Peter Hackney

Peter Hackney is an Australian-Montenegrin writer and editor who lives on Dharug and Gundungurra land in Western Sydney - home to one of Australia’s most diverse and dynamic arts scenes. He has a penchant for Australian theatre but is a lover of the arts in all its forms. A keen ‘Indonesianist’, Peter is a frequent traveller to our northern neighbour and an advanced student of Bahasa Indonesia. Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/peterhackney https://x.com/phackneywriter

Peter Hackney's Latest Articles

Nic Prior in Belvoir's 2025 production, 'Orlando'. An androgynous figure wearing a punk-inspired blonde wig with a short, spiky fringe and long hair at the back, sits with their hands in their lap against a mirrored background. They are also wearing a pleated grey skirt and skin-hugging white and yellow top.
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Orlando review: a dazzling journey traversing time, place and identity at Belvoir

Trans and non-binary actors take centre stage in this highly theatrical adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s gender-bending classic, 'Orlando: A Biography'.

Peter Hackney

Sep 12, 2025
A man, Ian Stenlake, sitting in a chair near a shuttered blind in The 39 Steps.
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The 39 Steps review: Hitchcock gets the slapstick treatment

Hitchcock spy thriller meets Monty Python-style humour in The 39 Steps, a rollicking action-comedy. 

Peter Hackney

Aug 13, 2025
A classroom scene in Trophy Boys, with three students. One is standing on a table.
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Trophy Boys review: boys will be boys on tour

Runaway hit play Trophy Boys returns to excoriate a world of privilege and male collusion.

Peter Hackney

Aug 13, 2025
A woman is looking at a man through a veiled frame in Three Plays.
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Three Plays review: Tennessee Williams in snack form by Ground Floor Theatre

Three rarely seen one-act plays by Tennessee Williams are given the omnibus treatment on the Old Fitz stage in Three…

Peter Hackney

Aug 7, 2025
Three women dressed in beige colours in the production of Othello.
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Othello review: a modern, accessible approach to a great Shakespearean tragedy

The new production of Othello at Sydney’s Flight Path Theatre is fresh, original and expertly staged.

Peter Hackney

Jul 29, 2025
A crowd scene in Rusalka.
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Rusalka review: a near-perfect staging of Dvořák's most famous opera

Opera Australia’s new production of Rusalka is opera at its enchanting best.

Peter Hackney

Jul 28, 2025
A man is sitting on a chair and a woman is standing beside him. The view of Sydney Opera House can be seen behind them.
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Emerald City review: David Williamson's classic restaged at Ensemble Theatre, Sydney

Greed, real estate, the importance of art, Sydney vs Melbourne – ‘Emerald City’ is as relevant as ever.

Peter Hackney

Jul 25, 2025
A middle aged, fair skinned women sits with legs crossed and hands raised in a rehearsal room. This is actor Rebecca Gibney in a scene from Sydney Theatre Company’s 'Circle Mirror Transformation', 2025.
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Circle Mirror Transformation review: another safe bet from the Sydney Theatre Company

STC presents a competent but uninspired staging of US playwright Annie Baker’s award-winning play, Circle Mirror Transformation.

Peter Hackney

Jul 22, 2025
Colourful cast scene, with a crowd looking on at two women and a man dancing in the middle. Carmen.
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Carmen review: a new look for a classic opera at Sydney Opera House

One of the most famous operas of the 19th century gets a 21st century makeover. 

Peter Hackney

Jul 15, 2025
A black woman and a black man are laughing. She's wearing a white hat and a yellow suit, he's wearing a grey suit with a red tie.
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Theatre review: Primary Trust, Ensemble Theatre

In a world of chaos and war, this good-natured play about kindness is a wonderful tonic.

Peter Hackney

Jul 3, 2025
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