Whisky buffs of Sydney, it's time to clear those calendars, because Glenmorangie is hosting an exclusive pop-up bar for one weekend only. From Thursday October 20, until Saturday October 22, the single malt Scotch whisky label will transform Market Street's Parlour Lane into a swanky speakeasy called After Hours. Here, punters will be transported to the Scottish Highlands, enjoying live-cross tastings run by the distillers at Glenmorangie House and guided tours led by local whisky experts. A curated cocktail list will feature whisky-infused creations from bartenders at Pocket Bar and Melbourne's Katuk, promising something for connoisseurs and rookies alike. Meanwhile, grazing feasts of freshly shucked oysters and charcuterie have been designed to perfectly complement the flavour profile of Glenmorangie Original. Keep your ear out for a few surprises, too, like a secret password that might just score you a sample of something rare and luxurious from the bar. Glenmorangie's After Hours pop-up bar will run from 6pm-midnight, on Thursday October 20 – Saturday October 22. Find it at 49 Market Street, Sydney. Entry is free and walk ins are welcome. Tickets are available on the door, or here.
Not once but twice each year, the online-only First Nations Film Festival from streaming service FanForce TV delivers a feast of Indigenous filmmaking for your next couch session. The virtual viewing event initially pops up for National Reconciliation Week. Then, it returns for NAIDOC Week. In 2025, there's a few twists, however — welcome ones. Firstly, the online fest's NAIDOC Week collection is sticking around for an entire month, from Sunday, July 6–Wednesday, August 8 — even though the celebration that it's timed to runs for just one week. Also, if you haven't yet caught this year's National Reconciliation Week films, its season has also been extended until the same date. With the NAIDOC Week package, your choices start with Warwick Thornton's We Don't Need a Map, the acclaimed filmmaker's exploration of the Southern Cross as a symbol. Or, catch Here I Am, the feature debut of writer/director Beck Cole (Deadloch) and star Shai Pittman (Around the Block), which follows a woman seeking redemption upon her release from prison. Other viewing options span Over the Edge, Mother's Day and a range of shorts. You can get access to the entire season for $38.
If you're a Sydneysider with a serious love for all things Harry Potter, then you've probably made the trip down to Canberra's Quizzic Alley. The Fyshwick store stocks a huge range of official merchandise, whether you're after a new wand, a Gryffindor robe or a pair of Hogwarts Express mule slippers. Come December, however, New South Wales-based wannabe witches and wizards won't have to visit the ACT to browse the shop's jam-packed shelves. While an exact opening date hasn't been announced, Quizzic Alley is launching a Sydney store before Christmas hits — likely in the first week of December. To accio up some wizarding items and objects, you'll be heading to the old Bank of New South Wales building on Victoria Road in Drummoyne, where you'll feel as excited as a new arrival at Hogwarts. Or, maybe you'll feel as thrilled as a first-time quidditch player. Backpacks, pens and puzzles dedicated to the sport all feature among Quizzic Alley's range — and you can take home a golden snitch, too. Also on the shelves, you'll find everything from chocolate frogs and Slytherin socks to alohomora charm pins and baby niffler toys. Quizzic Alley's Canberra store includes a Ford Anglia that you can sit in, serves butterscotch flavoured non-alcoholic beers called QBrew and lets patrons try out the sorting hat. Just what the Sydney shop will feature hasn't been revealed yet either — it won't have a car, though — but the fact that it'll call a former bank home will obviously inspire thoughts of Gringotts. "The two stores are completely different from the outside and, although the merch we sell will be the same, the experience in Drummoyne will be new," says owner Michael Milton. "It's reminiscent of a certain magical bank and we're having so much fun fitting it out." Milton, a Paralympic skiier with six gold medals to his name, opened the first Quizzic Alley two years ago — and says that it is frequently filled with fans travelling down to peruse its wares. "Every weekend, every school holidays, during the ski season… we get a lot of Potterheads from Sydney dropping in to Quizzic Alley. Some even make the trip especially," he notes. Quizzic Alley will open on Victoria Road in Drummoyne sometime in early December — keep an eye on the store's website and Facebook page for further details.
It's his first solo headlining Australian tour since 2011. It comes after the entire world, or thereabouts, watched him on the Super Bowl stage in 2024. Of course Usher's Past Present Future dates Down Under were going to be popular, then, so much so that he's added more gigs before general tickets even go on sale. The good news: the eight-time Grammy-winner is now playing six concerts each in Melbourne in November and Sydney in December. If you're located elsewhere in Australia, however, he's still only heading to the Victorian and New South Wales capitals, so you'll need to make interstate plans. Celebrating his three-decade career is the name of the game on Usher's Aussie trip — which means going all the way back to his first single 'Call Me a Mack' from 1993, also playing tracks off of his latest 2024 album Coming Home, plus working his way through plenty in-between. With the just-announced shows, adding to the tour due to presale demand, 12 dates have been locked in for Past Present Future's Aussie stop. At Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Usher will take to the stage on Wednesday, November 19–Thursday, November 20, then again on Saturday, November 22–Sunday, November 23 and then across Tuesday, November 25–Wednesday, November 26. In Sydney, he's playing Qudos Bank Arena on Monday, December 1–Tuesday, December 2, then on Thursday, December 4–Friday, December 5 and finally on Wednesday, December 10–Thursday, December 11. The initial US shows on the Past Present Future tour were announced just days before Usher's Super Bowl set, which worked through hits from across his lengthy career itself. From August–December 2024, the Texas-born singer made his way across North American stages, before heading to Europe (including England, France, the Netherlands and Germany) from March 2025. Also popping up on his setlist across the tour so far: 'Yeah!', of course, plus everything from 'Can U Get Wit It', 'Nice & Slow', 'U Remind Me' and 'U Got It Bad' to 'Burn', 'OMG', 'Euphoria' and more. And yes, this means that the last two Super Bowl half-time show headliners have both announced 2025 tours to Australia, with Kendrick Lamar on the bill at Spilt Milk. Usher's Past Present Future World Tour Australia 2025 Dates Wednesday, November 19–Thursday, November 20, Saturday, November 22–Sunday, November 23 + Tuesday, November 25–Wednesday, November 26 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Monday, December 1–Tuesday, December 2, Thursday, December 4–Friday, December 5 + Wednesday, December 10–Thursday, December 11 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Usher is touring Australia in November and December 2025. Presales are on now, while general tickets go on sale at 12pm for Melbourne and 1pm for Sydney on Friday, May 16 — head to the tour website for more details. Images: Marcus Macdonald / Bellamy Brewster.
Money can't buy you love, as four mop-topped Brits first sang 59 years ago, but it can buy you tickets to see the music legend who wrote one of the catchiest pop tracks ever released — and co-performed it — play it live in Australia. When Paul McCartney heads Down Under this spring, he'll have a wealth of material to choose from. One of his favourite openers: 'Can't Buy Me Love'. Hitting our shores for the first time since 2017 on his Got Back tour, McCartney will work through a massive catalogue of hits from his time in The Beatles, Wings and also across his solo career. In Sydney, Sir Paul has a two-night date with Allianz Stadium across Friday, October 27–Saturday, October 28. This tour will commemorate almost six decades since the band that helped McCartney make history famously toured Australia in 1964 amid a wave of Beatlemania. In Adelaide all of those years back, it's estimated that 350,000 people lined the streets to get a glimpse of the group, packing the stretch between the airport and Town Hall. McCartney's Got Back setlist has featured everything from 'Hey Jude', 'Let It Be' and 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' to 'Love Me Do', 'Blackbird' and 'Got to Get You Into My Life' from The Beatles across its stops so far. Yes, 'Get Back' gets a whirl. Wings tunes 'Live and Let Die', 'Band on the Run', 'Letting Go' and 'Junior's Farm' usually pop up, too, as does McCartney's own 'Maybe I'm Amazed'. The Got Back tour kicked off in the US in February 2022, wrapping up last year's run with a massive Glastonbury set. McCartney now brings his usual band — keyboardist Paul 'Wix' Wickens, bassist and guitarist Brian Ray, fellow guitarist Rusty Anderson and drummer Abe Laboriel Jr — our way after picking up a Helpmann Award for Best International Contemporary Concert for his last visit. Images: MPL Communications.
Northern Beaches residents, you've got a new standout pizzeria to add to the top of your hit list. Next time you're after some doughy, cheesy, saucy goodness, turn your attention towards Ribelle, the BYO pizza spot that's just arrived in Freshwater. Ribelle is the brainchild of accomplished chef Dale Mann, who brings with him experience from Ezra, Hartsyard, and one of Sydney's best and most-beloved pizzerias, Bella Brutta. Mann worked for four years at the latter, the last of which he spent as Head Chef. So with Ribelle you're in very, very good hands. The new Freshwater spot is serving up the same leopard-spotted Napolitana-style pizza as Bella Brutta in a simple, no-frills shop on Moore Road. Whether you're eating in or grabbing a bright yellow pizza box to-go, the menu is kept simple, with a mix of classic and more boundary-pushing toppings available alongside a couple of simple sides like anchovies, baby cos salad and burrata. It's also BYO, so you can pack that riesling you just got for your birthday or your favourite funky skin-contact and head in. Laying the foundation for each slice is the pizza base, which takes the Ribelle team three days to make due to the need to mix and ferment the enriched dough multiple times. Keeping true to the restaurant's name, which means 'rebellious' in Italian, some of the more out-there pizza varieties on the menu include The Reuben which combines 12-hour smoked beef brisket from LP's Quality Meats, pink peppercorn sauce, fior di latte, confit garlic, parmesan and purple sauerkraut; or the Braised Greens, a meeting of cheese, braised kale, rainbow chard, fermented red chilli sauce, confit garlic and lemon juice. And each month there's a new special as well, allowing Mann and the crew to really flex their creativity. This month, you'll find a take on the classic garlic prawn round, with the addition of something you'd be hard-pressed to find on another pizza anywhere in Sydney: a housemade XO sauce. Ribelle is located at Shop 15, 1–3 Moore Road, Freshwater. It's open 5pm–9.30pm Thursday–Sunday. Head to the restaurant's website for more information and to order online.
First, the expected news: if you'd like to check out the latest and greatest in Irish cinema in 2021, you'll need to do so virtually. Now, the exciting news: returning for another year, and for its second virtual fest in a row, the Irish Film Festival will unleash an impressive and varied lineup upon your small screen of choice from Friday, September 3–Sunday, September 12. Wolfwalkers, one of the best movies of the past year and an absolute gem of an eco-conscious animated feature, sits at the top of IFF's must-see list. Set centuries ago, and following a young wannabe hunter by the name of Robyn Goodfellowe (voiced by Honor Kneafsey), it charts a friendship with a girl called Mebh (Eva Whittaker) who just might be a member of a mythical tribe that's able to shapeshift into wolves while they're dreaming. Other highlights include Wildfire, about a dramatic reunion between sisters; Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan, which lets the punk poet and The Pogues frontman tell his own tale over a few brews; the Australian premiere of Phil Lynott: Songs For While I'm Away, about Thin Lizzy's lead singer and songwriter; and horror-comedy Boys from County Hell, which sees a father-son duo accidentally awaken an ancient Irish vampire in rural Derry. Or, as part of a 12-film program, there's also the Gabriel Byrne (Hereditary)-starring Death of a Ladies Man; Deadly Cuts, about Dublin hair salon stylists who take on a criminal gang; and The Bright Side, which focuses on a cynical comedian tackling cancer.
Dog lovers, do we have a film festival for you. Good Dog! International Film Festival is on again this year in Sydney, and you can expect more dogs than ever before. Just to be clear, GDIFF is a film festival about dogs, not for dogs — it's important to make that clarification in this age of doggie food trucks, cafes and gelato. Instead, the basis of the festival is that the films in the lineup all feature dogs in some way. And, as you'd expect, all (well-behaved) dogs are welcome to attend the open-air cinema, which will take over Joynton Park in Zetland for two days this December. Needless to say, it'll be a prime opportunity for bulk pup pats. All proceeds will be donated to Young Diggers, a charity which trains ex-pound pups as services dogs for veterans with PTSD, which is a sentiment that's making our hearts swell and our eyes leak. Tickets are just ten bucks (plus booking fee).
When Flume was named on the Coachella bill, Australians hoped it'd be the prelude to a local tour. When he was announced as one of Spilt Milk's headliners for its upcoming November and December fests, we hoped that solo shows would also be on the itinerary. Now arrives the news that music fans have been waiting for: the Aussie star's Palaces world tour will play a heap of cities before the end of the year. Flume will hit up Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart, all in support of his new album — which, handily, drops this Friday, May 20 and is also called Palaces. So, you now know what you'll be listening to for the next few months, and also when you'll be able to dance to its tracks played live. Your destinations: Red Hill Auditorium in Perth, Brisbane's Riverstage, The Dome in Sydney, John Cain Arena in Melbourne, the Adelaide Entertainment Centre and Hobart's Regatta Grounds. The tour will kick off in Western Australia in mid-November, making its way around the nation before finishing in Tasmania in early summer. The string of shows marks Flume's first live dates on home soil since 2019 — for obvious reasons — and he'll have impressive company. Also joining him: Caroline Polachek, Channel Tres, Toro y Moi and Vera Blue, plus appearances by MAY-A. Tickets go on sale at 10am local time on Thursday, May 26, with pre-sales from 10am on Wednesday, May 25. [caption id="attachment_854347" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nick Green[/caption] FLUME'S 'PALACE' 2022 TOUR AUSTRALIAN DATES: Friday, November 11 — Red Hill Auditorium, Perth, with Channel Tres, Toro y Moi (DJ set) and MAY-A Wednesday, November 16 — Riverstage, Brisbane, with Channel Tres and Toro y Moi and MAY-A Friday, November 18 — The Dome, Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, with Channel Tres, Caroline Polachek, Toro y Moi and MAY-A Thursday, November 14 — John Cain Arena, Melbourne, with Channel Tres, Caroline Polachek, Toro y Moi and MAY- Wednesday, November 30 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, with Vera Blue Friday, December 2 — Regatta Grounds, Hobart, with Vera Blue Flume's 'Palace' tour will travel Australia in November and December. Tickets go on sale online at 10am local time on Thursday, May 26, with pre-sales from 10am on Wednesday, May 25. For more information, head to Flume's website.
The Seafarer is an example of dramatic tension at its finest: an uncomplicated plot, few characters, and a dark, unnerving twist at the end of the first act that settles on you like a cold hand on the back of the neck. The entire play is set in the living room of a house shared by two brothers on the northern coast of Ireland: Richard (Maeliosa Stafford), who is blind, demanding, and in need of a wash; and 'Sharky' (Patrick Dickson), cantankerous but attentive to his brother's needs. Their hopeless but cheery friend Ivan (Patrick Connolly) hangs around worrying about his wife's impending anger and swigging Irish whisky with Richard when Sharky's back is turned. The humorous but repetitive to-and-froing between them paints a picture of isolation, middle age, and the burden of family. The scene is mildly depressing despite the lively banter and the pleasure of Christmas. On Christmas Eve, a friend of Richard's (John O'Hare) pops in for a dram of whisky and brings a mysterious guest (William Zappa) in a sharp suit to play cards. Sharky is left with him momentarily as the others are outside chasing off the winos, which is when the stranger reveals his identity. Suddenly, the stakes are far higher than Sharky thought and a back-aching, drawn-out tension grips the second act. The characters bumble around, losing their drinks, knocking over furniture. Blindness is a recurring affliction: Richard's recent loss of sight from an accident, Ivan's short-sightedness from the loss of his glasses on another drunken night, the state of blind drunkenness they all eventually reach to forget everything for a while because it's the holidays, after all. The actors fit the characters like a smelly foot into a pair of thick woollen socks, and the set is perfectly homely and shabby, which makes the Christian mythology feel contemporary and (for an atheist) kind of believable. The happy turn of events at the end is surprising, like a weak but hopeful ray of light that peers through the window after a dark, endless night. It is the light of redemption, a second chance. Suddenly, as one does when they are forced to reappraise everything that is important to them, things don't seem so bad. Mistakes have been made in the past but it's the things like smoked salmon on rye at Christmas and the unbreakable bonds of family that make life worth living, the second chance worth grasping with all your might and never letting go. The Seafarer is inspired by an eighth-century Anglo-Saxon poem of the same name, and it is an incredible feat of theatre that it continues to work so well for a modern, secular audience. Written by Conor McPherson in 2006 and put on in Sydney for the first time by director Maeliosa Stafford, The Seafarer is definitely worthy of the numerous awards it has bagged.
Not a single rock 'n' roll lover in Australia will want to miss this upcoming performance by Wanda Jackson. Before performing at Bluesfest over Easter weekend Jackson will be performing a string of sideshows, one of them landing her at Sydney's Factory Theatre, where she'll be supported by Ezra Lee and his band. Jackson is internationally known as the Queen of Rock and the First lady of Rockabilly and has been inducted into the Rockabilly and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fames in 2009. Her music career has been ongoing for over 50 years, and she is best known for the songs 'Tears Will Be the Chaser for Your Wine', 'Fujiyama Mama', 'Heart Trouble', and 'I Remember Elvis'. She worked closely with Elvis Presley and has garnered admiration from artists including Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.
The exhibition Beyond the Last Sky: Contemporary Palestinian Photography and Video takes its title from a line in poem by Mahmoud Darwish, borrowed by Edward Said as the title of a book on Palestine. In a media landscape often depicting Palestinians as terrorists, martyrs, the sainted or the demonic, Beyond the Last Sky’s approach is in itself a radical view: that Palestinian people are just people, like people elsewhere. Israel isn’t a subject of this exhibition, though the day-to-day trappings of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories certainly are. Rather, this is an exhibtion where artists comment on everyday life in the territories. The art takes place in Israel’s shadow, but its subject stays the everyday life of Palestinian people. With this, it feels strange to be a Jew — one neither opposing the existence of a state of Israel, nor the existence of a Palestinian state — to be reviewing an exhibition like this, and casting my own shadow over the works within. Raeda Saadeh’s Mona Lisa is an image of the artist enigmatically smiling as Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. In place of the fantastic vista behind the original is what seems to the untrained eye to be a romantic vista of a random holy-land hill settlement. It’s actually an israeli settlement. Taysir Batniji’s Watchtowers was originally intended to be a typology of Israeli watchtowers. From a distance, they look like a series of crusader-era forts. Closer, it seems to be a collection of concrete water towers and weather stations, the concrete aged and the windows bare and functional. To a Sydneysider’s eye, these things seem free of violence. What comes as a shock is slowly becoming aware of the sheer number of the towers. Yazan Khalili’s Color Correction shows al-Am’ari refugee camp, a picture filled with hundreds of square concrete houses — an international architectural vocabulary of poverty — each coloured by the artist like hill houses in Mexico’s Guanajuato, adding a colour in reproduction that isn’t there in daily life. The colours are beautiful. Life there is, presumably, less so. Sharif Waled’s Beace Brocess shows Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authoritey Chariman Yasser Arafat fighting each other playfully to let the other through a door first. Waled plays this in silhouette, as a Chaplinesque silent movie. Now, twelve years after that more promising phase of the peace process, an accord acceptable to both side is still yet to arrive. Funniest, and probably the most biting satire relevant to a local audience, is Jacqueline Reem Salloum’s Planet of the Arabs. A mash-up of Arab stereotypes in TV and Hollywood, spliced into a long film trailer, it is a denouncement of every Arab stereotype and casual terrorist villain you may have taken for granted on the screen. Larissa Sansour’s A Space Exodus, finally, is one of the highlights of the show. Funny and fun to watch, its a recreation of the moon landing which seems to suggest, despairingly, the prospect of a Palestinian on the moon as being easier to imagine than an end to the region’s troubles. 2001’s astronaut, spacesuit and soundtrack are all passed through a Palestinian filter, culminating with a Palestinian flag on the lunar soil. Still from A Space Exodus by Larissa Sansour.
Some of gothic horror's greatest masterpieces foresaw their longevity. Bram Stoker's Dracula will never die, and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein will never stop being brought to life, either. Shake & Stir Theatre Co took on the former back in 2015 and 2017, in a brand-new world-premiere stage production that sunk its fangs into the most famous vampire tale there is. Now, the South Brisbane-based theatre company has turned its attention to Victor Frankenstein and his creation. Shake & Stir's new version of Frankenstein debuted in Queensland in 2023, and will now head to Melbourne and Sydney before 2024 is out. The story remains the same as it has since 1818, of course, following a young scientist tormented by grief, a bold push to thwart mortality, plus the consequences sparked by his act of playing god. And, as always, it covers the impact upon the being that's spliced together, jolted into existence, yearns to belong, but is swiftly and cruelly shunned. "Gothic fiction is a passion of the company, and Shelley's ground-breaking novel, credited for both its gothic roots and for pioneering the science fiction genre, presents an excitingly monstrous challenge in mounting it for the stage," said Shake & Stir Co-Artistic Director Nick Skubij, who is also directing Frankenstein, when the Brisbane season was announced. "We couldn't be more excited to be presenting this brilliant production to audiences in Melbourne and Sydney. Those eager to see an absolute classic story live on stage will be appeased, along with those hungry to be impressed by new theatrical forms," added Skubij about the new seasons. "This production invites audiences on a journey into the mind of a madman and they will see things on stage that they've seldom seen before. This is Shelley's classic story told in a brand-new, hi-tech monster of a show. Multiple axis of automation, over 140 square metres of LED video panels, pyrotechnics and a cinematic, sweeping score — all working seamlessly together to bring Shelly's tale to visceral life." Accordingly, audiences at Melbourne's Princess Theatre from Friday, August 23–Sunday, September 1 and Sydney Theatre Royal from Saturday, September 28–Sunday, October 13, 2024 can expect an immersive performance that steps through Shelley's classic — and with a big emphasis on production design. Think: those video and digital elements playing a hefty part, and the meticulous sound design setting the mood. Shake & Stir's Frankenstein follows not only Dracula, but also Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, A Christmas Carol, Macbeth, Othello, Animal Farm, The Twits, Fantastic Mr Fox and Romeo & Juliet among the company's looks backwards. In the past few years, the theatre group has brought Fourteen and Tae Tae in the Land of Yaaas! — both personal stories, with the first based on the memoir of the same name — to the stage as well. The oft-adapted Frankenstein is no stranger to audiences, including earning a stunning Royal National Theatre iteration by Danny Boyle (Yesterday) starring Benedict Cumberbatch (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar) and Jonny Lee Miller (Guy Ritchie's The Covenant) in 2011 — with the two actors rotating roles between Victor and the creature each night — that's been playing cinemas worldwide ever since thanks to NT Live. With Shake & Stir's take, Skubij sees the timelessness of the work, plus the current parallels. "It's been fascinating to consider this incredible work dealing with themes of advancement, progress and pushing the limits of possibility alongside contemporary advances in AI technology today. The story could not be more relevant," he noted. "Like Victor Frankenstein's creation, AI is arguably neither good nor bad; it's how it's built and used that dictates its legacy." "Frankenstein's monster is just that: a living, breathing 'being' far superior in capabilities than any natural human could ever be. But what are the consequences of using science to play God?" Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Adapted by Shake & Stir Theatre Co Dates: Friday, August 23–Sunday, September 1, 2024 — Princess Theatre, Melbourne Saturday, September 28–Sunday, October 13, 2024 — Sydney Theatre Royal, Sydney Shake & Stir Theatre Co's Frankenstein will play Melbourne in August and September 2024, and Sydney in September and October 2024. Head to the production's website for further information — and for tickets from Friday, May 17. Images: Joel Devereaux.
We're Bastards is a new work by actor and writer Oleg Pupovac in the same vein as Neil LaBute’s Bash trilogy of plays and Tracy Letts’s Bug. The naturalistic play invites us inside the troubled heads of 'white trash' siblings Joe Jnr and Darling Mae, who enjoy drinking, smoking and fighting. The Old 505 space is transformed into a living room in cosy disarray; a hideous brown sofa sits in the centre and an upstage book shelf is adorned with a confederate flag, framed pictures of Jesus, and Joe’s high school sports trophies. A coffee table in the centre sports empty Budweiser cans and Joe’s tin of snuff. Growing up with a single mother in Anniston, Alabama, Joe (Pupovac) and Darling Mae (Tara Clark) fight over their different versions of their crappy upbringing. Darling Mae visits their mother’s grave regularly while Joe prides himself on remembering her as a neglectful, alcoholic failure. The struggle is a familiar one — brother and sister form a strong, semi-erotic bond as they try to overcome a difficult shared past, a dynamic Steve McQueen nailed so well in Shame when Carey Mulligan playing Sissy says to her brother, “We're not bad people. We just come from a bad place.” Pupovac’s text is straightforward and his plot turns are fairly predictable, but that’s just fine because the show is well executed. Glen Hamilton’s direction is tight, though the challenge presented by the climax occurring in the first scene is that the pace falls away somewhat towards the end. Pupovac is a talented actor underneath that greasy undercut and Clark is every bit his match. Luke Carson playing Baby Daddy is used sparingly in one scene only and we’d like to see more of him. The performances are what make We’re Bastards a good piece of theatre — these actors know what they’re doing.
Obviously, a lot of the stuff we know about the past comes from digging up the dead. There’s a bit of competition, sure, from pottery, monumental architecture and socks. But, for every Marcus Agrippa Made This there’s an uncanny road of tombs to point us towards history’s details. And, while the big hitters like the Egyptian pyramids or the tomb of China’s first Emperor get a lot of the attention, there’s a cavalcade of smaller tombs, tombstones and sarcophagi that are pretty marvellous to look at all in their own right. The Art Gallery of NSW is taking a few months to hop into the genre, in the form of a sixth century white marble sarcophagus, with A Silk Road saga: the sarcophagus of Yu Hong . The exhibition will explode this intricately decorated super-size, coffin wrapper into its component panels, displaying more than a dozen other artefacts from the same tomb and the same era in Shanxi province (the same province where the First Emperor buried his terracotta army). And if this funeral atomisation really grabs you, there's also a sideline: a free A Silk Road Saga symposium being held on August 24. Image: Panel 5 of Yu Hong’s sarcophagus. Shanxi Museum.
UPDATE, Friday, March 15, 2024: The Aqua with Special Guests tour has changed venues, dates and lineup. 2 Unlimited are now the only support act. The new dates and venues are: Thursday, March 21 — Metro City, Perth Saturday, March 23 — Hindley Street Theatre, Adelaide Sunday, March 24 — Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane Tuesday, March 26 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Wednesday, March 27 — Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne For the past year, we've all been living in a Barbie world, with Greta Gerwig's Margot Robbie-starring Barbie film the biggest thing in pop culture over the past 12 months. What happens when you combine the planet's love for the pink-hued hit with the never-ending trend that is 90s nostalgia? Aqua touring Australia to bust out 'Barbie Girl' at a big throwback party, that's what. Life in plastic will be fantastic when the Danish-Norwegian band make their first trip Down Under since 2019. Back then, the group responsible for still having their best-known single stuck in your head, plus 'Doctor Jones' and 'Turn Back Time' as well, toured on a bill filled with other acts from the era. This time, they're doing the same thing. Joining Aqua in March 2024 in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth: Belgian-Dutch dance duo 2 Unlimited, British boy band East 17, R&B group Big Brovaz, and English dance acts Phats & Small, Booty Luv and Urban Cookie Collective. Hitting up stadiums, these gigs will be a house of love with no limits. Expect everything from Get Ready', 'Twilight Zone' and 'Alright' to 'Stay Another Day', 'Turn Around' and 'The Key the Secret' to get a whirl. Your latest excuse to keep celebrating all things Barbie-related — and to get a big blast from the past — comes after Aqua popped up on the movie's soundtrack with rapper Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice on the tune 'Barbie World'. Also heading to Australia in the first few months of 2024 to party like it's the 90s on separate tours, because nostalgia will never die: TLC and Blink-182. AQUA 2024 TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS LINEUP: Aqua 2 Unlimited East 17 Phats & Small Big Brovaz Booty Luv Urban Cookie Collective AQUA 2024 TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS DATES: Thursday, March 21 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Friday, March 22 — John Cain Arena, Melbourne Sunday, March 24 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Tuesday, March 26 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Thursday, March 28 — RAC Arena, Perth Aqua is touring Australia in March 2024 with special guests 2 Unlimited, East 17, Phats & Small, Big Brovaz, Booty Luv, and Urban Cookie Collective — with ticket pre sales from 10am local time on Tuesday, January 23 and general sales from 10am local time on Thursday, January 25. Head to the tour website for more information
Some days, the usual lunchtime salad or bento box isn't quite going to cut it. If you want to celebrate a promotion, impress a new client or are just in the mood to gather up your workmates for a cheeky midweek treat, you need somewhere that's a step up from your usual spot. Maybe that's a place with a degustation menu? A particularly impressive fit-out? Or, perhaps you're after a good wine list, for when it's the kind of lunch that includes a drop or two of vino? To help you find the perfect place for a snazzy weekday lunch, we've teamed up with American Express to find the best restaurants in Sydney's CBD that will take your midday meal from zero to hero in one fell swoop. These stellar spots are all big enough for groups, have standout food and drink menus, and boast stunning interiors. In other words, they're the kind of place where you will literally feel like a CEO — so grab your Amex and head out for lunch. Got yourself in another dining situation and need some guidance? Whatever it is, we know a place. Visit The Shortlist and we'll sort you out.
The annual Parramatta Lanes festival will return for its seventh year this October, bringing the finest eats to the streets of the west. Following last year's record-breaking attendance, the Paramatta-based palooza has expanded even further and will include 14 themed laneways, more than 45 food stalls and six bars. The food lineup will feature renowned Sydney venues and lashings of sweet and savoury treats. It's far too extensive to list in its entirety but highlights include Frencheese's decadent raclette and Duo Duo Ice Cream's deep-fried desserts. Inner West hotspot Daisy's Milkbar will take over Parramatta Mission cafe to serve up its renowned retro toasties, sundaes and milkshakes. Meanwhile, crowd favourites Gelato Messina and Butter will dish out their respective signature dishes from the rooftop of the Eat Street Car Park, which will be transformed into a roller skating rink. When it comes time for a drink, choose between a throng of bars and breweries — including gin masters Archie Rose and local bar Uncle Kurt's. Beyond eating and drinking, festival-goers can enjoy live music, dance workshops and performances, art installations with a focus on sustainability, and roving theatrical performances. This year, Parramatta Lanes is partnering with Two Good Co — an organisation which provides meals for victims of domestic violence, refugees and people sleeping rough. Parramatta Lanes ambassador Mitch Orr (ACME) has designed an exclusive menu for Two Good Co. For every meal sold at the stall, it will provide a meal to someone in need — food for thought while you're perusing the streets and tucking into that tasty fare. Parramatta Lanes will run from Tuesday, October 9 to Friday, October 12, 5pm to late every day. For more information, visit the website.
If you fancy a night out in Sydney or catching a movie in style, the delightful Magnums and Movies might already be on your radar. The subterranean CBD restaurant and theatre Restaurant Hubert is back with another season of its hit series, entertaining Sydneysiders with film, food and plenty of wine (in magnums, of course). This season is split across sessions in August and September in Hubert's Theatre Royale, guaranteed to really ramp up the film-meets-dinner vibe. Each evening will feature plenty of popcorn; canapes on arrival; an intermission buffet including dessert; and magnums of wine, which will be passed around throughout the night. And since the evening is sponsored by Chartreuse, your experience will be enhanced with a complimentary Chartreuse cocktail on arrival, the 'Chartreuse Green Monsieur'. Previous years have been quite thematic, but 2023 has seen all sorts of titles hit the screen. This time, you can book for screenings of The Grand Budapest Hotel (Monday, August 7) or Fargo (Monday, August 21). There'll also be screenings in September, watch this space for the details. Tickets don't come cheap at $165 per head, but that price includes everything (cocktail, food, wine, film and popcorn). And, it's the kind of decadent weeknight affair you don't get to enjoy every day. If you can't get enough Chartreuse, Hubert's Restaurant is also offering a 'Chartreuse Green Apple' cocktail during happy hour. Chartreuse x Hubert's Magnums and Movies runs on Monday, August 7 and Monday, August 21, as well as unannounced dates in September. For more information and to book your tickets, visit the website.
For more than a decade, Roomies Arts has supported artists with disability and mental health concerns — helping these artists to overcome the barriers presented by society and the arts world, and to achieve their goals and develop their creative skills. During the pandemic and Australia's transitions in and out of lockdown, the organisation decided to expand its workshops, creating sessions that would help reach more of the general public while people were experiencing increased mental health challenges. One way that the organisation is doing exactly that is through a series of online creative workshops. There are currently four workshops up on the Roomies Arts website — so, you can participate in a still-life drawing session with artist Anne Kwasner, make paper sculptures with visual and performing artist Jeff McCann, upcycle clothing with designer Holly-Jane Cohle, and create air-dry clay figures with mixed-media painter and sculptor Michelle Connolly. The sessions are designed to help you slow down and focus on something relaxing and mediative for a short period, which is something we could all benefit from this year. Each workshop is free to participate in, and comes with a list of materials and items needed to take part. Generally, those lists include household arts and craft items, so they can be easily purchased if you don't have them. To stay up to date with everything Roomies Arts does, follow along at the organisation's Facebook page. That's where you'll also find a live-streamed art class on Saturday, October 16.
Since HBO first introduced the world to Barry Berkman, the contract killer played and co-created by Saturday Night Live great Bill Hader has wanted to be something other than a gun for hire. An ex-military sniper, he's always been skilled at his highly illicit post-service line of work; however, moving beyond that past was a bubbling dream even before he found his way to a Los Angeles acting class while on a job. Barry laid bare its namesake's biggest wish in its 2018 premiere episode. Then, it kept unpacking his pursuit of a life less lethal across the show's Emmy-winning first and second seasons, plus its even-more-astounding third season in 2022. Season four, the series' final outing which hits Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand from Monday, April 17, is no anomaly, but it also realises that wanting to be someone different and genuinely overcoming your worst impulses aren't the same. Barry has been grappling with this fact since the beginning, with the grim truth beating at the show's heart whether it's at its most darkly comedic, action-packed or dramatic. In its prior batch of episodes before this farewell season, it went both bleak and deep on what makes its namesake tick, why, and the effects and consequences — and how catching the treading-the-board bug was never going to be a clean and easy solution to stopping being an assassin. The series has never simply been about Barry, though, or solely about his darkest traits and their persistent impact. In his new LA existence, he's surrounded by people who similarly yearn for an alternative to their current lot in life, yet also can't shake their most damaging behaviour. In that burgeoning thespian session all those episodes back, Barry met acting teacher Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler, Black Adam), a former star now mentoring the next generation. Fellow student Sally Reid (Sarah Goldberg, The Night House) also dreamed of escaping into a career spent playing other people, a desire that helped spark a relationship with Barry. But as the show has explored along with its titular figure's tale, Gene started his classes after proving a bully at the height of his career. As Sally's talent has earned her success and fame, including her own series in season three, she's been self-centred, and rude and nasty to everyone around her. Yes, Barry spies their cruelest attributes, too. In season four, it sees how they're always going to be the people they are absent any real willingness to change. Barry's old handler Monroe Fuches (Stephen Root, Succession) and his Chechen gangster pal NoHo Hank (Anthony Carrigan, Bill & Ted Face the Music) fit the same bill, all while dreaming of new futures as well. Pivotally, Barry doesn't posit that no one can improve, face their flaws and overcome their demons — rather, it spots the vast gap between saying that you will, or have, and how people instinctively act. The show's main quintet have experienced war, loss, abuse, power battles and more, and have plenty of life's horrors to process between them. In past seasons and now in season four, they's grasped onto everything from celebrity, money and glory to parenthood, faith and control as paths to new versions of themselves. But are Barry, Gene, Sally, Fuches and Hank all that different from who they were when Barry started? Have they processed their troubles? Have they stopped taking out their struggles not just on themselves, but on those around them? Hader and his fellow Barry co-creator Alec Berg (Silicon Valley, Curb Your Enthusiasm) keep asking those questions. Barry being Barry, posing such queries and seeing its central figures for who they are is an ambitious, thrilling, risk-taking and all-round exceptional ride in season four. When season three ended, it was with Gene and Jim Moss (Robert Wisdom, Black Bird), the retired-cop father of his murdered police-detective girlfriend Janice (Paula Newsome, CSI: Vegas), putting Barry behind bars — which is where he is when the show's new go-around kicks off. He isn't coping, unsurprisingly, hallucinating Sally running lines in the prison yard, Gene strolling nonchalantly around and his childhood first meeting with Fuches, and rejecting a kindly guard's attempt to tell him that he's not a bad person. With the latter, there's a moment of clarity about what he's done and who he is, but Barry's key players have rarely been that honest with themselves for long. "Each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done," says that prison employee, who is also a fan of Barry's work as an actor. Alas, a sea of destructive choices helps turn that idea into a fantasy that the show's characters can't seem to make true. Sally heads home to Missouri following her cancel-worthy season-three rant, but is desperate to do whatever it takes to regain any status she can in Hollywood. Gene wants more attention than he's already getting for capturing Barry, no matter the cost. Fuches says he's torn between putting himself or his ex-protege first, but he also hankers for stature and respect. And while NoHo Hank has made it to Santa Fe with his boyfriend Cristobal (Michael Irby, Mayans MC) after getting free of the Bolivians, there are new schemes to launch. Hader has a swag of awards to his name for his best-ever work across Barry so far, and best start making more room on his mantle for his season-four efforts as an actor, writer and helmer. Barry gets pulled in two extremes in his final run of episodes, with the man behind him unnervingly excellent in both fraying and calm mode. The show's scripting is as bold and complex as it has ever been, and as surreal — a trait that's just as true of its assured and masterful direction. Hader jumps behind the lens on all eight of the fourth-season instalments, which might lack the past go-around's big setpieces but are on another level in using every meticulous visual choice to convey how Barry and company feel. Incarceration scenes say everything with camera movement and precise framing, a simple zoom while staring at Hader's face is downright stunning, empty fields echo with feeling and meaning, and TV rarely manages to be as dreamy yet devastating. There's never been anything less than superb performances from the series' main cast, of course, and nor is there now. Winkler is just as remarkable as Hader at making someone who's such a giant ball of contradictions so compelling, while Goldberg, Root and the always-charismatic Carrigan are gifted weighty arcs — with Goldberg and Carrigan's especially evoking showcase performances. Barry remains a show-business satire, too, including a hilarious appearance by CODA director Sian Heder that's part of a biting caped-crusader parody, plus another big cameo best discovered by watching. It's also still one of HBO's all-time greats, and as sharp and smart as fellow four-season standout Succession. Wealth hasn't been able to make that program's players anyone but who they are, and neither can La La Land here. From its first moment to this last season, Barry has always known that that's a killer concept. Check out the full trailer for Barry season four below: Barry's fourth season streams via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand from Monday, April 17. Images: Merrick Morton/HBO.
You can pick a Judd Apatow film from a mile off. Bromantic plot-lines, improvised dialogue and gross-out humour are his unmistakable calling cards, to say nothing of his vow to include at least one penis in every project. It’s just that, Trainwreck is also a Judd Apatow film, only you don’t realise it until his name appears in the final credits. From start to finish, it feels like an Amy Schumer film, and that’s a credit to both of them. If you don’t know who Amy Schumer is, you probably don’t have the internet. The current queen of comedy has had an amazing few years, including her own sketch show on Comedy Central, a sold-out stand up tour, countless guest spots and a hosting gig for the 2015 MTV Movie Awards. Trainwreck, which Schumer both wrote and stars in, is her first foray into film, and it’s a solid (if also circumspect) debut. Schumer plays Amy Townsend, a relentless party girl and writer for the trashy magazine S’nuff who's assigned to write a profile on celebrity sports surgeon Dr Aaron Conners (SNL’s Bill Hader). Amy soon finds herself in a serious, committed relationship with the doctor, one that flies in the face of her lifelong dedication to polyamory, making Trainwreck a traditional romcom with an entirely untraditional difference: a female lead playing the ‘guy role’ – drinking, swearing and laying waste to one sexual conquest after the next. To call it refreshing is a giant understatement. In the lead, Schumer falls short of an assured performance, but hits enough high notes to carry the film through its weaker moments. Her trademark honesty-bordering-on-overshare is evident throughout, proving endearing even when her character’s words and actions are anything but. Amy Townsend isn’t a particularly likeable person, but like her you do all the same. Opposite her, Hader is pleasantly reserved as the good doctor and greater man, whose goofy grin and sexual naiveté nicely round out the ‘opposites attract’ motif. But by far the most pleasant surprise is the performance by NBA superstar LeBron James as Aaron's former patient-cum-best friend. A few years back, Gary Oldman and Jimmy Kimmel teamed up for an amusing short called “Actors Against Acting Athletes”, in which Oldman railed against the influx of sportspeople in film – particularly basketball players. Cameos aside (e.g. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s turn in Flying High), it’s an entirely reasonable rant, especially since you’d be hard pressed to name many classics amongst Shaquille O’Neal’s twenty-three listed acting credits, let alone the twenty-six boasted by Dennis Rodman. James, however, is a terrific comic presence in Trainwreck, gleefully presenting himself as a Cleveland-obsessed romantic with a profound investment in Aaron’s love life and Scrooge-like stinginess, insisting on splitting every check despite his estimated net worth of $325 million. The scene between him and Aaron playing some casual one-on-one whilst discussing commitment and intimacy is arguably the finest in the film. There are many other cameos in Trainwreck. Some are clever (Daniel Radcliffe as himself in an art film called The Dogwalker, and WWE star John Cena as Schumer’s erstwhile boyfriend), but most are either unnecessary or downright bad (none more so than Matthew Broderick and Marv Albert in a bizarre intervention scene). Schumer’s the hottest ticket in town right now, so it’s understandable that Hollywood would be queuing up to get in on the action, but successful cameos require the deftest of touches to avoid completely breaking a film’s flow and reeking of ‘why not?’ stink – which wafts in more than a few times here. With a shorter run time and a tighter third act, Trainwreck might have proven itself a terrific romcom. As it stands it’s still a solid comedy that even boasts a few serious moments to tug at the heartstrings. Without question, Schumer’s only getting started, and we eagerly await the next instalment from this spectacularly funny comic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_KP9x80Z9Q
This article is sponsored by our partners, Rekorderlig. Whether you want to board in your bikini in Californian sunshine, conquer some of the most extreme territory in the European Alps or rehearse your newly acquired Snowboarding 101 skills on friendly slopes, there’s a snowboarding spot somewhere on this planet of ours that’s made just for you. Here’s our pick of the world’s ten most exciting, beautiful and terrifying destinations. MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, CALIFORNIA, US If you fancy hitting the slopes in your boardies or bikini, Mammoth Mountain is the place to do it. You can realistically expect 300 days of sunshine and clear skies out of every 365. Plus the snow season lasts ten months, kicking off in October yet not seeing the final flakes melt until July. While you’re cruising around Mammoth’s 3,500 or so acres or testing your prowess on the 6.7 metre Super Duper Pipe, there’s a chance you’ll catch snowboard champ Shaun White in action — it’s his preferred training ground. NISEKO UNITED, JAPAN Welcome to the second snowiest resort on the planet. The first, if you’re wondering, is Mount Baker, which you’ll find in Washington state. Most seasons, the slopes of Niseko United (situated on Hokkaido Island) are covered in a minimum of 15 metres of the white stuff. The Japanese skiing authorities are astoundingly relaxed about their guests going back country, so freeriding is the order of the day. That said, it’s an awful lot safer with a guide leading the way. Boarders of all levels will find a trail to keep them keen and floodlights mean Niseko is open until 9pm. ST ANTON, AUSTRIA For freeriders, St Anton is Europe’s holy grail. There are 180 kilometres of marked off-piste possibilities, featuring challenging steeps, open tree-lined glades and powder to die for. If, however, your preference is to stick to tried and tested trails, you have 280 kilometres to play on. That said, St Anton is certainly a destination for boarders of intermediate ability and above. Novices are likely to find it scarier than a Freddy Krueger movie. THREDBO, AUSTRALIA For a world-class experience that doesn’t involve long-haul flight prices, there’s Thredbo. The beginningest of beginners can rehearse their moves on the utterly non-threatening, 12 degree-angled Friday Flat before stepping things up on the resort’s gloriously wide, tree-fringed intermediate trails. And for hardcore carvers, there’s the rest: vertical drops, naturally formed jumps, wind lips, sizeable powder bowls and some of the finest off-piste terrain this side of the equator. If your muscles ache after a day on the slopes, a swim in the Rekorderlig Hot Pool should put you right. VERBIER, SWITZERLAND For some of Switzerland’s most extreme snowboarding, Verbier is your destination. To get the most out of it, you need to be on top of your game — you’ll be boarding alongside some of Europe’s most passionate and skilled riders. One lift pass enables access not only to Verbier but also to four other linked resorts — Val de Bagnas, La Tzoumaz, Veysonnaz and Nendaz — meaning 400 kilometres of trails. For beginners, Nendaz is the best bet. TIGNES, FRANCE This resort, situated at 2,100 metres, was one of the first in France to roll out the red carpet for the snowboarding community. While skiers in other places were warily guarding their territory, the Tignes crew was begging baggie-panted ones to come carve it up. The variety of terrain — both in terms of piste action and sheer visual beauty — is mind-blowing. There’s a glacier, a lake and runs to suit all shapes, sizes and ability levels. MOUNT BACHELOR, US Mt Bachelor might not have the steeps necessary to thrilling adrenalin junkies, but what it does have is some of the cruisiest, most enjoyable freeriding in to be found anywhere — which means that you can revel in the freedom of going off-piste without having to be as wary as you do in other places. Plus, if you want to brush up on your freestylin', there are three terrain parks and a half pipe to keep you happy. CHAMONIX, FRANCE For rugged mountain tops and that je ne sais quoi, Chamonix is the one. It's one of France's oldest resorts and was the site of the very first Winter Olympics back in 1924. Rough and ready is the vibe — there's less infrastructure in comparison with other places — but if you're keen on atmosphere and some opportunities for wild adventure, it's hard to beat. WANAKA, NEW ZEALAND Boarding on New Zealand’s expansive, uncluttered snow fields is a bit like surfing on an impossibly white, open sea. It’s often rather surreal, ridiculously fun and incredibly liberating. Rather than having to follow fellow boarders and skiers down particular trails, you can choose your own adventure. Plus you’re nearly always treated to the stunning backdrop of the Southern Alps. From Wanaka, you can reach Cardrona, Treble Cone and Snow Park NZ easily, meaning you can pack three resorts into one mighty vacation. WHISTLER-BLACKCOMB, CANADA This one comes as no surprise, right? The thing is, it’s not exactly possible to compile the world’s top ten snowboarding spots and leave out Whistler-Blackcomb. As far as North America goes, it’s the jewel in the Snow Queen’s crown. Between them, the two mountains offer 8,171 acres of snowboardable land. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a newbie or a pro. For views worthy of a Peter Jackson trilogy, Whistler’s got the goods. For more Narnia-esque tree-lined runs, the world-famous Nintendo Terrain Parks and the second biggest vertical drop on the planet (at 5,222 feet), head for Blackcomb.
There are neither aliens nor gods to be found in the latest instalment of the seemingly unstoppable Marvel movie franchise. Instead, this is an 'enemy within' offering, and it's very much the better for it. Captain America (Chris Evans) is the Avenger in question this time round, and for a movie about the perils of extra-governmental espionage and unregulated oversight, there could be no more suitable a hero than that unfailingly honest idealist Captain Rogers. In The Winter Soldier, Cap finds himself contemplating a life beyond the military, only to be drawn deep back inside the shadowy organisation S.H.I.E.L.D following an assassination attempt on his boss, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). With the story's many twists and turns, it's risky to disclose much more, but at its heart this is a film about trust, betrayal and (inevitably) good ole-fashioned right and wrong. Fitting, then, that his holiness the pope of '70s plot-based paranoia, Robert Redford, makes an appearance as S.H.I.E.L.D's chairman Alexander Pierce. It's difficult in any film not to get excited whenever Redford embarks upon one of his trademark disquisitions on the state of democracy, freedom or peace, and in The Winter Soldier you get the full-blown triple play. Joining him in the mix are S.H.I.E.L.D regulars Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Agent Hill (Cobie Smulders), as well as the instantly appealing newcomer 'Falcon' (Anthony Mackie). Inevitably, a superhero movie with a budget as big as its leading man's pecs is going to feature the periodic sensory onslaught of explosions, car chases, plane chases and carplane chases to keep the blockbuster fans satiated. The highlights in The Winter Soldier, however, are the smaller-scale, human melees, because let's be honest — Cap's superpowers aren't all that super ("Fitter than the average man, more honest than Abe Lincoln, Chris Evans is...the Truthy Runner"). As a result, his action sequences require more imagination on the part of the writers than they might for, say, Iron Man, and where the team most often delivers is in all the creative ways Cap uses his iconic shield, both in defence and on offence. Not quite as witty as Whedon's Avengers yet more engaging than Thor 2, Captain America: The Winter Soldier offers a darker and more thoughtful superhero story than most, if not all, of its Marvel predecessors. https://youtube.com/watch?v=7SlILk2WMTI
Packing the car and heading out on a road trip to a regional festival is a joy that's been missing from our lives for far too long. Whether it's Groovin the Moo, Bluesfest or Splendour in the Grass, the out-of-town festival is always a stellar excuse for a weekend away and a banging road trip playlist. Luckily, a new festival has appeared on the 2021 events calendar, promising all this and a line-up of buzzed-about local talent across four regional NSW cities. Next Exit Festival will take place across two weekends in May, popping up in Tamworth, Gosford, Batemans Bay and Mudgee. Heading out on the statewide tour is Triple J favourites Ocean Alley and Spacey Jane, pop-punk four-piece Dear Seattle, local pop gem Merci, Mercy and indie duo Clews. The festival was originally conceived to help bushfire-affected towns by bringing a tourism boost to the area and hiring local suppliers. Although these plans were pushed back due to the pandemic, the four-date festival run will no doubt be a boost for the regional towns involved. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxKuwlnx58g NEXT EXIT FESTIVAL 2021 DATES Friday, May 21 – Bicentennial Park, Tamworth Saturday, May 22 – Westport Park, Port Macquarie Sunday, May 23 – Entertainment Grounds, Gosford Friday, May 28 – Mackay Park, Batemans Bay Saturday, May 29 – Mudgee Showground, Mudgee
Australia, you will feel it coming after all: in what's been a chaotic time for fans keen to see Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye Down Under, the musician is finally bringing his After Hours Til Dawn tour this way. Come October 2024, the Canadian singer-songwriter and The Idol star will hit the country for four gigs, playing two in Melbourne, then another two in Sydney. The details for your diary: The Weeknd will take to the stage at Marvel Stadium in the Victorian capital across Saturday, October 5–Sunday, October 6, then do the same at Accor Stadium in the New South Wales capital on Tuesday, October 22–Wednesday, October 23. Missing from the rescheduled tour dates is a Brisbane stop, which is no longer happening "due to schedule and logistical constraints", tour promoter Live Nation has advised. [caption id="attachment_970220" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hyghly Allene[/caption] It was this time last year that The Weeknd announced that his latest massive stadium tour was on its way to both Australia and New Zealand in November and December 2023 — even adding extra shows before general tickets went on sale — only for it to be postponed just two weeks out "due to unforeseen circumstances" without new dates being set. Then, in April 2024, the tour was cancelled for the time being, with ticketholders receiving refunds. "The Weeknd After Hours Til Dawn Tour for Australia and New Zealand is still in process of being rescheduled," said a statement on the Ticketek website earlier in the year, leaving hope then that the tour might be announced again in the future. "Whilst we continue to work through the rescheduling process with the artist, tickets for the existing 2023 tour will be cancelled. All purchased tickets will receive a full refund," the message continued. Revealing the new Aussie shows now, The Weekend said that he feels "a strong pull to perform in Australia before moving on to the next chapter" and that he wanted "to make sure you all know I hadn't forgotten about you". "When I return now, it will be the right time, and I promise it will be such a special experience. I can't wait to see you all!" his announcement about the new dates continued. Mike Dean, Chxrry22 and Anna Lunoe will join The Weeknd Down Under. And if you've spotted that there's no New Zealand gigs this time around as well, his stop in Aotearoa is no longer on the schedule, just like Brisbane. An arena spectacular, The Weeknd's global tour began in 2022, notching up soldout shows far and wide. In the UK, The Weekend saw 160,000 folks head to London Stadium across two nights, smashing the venue's attendance record. And in Milan, he became the first artist to sell out the Ippodromo La Maura for two nights. Those feats are just the beginning. In Paris, the 'Starboy', 'I Feel It Coming', 'Can't Feel My Face', 'The Hills' and 'Blinding Lights' artist scored Stade de France's biggest sales this year — and in Nice, the 70,000 tickets sold across his two shows are the most in the city's history. The reason for the whole tour, other than just because, is celebrate The Weeknd's 2020 record After Hours and its 2022 followup Dawn FM. Obviously, he has been playing tracks from 2013's Kiss Land, 2015's Beauty Behind the Madness and 2016's Starboy as well. The Weeknd's 'After Hours Til Dawn' Tour 2024 Dates: Saturday, October 5–Sunday, October 6 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Tuesday, October 22–Wednesday, October 23 — Accor Stadium, Sydney The Weeknd is touring Australia in October 2024 — and if you had tickets to his cancelled 2023 dates, you can nab new tickets via the past purchaser presale from 12pm in Melbourne and 1pm in Sydney on Wednesday, August 21. Other presales start from Thursday, August 22, with general sales from Monday, August 26. Head to the tour website for more information. Top image: Rafael Deprost.
There's no summer like a Sydney summer. From long days spent underneath beach umbrellas to leisurely lunches with friends, Sydney looks best when drenched in sunshine. If you're looking for a summer plan to fill your weekends with, the waterfront Mosman restaurant, St Siandra, is bringing back its much-loved deck chairs by Business & Pleasure Co. to its private beach this summer. Running from Friday, January 2 until Tuesday, March 31, every Wednesday to Sunday, the pop-up allows diners to settle into deck chairs right on the beach with uninterrupted harbour views and the full menu delivered right to your seat. From fresh seafood and Mediterranean-inspired share plates to summer-ready cocktails and chilled wines, you can order the best of St Siandra to your own private beach with just a tap of your phone. Talk about a luxury staycation. Secure your spot on St Siandra's private beach by booking in advance. The beach deck chairs are available to book in two-hour sessions in groups of two to six. Given the luxury of this offering, spots are limited, so it's best to lock in a few summer days with your friends and family ASAP. Inside, away from the sandy shores, St Siandra's continues to exude vacation vibes with a menu that's an ode to holiday dining and the flavours of the Mediterranean. Freshly caught seafood plays a starring role on the menu, which has been designed by head chef Sam McCallum. His experience is evident in his commitment to sourcing the highest-quality produce and ingredients, with a preference for local suppliers wherever possible. Visually, the vacation vibes don't end with the restaurant's beachfront location either. Touches throughout combine to transport you to Europe at its summery best. Every seat in the restaurant boasts views of the water, conspiring with the warm-hued, Amalfi-inspired interiors by interior designer Sally Taylor, featuring furniture sourced locally and from Italy. Together, it all beguiles guests into momentarily forgetting they're in fact in Mosman, not the Mediterranean. So much so, it's even possible to sail straight into St Siandra's private beach aboard your own (or a rented) vessel and disembark immediately into an awaiting deck chair or a seat inside. Whether you're planning a leisurely long lunch or just looking to soak up the sun in style, this unique Sydney experience blends barefoot luxury with laid-back Sydney coastal energy. See you on the deck chairs. See out summer from a beachside deck chair and book now at St Siandra. Image credit: Supplied
Three-time Oscar-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone has done it again with his 2012 film Savages. Based on Don Winslow's bestselling crime novel, it is a brutal, ferocious and sexy look into the lives of two marijuana growers. Taking place in glamorous Laguna Beach California, this crime thriller film follows two best friends' successful and homegrown marijuana business, where they produce some of the best marijuana ever developed. When the powerful Mexican Baja Cartel finds out about their business, a war breaks out. The two best friends, played by Taylor Kitsch and Aaron Johnson, must take part in a savage battle against the cartel to save the girl (Ophelia, played by Blake Lively) that they both love and, oddly enough, share. Savages has elements of just about every film genre, including crime, drama, mystery, suspense, thriller and romance. The star cast includes Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Aaron Johnson, Demian Bichir, Benicio del Toro, Salma Hayek, John Travolta and Emile Hirsch. Thanks to Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, we have five DVD copies of Savages to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email us with your name and postal address at hello@concreteplayground.com.au.
A slasher premise. A script by Dawson's Creek creator Kevin Williamson. A cast member of Party of Five being terrorised. That setup worked well twice in the 90s, first with Scream and then with I Know What You Did Last Summer. Indeed, when they each initially released, sequels followed in both instances. Here's the latest part of the trend: both franchises have made or are making 2020s-era returns after jumps to TV with flicks sharing the same name as the original movies in each saga and featuring OG cast members. First came 2022's Scream. Next arrives 2025's I Know What You Did Last Summer. Once again, Jennifer Love Hewitt (9-1-1) follows in Neve Campbell's (The Lincoln Lawyer) footsteps — and as Scream did, I Know What You Did Last Summer picks up with a mix of familiar and new faces. As the just-dropped trailer for cinema's return to Southport illustrates, Freddie Prinze Jr (The Girl in the Pool) is also back. Being stalked for their past misdeeds this time: Madelyn Cline (Outer Banks), Chase Sui Wonders (The Studio), Jonah Hauer-King (The Tattooist of Auschwitz), Tyriq Withers (Me) and Sarah Pidgeon (The Friend). If you're a fan of 90s horror getting a new lease on life, we know what you're doing this winter Down Under, then, with the new I Know What You Did Last Summer hitting the big screen on Thursday, July 17, 2025. You'll also already be well-aware of the basic setup: a group of friends are involved in a car accident, someone dies, but they cover it up and vow not to tell anyone. A year later, of course that secret haunts them, as does a vengeance-seeking killer. The new film layers in the fact that this has all happened in the past, with the quintet in focus needing help from two survivors of the Southport Massacre of 1997. Enter Hewitt and Prinze Jr, as part of a cast that also includes Billy Campbell (Mr & Mrs Smith), Gabbriette Bechtel (Idiotka) and Austin Nichols (The Six Triple Eight). Starting as a 1973 novel, which Williamson adapted into the first 1997 film, I Know What You Did Last Summer initially spawned two sequels: 1998's I Still Know What You Did Last Summer and 2006's I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer. In 2021, an I Know What You Did Last Summer TV series ran for one season. On the franchise's return to the big screen, Do Revenge filmmaker Jennifer Kaytin Robinson directs — and continues her connection with the OG I Know What You Did Last Summer cast, given that Sarah Michelle Gellar (Dexter: Original Sin) featured in that 2022 movie. Check out the trailer for I Know What You Did Last Summer below: I Know What You Did Last Summer releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, July 17, 2025.
It's Thursday and you gotta do something to get through that last bit of the workaday week. So, why not go degustating at Tetsuya's? This is one of the priciest, fanciest feasts around, with flavours beyond your imaginings that make splashing out worth your while. Since 1992, Tetsuya's hasn't spent a year without a Chef's Hat — or two or three. Head chef and owner Tetsuya Wakuda arrived in Australia from Japan in 1982 at the age of 22, with nought but a suitcase and a passion for food. He opened Tetsuya's seven years later, and in 2000, transported it to its current lodgings, a glorious heritage-listed building with beautiful dining rooms and a stunning Japanese garden at its centre.
The deal with sharehouses is that those sharing don’t always agree on their vision of the ideal home. As a result, most houses come out looking a little flustered, if not downright chaotic. The solution? One new sofa, clean and fresh from IKEA. Few housemates will argue with new, comfortable furniture and, thanks to the Home Project, you get to stamp your style all over the loungeroom.The concept of the project is simple: take a classic, affordable IKEA couch and ask Australian artists to work their magic with it. Highlights include Del Kathryn Barton and Romance Was Born’s iconic imagery, Akira Igosawa’s futuristic visions and the guerilla gardening skills of Mickie Quick. Gosia Wlodarczak will also add a live element with one of her ‘drawing performances’ to open the event.Head to Carriageworks to check out what’s on offer, then bid online at Grays. Bonus charity points are also awarded to those making a savvy purchase, with all profits going straight to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.
The historic Balmain East sandstone building, best known as The Fenwick, will enjoy a new lease on life come winter. The coveted waterfront digs have been snapped up by restaurateur Bill Drakopoulos (Ripples, Ormeggio at The Spit, Aqua Dining, Jardin St James), who'll reimagine the space as as a multifaceted cafe and gallery space. Boasting sweeping views of Barangaroo, Luna Park and the Sydney Opera House, the heritage-listed site will soon be named The Fenwick Balmain and will be home to a casual and contemporary cafe, as well as an adjoining gallery space. While the finer details are still being finalised, expect to find showings by local artists, a lineup of creative events held in conjunction with local galleries and community groups, and a public exhibition diving into the area's (and the building's) rich history when the space reopens mid-year. If all goes to plan, there'll also be historical walking tours and heritage photography exhibitions as part of the Australian Heritage Festival. The Fenwick, formerly called the J. Fenwick & Co Boat Store, was built in the 1880s for original use as a tugboat store. A number of private development proposals were submitted and rejected over the building's century-long-life, before it was acquired by the former Leichhardt Council in 2003 — it's now owned by the amalgamated Inner West Council — thanks to a campaign by local Balmain East residents. It has since undergone millions of dollars of restoration works. While the lease has been signed, Greens Councillor — and former Leichhardt Mayor — Rochelle Porteous has criticised it and has written a formal letter of opposition to Council. Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne assured residents in a Facebook post that the new-look Fenwick will be opening this year. The Fenwick is slated to open at 2–8 Weston Street, Balmain East, by mid-2019. We'll keep you updated when we know more details.
Nothing brings out the whole neighbourhood like a street celebration. The road closes as people spill out of their homes, kids squeal with joy as the parents catch up on what's new. If you live on or near or if you're overdue to visit some of Sydney's beloved inner-city streets, then you should mark your calendars for the return of the city's favourite community events: Sydney Streets. The City of Sydney is closing roads in some of the city's bustling areas and opening them to festivities. Local businesses and organisations will take over the street for a day of community celebrations, involving food, music, live entertainment and more. This will be a significant series of events, so which roads are closing and when? Let's find out together. Macleay Street, Potts Point — Saturday, February 15 First on the Sydney Streets roster for 2025 is Potts Point. It is taking place on Macleay Street between Darlinghurst Road and Hughes Street between 11am and 8pm. It's a busy, tree-canopied road and home to some of the finest cafes and bars in the inner east. Participating venues include the local authentic Italian gelato, Rivareno Gelato, scientifically brewed 100+ cuppas and cocktails at Ms.Cattea Tea Bar and the four-storey mainstay of the Potts Point Hotel. Expect more too, as the NYC-in-the-50s-inspired bar The Roosevelt and the colourful Bloody Mary Gazebo take the action outside with pop-up bars and don't forget to grab a gem from the Potts Point Markets. Stanley Street, Darlinghurst — Saturday, February 22 The following week, we head to Darlinghurst and Stanley Street, where the Yurong Street to Crown Street section will hold the festivities from 11am to 10pm. With the likes of Bar Reggio, Bill and Toni's, The Long Goodbye, Verde and La Farmacia participating on the day alongside djs, al fresco dining and good times are all but guaranteed. You'll also be able to enjoy Italian bites from Funkatello, plus live music sessions at Harry's by Giuls and Lord Roberts Hotel all day long. Harris Street, Pyrmont — Saturday, March 8 Come Autumn Sydney Streets will hit Pyrmont with cars stopped on Harris Street (between Pyrmont Bridge Road and Union Street) from 11am to 8pm. This underrated suburb adjacent to Sydney Harbour is an ideal setting for the event, brimming with laidback heritage vibes and community spirit. Some of the participating businesses for this weekend include pop-up bars from Quarryman's Hotel and Dunkirk Hotel and wine tasting at Gallon. For kids, there will be a reading corner organised by the Ultimo Public School Parents and Citizens Association, and for those who want to get active, there will be popups from Sense of Power Pilates. Glebe Point Road, Glebe — Saturday, March 15 One week later, the celebrations shift west to Glebe Point Road, specifically the diverse stretch of shopfronts and residences from Parramatta Road to St Johns Road. It's student territory, so packed with culture and vibes from dawn to dusk, and Sydney Streets specials from 11am to 8pm. The vibes stem from the people but also great spots, all of which will come alive for Sydney Streets —venues like Kandi by Sri Lankan Bites and Banh Mi Dee, and organisations like Glebe Youth Service will all be bringing their best. Also on offer: tie dye workshops from Blue & Blue, dance classes and drag shows at Dispensary 1908 and an agility course for any four-legged friends in tow. Redfern Street, Redfern — Saturday, March 29 The penultimate event is hitting Redfern Street, the main stretch of road that runs from Regent Street to Chalmers Street. It's a busy road day and night, shuffling commuters and after-dark pedestrians in equal numbers. From 11am to 10pm, many businesses will open doors to the foot traffic outside. There's much on the roster for Redfern's Sydney Streets celebration. There will be weaving workshops led by the local Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative, pop-up food stalls from Sweet Monster and The Redfern, plus live performances from Isaac Compton and Majeda Beatty. Crown Street, Surry Hills — Saturday, April 5 Finally, the beloved Crown Street in Surry Hills. For Sydney Streets, the stretch from Foveaux Street to Cleveland Street will host Surry's finest in community celebrations. Any Sydneysider is familiar with the offering of this famous road, so with the standout venues colliding with the excellent vibes of Sydney Streets from 11am to 10pm, it's set to be quite the Saturday. Classic venues line both sides of the street, but the specific offerings include Italian bites from Via Napoli, pop-up bars from Tucanos and Masala Theory and more. With that in mind, plus the guarantee of live music and entertainment, you can be sure it will be the big finale Sydney Streets deserves. Sydney Streets will be taking over several roads between Saturday, February 15 and Saturday, April 5. For more information, visit the website.
Few things will ever be better than seeing Mads Mikkelsen get day drunk and dance around while swigging champagne in an Oscar-winning movie, which is one fantastic film experience that 2021 has already delivered. But the always-watchable actor is equally magnetic and exceptional in Riders of Justice, a revenge-driven comedy that's all about tackling your problems in a different and far less boozy fashion. In both features, he plays the type of man unlikely to express his feelings. Instead of Another Round's mild-mannered teacher who's so comfortably settled into his adult life that his family barely acknowledges he's there, here he's a dedicated solider who's more often away than home. Beneath his close-cropped hair and steely, bristly beard, he's stern, sullen and stoic, not to mention hot-tempered when he does betray what's bubbling inside, and he outwardly expects the same of everyone around him. Mikkelson excels at transformational performances, however. He's also an exquisite anchor in films that dare to take risks. The aforementioned Another Round and Riders of Justice make a great double on his resume, in fact, and they're both bold and glorious in their own ways. In, Riders of Justice, Mikkelson's Markus isn't just the strong, silent type from the feature's first frame to its last. No matter what part he's playing, the Danish star is gifted at conveying subtlety, which is ideal for Markus' slow realisation that he needs to be more open with his emotions. And, while Mikkelson is usually expertly cast in most entries on his resume — the misfire that is Chaos Walking being one rare exception — he's especially in his element in this genre-defying, trope-unpacking, constantly complex and unpredictable film. With a name that sounds like one of the many by-the-numbers action flicks Liam Neeson has starred in since Taken, Riders of Justice initially appears as if it'll take its no-nonsense central figure to an obvious place, and yet this ambitious, astute and entertaining movie both does and doesn't. After a train explosion taints his life with tragedy and leaves him the sole parent to traumatised teenager Mathilde (Andrea Heick Gadeberg, Pagten), Markus returns home from Afghanistan. Talking is her method of coping, or would be if he'd let her; he refuses counselling for them both, and opts not to discuss the incident in general, because clamming up has always been his PTSD-afflicted modus operandi. Then statistician Otto (Nikolaj Lie Kaas, The Keeper of Lost Causes), his colleague Lennart (Lars Brygmann, The Professor and the Madman) and the computer-savvy Emmenthaler (Nicolas Bro, The Kingdom) arrive at the grieving family's door. They're a trio of stereotypically studious outsiders to his stony-faced military man, but they come uttering a theory. Mathematically, they don't think that the events surrounding the accident add up, so they're convinced it wasn't just a case of pure misfortune — because it's just so unlikely to have occurred otherwise. The nervy Otto, who was on the train with Mathilde and her mother Emma (Anne Birgitte Lind, The Protector), has even started to narrow down possible culprits with his pals. Markus, with his action-not-words mindset, is swiftly eager for retribution, but again, this isn't like most films of its ilk. Writer/director Anders Thomas Jensen (Men & Chicken) and screenwriter Nikolaj Arcel (A Royal Affair) do take the movie to its blatant next destination, yet never in the routine and formulaic sense. Narratives about seeking justice often ride the expected rails on autopilot, getting from start to finish on the standard vengeance template's inherent momentum; this one questions and subverts every usual cliche, convention and motif along the way. Its chief tactic: putting characters first. Jensen and Arcel don't just twist and turn a recognisable setup for the sake of it, but ground every change and choice in the personalities and backstories of their protagonists. Accordingly, Markus isn't just taciturn because that's the kind of figure that always stalks around reprisal-centric flicks, Otto and Lennart aren't merely booksmart geeky sidekicks eager for attention, and Emmenthaler is keenly aware of how the world sees him, not only because of his fondness for technology but also due to his weight. Riders of Justice doesn't add flesh to its characters to neatly explain away their decisions, either, diving into the myriad of factors that push and pull people in various directions without them even knowing it. The term 'emotional intelligence' might be so overused in self-help speak that it now feels largely meaningless, but it genuinely applies to this attentive and layered film. With calm and control, Jensen and Arcel also take a darkly comedic approach to Riders of Justice's storyline, as plenty goes wrong on their retaliatory quest. While that's where the movie's anarchic plot developments come in, and its witty dialogue as well, the film never jeopardises its investment in its characters' depth. In one case in point, the four men decide to hide their plans from Mathilde. Needing a cover, Otto and his friends claim to be counsellors dispatched to help after all. "I've had over 4000 hours of therapy," exclaims Lennart, who is quick to both embrace the ruse and spit out the appropriate terminology — and this scenario not only speaks volumes about him, but leads the feature to keep unpacking what that means. Indeed, this is a picture with a thoughtful and tender core, particularly when it comes to men facing their troubles. It's also shrewdly aware that that's what its chosen genre is always about amidst the overblown violence, and purposefully opts for a different alternative. Action, thrills and confrontations still lurk in Riders of Justice, of course. Blood and brutality do as well, as does a definite body count. But, although convincingly shot and staged, these scenes are never the picture's reason for being, or its point. Riders of Justice packages hilarity with its payback, understanding and empathy with its bullet-riddled affrays, and morality and ethics with its showdowns. It's set at the end of the year, too, so it also counts as a screwball Christmas movie — and it uses the visual references that come with that merry period to underscore its musings on togetherness, redemption, and valuing what really matters most. Another movie it'd make a stellar double with: the Nicolas Cage-starring Pig, because this year has been great for star-led revenge crusades that delight, surprise and ruminate on much, much more than getting even.
There's never a bad time for ice cream, the sweet treat fiend that lurks inside of us all often whispers. It's certainly one of the main thoughts running through your mind when you're heading to a gelato parlour at 9.30am on a Saturday morning. Of course, Gelato Messina isn't any old purveyor of frosty goodness — and their Gelato Appreciation Classes aren't any old excuse to eat dessert for breakfast or brunch. If you've ever stood in front of the counter at one of their 15 Australian stores — or their sole venture in Las Vegas — and wondered just which flavour you could possibly choose because they all look so delicious, then their Gelato Appreciation Class will be your idea of a damn good time and then some. In short, you can taste them all. Messina lets customers do that anyway, but no one really tries 40 or so types in one visit. After you've spent a morning finding out how the magic is made and eating the kinds of dishes they don't scoop up everyday, however, you'll feel compelled to sample every single variety on offer. When you sit down in the Messina classroom, as well as being greeted by your own Messina recipe book, you'll discover that there's more than 5000 flavours in their catalogue thanks to the ever-changing array of experimental specials that pop up each weekday. That's just one of the insider titbits Messina's chefs share over the two to two-and-a-half hour session. There's definitely more where that came from. On an autumn morning, a cosy room of 16 ice cream-loving folks sat in Brisbane's brand new Gelato Messina store in South Brisbane to watch and learn how fior di latte gelato, strawberry sorbet and the famous Dr Evil's Magic Mushroom cake are made — and try them all, and even more. Held as part of their array of events alongside hands-on gelato-making workshops and their seven-course Creative Department dinners, Messina pitch the classes as part degustation, part look behind the scenes, and it's a description that fits. At one moment, you'll be watching a Messina staffer make gelato and talk you through the process — and then you'll be scooping and devouring small bites of the fresh-churned goodness. The next, you'll be finding out that the machine in Messina's Sydney headquarters pumps out a massive one-and-a-half tonnes of gelato per hour, and your stomach will grumble on cue. Then, you'll be tucking into one of several desserts. Perhaps you'll get one that comes in a tuna-like tin, and features smoked brown butter gelato, milk chocolate namelaka (aka a Japanese ganache-like substance), compressed apple and flourless chocolate sponge, for example. Over a fun, relaxed session, you'll keep eating, listening and learning — and hearing amusing anecdotes, including one that involves their Fitzroy digs being mistaken for a nightclub thanks to its hefty line down Smith Street. Prepare for stories about Messina's new dairy farm, the ratio of air that's whipped into their gelato, and even their future plans. Indeed, if you're a big fan, that's almost as ace as all of the gelato you'll be munching on. And, as well as the recipe book and a Lister Messina tote, attendees get a takeaway pack stuffed with gelato to take home. Arrive hungry, but don't expect to leave that way. Gelato Messina hold their Gelato Appreciation Classes in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane throughout the year, with tickets available via their website. Bookings are now open for their first Brisbane sessions, which will be held on July 15, August 19 and September 23.
Winter ushers in the season of the truffle in NSW. These pungent subterranean treats are the king of fungi and, while their earthy flavour are suited to more sophisticated palates, hunting them out is a dirt-inviting affair your inner woodland child will adore. From June to August, Robertson Truffle Farm in the leafy Southern Highlands invites the public to pick up trowels and join the truffle harvest. After a truffle Q&A session, you'll follow the wise noses of the truffle dogs as they uncover the hidden bounties — some hide more than ten centimetres below the surface while others erupt dramatically from the red volcanic basalt soil.
The next time you watch two of Disney's best-loved animated hits, you won't be belting out "it's the circle of life" and "let it go" (or trying to resist the urge to sing along while sitting in a crowded cinema). When The Lion King Reo Maori and Frozen Reo Maori hit theatres in Australia and New Zealand in 2022, they'll still include everything that's made audiences adore both movies over the years — and both films will be dubbed in te reo Māori as well. The Mouse House has announced that it's creating and releasing new Māori-language versions of The Lion King and Frozen in conjunction with NZ company Matewa Media, after Moana Reo Māori proved a big hit. Producers Chelsea Winstanley (Jojo Rabbit) and Tweedie Waititi (Moana Reo Māori, Rūrangi) are behind the new releases, and have started work on giving the two Oscar-winning flicks a new voice. "It was always our dream to dub more Disney films that our tāmariki love into te reo Māori. We are extremely thrilled to continue this journey with The Walt Disney Company — it clearly demonstrates their commitment as a company to diversity and inclusion," said Winstanley. It might seem like a straightforward change, but the importance of giving audiences access to beloved tales in different languages — and, for New Zealanders, in the country's Indigenous language — really can't be underestimated. And, it's hardly common practice, but Moana and now The Lion King and Frozen are leading the charge. Viewers will be able to check out the results in June and September 2022, with The Lion King Reo Maori releasing first to commemorate Matariki (Māori New Year) and Frozen Reo Maori hitting cinemas around Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, Māori Language Week. Presumably, the films will also then head to Disney+ — which is where you can stream Moana Reo Māori right now. Trailers for The Lion King Reo Maori and Frozen Reo Maori don't yet exist, understandably, but you can check out a video for Moana Reo Māori below instead: The Lion King Reo Maori will hit cinemas in June 2022, and Frozen Reo Maori will follow in September 2022 — we'll update you with exact dates when they're announced.
Sydney Theatre Company’s Rough Drafts are regular components of the organisation’s program that provide a pressure-free opportunity for theatre practitioners to experiment with new ideas, collaborations and ways of creating theatre together. Rough Drafts are not solely focused on just developing scripts; their vision is to create theatre. Over a week-long creative development program, participants focus on the creation process rather than being preoccupied with the end product and as a result, failure is not only accepted but also encouraged. After all, in the immortal words of Johnny Cash “you build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone”. These stepping stones ultimately lead to an invitation for the public to enjoy a free, exclusive showing of the week’s development that gives audiences a rare chance to understand the intricacies of the creative process. The newest product to come forth from this theatrical experimentation is Rough Draft’s 20th piece, An Alphabet of Arousal. This brand new work by award-winning playwright Angus Cerini and STC Co-Resident Director Sarah Giles introduces us to returned soldier Charlie and explores how the post-traumatic impact of modern warfare affects relationships and how attempts at reconnection can lead to a downward spiral. Wharf 2 Theatre will provide the theatrical arena. Tickets are free, bookings are essential and can be done through the STC Box Office (02 9250 1777) or at sydneytheatre.com.au
Robert De Niro tries to inspire laughs, Zac Efron takes off his shirt and Aubrey Plaza fires off ample snark. They're the obvious parts of Dirty Grandpa — or, more accurately, the most obvious parts. There's little within the film's frames that could be called subtle or surprising, or appropriate or amusing for that matter. Given that the movie follows a randy, rowdy, rude and crude senior citizen and his straight-laced lawyer grandson, its lowest common denominator approach is hardly unexpected. What's more tiresome is the been-there, seen-that nature of it all. Audiences who have seen Bad Grandpa, Spring Breakers, The Hangover or any party flick will already be more than familiar with the tired material the movie trots out. When Dick Kelly (De Niro) is widowed and seemingly bereaved, he claims to needs his grandson Jason (Efron) to drive him down to Florida. Though Jason's wedding to the demanding Meredith (Julianne Hough) is mere days away, he reluctantly agrees. But once they're on the road, Dick reveals his true boozing and womanising plans. Along the way, the duo cross paths with Jason's former high school classmate Shadia (Zoey Deutch) and her pal Lenore (Plaza), aka new romantic prospects for both men. Yes, it's all as formulaic as it sounds — and yes, the gags are as well. Showcasing terrible male behaviour is the clear aim of the game, all in the name of apparent hilarity that never comes to fruition. Alas, there's little that's humorous about De Niro pleasuring himself, pairing up with Plaza or physically assaulting Efron's genitals, or about scenes of drinking and drug-taking that could've come from any similar offering. Director Dan Mazer may have co-scripted Ali G Indahouse, Borat and Brüno, and writer John Phillips might be helping pen the upcoming Bad Santa sequel, but neither man demonstrates the cleverness of those films in their work here. Instead, they craft the kind of visually shiny, emotionally soulless movie that trades in standard scenarios and stereotypes, attempts to shock just by being as outlandish as possible, and appears the result of very little effort. And yet, as lazy as the bulk of Dirty Grandpa proves, the same charge can't be levelled at De Niro. Swearing like he's in a Martin Scorsese film, he's as committed to his role as he has been in years, though he's firmly in over-the-top mode. The same can be said of Plaza, who furthers the movie's problematic portrayal of women, but still rattles off filthy chatter with relish. Efron, sadly, mostly just looks bored, clearly having had more fun impersonating De Niro in Bad Neighbours than he does acting opposite the real thing here. Viewers will likely share his pain, particularly when the feature tries to mix its taboo jokes with sentimental heart-to-hearts. There's a supposedly soft centre underneath Dirty Grandpa's vulgarity and music video aesthetics, but it's as ill conceived as everything else.
If you're unfamiliar with the little inner-city suburb sandwiched between Victoria and Prince Alfred Parks known as Chippendale, it will do you good to pay its streets, home to the once renowned Carlton & United Brewery, a visit. In particular you should find your way to the corner of Shepherd and Knox Streets and through the dangling PVC noise-cancelling sheets of the newly opened Knox Street Bar. An unassuming and fabulously dingy garage-type hang-out tucked down and behind speciality coffee cafe The House, Knox Street Bar began its journey over 18 months ago, built piece by piece from a fairly unforgiving space. According to owner and occasional chef Bjorn Godwin, however, this was a blessing in disguise, allowing the venue to evolve, influenced by the hard work and creativity of his individual team members. Youthful ingenuity helped develop this place into what it is today. It's there in the rainbow cocktail-deciding spinning wheel, in the bar-top balance scale allowing punters to contemplate the tough questions in life by leaving tips in one of two glasses (on our visit: Kanye West or herpes, what's better?), in the snare drum lights illuminating the separate function area and in the Chesty Bond-inspired fountain (sculpted by Godwin himself) that introduces a little connection between the two rooms. FYI, if you were wondering, herpes won. The talent behind the bar, however, is certainly mature. Our negroni (all classic cocktails $17) came swiftly delivered with its appropriately large hunk of ice, and when we decided to give into fate via a whirl of the wheel ($13 for whatever you land on), we were more than pleasantly surprised with the violet-infused Ginuwine Pony ($16) that takes a Hendricks gin martini to subtly sweeter heights. Another highlight drinks-wise is the on-tap ales ($8) and two ciders ($7) from Ironbridge Brewery, a Petersham venture choosing Knox Street as their first distributer. A cider-lover through and through, personally I couldn't get over the crisp flavour of both offerings, without all the unnecessary sweetness that seems to have become synonymous with this ye olde English apple thirst-quencher. As food goes, these guys are keeping it simple. We popped in on a Sunday after the first 'garage party' that offered pork sausage garage dogs or crinkle cut hot chips. Sadly by the time we arrived, we missed our chance to hop the dog — not entirely unsurprising when 100 hungry mouths were making noise earlier in the day — but the chips were good and came with some cracking aioli. In the future the plan is to collaborate with local food trucks and create an ever-changing menu of pop-up offerings. They're starting this week with the Veggie Patch van, who'll be doing a six-eight week residency every night except Sunday. And it's this collaboration and community spirit that really makes Knox Street Bar one to watch out for. According to Godwin, neighbours have already been invited in to ensure they feel at home with a bar next door. Let's just say, for a place that's been open only a couple of weeks, bustling away above an underground stream that once fed the aforementioned Chippendale-iconic booze factory, Knox Street Bar is already on its way to becoming a local institution.
To help brighten up your newsfeed a little, Sydney's Sea Life Aquarium is live-streaming playtime with its resident dugong, the adorably named Pig. Who, yes, likes to eat a lot. Pig was found and rescued as a baby dugong in north Queensland after he'd been separated from his family. While the aquarium tried to release him back into the wild, Pig washed up on shore (again) and they decided to keep him. He's now one of only two dugongs in human care, globally. At 10.45am AEDT on Friday, March 20, you can watch Pig splash around, play with toys and hang out and with his keepers Emma and Kerrie via Sea Life Aquarium's Facebook page. It's the feel-good content we need right now. Thankfully, this isn't the only live-stream the aquarium is planning. Keep an eye on future cute (and maybe slightly scary) content, including possible shark feedings, penguin hangs and tropical fish tours. [caption id="attachment_762120" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sea Life Sydney[/caption] Live Stream: Playtime with Pig the Dugong is taking place at 10.45am via Sea Life Aquarium's Facebook page.
This late-night haunt is among the best takeaway joints around and has garnered food-loving reverence from Sydneysiders everywhere. While Indian Home Diner serves up heaps of the cuisine's best-known dishes — including curries, tandoori bread and samosas — the go-to here is the Indian kebab. These are wrapped in plain or garlic naan, instead of the Lebanese bread you get in most local kebab shops. Choose from the classic, double chicken tikka, meat curry, veggie or jumbo garlic cheese varieties. Each comes topped with your choice of aloo chop (potato croquette) or onion bhaji. Yep, it's big, bold and you'll eat up every last bite. Image: Kimberley Low
A play about the first woman to be executed by electric chair, convicted for murdering her husband? It is no wonder the 1928 American hit Machinal is rarely staged in Australia. However, this is soon to change, when the Sydney Theatre Company launches a production of the controversial play. Written by playwright and journalist Sophie Treadwell, Machinal is said to be one of the peaks of expressionist theatre on the American stage. With the woman in question to be played by Harriet Dyer and her ill-fated husband by Brandon Burke, this play is set to be an intense exploration into the result of society's harsh expectations on women. Machinal is on at Wharf 2 from November 20 to December 7. Thanks to the Sydney Theatre, we have two double passes to the December 5 performance to give away. For your chance to win, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), and email win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
After sell-out shows in the UK, everyone's favourite Queen rock anthems are coming to Australia this September, with four candlelight gigs coming to Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. While British rock band Queen still performs occasionally (bar the iconic Freddie Mercury) under the name "Queen + Adam Lambert", you can now can experience the band's musical genius as they once were, thanks to The Concert by Candlelight series. Returning for its fourth year, the series will host a live rock band and a cast of singers all the way from London's West End, busting out the group's legendary tracks set against the backdrop of hundreds of flickering candles. For those on the east coast, Queen by Candlelight will kick things off at Darling Harbour Theatre at ICC Sydney at 7.30pm on Friday, September 12. The show will then take the stage at The Great Hall at Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on Tuesday, September 23, before making the journey west to the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday, September 26. The shows are one night only in each location. While it might not be the members of Queen themselves, with world-class singers and a live band taking to the stage to play iconic ballads like "Bohemian Rhapsody", "It's a Kind of Magic" and plenty more, it's the closest thing to the real deal you can get. So get in quick; we have a feeling these tickets aren't going to last long. Queen by Candlelight will be held in September in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. Performances start at 7.30pm. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website. Images: Supplied.
Tucked away off Crown Street is the former home and workplace of beloved Australian artist Brett Whiteley. The Art Gallery of NSW has managed it as a museum since 1995, preserving Whiteley’s presence through the natural clutter of unfinished paintings and equipment. They have also curated a series of exhibitions focusing on different facets of the artist’s oeuvre. Having spent his early years on Sydney’s leafy North Shore and attending boarding school in Bathurst, Whitely had a strong affinity with natural landscapes. From treacherous bushland to sparkling seascapes, he crafts a unique view of Australia’s moody countryside and its flora and fauna. There is a deep sensuality that marks Whiteley’s style. His characteristic use of line is pervasive, continually seen in rolling hills, tumbling waves and curvaceous rock formations. Although his work is rooted in an Australian identity, it also represents a montage of global influences, reminiscent of the extensive time Whiteley spent abroad. For example, there is a prominent Asian aesthetic of perspective that infiltrates his landscapes (he was captivated by Chinese and Japanese art and Japonism). Possessing one of the most distinctive painterly styles in Australian art, Brett Whitely: Nature presents another reflective homage to this iconic artist.
In 1999, Affordable Art Fair started in London with the aims of championing artistic talent and challenging the misconception that owning art was only for the uber-rich. Years later, the fair now takes place in ten cities around the world — and in 2022 it's coming to Sydney for the very first time with a four-day event at the Royal Randwick Racecourse from June 2–5, while also making a return to Melbourne from September 1–4. At the Sydney show, there will be 35 galleries from Australia and beyond displaying the best they have to offer, with no artwork priced over $10,000. You can browse, buy and spend a day strolling among works by emerging and established living artists, offering guests the chance to invest in something they love. Here are seven excellent galleries to check out at Affordable Art Fair Sydney. [caption id="attachment_854921" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brendan Kelly, 'Once Upon a Midden', 2021, acrylic and graphite on board, 120x120cm, image courtesy Brenda Colahan Fine Art[/caption] BRENDA COLAHAN FINE ART Headquartered in the lower North Shore enclave of Putney, Brenda Colahan Fine Art has been a Sydney leader in art valuation and advisory since the late 1990s. For Affordable Art Fair, the gallery is showcasing works from a diverse range of artists, from veteran abstract painter Margaret Builder to the beautiful abstract works of Pitjantjatjara artist Jorna Newberry and the textural, three-dimensional textile work of Denise Lithgow. Brenda Colahan herself remains the director of the company and her philosophy of art as a dynamic communication tool that should be accessible to all aligns perfectly with the ethos of the Affordable Art Fair. [caption id="attachment_854924" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brianna La Rance, 'The Castle, Stanza 7', print on Canson Edition etching paper, 60x90cm, image courtesy Harvey Galleries, Spencer and Lloyd Harvey[/caption] HARVEY GALLERIES Harvey Galleries has been a Northern Beaches cultural go-to for the better part of three decades. While in more recent times it's made a name for itself thanks to a dedicated Dr Seuss Gallery, there'll be no cat in the hat at the Affordable Art Fair – what you'll see instead is a taste of the dynamic and inventive styles that Harvey Galleries love to shine a light on. Already this year the gallery has hosted exhibitions on beachscapes, pop art and bush paintings, so in this varied and thought-provoking collection art shoppers should be able to unearth a piece they love. [caption id="attachment_854927" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sketch Collective[/caption] SKETCH COLLECTIVE Creativity has always been at the heart of boutique marketing studio Sketch Collective, founded in 2019 by Caroline Heslop. So much so that earlier this year the Surry Hills-based agency opened its very own gallery. The team is committed to supporting and promoting local art while also keeping prices relatively low, with every piece at Sketch under $5,000. Sketch also knows that we're not all art aficionados so the website features an 'In Situ' tool that creates a rendering to let you visualise any piece from the range in any room in your own home. Sketch may not be an established name in the art world just yet, but already its track record says it's one to keep an eye on. [caption id="attachment_855031" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leonie McIntosh, 'KitKat', 2022, oil on canvas, 50x40cm, image courtesy The Toowoomba Gallery[/caption] THE TOOWOOMBA GALLERY Formed by two friends with a love of interior design who met on an agricultural technology tour in Amsterdam (no, really), The Toowoomba Gallery will be making the trip south with a number of outstanding pieces for Affordable Art Fair. You can view the work of Leonie McIntosh, whose hyper-realistic oil paintings of Australian chocolate and lollies are somehow more appetising than the real thing. Or perhaps you'd like an Emily Day hanging on your wall — her loose brush technique builds stunning layers of detail that create immersive floral experiences. And those two are just the beginning of the impressively diverse Australian selection. [caption id="attachment_854937" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tarisse King, 'Earth Cycles', 2022, 180x120cm, image courtesy Kate Owen Gallery[/caption] KATE OWEN GALLERY Specialising in contemporary Aboriginal art, Kate Owen Gallery is based in Rozelle in Sydney's Inner West but also has its own studio in Alice Springs dedicated to sourcing the best pieces from the Central and Western deserts directly from artists. If you buy a Kate Owen Gallery piece, not only do you have something beautiful to display but you'll also have an artwork that is deeply connected to the rich culture and history of the Indigenous community. [caption id="attachment_854938" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Go Suga, 'Snake in the Grass', acrylic on canvas, 122x122cm, image courtesy Anala Art Advisory[/caption] ANALA ART ADVISORY Anala Art Advisory's website states it has sold over 4,500 individual paintings which is pretty impressive. A service committed to curation, matching art with art appreciators and helping people start their collections, Anala Art Advisory firmly believes art is there to be enjoyed. Its roster of creators includes not just painters but also conceptual artists, sculptors and art historians, and the staff's keen eye matched with superb market knowledge means you'll get a great deal as well as a wonderful piece to own and treasure for many years. [caption id="attachment_854939" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Antionette Ferwerda[/caption] ANTOINETTE FERWERDA Artist Antoinette Ferwerda lives in Melbourne but her work is influenced by her experiences travelling and living in Europe, Darwin and Papua New Guinea. A veteran of a previous Affordable Art Fair (New York's 2019 iteration), Ferwerda is renowned for her colourful style which combines geometric and abstract forms to make striking, large-format contemporary pieces. Inspired by shape, light and the best quality materials, Ferwerda also creates bespoke commissions for commercial ventures and private collectors, so it's something of a coup to access a selection of her pieces at this year's Affordable Art Fair. Affordable Art Fair Sydney takes place at Royal Randwick Racecourse from June 2–5. For more info and to purchase tickets, head to the website.
Hola, amigos! It's that time again: The Hola Mexico Film Festival hits Sydney next month at the Chauvel Cinema. But this year's festival comes with a twist. Included in its program will be the Hola Sol Festival Cantina, a pop-up bar that will transport you to the heart and soul of Central America. Who doesn't love an excuse to don a novelty moustache and/or sombrero, or have a reason to drink tequila? Sydney's newest drink spot is sure to have people from all over releasing their inner Mexican. And with this year's festival program bigger and better than ever, Sydneysiders are sure to work up a thirst. In one explosive week, the bar will feature live music from the likes of Gang of Brothers, Baerfrens and Spanish duo Kallidad, art displays, free workshops and festival talks. Have your face intricately painted (think Day of the Dead style) on opening and closing night, check out the retro poster exhibition on the 'Golden Age of Mexican Cinema' or join in a Mexican-themed craft workshop — a chance to make your own floral headpiece or hand-painted cactus. Whether you're there to see a film or just feel like a sneaky Sol and lime before you hit the town, Sol Cantina will be a fusion of filmic passion, Mexican culture and all-round good times. Sol Festival Cantina kicks off on Wednesday, 27 November, and will be open everyday for the film festival week, from 6pm to 11pm weekdays and from 2pm to 11pm over the weekend. And with anticipation for the pop-up quickly rising, there is already talk of taking the Festival Cantina to other cities, nationwide. The Chauvel is at the corner of Oxford Street and Oatley Road, Paddington.
It's a risky and even cheeky move, packaging a film with a song that could be used to describe it. Thankfully, in the case of 2014's The Lego Movie and its instant earworm track, everything was indeed awesome. The animated flick's long-awaited sequel offers another self-assessment in closing credits tune 'Super Cool', however the description doesn't fit this time around. Nor do the words unbelievable, outrageous, amazing, phenomenal, fantastic and incredible, further praise sung by Beck, the Lonely Island and Robyn in the catchy and amusing song. Instead, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part is fine, standard, okay and average. Of course, those words don't have the same ring to them, even if they were set to a thumping beat. The Lego Movie left its successors with big shoes to fill — or big bricks to emulate, to be more accurate — and this direct follow-up does so in an entertaining enough but never especially inventive or enthralling fashion. Call it a case of trying to build the same thing with different pieces. Call it constructing a masterpiece and then falling short with the next attempt. Call it a case of sticking too closely to the instructions again and again. Whichever one you choose, they all fit like rectangular plastic pieces stacked neatly on top of each other. You could also call it a case of following Emmet Brickowski's (Chris Pratt) lead, with the mini-figure's fondness for routine already well established in the first movie. He's so comfortable doing the same thing day in, day out that he's even happy to keep doing so in the new dystopian version of his hometown, Bricksburg. He knows that much has changed since alien invaders made from bigger blocks descended from the heavens. His brooding best friend Lucy (Elizabeth Banks) also reminds him all the time. But it isn't until General Sweet Mayhem (Stephanie Beatriz) arrives, bearing an invite from the Systar system's Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi (Tiffany Haddish) and sweeping Lucy, Batman (Will Arnett), Benny (Charlie Day), MetalBeard (Nick Offerman) and Unikitty (Alison Brie) away, that Emmet abandons his blissful monotony and springs into action. Viewers of the initial flick, The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie will remember two important aspects of the Lego Movie Universe. Firstly, mile-a-minute jokes and pop culture references are as much a part of the franchise as multicoloured bricks. Secondly, more often than not, the series' animated tales tie into a real-world scenario. While original directors Chris Lord and Phil Miller have handed over the reigns to Trolls filmmaker Mike Mitchell, their humour still bounces through in the movie's fast-paced script. And while The Lego Movie's big twist — that the whole story stemmed from kids simply playing with the titular toys — is old news now, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part builds upon this idea. Once again, the film spends time with now-teenager Finn (Jadon Sand), who's still far from pleased that his younger sister Bianca (Brooklynn Prince) likes Lego as well. Cue The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part's troubles. Lightning rarely strikes twice, after all. The film serves up enough funny gags to keep audiences chuckling, throws in more than a few ace cameos and has the same infectious, anarchic vibe, but it was never going to feel as fresh. It also benefits from a fantastic overall message, but doesn't give it enough emphasis until late in the show. After pondering the divide between rules and creativity in the first picture, the franchise now contemplates collaboration, sharing and the gendering applied to playthings, roles and fandom. That's both smart and relevant, yet here feels underdone. Basically, anything new comes second to everything that's been done before, resulting in the most superfluous kind of sequel. This follow-up is happier rehashing its predecessor's glory days than channelling the ingenuity that made the original so charming. Of course, if The Lego Movie hadn't been such a vibrant, witty delight, then The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part wouldn't feel so familiar. An adequate addition to the series, it still contains plenty to distinguish it from other all-ages animated fare — including an eye-catching and distinctive animation style, enjoyable skewering of Pratt's many non-Lego characters, and Noel Fielding as a sparkly Twilight-esque vampire. But, five years on, viewers are now in the same situation as Lucy: ready to embrace a challenge, rather than falling back on comfortable old habits. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvHSlHhh1gk
