“(Cate) Blanchett’s recital of old speeches in modern environments evokes the fine web series Shakespeare Republic. Except Manifesto is less about contemptorarising material than altering frame of reference; the film explores the relationship between art and context.”

“Sally McLean as “Val Crane”, the embittered aunt of the lead character, found tremendous light and shade in a role that could have easily been played on the one angry note. Instead of taking that obvious road, she showed her depth of talent, giving Val a compelling complexity and believability while negotiating some very tricky plot points, which a lesser actor would have found impossible to navigate with any truth.”

“… incendiary performances from Sally McLean as “Katharina” and Miguel Perez as “Petruchio” … I really felt like I got a completely new insight into their relationship, and particularly the character of “Katharina”.”

 “… the standouts were … Sally McLean (“Katherine”) who drew an achingly beautiful and entirely convincing portrait of a woman in crisis and conflict, caught between her love for and abject fear of a brutal husband.”

“… Sally McLean as the ‘Nurse’ – which also means a kind of choric narrator – carries and expounds the text in a mellifluous voice with great confidence, authority and a feel for the timing of the rhetoric … beautiful, disciplined performance …”

“The cast are all superb actors … “Judith” (played by Sally McLean), starts off as a likable, genuine character … McLean gave the character great vulnerability and depth, as well as being convincing as an early sufferer of MS …”

“… an utterly convincing performance as the old Scottish King, belying the fact that McLean is not only young and a woman, but also Australian.”