The best shows in town this weekend

A Hoax

Envelope-pushing (and tearing) playwright Rick Viede's latest is a part-Pygmalion, part-Frankenstein tale of literary deception (think along the lines of Helen Demidenko). It's full of naughty lines and a damn good time at the theatre, says Darryn King. He also spoke with Viede about being naughty and pacing his writer's den in stilettos. 

Circle Mirror Transformation

When does a collection of theatre games become a community centre therapy session? In this play, directed with momentum and grace by one of Sydney's young theatre stalwarts, Shannon Murphy. It is one of the lighter, and certainly the more hilarious, shows on in town right now. We spoke to Murphy (and fed her some Zumbo cake) earlier in the year. 

Face To Face

Dynamo director Simon Stone adapts and directs the 1976 Ingmar Bergman film for the stage. Kerry Fox stars in a play about dreams that our resident theatre critic Darryn King applauded for its excellent lead performances and ingenious stage design. King also spoke to director Simon Stone about finding Freud in the theatre. 

Punk Rock

Teenage life in a prestigious English grammar school comes under the microscope in this excellent example of how to get an indie theatre production just right. Bold and confronting, the show – touted as being about the bullying epidemic – has just extended its season an extra week. Time Out's Rachel Chant spoke with actor Graeme McRae.

South Pacific

It might just be the biggest, big-budget-iest show to hit town all year, and this very old-fashioned straight take on the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic is a fun ol' offering from Opera Australia. McCune shines as transported southerner Nellie Forbush, delivering a killer 'Wash that man right outta my hair', and Eddie Perfect is spot-on in comedic support. 

The Splinter

If you like to wet yourself in your fancy theatre duds, then this is the show for you: the story of a missing child who returns after nine months, somewhat changed. We won't say much, but expect puppets. 

Terrain

The country's premier indigenous dance company pays homage to Lake Eyre, a sacred site like few others. The dancers, are as always, spectacular – but look out for the design too. To transport audiences to the lake itself, Bangarra have erected two-dimensional floor-to-ceiling paintings that seem to contort and swirl in the vast space. A visual and emotional treat.