As arts editor of Beat, I went to over 100 shows this year (tough gig, I know). Below is a very short list covering the shows I adored most. Honourable mentions to the shows I couldn’t fit in my schedule (a guy’s gotta sleep sometime) but have heard nothing but good things about from my peers: Red Stitch’s Dead Centre, Melbourne Theatre Company’s North By Northwest (coming back for an encore season next month), Art House’s Oedipus Schmoedipus, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Beethoven: The 1808 Vienna Concert, Malthouse Theatre’s Time Share, Dee & Cornelius’ SHIT, Chunky Move’s Miss Universal, and, oh man, I could go on for days. We in the arts world are damn spoiled in Melbourne.
10. The Weir
One sentence review: Valerie’s monologue is one of the most poignant in modern theatre, Nadine Garner did it justice.
By: Melbourne Theatre Company
Venue: Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio
9. Frame of Mind
One sentence review: A superbly executed double bill from choreographic talents William Forsythe and Rafael Bonachela, showing once again why SDC is a national treasure.
By: Sydney Dance Company
Venue: Southbank Theatre, The Sumner
8. Yuja Wang
One sentence review: There is simply no contemporary pianist who can deliver Prokfiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2 as dynamically as Wang.
With: Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Venue: Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall
7. Bronx Gothic
One sentence review: A theatrical bildungsroman as physically and emotionally taxing as coming of age itself.
By: Okwui Okpokwasili
Venue: Arts House
As part of: Melbourne Festival
6. Last Work
One sentence review: Pure physical beauty from one of the world’s most ground-breaking dance companies.
By: Batsheva Dance Company
Venue: Arts Centre Melbourne, State Theatre
As part of: Melbourne Festival
5. Sleeping Beauty
One sentence review: David McAllister delivered lavish beauty, his standing ovation 14 years in the making.
By: The Australian Ballet
Venue: Arts Centre Melbourne, State Theatre
4. Polyphony
One sentence review: One of the world’s most eccentric comedians completely nails his most audacious endeavour to date.
By: Daniel Kitson
Venue: Darebin Town Hall
As part of: Melbourne International Comedy Festival
3. Don Carlos
One sentence review: The grandest of grand opera, Verdi’s masterwork was brought to life in a flawless production (the auto-da-fe of heretics scene, my lord).
By: Opera Australia
Venue: Arts Centre Melbourne, State Theatre
2. 20:21
One sentence review: Contemporary ballet at its finest – Filigree and Shadow blew minds.
By: The Australian Ballet
Venue: Arts Centre Melbourne, State Theatre
1. 32 rue Vandenbranden
One sentence review: Hands down, of any genre, one of the best shows I’ve seen in my lifetime – the domestic violence scene is one of the most confronting things you’ll ever see in a theatre.
By: Peeping Tom
Venue: Southbank Theatre, The Sumner
As part of: Melbourne Festival