An illicit Greek tragedy warms cold hearts in Melbourne with Catherine McClements delivering a tour-de-force performance of pathos, nuance and self-reflective humour.

Cavalia is short on gimmicks and big on heart. The big-top import touring Sydney and Melbourne has horses as it stars, but after a long canter never breaks into a gallop.

The Australian Ballet’s Vanguard showcases works from George Balanchine, Jiri Kylian and Wayne McGregor. And two great performances out of three ‘aint bad.

Malthouse Theatre’s Dance Of Death is hard to watch sometimes. But it has plenty to say — profanely — about society, love and the sanctity of marriage.

Blak intertwines stories of modern Aboriginal youth with traditional vistas to explore the life of boys and men. It’s arresting in its choreography and design.

He’s 400kg and can’t leave the couch — it’s the drama around him that makes Melissa Bubnic’s Beached such a moving and timely journey.

The prolific Joanna Murray-Smith does meet-the-mother-in-law farce with her new play True Minds. Can she wring new blood out of a long-sapped comedy stone?

The Australian Chamber Orchestra takes a walk through the Weimar Republic with a couple of sensationally sassy guides — cabaret star Meow Meow and the incomparable Barry Humphries.

The new Melbourne production of Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins has its problems, but with a stellar cast and faultless material it’s still worth a look.

The very best of Britain comes to Australia in the Olivier-winning, Tonys-conquering National Theatre mega-hit. Its Sydney showing proves the universal appeal of a side-splitting adaptation.