Dracula

Dracula

Shake & Stir Theater Company

27th August 2015

Last night 'Dracula', a faithful staging of Bram Stoker's story created by shake & stir theatre co was so much fun. If you have time you should grab a ticket to this sensational production. Firstly the set is phenomenal with a constantly spinning staircase evoking mountains, castles, dungeons, trains, asylum cells english great houses etc in rapid fire precision with the most evocative lighting from local genius Jason Glenwright. Snap reveals, shocks, creepy appearances, light streaming through the mist from gothic windows etc. it must have been a hoot to create. This was backed up by the powerful, dramatic sound and composition of Guy Webster which was also full on and also so stunningly coordinated with the affects of light and stage magic like exploding paper. This is pure Victorian Melodrama played with familiarity. Forget the modern TV vampire this is a creepy, shock filled blood sucker played to perfection both physically and vocally by Nicholas Skubij who looked every bit the horrific Nosferatu and the cool leather clad seducer. It involved the audience in laughter, squeals and so often I head mutterings of 'Don't go there!' 'Watch Out!' from people around me of all ages. This is true engagement. Of course the cast are unconditionally gorgeous and this is accentuated by the beautiful, elegant and stylish costumes created by that wonder boy magician with cloth Leigh Alexander Buchanan. God he makes people look good. The boys Tim Dashwood and Ross Balbuziente so reminded me of the naive pair from Wild's Importance of Being Ernest, transplanted into a drama. Innocents with hardly a clue. They are not heros as they blunder along being overwhelmed by the nasty forces of foreign evils. They do manage some carnage, but only under the manipulation of that self absorbed nutter Van Helsing. Shake and Stir who spend so much time bringing that spark of theatre to schools throughout the year certainly know how to be theatrical and create such visual treats on the main stage. 

Shake &Stir Facebook page 
 https://www.facebook.com/shakeandstir?fref=ts

Adaptors Nelle Lee & Nick Skubij

Director Michael Futcher

Costume Designer Leigh Buchanan

Set Designer Josh McIntosh

Lighting Designer Jason Glenwright

Sound Designer Guy Webster

Fight Director Nigel Poulton

Featuring

Ross Balbuziente, Tim Dashwood, Nelle Lee, Ashlee Lollback, Nick Skubij,

David Whitney

Black Diggers

Black Diggers

9th October 2014

Black Diggers. was sensational. Last night was greeted with a huge cheering, a standing ovation of which I was a noisy part. This show is an historic tribute to the indigenous volunteers, some of whom were but underage teenagers who fought in the Australian army for a foreign country when they were not even recognised as citizens in their own land. It covers the first and second World Wars and beyond, the soldiers, their comrades, their enemy and their families. Some of the finest actors in Australia portrayed a huge array of characters in various accents and stories that either had you laughing or crying. (even the hard hearted who never cry at theatre). Everyone was blown away by the power of this brilliantly written and directed play. This original work premiered at the Sydney Festival in January to a house full of Governors etc. and has come home to Brisbane. Next year it will have a country wide tour from March to May including capital and regional cities.This I believe will become a classic of Australian theatre. I was so thrilled to watch some of my fb friends whose careers are exciting to follow like Hunter Page-Lochard, Eliah Watego and Tibian Christopha Wyles along with the so evocative lighting of the master of bulbs Ben Hughes. I also have to mention the astounding acting and voice of the multi talented David Page who is a true treasure. Really the entire cast were amazing, but I only mentioned those I have a slight connection with. 

Leigh Buchanan

The Devil Wears Leigh Buchanan
13th December 2014
So popular is Leigh that the audience were screaming and stomping before he even ventured onto the stage.

Leigh has become a lovely friend and I recently saw him at A Country Song and at many other shows. He has become responsible for some of the most elegant and beautiful costumes for plays in Brisbane and manages to make our actors look spectacularly beautiful.

He is a story teller, a sharp tongued socialite and a singer and his reminisces of growing up here are hysterical, poignant and just entertaining. I was lucky to see the lovely Thomas Larkin in the audience and get a hug and also Troy Armstrong who produced the show as well as super dancer Gabriel Commerford and singer Luke Kennedy. A veritable who's who of local entertainers coming to see Leigh shine so brightly. I came out for a drink and ran into the stars of Briefs whom I had just seen the previous evening. More hugs and a fantastic night.

https://www.facebook.com/leigh.buchanan

Leigh Buchanan is known to all Australia since his show stealing appearance on Project Runway and he uses those talents to create not only fashion but glorious costumes for so many theatre production in Brisbane. He dresses international stars and performers alike. And he is a gorgeous man to know.