. Both of his movies — abridged and full-length — possess the same moniker as a mumblecore effort starring Greta Gerwig before she was directing Lady Bird, Little Women and Barbie. That's where the similarities between 2008's Baghead and 2024's end, but the new Baghead doesn't stop conjuring up thoughts of other flicks. The director and screenwriters Christina Pamies (another debutant) and Bryce McGuire (Night Swim) make grief their theme, and with commitment; the pain of loss colours the movie as much as its shadowy imagery. But, despite boasting two dedicated performances, Corredor's Baghead is routine again and again. At The Queen's Head in Berlin, Owen Lark (Peter Mullan, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) oversees a ramshackle four-centuries-old pub where customers aren't there for the drinks. The basement is the big drawcard for those in the know, with the being that resides in it, in a hole in a brick wall, luring punters in the door. Everyone who arrives with cash and a plea for help is in mourning. When Neil (Jeremy Irvine, Benediction) makes an entrance, he knows exactly what he wants. Baghead begins not with Owen letting his latest patron meet the entity that shares the movie's title, though, but with him endeavouring to vanquish it. If he was successful, there'd be no film from there. Because he isn't, his estranged daughter Iris (Freya Allan, The Witcher) is summoned to the German city by a solicitor (Ned Dennehy, The Peripheral), becoming the watering hole's next owner. It's thanks to Neil that Iris discovers Baghead's namesake. In addition to being determined to talk to his deceased wife, he's persistent. And yes, the witchy being does sport a sack, which is removed when it is spends 120 seconds transforming into another soul. Also, the $2000 that Neil is offering is more than a little helpful for the twentysomething who grew up in the foster system after her mother's (Saffron Burrows, White Widow) death, just had her landlord change the locks on her and only can only lean on her best friend Katie (Ruby Barker, Bridgerton). Potential financial benefits, plus a roof over her head, are why she agrees to sign up for taking over the bar to start with. No amount of money could compensate for becoming saddled with a necromancer that doesn't want to be holed up underground and has a bag of tricks to mess with anyone willing to use its eerie skills, however. A VHS tape from Iris' dad detailing instructions can't stop Baghead, either. As Scream satirised three decades back in the slasher realm but horror loves in general, there are rules. There's also consequences for not abiding by them. Exceed the time limit with Baghead and the malevolent creature could spirit up anyone. Going into the cavern beneath the tavern is also forbidden — and so is Iris trying to snatch time with her own lost loved ones now that she's the entity's guardian. With the basics laid out, and viewers knowing that all of the above will happen, the predictable plot's expected beats become a matter of if rather than when. There's no subtlety to the storytelling, nor to the tension-courting score or gloomy visuals. Luckily, Baghead does have both Allan and Mullan, even if the latter isn't around for long (but longer than getting bumped off in the introduction would mean if this wasn't a flick about conversing with the fallen). In her first lead film role, as well as just her ninth screen credit — The Third Day and Gunpowder Milkshake are among the others; Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the fourth flick in the current Planet of the Apes franchise, will become the tenth within months — Allan takes convincingly to being a horror heroine. Iris is also a horror-movie character who has clearly never seen a horror movie in her life given her choices, but emotion anchors Allan's performance. The star best-known as Crown Princess Cirilla of Cintra to-date tries to help the film overcome its many cliches; that it can't is never on her shoulders. Mullan, one of Scotland's great acting talents since the 90s, is also crucial, particularly for getting audiences paying attention at the outset. Baghead doesn't match his intensity, but it's better for having him brooding within its Cale Finot (Leopard Skin)-lensed frames. If viewers only had two minutes to choose a recent back-from-the-dead feature to watch, Baghead isn't the pick. That said, although it hardly dives deep or does much with it, it understands grief. That the picture's protagonist is another of Baghead's characters with unresolved emotions tied to losing someone might sound too neat, yet thankfully it isn't. Setting up a sequel proves clunky. Attempting to add a feminist spin plays too conveniently. Facing loss: that resonates. Corredor, Pamies and McGuire know how pervasive that mourning is, and how universal that grappling with mortality is, too. In fact, if Iris didn't have her own brush with loss, as everyone has, that'd stand out. If only Baghead's creative forces knew how to build a film that wasn't so by the numbers around its premise — and for 94 minutes.
Beer lovers, this one's for you. Sydney hospitality giant Merivale is dedicating all of September to frosty cans and perfect pours of everyone's favourite golden ale, beer. The month of beer-centric celebrations will span a heap of Merivale venues, popping up with different events and activations. The flagship event is the Hop & Dreams craft beer festival at Vic on the Park. This two-day spotlight on independent brewers will take over The Vic's beer garden on Saturday, September 3 and Sunday, September 4. Brewers including Stone & Wood, Malt Shovel, Panhead, Balter, Coopers, Young Henrys, Grifter, Philter, Heaps Normal, and Yulli's will all be in attendance, pouring beers alongside live entertainment, top-notch eats and rounds of basketball. Over at sushi e, Dan Hong and Michael Fox will be hosting the Biru & Yakitori Party on Saturday, September 17. This ticketed event will feature a four-hour deep dive into Japanese beer, accompanied by sake, yakitori and Japanese hip hop. Every Tuesday in September, The Beresford is getting involved in the festivities by turning its first-floor room into the Barrel O Laughs comedy club. For $20, comedy fans will be treated to comedy sets from the likes of Dave Hughes, Matt Okine and Al Del Bene as well as a Hahn Super Dry schooner. Elsewhere, a beer-based game of shuffleboard will be touring Merivale venues, the founders of Balter will be hosting a dinner at The Collaroy and ivy's Pool Club will become the Bella Birra Pool Party with beer, pizza and Italo-disco tunes. Plus, Merivale has created its own beer with Camperdown's Malt Shovel. The Good Tap will be served across Vic on the Park, The Newport, The Royal, The DOG, Excelsior and Queens Hotel with money from the beer going to charity. [caption id="attachment_708571" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Beresford[/caption]
Easter comes early at Ashfield's Polish Club, where the European Easter Markets will be hosted on Sunday, March 25 from 10am to 4pm. Stock up on Easter treats, Polish smallgoods and bespoke artwork — or just peruse it all with pączki in hand. Stalls will sell a range of Polish products for take away, from chocolates, pierogi and doughnuts (that's the pączki) to vodka and beer, along with skincare items, handmade scarves and jewellery. Australian products on offer include locally made honey and Hunter Smokehouse salts, cheeses and jerky. Traditional paper cut artwork and hand-crocheted items will also be for sale and ornate Easter eggs will be on display, with attendees encouraged to hand-paint their own. You might need to put down the dumplings first, though. Image: Piviso via Flickr.
Just because something sounds strange, looks weird or smells funny, doesn't mean it won't taste absolutely delicious. Who knows, that slow-cooked camel pie or blistery black corn fungus might even become your next food obsession. Inspired by all of the weird and wonderful dishes created on MasterChef Australia, we've created a hit list of ten unexpected dishes to find around Sydney. If you're looking to expand your culinary horizon, give them a try. Go on, we dare you. [caption id="attachment_640424" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kai Leishman[/caption] HUITLACOCHE TLAYUDA, CHULA Huitlacoche has to be one of the tastiest diseases out there. Quite literally. A black blistery corn smut, this Mexican delicacy is prized for its earthy flavours and funky, mouldy kick, making it a big hit with the truffle and blue-cheese crowd. If you're keen to give it a try, head to Chula in Potts Point, where this modern Mexican eatery serves up a huitlacoche tlayuda, which is kind of like a Mexican pizza. The intriguing dish sees a crisp corn tortilla base layered with refried beans, stringy cheese and inky blots of huitlacoche. HOT CROSS BUN SANDWICHES, BODEGA What started as an Easter special has risen through the ranks to become one of Bodega's best-selling dishes. The sacrilegious snack is made from a cinnamon and clove spiced bun, loaded with pink fleshy slices of corned beef, pickled vegetables and kimchi and topped with lashings of smoked oyster mayonnaise. The seemingly chaotic jumble of ingredients actually work together nicely, with sweet, salty and sour notes in perfect balance. Forget smothering your buns with butter, once you go corned beef you never go back. SPIDER STEAK, THE UNICORN HOTEL Strange sounding we know, but a spider steak is simply a cut of beef, taken from the tail end of the cow. You don't often find it on restaurant menus — unless you frequent the Unicorn Hotel in Paddington, that is. While the steak may look a little lumpy, it's actually quite tender and flavourful, thanks to its fatty web of marbling. The Unicorn has been exploring curious cuts since day one, with rump, scotch fillet and T-bone taking a back seat to hanger, skirt and striploin. All slabs can be topped with house made garlic butter or fruit chutney, with side servings of crinkle cut chips, home-style cauliflower cheese and braised red cabbage. CAMEL SAMBUSAK, NOUR A delicacy from the Middle East, camel meat finds its way into Israeli pastry pockets at Nour in Surry Hills. Head chef Roy Ner makes his sambusaks from spiced, slow-cooked camel rib seasoned with ras el hanout and cumin. The camel meat is then stuffed into Yemenite pastry, sprinkled with black sesame seeds and baked in a woodfired oven until perfectly puffed. The softly shredded camel meat is surprisingly delicious, offering up a rich gamey flavour that sit somewhere between beef and lamb. For your next hump day, why not try camel. KOGASHI RAMEN, GOGYO While burnt food is something we generally try to avoid, it's worth making an exception for Gogyo's kogashi ramen. The famous black broth is made by cooking pork lard at explosive temperatures, before adding chicken broth, springy noodles and fatty rashes of chashu pork belly. What arrives is a rich, scorchy soup, swirling with flecks of char and lidded with porky oil. The flavours reveal intense umami and a sweet lick of smokiness. Surprisingly, there's actually very little bitterness there. REPOLLITO DE BRUSELAS, PORTEÑO While there's nothing special about Brussels sprouts, it's highly unusual when they actually taste good. Porteño in Surry Hills is one of the few places (on this planet) to actually get it right. Owners Ben Milgate and Elvis Abrahanowicz have ditched the steaming method, which, as any ten-year-old will tell you, makes them mushy and sour. Instead they're deep-fried until crunchy and golden, then tossed through with torn herbs and drizzled in vincotto. The crispy sweet buds are perfect as they are — although you could consider a side order or lamp rump or rib. WAGYU BEEF BARBIE, SPICE WORLD If you're looking to spice up your life — and your dining experiences — head to sichuan hot pot hot spot Spice World in China Town. This Chinese-based restaurant chain is bubbling with personality, from the teddy bear soup stocks to the smiling robot waiters who serve up chilli oil and mints. Order a portion of the wagyu and you'll receive a limited edition beef Barbie, draped in a marbled meat gown. Guests will need to de-robe poor Barbie, dipping her dress into the chilli-slicked broth to simmer alongside hand-pulled noodles, bean curd and bamboo fungus. CHARCOAL BUCATINI, MARK + VINNY'S If you like your Italian food traditional, prepare to be initially outraged, then completely won over by the unorthodox offerings at Surry Hills spaghetti and spritz bar Mark + Vinny's. Here, the pasta comes in a rainbow of flavours, from sky blue spirulina tagliatelle to a ruby-red beetroot spaghettini. It even has a vegan carbonara (gasp) made with charcoal bucatini mixed through with mushroom pancetta and plant-based parmesan and crowned with an unctuous sweet potato "egg yolk". MORTADELLA RAVIOLI, JONAH'S Long regarded as one of the more inferior luncheon meats, it's nice to see chefs taking this pink processed log a little more seriously. Not only has mortadella been embraced in sandwich form at ACME and on pizzas at Via Napoli, but esteemed Sydney restaurant Jonah's has immortalised it in ravioli. The popular entrée is made from a paste of creamy minced baloney meat and pistachio crumb, neatly tucked into handmade pasta parcels. The dish is served with circular slivers of sweet jellied balsamic vinegar, baby turnip tops and a sprinkling of seeds. No ketchup required CHEESEBURGER SPRING ROLLS, MS G'S Dan Hong from Ms G's has taken two of the world's most popular dishes and rolled them into one. These crispy fried cigars are stuffed with minced beef, processed cheese slices, mustard, tomato sauce and gherkins to give you a greasy hit of your two favourite fast foods. They're relatively small in size, so follow it up with the Stoner's Delight 3.0, a junk-food mountain of doughnut ice-cream, crispy bacon and potato chips that will leave you in a haze of happiness. Catch the latest season of MasterChef Australia from Sunday to Thursday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten.
In Frances Ha, Greta Gerwig became the on-screen embodiment of a predicament most twenty-somethings can relate to: knowing what you don't want out of life, rather than what you do. In Mistress America, she offered a different side of failing to achieve your dreams, this time from a slightly older perspective. Now, in Maggie's Plan, she grapples with the fact that you can't control everything, no matter how hard you try. Consider it the next phase in her ongoing examination of the idiosyncrasies of quarter-life malaise. Written and directed by Rebecca Miller (The Private Lives of Pippa Lee) based on an unpublished novel by Karen Rinaldi, the film explores two schemes hatched by the eponymous Maggie (Gerwig), a college careers advisor whose life is...well...a bit of a mess. When the film opens, she's telling her married best pal Tony (Bill Hader) about her intention to become a mother using sperm donated by their high school classmate turned pickle entrepreneur Guy (Travis Fimmel). Cut forward three years and she instead has a daughter with John (Ethan Hawke), an anthropology professor and aspiring novelist who's struggling to cut ties with his imposing ex-wife Georgette (Julianne Moore). Although it may certainly sound like one, to simply call Maggie's Plan a romantic comedy doesn't quite do the film justice. While the situations the characters find themselves in are by no means unique, there's a level of intricacy to all the major players that ensures Miller's screenplay feels as authentic as it does amusing. When Maggie tries to muster a polite response to Guy's offer to help her get pregnant "the old-fashioned way", for example, her awkwardness feels ripped from reality. That's the gift that both Gerwig and Miller bring — an understanding of how to convey life's ups and downs in a way that's equally playful and relatable. The two prove as an apt a pair as Gerwig and Frances Ha filmmaker Noah Baumbach, — yet they're not the feature's only standouts. Adopting a severe Danish accent that she takes time to settle into, Moore proves both hilarious and surprisingly sympathetic. Of course, with its jaunty jazz score and New York setting, Maggie's Plan can't escape the shadow of other, similar films gone by. It's not only Baumbach that springs to mind, but Woody Allen — though any resemblance is likely by design. Miller has crafted a movie knowingly comprised of familiar parts, but cleverly filled with astute reflections that tell the tale from a fresh perspective. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAoEoWrOe8g
Sydney's creative champions, 107 Projects, are getting some seriously impressive additional new digs. The not-for-profit has been chosen to manage the Joynton Avenue Creative Centre — the helm of Green Square's new 278-hectare community and cultural precinct. Expected to open later this year, the centre will occupy the former nurses' quarters in the refitted three-story Esme Cahill Building, located on the grounds of the former South Sydney Hospital site in Zetland. As the 'head tenant', 107 Projects will manage the daily operations of the Creative Centre and all of its tenants by doing what they do best — bringing together like-minded people to create workshops, exhibitions, performances and other activities that engage the community. The centre will feature artist studios, creative offices, exhibition spaces, workshop spaces and indoor/outdoor areas for community hire. The centre will act as the hub for this new cultural precinct, which the City of Sydney is taking very seriously — they're spending a whopping $540 million over the next ten years on extensive infrastructure and streetscaping works, as well as community facilities including an aquatic centre, library, plaza and more than fifteen parks and open spaces. The wider precinct will also include an early education and childcare centre, a community garden and playground. Once development is complete, Green Square will accommodate close to 61,000 people living in 30,500 new homes, as well as provide around 21,000 permanent jobs for the surrounding suburbs of Beaconsfield, Zetland, and parts of Rosebery, Alexandria and Waterloo. Lord Mayor Clover Moore is among those championing this cause and praised 107 Projects as the ideal choice for the centre. "Their experience working with creative practitioners and artists of all disciplines and their passion for engaging the community in diverse projects makes them perfect for this new opportunity at the Joynton Avenue Creative Centre," says Moore. Happily for inner west folks, 107 Projects will continue to operate their existing space at 107 Redfern Street. The decommissioned car garage is known to host quality exhibitions, performances, artist studios and creative offices that has rightfully secured 107 Projects as a crucial leader of the Sydney creative sphere. The Joynton Avenue Creative Centre will open later this year in the former South Sydney Hospital site at 3 Joynton Avenue, Zetland. Visit the City of Sydney website for more information.
If George Clooney can float around in space in Gravity and Matt Damon can get stranded on Mars in The Martian, then Brad Pitt can race buggies on the moon in Ad Astra. Another Ocean's 11 star, another intergalactic movie — and another big-screen sci-fi spectacle, obviously. Pitt plays Roy McBride, an Army Corps engineer who is determined to soar into the stars and beyond, all to follow in his father's (Tommy Lee Jones) footsteps. His dear old dad went missing on his own space mission in mysterious circumstances, and if Christopher Nolan's Interstellar taught us anything a few years ago, it's that searching for family and blasting out of this world seem to go hand-in-hand. Donald Sutherland, Liv Tyler and Loving's Ruth Negga also feature, with Ad Astra marking the latest release from The Immigrant and The Lost City of Z filmmaker. The latter is definitely cause for celebration, with the director's previous movies proving thoughtful, detailed, exquisitely performed dramas. Take all that to space — in a film that's been delayed a few times due to the extensive visual effects work required — and hopefully it'll soar. For a while, it's been a good time to watch great movies about big-name stars in space; just this month, Robert Pattinson blasts off in High Life, too. But if you're a Pitt fan, the next few months are shaping up to be particularly exciting — before he rockets to the outer edges of the solar system in Ad Astra, he'll be stepping back to the 60s in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Watch the first trailer for Ad Astra below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm3h6iWmIEw Ad Astra releases in Australian cinemas on September 19.
On the surface, it may seem like food culture and gaming culture are literally worlds apart. But, dig a little deeper and you'll quickly see that they boast no shortage of similarities. Both inspire connection, both can offer a truly immersive experience, and both can instantly transport you to another place or time. And it's these very crossovers being celebrated this month for PlayStation to Plate — an innovative new dining concept that sees much-loved Aussie chefs bring virtual food from the PlayStation universe to life. From Friday, December 3–Sunday, December 12, three Aussie eateries will each create a limited-edition menu item that reimagines an iconic video game dish IRL. The restaurants are serving up their signature creations across all ten days of the pop-up, but you can also have any of the dishes dropped to your door courtesy of Deliveroo. Morgan Hipworth, the young gun baker behind Melbourne's Bistro Morgan, is no stranger to whipping up eye-popping, otherworldly desserts. His Windsor bakehouse is famed for its vibrant rotation of inventive doughnuts, cookies and sweet treats. And this month, Hipworth is unleashing that creative flair on the gaming world, to deliver an IRL recreation of Chef Tulio's Sirangian Honey Mousse from Ratchet & Clank: A Rift Apart. The game is a high-impact, dimension-hopping adventure through multi-coloured worlds, the energy of which the young chef has translated into an eye-catching dessert layered into a jar. "Ratchet & Clank is full of heaps of different dimensions, so I've created a multi-layered taste experience," Hipworth explains to Concrete Playground. "We start off with a layer of strawberry jelly and then top it with a house-made vanilla bean custard, a layer of strawberries and chocolate sponge cake, and then that all-important Sirangian honey mousse," he describes. "And it's green, because it's from another dimension!" [caption id="attachment_835418" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Morgan Hipworth, of Bistro Morgan[/caption] It was a fitting choice for Hipworth, who dubbed the virtual dessert 'a perfect match'. "This dish really brought out the fun of the Ratchet & Clank world, as well as the creativity of why I fell in love with baking," he adds. As for how he reworked an animated dish into an edible off-screen creation? "I wanted to channel the fun and spirit of the game, and bring the colourful world to life," Hipworth says. The chef selected flavours that he knew worked well together and then cleverly rejigged them in the form of a classic Aussie treat. "Trifle is such an iconic dessert," the baker explains. "Bringing a fun twist to it with some Sirangian honey seemed like the best choice." As with all of Bistro Morgan's dessert creations, this one aims to also deliver a serve of escapism. "I want my customers to be transported to another dimension, and you can do this with flavours, smells and colours," he shares. After all, for this dessert king, the leap between the worlds of hospitality and gaming is often not that huge. "One of my favourite things about food is how immersive it is — and the exact same thing could be said for gaming," Hipworth explains. "Both have the ability to connect and bring people together. Both have an innate ability to instantly transport you to another place or time." Catch PlayStation to Plate from December 3–12, in Sydney and Melbourne. You'll find each dish featured on the menu at its respective venue, as well as being available for takeaway via Deliveroo.
While Messina's main jam is crafting supremely scoffable varieties of gelato, the brand's love of food extends far beyond the freezer, as proven through a series of pop-ups it's dubbed Messina Eats. Every couple of months, the cult gelateria teams up with a savoury-focused culinary hero and throws a big ol' food party in the carpark at its Rosebery headquarters. On February 1 and 2, it's teaming up with Melbourne's Wonderbao to create a special Chinese New Year menu as dreamy as the soft, doughy pillows themselves. As we're celebrating the Year of the Pig, the Wonderbao team will be serving its cult gua bao stuffed with roast pork, traditional bao filled with barbecue pork and fries loaded with XO sauce and pork floss. Those who aren't fans of pork will also find plenty to enjoy in the gua bao stuffed with beer battered fried chicken or tofu with okonomiyaki sauce, and the traditional vegan bao filled with shiitake mushrooms. And for dessert? Sweet egg custard buns and Messina's famed mango pancakes: thin pancakes filled with mango sorbet and whipped cream. There'll be two new drinks to try, but there's no word on what they'll be just yet — last year it was slushies, so expect something equally sweet and refreshing. The whole thing will go down over Friday and Saturday in the carpark at Messina's Rosebery HQ. They'll be open from noon for lunch and dinner until sold out.
Inspired by Eurovision — that all-singing, all-dancing, over-the-top, glittery European extravaganza — is Sydney's version, the Sydneyvision Song Contest. One of the main differences between the two (apart from massive geographical distance), is that Sydney's take is all about the music video rather than live performances like its European older sister. This might explain the venue, which is a cinema. With strict guidelines for contestants to up the cheese factor while singing lyrics that include a Sydney suburb, expect both those who can and can't sing to be in it. Organised by the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, (with the support of Dendy Newtown), Sydneyvision suggests that you be prepared for some, quite frankly, bizarre music videos (and some musical satire), such as last year's Bollywood entry about Harris Park. So, go and cheer on your suburb, and fingers crossed there's some fine dancing that takes a leaf from Moldova's book.
Stay tuned. More info coming soon.
Baffled by bubbly? Who isn't. Particularly once those bubbles start going to your brain. We thought it best to enlist the help of an expert to get the fast facts right, so we tracked down journalist and Champagne educator Champagne Jayne, who taught us just how damn special the bubble drop actually is. Let us let you in on why. Champagne 101 Champagne is exclusive to the Champagne region in northern France. Due to the cumulative effects of soil, climate and the cultivation practises, the three types of grapes used (chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier) are married together to produce the world-famous bubbly drop. The Champenois (master Champagne makers) use the lengthy and arduous traditional method that involves the bottle going under a second process of fermentation to create the fizz. Champagne first gained world eminence through its connection with the baptism of French kings, and consequently royalty spread the word throughout Europe about this exotic wine, awarding it status of opulence and nobility. Nowadays, it is the natural partner for any event where celebration, luxury and romance are themes. Popping, Pouring and Drinking Temperature plays an integral part in Champagne appreciation. "Bubbles are part of the pleasure. Serving champagne anywhere between 4.5 degrees celcius to 7 degrees celcius is perfect. If it is too cold it will suppress the aromatics and if it is too warm, the wine will froth up and then go flat," says Jayne. To open the bottle with the proper pomp, hold the bottle at a 45 degree angle (preferably aimed away from your compatriots) and keeping the cork still, gently twist the bottle. Pour a little bit into clean glasses to let the foam die down, and then top up leaving adequate space to get a whiff of its excellence. Matching Champagne with Food Champagne is the ideal drink as an aperitif, encouraging conversation that can be somewhat stale at the beginning of the night. However, because it is blended from numerous base wines, Jayne says that it's like an orchestra of flavour in your mouth and matches well with food. "Anything goes, from prawns to pizza!," she says. There are many types of Non-Vintage, but the general rule of thumb is that they're easy on the palate (and pocket), and best to serve with canapes. Vintage Champagnes have a slightly richer and heavier palate weight, making them ideal with a more intensely flavoured dish and are "also an unparalleled match for any cheese and delicate dessert". Is Champagne only for Special Occasions? "Rubbish! It's like a holiday in a glass!" exclaims Jayne. Champagne is most frequently associated with exclusive affairs, but why should we be such scrooges and reserve this esteemed beverage for memorable moments? Jayne believes it is the ultimate icebreaker for any audience and guaranteed to make anyone smile. "It isn't about being snobby, posh or saving up to celebrate a job or a wedding, it's actually the affordable luxury in life! Everyone can afford the small indulgence of enjoying a really decent glass of fizz on a Friday night." Hear, hear. Champagne on the Cheap This is a toughie because unless you're Gina Rinehart, spending your bucks on Vintage champagne might not be so simple. Jayne says that the best value choice on the market at the moment for something exceptional is currently the world's favourite, Moet & Chandon which can be found for around $85. For Champagne at the start of a meal, Jayne recommends Pierre Gimonnet. "The delicious crisp blanc de blanc is approachable in style and accessibly priced," she says. "For everyday bubbles, Lanson or Duperrey are an affordable option at around $40," Jayne adds. For those who want a James Bond-themed beverage, don't look past his favourite tipple, Champagne Bollinger. The full-bodied classic (much like the man himself) can be spotted for $60. And don't forget to ensure that the label actually says 'Champagne' as well as France. If it doesn't, you've been well bluffed. Famous Champagne Drinkers Madame de Pompadour, King Louis XV's favourite mistress, is credited with bringing champagne to the French royal court in the 18th century. She is also famously quoted as saying, "Champagne is the only wine that leaves a woman beautiful after drinking it." We're certainly willing to road test that. Winston Churchill was also notorious for enjoying the tipple. And Napoleon was known to take large stocks for the army wherever they campaigned. Want to get even more serious? If you've got a spare 308 bottle handy, why not simulate Marilyn Monroe's habit of bathing in the bubbly stuff every night? And lest we forget to remind you that it was American author and humorist Mark Twain who had it right all along. It was he who said, "too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right." Where to Drink Champagne in Sydney Most hotels, restaurants and bars in Sydney are stocked with the big names like Mumm, Moet & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot. Conversely, if you’d like to go all out and grace yourself with boutique grower champagnes, Jayne recommends seeking out obsessive enthusiasts. "Places like Veluto, The Bentley, One Moncur, Monopole and Ananas have the best champagne for a bar situation," she says. After something notably remarkable for that down-on-one-knee occasion, perhaps? Jayne suggests knocking your socks off and booking into Quay, Marque or Est. for the ultimate sensory experience. "These places stock prestige champagne, with perfectly matched food and a refined atmosphere." Champagne Alternatives Crémant: is what you should look out for when after French bubbly on a budget (pronounced ‘cray-mawn’). This sparkling wine is made in France using the same traditional methods, however falls outside the borders of the Champagne region. Cava: this white or pink sparkly number is produced mainly in the Penedés region in northern Spain. Like crémant, Cava is made using the same method, but with different grape varieties. Cava is a part of Spanish tradition and like Champagne is often consumed at special occasions. Prosecco: this is the Italian aperitif of choice. Light and fresh, the aromatic bubbly has an apple-and-pear sweetness. Prosecco is the original base ingredient of the Bellini cocktail.
Guillermo Del Toro's original Pacific Rim knew exactly what it was: a modern day creature feature starring giant robots beating the living crap out of even bigger monsters. Everything the movie did, from the characters' backstories to the wacky scientists and even the burgeoning romance, was all there to serve a sole purpose: get us to the next massive monster bash. The entire exercise was big, silly and frequently confusing, but in the end it was all forgivable because Pacific Rim delivered the film it said it would. The sequel, by contrast, made the fatal error of having hardly any robot vs. monster fisticuffs, and – to put things bluntly – it sucked. Sadly, cinemas latest creature feature, The Meg, makes a similar mistake, proving about as big a disappointment as the shark you barely get to see. The setup, as far as sharksploitation films go, is actually pretty solid. A deep sea research project named Mana One discovers the Mariana Trench is actually deeper than first thought, with a dense cloud of hydrogen-sulfide masking a deeper world that's remained untouched since the Jurassic period. It's here the scientists both discover and then accidentally release the proverbial Meg (short for Megalodon), setting the giant shark upon a course of murderous destruction as it explores the oceans above. And wouldn't that have been great to watch! Sadly the film chooses to tell rather than show, mostly sending its cast to survey the aftermath of the Meg's mayhem rather than really showing the toothy beast in action. Much of the fault lies in decision to go for a family (and censor) friendly rating that strips the movie of almost all its gore. Truly, there's more bloody violence in a lamb ad then The Meg, robbing it of any sense of gruesome fun. In the lead human role, action man and former professional diver Jason Statham plays a deep sea rescue expert reluctantly drawn back into the world that abandoned him after a deadly incident some years prior. He's grizzled, cynical and a heavy beer drinker, yet still somehow more ripped than a carcass after a shark attack – not that The Meg would show that kind of thing. Statham, like Dwayne Johnson, is a delight to watch on screen, at once committed to his performance yet unmistakably aware of how ridiculous this movie is. Even he, though, feels underutilised in this film, relegated to delivering bad cliches in even more derivative scenarios. His co-stars don't fare much better, with the likes of Ruby Rose, Rainn Wilson and Chinese superstar Li Bingbing all trudging their way through this cheesy affair. In all, there's just not enough Meg in The Meg to justify the price of admission, let alone the title. It's not good enough to be a good film, but also not bad enough to be so bad it's good. Frankly, if it's schlock you're after, you'd be far better served by genuine B-movies like Sharknado. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGYXExfKhmo
Rocker's laidback Bondi locale is the perfect match for a Spanish-style activation featuring Estrella Damm – a much-loved brew hailing from the sunny shores of Barcelona. Taking place from 4pm on February 24, this easygoing neighbourhood restaurant and bar will be serving up a tapas menu rich in coastal flavours. Featuring a host of familiar Spanish bites, expect jamón ibérico, mussels escabeche served on charred sourdough, patatas bravas, Basque cheesecake and Rocker gilda, featuring Cantabrian anchovies with olives, onions and guindilla peppers. Of course, these Med-influenced morsels are designed to be washed down with a refreshing pint of Estrella Damm for $10. With so many tapas to choose from, indecisive guests can opt for a $65 set menu to make life easy. You'll get a taste of the entire menu along with a freshly poured pint. Perfect for sharing with friends, this one-night-only culinary treat is bound to have you reminiscing about days spent sunbathing on Playa de La Barceloneta. Images: Ethan Smart.
This double bill is a March must-see. Contemporary performance artist Liam Benson documents and exhibits his work through photography and video, and this exhibition, Noble Savage, seeks to examine the anxieties surrounding Australian cultural identity through the lens of a "privileged white male of Anglo-Celtic heritage with a queer awareness". Through this, he unravels the evolving state of 'White Australia' by confronting its inherent complexities and through the dichotomy of cultural anxieties. Just look at the above shot, which contrasts the headwear of the KKK and Liam’s delicate embroidery work, using bridal tulle, diamantes and pearls. It's called The Terrorist. Tully Arnot won last year’s inaugural NAB Private Wealth Emerging Artist Award, so is currently in high demand. In Gallery 2 you'll find his highly anticipated solo exhibition, titled Trace Etc, which continues his exploration of the value of our relationships with non-sentient forms, and how these feed into our capacity to interact meaningfully with one another. For example, he will be exhibiting a series of solar-powered green straws that look like weird moving blades of grass in a meadow.
Bondi's fun-loving beachside spot The Bucket List is teaming up with French vodka distiller Grey Goose to bring a bit of French Riviera to Sydney's coastline. Running from Thursday, January 9 until Monday, February 10, the pop-up is the perfect way for you to embrace summer. The outdoor space will be decked out with Riviera-inspired decor, creating a chic Euro-summer feel — think beach umbrellas, leafy plants in blue and white ceramic pots and and a pop-up beach shack-like bar in the venue's outdoor area. Plus, you'll have top-notch views of Bondi Beach — so be sure to head here for a sunset cocktail (and a photo with Australia's most famous beach as your backdrop). Drinks-wise, you'll be sipping a range of speciality vodka cocktails. And, as Grey Goose is such a versatile spirit, you can bet the bartenders will be mixing up a range of drinks. So, whether you're into the classic vodka, lime and soda, watermelon or grapefruit spritz, a salted caramel frappe cocktail or a coconut cooler, the pop-up will be sure to quench your thirst. Head down on Tuesday, January 14 at 6pm for the launch party, which will see espresso martini gelato being handed out and DJ Dolso playing dance-worthy tunes. You'll also catch a slew of DJs on the upcoming long weekend, with the likes of Jack Toohey, Geo and The Aston Shuffle helping you celebrate your extra day off. Or you can hit up the beachside pop-up on any Saturday for The Bucket List Beach Club, where you can dance from 2pm well into the night. For any other summer events, check out The Bucket List's Instagram.
Sydney's latest culinary collaboration comes from the minds behind two homegrown favourites: cosy Kings Cross cafe Room 10 and the pokè masters at Fishbowl. Aptly dubbed Side Room, this newcomer has settled into the tiny Campbell Parade space once home to the original Fishbowl, before it upgraded to bigger digs next door. Now, the 20-seater is rocking a sleek, minimalist look, complete with stainless steel wall and custom-made powder-coated furniture, as the owners bring to life their long-held plans for a new-school smoothie and salad bar. The schtick here is fast, fresh and flavour-packed food, with an emphasis on Aussie ingredients and elements crafted in-house. All smoothie options star at least one native addition, from the Fireball — blending quangdong with banana, mango, coconut meat, turmeric and cayenne — to the Bondi favourite Green Fairy, featuring lemon myrtle. Try yours as a standard smoothie, or in a bowl, decked out with toppings like fresh fruit, house-made macadamia butter and granola. Even heartier are the savoury 'whole bowls', crafted around Side Room's own native herb mix and your choice of protein — perhaps the punchy chilli chicken with shredded apple and walnut, or the eight-hour slow-cooked beef in master stock. And for a carb infusion, get any of these same combinations sandwiched between Brickfields' soy linseed, or Noni's seriously good gluten-free bread. Don't forget to help yourself to a generous slug of the house-made fermented chilli, before you eat in, or take away. A careful curation of Mecca coffee, pressed juices and PS40 sodas round out the offering, which should make for a good post-swim pit-stop or a healthy take away lunch by the beach. Side Room is now open daily form 7am–5pm at 180–186 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach. For more info, visit the Facebook page.
There once was a time when being vegan meant kissing farewell to anything even closely resembling true-blue, full-fat ice cream. But fast forward to spring 2018, when plant-based eateries abound, and Sydney is about to welcome another all-vegan ice cream van, this time serving luscious, soft serve-style treats, loaded with extras. Newest member of the city's I-can't-believe-it's-actually-vegan club, Whip Van Sprinkle is already up and rolling, dishing up Coco Whip creations with a creaminess factor high enough to tempt even the most avid of dairy lovers. A vegan-friendly, more virtuous take on the Mr Whippy vans of old, this one's doing soft serve crafted from coconut water, infused with a gut-loving probiotic and jazzed up with all sorts of fun toppings. You'll find variations like the Bananarama, loaded with gluten-free banana bread, salted caramel sauce and fresh banana, the Original Breakkie Bowl rocking fresh fruit and muesli, and the decadent Ferrero, topped with a nutty raw slice and chocolate sauce. They're available in both cup and cone, and you can customise your own dessert with your favourite topping combinations. And if a pick-me-up is in order, Whip Van Sprinkle's not only doing top-notch Maestros coffee, but also a Cocowhip Affogato, teaming that signature soft serve with a hit of espresso. Whip Van Sprinkle will be cruising all over Sydney – jump over to the Facebook page to keep an eye on where it'll be next.
Ken Whisson’s connection to the world may well be ever-changing. And the world, too, is changing its connection with him. The As If collection — titled in reference to Immanuel Kant: ‘to live as if’, and the Paris surrealists' ‘let us live as if the world really exists’ — depicts the chaos, perversity and human spirit of a transient world. Here is an Australian artist who, though practising for sixty years, is decidedly underrated and obscure — although one gets the impression he may prefer it this way. Growing up and studying in Victoria, but based in Italy since the 1970s, Whisson’s paintings can be seen as a carefully curated amalgamation of journeys. This expansive retrospective is stuffed with a glut of glorious paintings, drawings, studies and books he has been inspired by. And for all that the artist himself is somewhat enigmatic, within his work there is a sense of the man behind them. Be it in the tobacco stains breathed into the oil paints over time, or the frequently rude humour of the figurative work. Here, Whisson’s figures levitate within the picture’s peripherals, and their bodies contort dreamily. Objects — vehicles, animals, humans, sheds — are crammed into the canvas; their relationships with each other created through their proximity. It is at once methodical and messy, and speaks of the world’s improbability. Landscapes are fragmented into snapshots, like the view from a car window, and this frenetic movement denotes the journey motif Whisson does so well. His earlier work is painted on board, and the paint, unabsorbed, sits richly on the surface. It is floating, superficial, incomplete. Here you will find ships, cars, aeroplanes and plains — dissected, deconstructed and floating. And in their lack of grounding they speak of a reluctance to commit to, or an inability to find, home. There are dream-like qualities to the exhibition: primary colours are grafted together; people are delicious assemblages of limbs, lips and bulbous heads; and a delightfully theatrical sense of humour. Whisson said that perhaps “we might need to relate together by entertaining each other.” Come, be entertained, and think about the world as if you know it. Image: Books and Landscapes, 1987-94, courtesy of MCA © of artist.
Things are about to get a little livelier at Cockatoo Island, as the historic site prepares to play host to a multi-faceted shipping container summer pop-up. Contained will see the island temporarily score a bar, a restaurant and a hotel from February through to June. The brainchild of Anatoly Mezhov and Irene Polo and originally erected in Perth, Contained features a whole swag of offerings to tempt Sydneysiders onto the island right through to June. Most excitingly, pop-up restaurant Don Tapa will be dishing up a creative mix of South American and indigenous Australian flavours, starring ingredients picked fresh from the on-site urban farm. Head to the bar to enjoy even more local goodness. Urban Winery's Alex Retief has pulled together a wine selection celebrating some of NSW's most underrated regions, to sit alongside a Young Henrys beer rotation and a range of Archie Rose's artisan spirits. And, if you fancy making a proper stay of it, there's the Contained boutique hotel, where guests can stay right by the water, in luxury digs made from repurposed shipping containers. You'll get waterfront views and the ability to order food right to your room. This isn't cheap, of course, with rates at $305–385 a night. A program of one-off Contained events will also be held over the coming months, including a six-course Valentine's Day degustation and a series of guest chef dinners. And the 21st Biennale of Sydney will run from March till June — which would be the prime time to check it out.
Whether you like your eggs at breakfast, atop your steaming bowl of ramen or in your Nan's famous chocolate cake, eggs make great meals. So, to celebrate all things eggs, the Eggsellence Awards is on the hunt for the best Aussie egg dish. On Thursday, October 10, Kensington Street's event space, The Private Kitchen, will be turned into a pop-up restaurant, slinging dishes from the awards' top four finalists — and we're giving five lucky winners the chance to pop along with a date (or a mate). If you get your mitts on this prize, you'll be tasting the nation's best egg dishes — for zero dollars. Plus, to sweeten the deal, we're giving you $100 to spend at any of the finalist restaurants after the event. The four finalist dishes span from brekkie to dinner. And they've been plucked from all over Australia — including two hailing from Sydney —so expect some real winners. If you like your eggs breakfast-style, you can tuck into Turkish poached eggs from Mount Street Breakfast Bar all the way from Perth or Sydney's The Bosphorus Benedict from Rustic Pearl. Or, if you're keen for a more unconventional egg, there'll be beef carpaccio with fried truffle egg, rocket, pecorino from Tassie's Grain of the Silos or Yum Yum Bakery Guildford's lamb confit and egg pizza, too. Should you win, you'll be heading to the pop-up at dinnertime. There are two sittings — 6pm and 7.30pm — which you can opt for. After your egg feast, you'll also get to vote for your favourite dish. The winner will be announced by French chef and TV personality, Manu Feildel, on World Egg Day (October 11). Does this sound too good to miss out on? Enter your details below to be in the running. [competition]744040[/competition]
If it works for KFC and Moulin Rouge!, it can work for Christmas: that's Sydney fine-diner nel's approach in 2022. Earlier in the year, it served up a luxe 11-course degustation that riffed on the Colonel's finest. And, when Moulin Rouge! The Musical first arrived in town, it also went with a decadent nine-course array of dishes dripping with French nostalgia. Now, with the festive season upon us, the restaurant is getting merry. Nel is no stranger to Christmas spreads — or to themed degustations in general; see also: its Disney offerings — but it is celebrating 2022's jolliest time of year with a specific range of treats. The new menu takes its cues from the traditional story behind Christmas. It's also filled with festive culinary traditions, like roasts and gingerbread, but not as you know them. Available from Wednesday, November 9–Friday, December 23, the CBD institution's new Christmas menu features a turkey dinner in miniature stack form, for instance, plus a savoury gingerbread house and a spin on the Aussie favourite that is the shrimp cocktail. There's also a dish featuring lamb rolled in gold, leek hay, myrrh oil and smoked pea puree that nods to the nativity story — yes, it comes with gifts from three wise men — plus a flaming 'Santa's Beard' and a snowy 'Walking in the Air' scene. Nel's chef and namesake Nelly Robinson has found 11 ways to interpret Christmas food staples from around the world, while still giving them his usual creative spin. His menu heroes seasonal and sustainable produce, as always, and there's a matching wine journey with vino from nel's cellar to go along with it. Sydneysiders can tuck in for $165 per person, with another $165 each on top for the booze. Or, there's a non-alcoholic matching drinks selection for $85 per head. Nel will also be opening for lunch on Saturdays in November, and Friday and Saturdays in December, to give diners extra options. Nel's 2022 Christmas degustation is on offer on from Wednesday, November 9–Friday, December 23 at 75 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney. For more information or to book, head to the Nel website.
A public gallery of art installations from artist collective Art Pharmacy has popped up in The Rocks. The series of large-scale outdoor artworks appeared in October and is going to be up and adding colour to the waterside suburb for the next year. The artworks are themed around revival and renewal, two much-needed themes in Sydney after over 100 days of lockdown. Each installation has been created by a different local artist or set of artists, with the artworks ranging from hyper-coloured mirrored hallways to bright multi-coloured lanterns. Barkindji woman Maddison Gibbs has created a work that explores both caring for Country and fighting the injustice taking place in Australia. Gibbs artwork Spirits Make Noise, snakes across a sandstone wall in The Rocks and is inspired by female Aboriginal ancestors and matriarchs. Other works include Rochelle Haley's Nurses Walk, which reflects light across a Rocks tunnel, glowing at certain times of day and in certain lights; and Jason Wing's Pemulwuy Butu Wargun Mural which is dedicated to Aboriginal leaders who fought to resist the British invasion of Australia in the 1700s. Images: Anna Kucera
All too often the staggering numbers behind global atrocities render them abstract and untouchable — a regrettable yet perhaps unavoidable reduction of human suffering into statistics. We know this of war, famine and poverty, and sadly now the scale of human sex trafficking places it squarely on that same list. Recent UN estimates place the number of women and children being trafficked every year for the purposes of forced prostitution, labour and other forms of exploitation at anything between 700,000 and 4 million. Human trafficking has been identified as the fastest growing and second-most lucrative form of organised crime in the world (after drug trafficking), with annual profits for the illegal activity now exceeding $9 billion. It is a terrifying, escalating and global violation that undoubtedly merits greater awareness than is currently being afforded. So enters director Larysa Kondracki and her confronting debut film, The Whistleblower. The movie tells the 'based on true events' tale of Kathryn Bolkovac (Rachel Weisz), an American police officer who moved to Bosnia following the war in 1999 as a UN peacekeeper. Bolkovac's intelligence and determination quickly saw her promoted to Head of the UN's Gender Office, where she learned not only of the rampant sex trafficking trade around her but also of the shocking involvement by her fellow peacekeepers, UN workers and international police under the veil of diplomatic immunity. What follows are Bolkovac's dogged attempts to rescue as many of these victims as possible while exposing the UN's involvement and bringing those responsible to bear. Interwoven with Bolkovac's story is the tale of a hapless Ukrainian teenager named Raya (Roxana Condurache), whose horrific experiences remind us of the uncomfortable humanity within this most inhumane practice. Much like the girl in the red coat from Schindler's List, Kondracki uses Raya as a singular device to symbolise the wider plight of the faceless masses for both Weisz's character and the audience in a terrifying and tragic fashion. Together they encounter widespread corruption, corporate indifference, intimidation and unspeakable violence in the midst of a disturbing and baffling moral vacuum. Ultimately, The Whistleblower falls short of the standard one might expect from such a powerful true story and talented cast, though thankfully its subject matter (and Weisz's performance) will ensure it finds an audience. The screenplay in particular, which Kondracki also wrote, periodically stumbles under structural flaws, and the film's title rather clumsily negates the overall narrative suspense. Weisz, however, is at once fearless and impressive in her portrayal of Bolkovac, and she's capably (if not far too briefly) assisted by Vanessa Redgrave, David Strathairn and Monica Bellucci in supporting roles. If nothing else (and there's definitely 'else'), The Whistleblower offers an uncompromising look into the disturbing world of human trafficking and demonstrates the entirely preventable side to it, if only people are prepared to stand up and act. If you're interested in learning more about the problem, along with ways to become involved, check out the amazing Aussie not-for-profit Project Futures and their terrific Stella Fella campaign. https://youtube.com/watch?v=DSc3An5YYMQ
Women of the workforce, here’s your chance to network with Australia’s most successful entrepreneurs, taste-makers, writers and media personalities. And, while you’re at it, you can indulge in a turf-side champagne, a blow-dry, a croquet match or a T2 session. This is all happening thanks to 9 to Thrive: the first-ever Business Chicks experience, taking place at Australian Technology Park on Friday and Saturday October 23–24. Over two days, more than sixty exhibitors will showcase their wares across the food, beverage, health, wellness, fashion, lifestyle, beauty and business sectors. Meanwhile, an action-packed program of keynote speeches, panel discussions and workshops will feature the likes of glamorous fashion blogger Nadia Bartel, interior design pro Shaynna Blaze, fitness legend Michelle Bridges, I Quit Sugar author Sarah Wilson, bestselling author Zoe Foster-Blake, TV presenter Jules Sebastian, Business Chicks CEO Emma Isaacs, nutrition expert Dr Libby Weaver and many others. But it’s not all about listening and talking. In between chats, hang out in the King Living Lounge, check out Royal Randwick’s champagne-fuelled 'mini-races' experience or grab a tea. Alternatively, if you feel like freshening up, book yourself a touch-up with Benefit Cosmetics or a face-map with Dermalogica. Or get active at Chambord’s flamingo croquet bar, Body Pass’s pilates classes and Virgin Active’s shape-up sessions.
UPDATE, August 30, 2020: Mary Shelley is available to stream via SBS On Demand, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. It has been exactly 200 years since Frankenstein's monster first shuffled through the pages of Mary Shelley's now-classic story, completely reshaping the gothic horror landscape in the process. At the time, no one anticipated the impact that the novel or the woman behind it would have. No one realised that Mary was responsible for the greatest horror novel ever written, either, a title it still holds today. In fact, only 500 copies of Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus were initially printed back in 1818. It was also published anonymously, with Mary's poet husband Percy Bysshe Shelley penning the introduction and originally thought by many to be the text's author. Today, the beast conceived by the teenage Mary has carved a path not only through the literary world, but across cinema screens for more than a century — but, as the movie's title suggests, Mary Shelley doesn't replay Frankenstein's familiar narrative. Instead, Haifaa Al-Mansour's follow-up to 2012's Wadjda subscribes to a different filmmaking trend. Like everything from James Whale's iconic 1930s adaptations, to Tim Burton's gorgeous Frankenweenie, Mary Shelley obviously owes its existence to Frankenstein. But this origin story is more concerned with the early life of its author than with an obsessed young scientist and his resurrected creature. It's not the first time that Mary has earned the biopic treatment, with 1980s flicks Gothic, Haunted Summer and Rowing with the Wind all exploring the woman behind the classic tale. Still, where that trio honed in on the Lake Geneva getaway that sparked Frankenstein into being (the novel originated from a holiday wager among friends to see who could write the scariest ghost story), this movie focuses on Mary's tumultuous adolescence, her relationship with Percy, and the influence of both upon her famous work. Before images even reach the screen, the sound of writing echoes from Mary Shelley. Before Mary (Elle Fanning) has even dreamed of Frankenstein, the film deploys her lyrical prose to set a distinctive mood and tone. Stylistically, that's Al-Mansour's vivid and evocative approach, infusing every moment of the movie with the same passion and poetry that drives its heroine. A willowy yet strong-willed teen, from the outset Mary is either spinning her own tales or reading others in her father's (Stephen Dillane) bookshop. In-between, she fights with her stepmother (Joanne Froggatt) and finds solace with her stepsister Claire (Bel Powley) — until Percy (Douglas Booth) comes along. Although Mary is just 16, and despite the fact that Percy already has a wife and child, the couple is determined to be together. In her debut feature-length script, Australian screenwriter Emma Jensen endeavours to examine a side of Mary's tale that hasn't previously received as much on-screen attention, championing her protagonist's achievements as well as the considerable obstacles that she faced. Neither can be downplayed and nor are they. That said, sometimes the scandalous love story that accompanies them is given a little too much prominence. Indeed, parts of the film feel like a stock-standard period romance that just happens to involve one of the most influential writers who ever lived. When Mary Shelley connects the dots between Mary's experiences and the book she'll forever be associated with, it's a much more satisfying, moving and involving picture. Likewise, when it delves into Mary's tussles with sexist, dismissive men who can't even conceive of a woman writing such dark, smart and terrifying things, the film comes much closer to doing justice to its subject, her struggles and her continuing importance. Thanks to Fanning's lively and spirited portrayal, there's no doubting the fire that burned inside Mary, even when the film does favour her amorous affairs. Whether surrounded by towers of tomes, scribbling by her mother's grave, or swooning over Percy, Fanning's take on the real-life figure always stands out — from the movie's sumptuous backdrops, which constantly catch the eye, as well as from the romantic plot. It's a performance worthy of the woman it depicts, and it leaves audiences wanting more. The same is true of Mary Shelley, although in a different way. You'll want to keep watching Fanning as she brings the fiercely independent and thoroughly fascinating Mary to life. But you'll also want the movie to flesh out the aspects of Mary's trailblazing existence that it sometimes rushes over. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zFFs6BHsS0
A book described as "a modern story of sex, erotica and passion. How the sexiest sales girl in business earns her huge bonus by being the best at removing her high heels," might not be anything to write home about. But what if the author of said book was someone's dad, and that someone decided it would be hilarious to read a chapter every week to the entire world, with some incredibly funny friends providing commentary? Jamie Morton did just that with his father's (pen name: Rocky Flinstone) erotic 'novels', the Belinda Blinked series. And so the audacious and pants-wettingly hilarious podcast My Dad Wrote a Porno was born. Since its premiere in 2015, the podcast about "the best/worst erotica ever written" has racked up over 150 million downloads. And now, off the back of an HBO Original Series featuring a "lost chapter", Morton and his pals James Cooper and Alice Levine are bringing their hilarious smut back to Sydney in 2020. As part of a huge world tour, the live show will treat 'Belinkers' to two shows at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday, January 8 and Thursday, January 9 (with the second added due to overwhelming demand). Team Porno will read unreleased material from the erotic saga while throwing in a few surprises and interactive elements. Now four books deep — with the fifth due to be cracked opened on Monday, September 9, 2019 — the series follows the sexual escapades of Belinda Blumenthal who works in the sales and marketing department of a pots and pans company. There have been leather rooms and nipples as big as Titanic rivets, anti-erotic ridiculousness with sales reps and young-ish men, references to pomegranates and the popping of vaginal lids, and one truly disgusting flaking prosthetic appendage. If you're a fan of the show, the live incarnation should make you very happy. As Belinda says, "When you get what you want, you feel great." Tickets go on sale at 1pm on Thursday, July 18, 2019
UPDATE: July 13, 2020: Animals is available to stream via Binge, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. In the space between ignored dreams and shirked responsibilities, that's where Animals' Laura (Holliday Grainger) and Tyler (Alia Shawkat) largely live. Devoted friends to the point of codependency, and just as dedicated to their Dublin routine of drinking, debauchery and doing the bare minimum at their barista gigs, they've seen no reason to change their ways for the past decade. But, as Laura suddenly realises, they're not getting any younger. The pair's thirties are here. The book that Laura has supposedly been penning since the two first met remains little more than an idea. And, her younger sister (Amy Molloy) has traded partying for pregnancy on purpose. Tyler is near-aggressively happy with the status quo, however Laura's epiphany hits like the wine and MDMA the duo are so fond of — and leaves an unshakeable hangover. Directed by Australian filmmaker Sophie Hyde (52 Tuesdays), and scripted by British writer Emma Jane Unsworth based on her own book, Animals finds its joined-at-the-hip protagonists at a crossroads. Glued together by choice for so long, they're now coming unstuck. Forget romantic turmoil; this is a tale of platonic heartbreak and existential malaise spiralling into an inescapable whirlpool. Animals isn't the first film to understand that drifting away from a friend is just as painful as ending a love affair, but it joins a relatively sparse dramatic subgenre. Indeed, there's a refreshing forthrightness to the story, taking Laura and Tyler's pseudo-couple status as a given. While jokes are made about wives, marriages and separations, particularly once Laura starts seeing more of her new musician boyfriend Jim (Fra Fee) and spending less time with her increasingly petulant bestie, they're hardly necessary — just how crucial the pair have been to each other for a third of their lives is constantly written across their faces. Girl meets girl, sparks fly, they live wildly and become each other's ride-or-dies — that's not a scenario that often gets such thoughtful big-screen attention. The importance of depth and detail in this situation, especially in leapfrogging any and all female friendship cliches, really can't be underestimated. Whether or not Hyde and Unsworth have overtly drawn upon their own respective experiences, the end result resonates with a lived-in air. Authenticity isn't just something their characters are searching for; it seeps from the movie. Frolicking or fighting, embracing firmly or steadfastly ignoring each other, the dynamic between Laura and Tyler feels like it could've moseyed out of any shared flat filled with retro furniture, piles of clothes and too many empty bottles (and, thanks to stellar production design and costuming work, it looks that way too). That said, Animals does come with a caveat, or a strength that could initially be seen as a flaw. Played to perfection by the two leads, the movie's main characters seem as genuine as the circumstances they're navigating, as well as the relatable emotions they're displaying. Unsurprisingly, that means they're not always wholly pleasant to spend time with. They needn't be, of course. They shouldn't be, in fact. No mere mortal is bearable every second of every day. Again, this warts-and-all approach is refreshing, not to mention teeming with meaning. Shawkat's Tyler can come across as abrasive and performative, and Grainger's Laura as uncertain and unfocused, with the picture calling out, sifting through and challenging common millennial stereotypes through these traits. There's no judgement here, but rather a commitment to seeing things like they are — even if the film styles its frames in a somewhat dreamlike way at the same time. As steeped in truth as Animals proves, bleak, stark reality isn't the name of its game — visually, at least. When you're caught in the hustle and bustle of life, it can be surreal. When you're reflecting on past choices, agonising over future paths and wondering if your most important relationship to date will survive the present, the right answer rarely stares you plainly in the face. With all of that in mind, Hyde gives her movie a flavour of hectic exuberance, with ample assistance from editor and cinematographer Bryan Mason. That mood couldn't be more influential, including when Animals leans into its more obvious developments and sentiments. In the easy, hard, routine and thorny moments alike, questioning everything you know and navigating a quarter-life crisis should feel energetic, jittery and a little uncanny, after all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FN_zr4rQzY
