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

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.

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. 

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.

A woman in a red top i staring down at a man who is on the ground surrounded by debris.
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Theatre review: Blackbird, KXT on Broadway

A harrowing play about the loss of innocence.

A man in black with his left arm outstretched.
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Performance review: The Lost Things, Sydney Opera House

Worlds away from spoon-bending and other simple tricks, Scott Silven’s new show is magic – but not as we know…

A man in a grey suit and a woman in a red dress are sitting apart on a park bench.
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Theatre review: Heaven, Loading Dock Theatre, Qtopia Sydney

Kate Gaul directs the 2023 Irish Times' Best New Play at LGBTQIA+ museum and cultural centre, Qtopia Sydney. 

A gallery space with two video screens showing street scenes.
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Exhibition review: Amongst the clouds, Artspace

An interactive, multimedia experience, ‘Amongst the Clouds’ is far removed from traditional concepts of art exhibitions.

An orchestra on stage with a theremin player seated at their centre.
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Music review: Theremin & Beyond, City Recital Hall

The haunting, unusual theremin collides with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in this spellbinding concert.

A scene from STC's 2025 production of Beckett's 'Happy Days'. A woman with her bottom half hidden in a mound of dirt. There's a black plastic bag next to her, and on her other side is man with his back to us, holding up a newspaper. He too is visible only from his waist up.
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Theatre review: Happy Days, Wharf 1 Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company

Lead actor and co-director Pamela Rabe shines in this staging of a classic Samuel Beckett play. 

Two Indian women in colourful saris. One is standing, one is kneeling over some woven baskets.
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Theatre review: The Wrong Gods, Belvoir St Theatre

This thought-provoking but not entirely satisfying tale by S. Shakthidharan explores the cost of progress and development in 20th century…

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