Kerry McGovern

Contributor at Westender

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Articles

The New Lord Stanley – ready to re-open on May 9th - Westender

2 weeks ago | westender.com.au | Kerry McGovern

“The Lord Stanley” is due to open again on 9th May. About twenty-two pubs (as opposed to places of accommodation) serve 82,000 people along the corridor from West End to Coorparoo. The “Lord Stanley” on the corner of Didsbury and Stanley Street East in East Brisbane is one of them. It is undergoing a $15 million refurbishment. “It’ll probably take twenty years to recoup our investment, but I’m proud of this hotel”, said Albert Hakfoort as he showed me around the building site this morning.
The QSO continues to delight: “Skyfall” and “Harry Potter” soundtracks

2 weeks ago | westender.com.au | Kerry McGovern

Saturday April 5. The QSO is playing the soundtrack to films at the Brisbane Convention Centre. Almost 2000 people attended last night’s performance of the Bond movie “Skyfall”. Tonight, the QSO switches to play live the soundtrack to “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”. Initially, I thought we’d be listening to the soundtrack. I’d not seen the Bond film, so I was unsure if Adele’s theme music and Newman’s soundtrack alone would resonate with me. How wrong I was.
Calamity Jane tears up the stage – Yee-haa on steroids - Westender

4 weeks ago | westender.com.au | Kerry McGovern

“Calamity Jane” provides rip-roaring, laugh-out-loud, stamp-the-floor fun with a smidgen of social commentary, in-house jokes, and songs aplenty—just what we need in these “interesting times.”It’s old-fashioned fun that reminded me of regional Queensland local Arts productions, where everyone (cast and audience) knows everyone and can add a few in-house jokes to spice up the plot. You have to be quick to catch her allusions.
Macbeth at La Boite, draws the line on men’s history

1 month ago | westender.com.au | Kerry McGovern

You will never again see the Scottish play interpreted this way. Intended to open on International Women’s Day, it found its audience. Seventy percent of the delayed opening night audience was women. Before us, the witches told the story from the beginning to the emphatic end. Enough to the patriarchy. Enough to women seeing clearly where ambitions will end and stepping back and saying nothing. Enough to participating in the blood letting that men like to inflict.
Circa’s extraordinary dance enlivens QSO’s The Rite of Spring

2 months ago | westender.com.au | Kerry McGovern

The Queensland Symphony Orchestra is turning into a world class orchestra, under the baton of Umberto Clerici. Last week they played Abassi, Brophy and Mozart. This week it is Debussy, Respighi and Stravinsky. The audience raised the roof with appreciation for Circa’s extraordinary dance / circus in front of the full orchestra playing “The Rite of Spring”. There’s an engagement happening between the QSO and Brisbane audiences.
West End has its own Orchestra – Get there and claim it - Westender

2 months ago | westender.com.au | Kerry McGovern

Do you want to dance? Cry? Scream out loud at the way the world is heading? All that is being done for us in symphonic sound by the QSO just down in Grey Street. The building was accidentally designed as it is, making it a perfect secret space for locals. Changing the concept of Southbank from a glitzy resort to today’s local friendly space, meant that the entrance is a storey higher than the street.
The Girl from Greece: A Tribute to Nana Mouskouri

Oct 11, 2024 | westender.com.au | Kerry McGovern

By Katerini Manolatos and Mel Lathouras and the Brisbaneians at the Cremorne Theatre, 11th October 2024It’s Nana Mouskouri’s 90th birthday on Sunday 13th October, and this tribute to her life and her music was enthusiastically enjoyed by a sell-out crowd. Supported by the seven-piece band “The Brisbaneians”, the band name a tribute to Nana’s band “The Athenians”, the two Meanjin women Katerini Manolatos and Mel Lathouras took us on a musical journey of Nana’s music.
A visual treat for pre-schoolers – Fancy Long Legs at La Boite - Westender

Sep 17, 2024 | westender.com.au | Kerry McGovern

If you have pre schoolers over the holidays who love “Fancy Long Legs”, then it’s a no brainer to take them to La Boite to see this musical version. They’ll love it. The actors engage with the littlies, inviting them onto the stage to sit within a clearly defined area. And the kids happily obliged, sitting in wonder as the story unfolded within reach. The music was something to sing along to, and provided a reliable ear worm. You go away humming.
Adrift by Counterpoint – designed to addle your brain delightfully - Westender

Sep 14, 2024 | westender.com.au | Kerry McGovern

“Adrift” addles our brains beautifully. It is presented by Counterpoint, a collective of interdisciplinary artists from Brisbane, and Company-in-Residence at Metro Arts. Audience members get to safely play in the dark with strangers, choreographed by a disembodied voice through headsets, donned at the door. There is a control about this piece that is, of itself, unsettling.
“Spirit of the Wild” – QSO explores the beauty and necessity of wild places - Westender

Sep 14, 2024 | westender.com.au | Kerry McGovern

Haydn’s Oratorio from “Die Schöpfung” (The Creation) presents us with a story of creation from 1797. While classical music is best known for its biblical inspiration, this piece travels well. The modern ear hears the solid presence of the wild mountains supporting the life of the busy city below, providing both fresh air and clean water. The protection of the mountains sits beautifully in the music with the flightiness in the foreground of creation.