Across The Aisle

In this episode, Carla and Philip review Fraught Outfit's "The Book of Exodus, Part I" at Theatre Works; and Malthouse Theatre's "Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again." Both of these productions spark talk about identity, representation and dressing up. There is also a scandalous Secret Intermission in which one of us gets reviewed!

Special Guest Lisa Dempster joins Carla and Philip to discuss two productions: Lara Kramer's "Native Girl Syndrome" at Yirramboi - First Nations Arts Festival; and Katy Warner's "Spencer" produced by Lab Kelpie at Chapel off Chapel.

This month the gang visit with Joan of Arc through The Rabble's theatrical invocation of the saint. Then they are back at 45 Downstairs to have a tour of the Cascades Female Factory in This is Eden. The team discuss the feminist art moment of Handmaid's Tale, Joan, This is Eden and Hannah Gadsby's Nannette converging on the same fortnight.

Carla and Philip head onto a bus and explore Docklands in the compelling and site specific piece Passenger, presented by Women of the World Festival and Footscray Arts Centre. They then head over to sit in line at The Arts Centre for Tix and Six and get to see The Australian Ballet's contemporary program Faster.

In this episode, Carla and Philip see something very familiar at the Malthouse [The Homosexuals, or Faggots] and something much less familiar at La Mama Courthouse [The Age of Bones, part of AsiaTOPA]. Profundity ensues.

A special episode at Melbourne's 30th Midsumma Festival. Carla and Philip take in two shows from this celebration of queer culture: I Am My Own Wife and The Happy Prince. At intermission, they banter about Hobart's MONA FOMA and the Golden Gaytime Crumb Shed. Happy Midsumma!

Philip and Carla and joined by special guest Julien to discuss Nicola Gunn's latest production "The Interpreters" at the Alliance Française. Then they see "Hot Brown Honey" at Arts Centre Melbourne. At intermission they discuss Susie Dee's "Animal" at Theatre Works as well as their latest TV obsessions.

In this episode, a pair of local explorations of Australian culture and identity: Nakkiah Lui's "Blaque Showgirls" at Malthouse Theatre and David Joseph's "Deceptive Threads" at 45 Downstairs. Also ACMI, Arrival, Messiah, hay fever and robbing banks!

In this Melbourne Festival episode, Carla and Philip take in Back to Back Theatre's "Lady Eats Apple" at Hamer Hall and Gob Squad's "War and Peace" at the Malthouse. Plus intermission banter about other Festival experiences. What does the Festival feel like under its new Artistic Director?

Carla returns and the gang goes to MTC's Lilith: The Jungle Girl and Two Dogs - presented by Melbourne International Arts Festival. Intermission banter is a long time coming catch up, coming soon discusses the NGV and Melbourne International Arts Festival.

In this special episode we discuss Neon Sarcophagus with the works creator Katie Sfetkidis. Neon Sarcophagus was one of the works experienced by Carla and Philip at the recent FOLA event Hotel Obscura. Across the Aisle gets the perspective from a performer in Hotel Obscura, what it was like on the other side of that hotel door - was it as nerve wracking for them?

In this episode, Philip and special guest Dion Kagan discuss two adaptations of classic texts: The Mill On The Floss at Theatre Works and Edward II at Malthouse Theatre; plus, at intermission, theatre at the cinema and the "bath of humanity" that is MIFF.

In this special edition of the podcast, Philip and Carla go their separate ways to experience boutique one-on-one immersive theatre in Hotel Obscura by Triage Live Art Collective. Will they make it through Incursion, Elegy and Neon Sarcophagus to The Vinyl Lounge?

Carla and Philip are joined by a special guest to celebrate their twelfth episode. Reviews of 'The Glass Menagerie' [Belvoir] and 'In The Bleak Midwinter' [The Rabble] are interspersed with hot tips about MIFF, the Australian Ballet and mini-golf.

Carla and Philip discuss Young Jean Lee's Straight White Men at the MTC; then they travel Southside to encounter the joyous Bright World at Theatreworks.

Philip and Carla are joined in the studio by Dion Kagan, Across the Aisle's first ever special guest! The trio discusses Boutique Theatre's double bill of new Australian works: Matthew Sini's "Madame Bast" and Samantha Cunningham's "Don't Tell the Women"; then they debrief the latest production of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" by Bell Shakespeare.

Carla and Philip go to North Melbourne Town Hall for the Festival of Live Art's "Town Hall Ticket," and also Her Majesty's Theatre for the Australian musical "Georgy Girl."

Philip and Carla talk about Art Centre Melbourne's reboot of Melbourne Theatre Company's "North by Northwest," then Malthouse Theatre's production of "Picnic at Hanging Rock." Plus, at intermission, the Netflix series "Love" and this year's (terrible) White Night.

Philip and Carla discuss "Elegy" at Gasworks Arts Park for Midsumma, then dive deep with Meow Meow's "The Little Mermaid". At intermission there is much discussion about Our Cate, both the ACMI exhibition and Carol.

Philip and Carla discuss "The Medea Project" at Brunswick Art Space, then give a preview of the 2016 seasons of several Melbourne theatre companies.