Recent ABR Arts reviews:

• Slaughterhouse Five (MUST and Theatre Works) ★★
• Hydra (State Theatre Company and Queensland Theatre) ★★★
• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Sydney Theatre Company) ★★1/2
• All Is True ★★1/2
• Così (Melbourne Theatre Company) ★★★1/2
• 1985 ★★★★

Giveaways

• Two double passes to Nicholas Carter Conducts ANAM Orchestra performances of Beethoven and Bruckner, Friday 24 May at Melbourne Recital Centre
• Ten double passes to Red Joan, starring Judi Dench and directed by Trevor Nunn
• Ten double passes to Long Shot, starring Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron

See below for details about how to win the free tickets.

Coming up in ABR Arts?

There’s plenty of quality reviews ahead in ABR Arts: 
• Alex Thom reviews White Pearl (Royal Court)
• Anwen Crawford reviews Little Woods (Neon)
• Patrick Boyle reviews Rocketman (Paramount)

Bill Henson + Sydney Art Quartet

Bill Henson untitled, 2017–2018, archival inkjet pigment print, 127 x 180 cm ED 4 (photograph courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery)

How fitting that the great Australian photographer Bill Henson – who has a new exhibition at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery – should collaborate with the Sydney Art Quartet for two concerts within the exhibition. Henson is one of Australia’s most musically sophisticated artists. The concerts, described as ‘an evocative, dreamlike response to Henson’s latest work’, will be ‘steeped in references to classical civilisations, baroque art, and an ethereal dream-like sensibility’.

There are two concerts: May 22 and 23. The exhibition itself opens on May 17 and runs until June 8.

For bookings and further information, please visit the Sydney Art Quartet website.

Nicholas Carter conducts ANAM

Australian conductor Nicholas Carter, the Principal Conductor of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the newly appointed Chief Conductor of the Stadttheater Klagenfurt and the Kärtner Sinfonieorchester in Australia, has rapidly emerged as one of Australia’s finest young musicians, with a growing international career.

He returns to Melbourne on May 24 to conduct the ANAM Orchestra – a brace of mighty Fourths: Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony and Bruckner’s Romantic Symphony.

ANAM Artistic Director Nick Deutsch has spoken of the orchestra’s special connection with Maestro Carter: ‘He brings an incredible dose of energy, insight and inspiration to every rehearsal and concert.’

Giveaways: ABR is delighted to be able to offer two double passes to Nicholas Carter Conducts ANAM Orchestra performances of Beethoven and Bruckner. See below for details on how to enter. 

2019 Archibald Prize finalists nominated

'Through the Looking Glass' by Tessa MacKay (photograph via Art Gallery of NSW)

The finalists for the 2019 Archibald Prize have been announced. Ahead of the final announcements on May 10, first-time finalist Tessa MacKay has won the preliminary Packing Room Prize for her portrait of David Wenham. Fifty-one finalists have made the final round for the $100,000 Prize, with works including portraits of Leigh Sales, Benjamin Law, Li Cunxin, Nakkiah Lui, and Faustina Agolley.

The Archibald Prize finalists and winner will be on display at the Art Galley of New South Wales from May 11. For more information, visit the Archibald Prize website.

Boys Swallows Universe wins big at ABI Awards

Brisbane journalist Trent Dalton has swept the Australian Book Industry Awards with his début novel, Boy Swallows Universe. It is the first time a single book has taken out all major ABI Awards. The saga, inspired by the author’s own childhood, won the coveted Book of the Year, as well as the Literary Book of the Year, the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year, and Audio Book of the Year. Other notable wins include Behrouz Boochani’s No Friend But the Mountains for the General Non-fiction Book of the Year, Bri Lee’s Eggshell Skull for the Biography of the Year, and Andrew Greer’s Less for International Book of the Year.

For more information on the ABI Awards, visit their website.

SBS launches free-to-air movie channel 

From June 1, SBS will unveil a free-to-air, high-definition movie channel, SBS World Movies. The channel screen a diverse range of films from around the world, and will make over 700 films freely available per year. SBS World Movies will also feature specially curated seasons to complement world cultural events, such as Mardi Gras or International Women's Day.  

Giveaways!

Nicholas Carter Conducts ANAM Orchestra

Thanks to ANAM Orchestra, two new or renewing subscribers will win a double pass to Nicholas Carter Conducts ANAM Orchestra performances of Beethoven and Bruckner.

Red Joan

Thanks to Transmission Films, ten new or renewing subscribers will win a double pass to Red Joan, starring Judi Dench and (in cinemas June 6)

Long Shot

Thanks to Ned & Co, ten new or renewing subscribers will win a double pass to Long Shot, starring Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron (in cinemas now).

How to enter: To be in the running please email Grace Chang at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your full name and contact details. Preference is given to subscribers who have not received a giveaway in recent months. To be eligible for these giveaways, you must be a current or new paid subscriber to the print edition of ABR or to ABR Online.