"With Shannon Rush at the helm this cast has been given the licence to run with a wonderful text with a tight and inclusive ensemble of actors who all know exactly where to make us laugh and then take us to the verge of empathy before smacking us in the face with reality." Glam Adelaide * * * * *
"Director Shannon Rush keeps the energy high and the tension taut, making full use of the Dunstan Playhouse’s intimate stage." On Your Markus * * * * *
"Rush expertly manages the often-unexpected shifts in viewpoint and conflict between the three women, and it is key to the complexity and rigour of Steel’s portrait of a workplace." InDaily
"Great theatre – superbly functional set, humour in spades, and a witty and insightful play perfectly executed by a first rate cast who didn’t miss a beat." The Clothesline * * * * *
"Director Shannon Rush has expertly paced this excellent cast to bring out every laugh, back stab and all-too-familiar power jostle." The Conversation
“Whilst keeping the fun and comedy very much alive and intact, Rush has her actors delivering very real personas and along with Williamson’s knack of writing believable characters, we can perhaps recognise someone we know in our own circle (perhaps even ourselves)." Glam Adelaide * * * * *
"A romping theatrical play" On Your Markus * * * * *
"Whilst The Puzzle tackles a modern view of fluid sexuality, it never falls into moralistic finger pointing...The actors are totally believable and empathetic in their roles. It’s like pulp fiction with the middle aged accountant trying to make sense of what is going on around him."
The AU Review * * * * *
“Director Shannon Rush navigates a veritable cat’s cradle of libertarian sexual ethics, ‘will they, won’t they’, love triangles, misplaced confidence and youthful enthusiasm with a deft hand.” Arts Hub
"Director Shannon Rush moves the actors about in segues between scenes like chess pieces on Ailsa Paterson’s stunning, streamlined ocean liner set, which combines a bar, bedrooms, sun deck and a communal jigsaw puzzle table in one sleek design that would make an enviable harbour view apartment." The Advertiser
“Shannon Rush directs with panache, providing some excellent moments of physical vignettes interlaced with the increasing sexual frisson, accompanied by brisk and sharp lighting from Mark Shelton.” The Conversation
"As a hesitant audience member of anything sci-fi, I was blown away by the actors’ creative and engaging storyline, passion, professionalism, and the interweaving of technology within the play’s presentation; Starweaver is a new way to experience theatre."
Upside Adelaide * * * * *
"It combines AI technology with the immediacy of theatre in a new, and inventive, script written by Jamie Hornsby and Ellen Graham with which Shannon Rush, as director, has pulled out all the stops to weave these artforms together in a truly interesting 90 minutes of performance." Glam Adelaide * * * * *
“Director Shannon Rush proves to be a very deft hand with a talent for shepherding new works to the stage”
We Talk Theatre
“It features everything from motion-capture and video-game technology to CGI, and Rush’s direction in building a relationship between the actors and the technology is sensational."
In Review
“In a completely new show of this complexity, there are myriad elements to balance and evaluate. Rush is to be admired for her ability to juggle the disparate strands of a new work” Glam Adelaide * * * * *
“Full marks to director Shannon Rush for keeping a firm hand on proceedings” Arts Hub
“This is a gem of a show, complete with a totally random and very humorous compost toilet scene. To sum up, go and see this piece of theatre directed by Shannon Rush. Bravo.” On Your Markus
"Under the expert direction of Shannon Rush, a home grown product who is making quite a name for herself as a theatre director, O’Keefe breathes life into the gloriously poetic script that Lewis has created as a moment in time to reflect on our pathway and how to forgive and absolve ourselves of all the guilt we carry from the day we experience consciousness." Glam Adelaide * * * * *
"It is wonderful to note that a female director is on board for this project and fascinating to read of the deep research she undertook prior to rehearsals. Shannon Rush has shaped the play to work well upon a small, affecting set and directs the physical components beautifully. Having one actor and a dense, wordy tale to tell is a challenge that she has met admirably" Theatre Travels
"Director Shannon Rush ably contains and focuses this engaging narrative by always keeping us connected to the emotional and numinous implications of Lewis’s layered and meditative text"
In Review
"Claire Della and the Moon is a beautiful and creative contemporary fairytale, with morals waiting for children and parents alike."
Glam Adelaide * * * * *
"Shannon Rush steers a tight ship sensitively, allowing the multi talented duo to shine" Stage Whispers
"The most important thing about this show is that it’s a new ethical topic that while not at the forefront of public discourse, it will play a significant part in the discussion the closer the human species gets to travel to Mars."
Glam Adelaide * * * * *
"Shannon Rush's direction is well conceived and tight, she skilfully marries perfect pace with credible character development of the action-packed script" Limelight * * * *
"Director Shannon Rush ensures the pace of the piece builds slowly to its tragic climax" The Advertiser