Jessica Nicholas
Jessica Nicholas is an arts and music writer, specialising in contemporary jazz and world music.
Crowded House came to Melbourne and the whole night was wonderfully uncool
The iconic band’s performance at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday night was a family affair – and a poignant and potent mix of old and new.
- by Will Cox, Tony Way, Cameron Woodhead and Jessica Nicholas
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You don’t often see a performer of this calibre slumming it down an alleyway
Mike McLeish’s solo show, Pensive Like a Fox, is a charming and offbeat cabaret filled with off-the-wall tangents and genuine poignancy.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Tony Way, Kosa Monteith and Jessica Nicholas
Gangsters and toy koalas: This unknotting of a sibling relationship is oddly affecting
A portrait of a dysfunctional family loving each other in the ways they know best, Golden Blood is a story of yearning and ambition.
- by Sonia Nair, Barney Zwartz, Michael Dwyer, Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen and Jessica Nicholas
Helen Garner says this is the best thing she’s written. But does it work as an opera?
With a theme leaning so heavily on music, it’s not a surprise The Children’s Bach was adapted into an opera – but does it keep its magic when taken off the page?
- by Vyshnavee Wijekumar, Bridget Davies, Andrew Fuhrmann, Tony Way, Jessica Nicholas and Barney Zwartz
Any fan of Oscar Wilde should enjoy this salacious twist on his masterpiece
This take on The Importance of Being Earnest isn’t just terrific fun, it’s tethered to a deep appreciation of the interplay between Wilde’s biography and his art.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Jessica Nicholas and Andrew Fuhrmann
Lady Macbeth deserves a better fate. Does this play offer that chance?
Horrors both supernatural and human abound in this creative and provocative re-working of The Scottish Play.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Barney Zwartz, Andrew Fuhrmann, Vyshnavee Wijekumar, Michael Dwyer, Jessica Nicholas and Tony Way
It might be a tale as old as time, but this musical is pure delight
Musical theatre lovers with fond memories of seeing Beauty and the Beast as children will find them refreshed in this production (and kids will love it too).
- by Cameron Woodhead, Tony Way and Jessica Nicholas
A Beatle urged him to stick with tabla. Now he’s the top living player
This year alone Zakir Hussain has taken home three Grammys and appeared in a Dev Patel film – now he’s heading to Australia.
- by Jessica Nicholas
This play about Julia Gillard will hold your attention, regardless of your politics
It’s worth seeing this show just to watch Justine Clarke transform into Gillard and, in a thrilling display, deliver the misogyny speech in full.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Andrew Fuhrmann and Jessica Nicholas
Stellar performances (almost) make up for soulless venue: Tosca
Opera Australia staging of Puccini’s opera at Margaret Court Arena mostly paid off, plus New Zealand jazz pianist Jonathan Crayford hits Melbourne.
- by Bridget Davies and Jessica Nicholas
An amusing take on the perils of living in a share house - in your 30s
Share-housing in your thirties is so in right now, Jude Perl has created a musical about it.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Barney Zwartz, Cameron Woodhead, Jessica Nicholas, Tony Way and Vyshnavee Wijekumar
Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/by/jessica-nicholas-p5377t