THE DOUBLE is a cyber-gothic play influenced by the dark myths and grim fairy tales of Germany. Scriptwriter and director Clare Testoni says she was inspired to write the play while doing a course in shadow puppetry in Germany. “What I found looking at these old stories of sold souls, shadows and doppelgangers was the…

A FEW decades ago there were cinemas in most suburbs and you could walk down the street to watch Jaws or E.T. But the Internet and huge wide-screen TV’s have seen local cinemas go down the gurgler, and now you have to  drive to a soulless multiplex, attached to some soulless shopping mall, to watch…

I WAS stunned to discover that local standup Nicola Macri will be one of only six females performing at this year’s Perth Comedy Festival, while at least 35 blokes will take to the stage. “God, is that true? That’s shocking to me,” Macri told the Voice. “Regardless of this, the fact that women are underrepresented in…

WHILE Hollywood takes its time to get their adaptation of Batgirl off the ground, two local filmmakers have shot their own fan film about the Dark Knightess in Perth. Written and directed by Chloe Brown, who recently starred in Kriv Stenders’ Red Dog: True Blue, and award-winning short filmmaker Matthew W Reynolds, the gritty Batgirl Returns…

PERTH is busy fostering new musical talent and Noah Dillon sits somewhere towards the front. Following the blessing of Triple J last year, the 21-year-old singer songwriter has enjoyed some serious airplay, beguiling audiences with his cosmic tones and catchy pop melodies. Dillon is an emotional lyricist and performer: hugging his guitar as he sings…

ODETTE’S music has been described as noir beat poetry and her songs have a haunting, mesmerising quality. She’s back in Perth next month as part of her national Lotus Eater tour. The 21-year-old has barely paused for breath after returning from a whirlwind tour that took in London, Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam and Geneva. “And the…

Previously a circus clown and fire-eater, Rory McLeod is now a one-man soul band, poet and storyteller, singing his own unique upbeat dance stories. A modern travelling troubadour using tap shoes, a cappella, harmonica, guitar, trombone, spoons, finger cymbals, bandorea, djembe and various other percussion instruments. Based in Britain, having travelled the globe, from Asia…

THE Perth Symphony Orchestra is set to break records in an all-female show at the Astor Theatre next month. Girls Night Out will feature the orchestra and guest singers belting out modern classics by Beyoncé, Tina Turner, Madonna, Adele, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone and Dolly Parton. It could be the first time an all-female orchestra…

ALL-GIRL Perth band The Tommyhawks will launch their debut album Underground Raptor next month. After five years travelling the country in a camper van, sleeping two-to-a-bed, the four musos are in perfect harmony and have forged a reputation for music with pumping beats and meaningful lyrics. It all started when Fremantle local Addison Axe was…