STM Loves: Dracula, Kathleen Halloran, Taco Daddy, Margaret River Region Open Studios and Sara Fox

Dracula

This Gothic epic, adapted into a multi-award-winning production for WA Ballet by renowned Polish choreographer Krzysztof Pastor, is returning to His Majesty’s Theatre. As WA Ballet moves towards its 75th anniversary next year, artistic director Leanne Stojmenov says Dracula stands as one of its most celebrated achievements, “a work that has played a vital role in shaping our artistic journey and success”. A new generation of dancers will perform the ballet, stepping into the characters from Bram Stoker’s book, including Dracula, both young and old, and Mina and Jonathan Harker. The West Australian Symphony Orchestra will play the sweeping score by composer Wojciech Kilar. Dracula runs May 15-30, see waballet.com.au.

Kathleen Halloran

The Melbourne guitarist, singer and songwriter, described by Australian music icon Kate Ceberano as “Jimmy Page meets Chrissy Hynde to Joan Armatrading and back”, is releasing her debut album and going on tour, including Perth. Halloran’s Nobody’s Baby tour comes after performing as a professional musician for 15 years, building a reputation as one of the most respected guitarists in the country. The track Wolves Like You is about “the resilience, defiance and quiet power of women in the music industry”, she says. “For most of (my career) I rejected the idea of being defined by gender or even allowing it into the conversation,” Halloran says. “Comments like ‘I’ve never heard a girl play like that’ were often well-meaning, but complicated. Something has shifted for me.” The album is out on May 8 and Halloran will play Mojos on May 20.

Taco Daddy

After two years of markets and festival appearances across South Perth, Subiaco and Scarborough, popular street food favourite Taco Daddy will open its first venue, at Crown Perth’s Urban Food District on April 17. It’s a major milestone for local founder Sam Thornton who built the business, known for its gluten-free slow-cooked beef birria tacos, from the ground up.

Margaret River Region Open Studios

The perfect chance to have a stickybeak inside of some of WA’s best artists’ studios is back, this time from September 12-27. It runs across Busselton and the Margaret River region, with last year’s event attracting more than 100,000 studio visits. Noa Williams, who won the Margaret River Region Open Studios pathway award, is one of the artists taking part. His works will be available to view at Yallingup Galleries. For more details go to mrropenstudios.com.au.

Sara Fox

If you’re looking to embrace the last of Perth’s warm days, or are off somewhere salty and sunny, this Perth brand has you covered. Sara Fox has released a stunning range of relaxed pieces in quality fabrics and refined silhouettes and tones to wear day or night. Better yet, it offers a concierge service which ensures Perth metro orders are delivered within 24 hours, giving shoppers time to try on pieces, decide what they like, then have the remaining items collected.

Halfway Studios

Whether it’s a group of mates dissecting the weekend’s footy, best friends launching a passion project, or a business owner finally putting a face to their brand, everyone’s in their podcast era, and Claremont’s Halfway Studios is where Perth is pressing record. The new space comes with a multi-camera set-up, and professional audio, photography and video production, so all you have to do is walk in with an idea, then out with content ready to publish. More details at halfwaystudios.com.au.