Observer

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

Sunday, June 28, 2026

ShowsWarrandyte Theatre Company: The Father (by Florian Zellar translated by Christopher Hampton) Until July 4 at the Warrandyte Mechanics’ Institute, 180 Yarra St., Warrandyte. Director: Grant Purdy. Bookings: trybooking.com/DHJOPGeelong Repertory Theatre Company: The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark (William Shakespeare) Until July 11 at The Woodbin Theatre, Coronation St., Geelong West. Director: Greg Shawcross….

OBSERVER: The Music of Hans Zimmer vs John Williams

Following sold-out performances across the UK, Ireland and Europe, The Music of Hans Zimmer vs John Williams makes its Australian premiere this September, with two exclusive performances at Hamer Hall on Sunday, September 6.Presented by John Foreman’s Australian Pops Orchestra and Sony Music Australia in their first-ever collaboration, this landmark event brings together the music…

OBSERVER: Six The Musical

The international smash-hit Six the Musical makes its return to Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre from July 24.From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the six wives of Henry VIII – Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Catherine Parr – will turn up the mics, remixing 500 years of history into…

OBSERVER: Blakyard

Led by matriarch and curator Dr Paola Balla, and co-created with her children Rosie Kalina and Katen Balla, a bit thing invites audiences into an intergenerational Blak family home where cultural stories, creativity and daily life exist side by side. Until July 18.Visitors move through a house built within the North Melbourne Town Hall, exploring…

OBSERVER: Jersey Forever

Seventeen years since the ground-breaking Australian premiere of Jersey Boys, original stars Bobby Fox, Glaston Toft, Scott Johnson and Stephen Mahy, will reunite in a spectacular live concert Jersey Forever, to perform the iconic music of Jersey Boys and Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons for one night only at Melbourne’s Palais Theatre on August…

OBSERVER: The Ballad of Dan O’Malley

Monstrous Theatre and Paul Mitchell Productions have announced the cast for Paul Mitchell’s controversial new play The Ballad of Dan O’Malley: A Football Tragedy, being presented from August 12-22 at The Explosives Factory, Theatre Works St Kilda.Justin Bell leads the cast as Dan O’Malley; the coach caught between his love of the game and big-league…

OBSERVER: Davitt Awards

Sisters in Crime Australia has announced the 2026 Davitt Awards Longlist.For a quarter of a century, Sisters in Crime Australia has been shining a spotlight on the incredible achievements of women crime writers of fiction and non-fiction.From the first year of the Davitt Awards with its seven entries, to the present day where more than…

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

Sunday, June 21, 2026

ShowsOff the Leash Theatre: Garage Girls (by Candace Miles, Madeline Nunn, Anna Rodway), Until June 27 at Drouin Hub, Trafalgar Public Hall and Bunyip Hall. Director: Keira Jarred. Bookings: offtheleashtheatre.com.auMOARTZ Inc: Chalkface (by Ange Betzien) Until June 27 at Monash Hall, Reserve St., Yallourn North. Director: Mike Pullar. Bookings: moartz.tickets@gmail.comWarrandyte Theatre Company: The Father (by…

OBSERVER: Love letter to Scotland

Glenrothan is one of those films that inspires the comment ‘what’s not to like?’Set and filmed in rural Scotland, it’s the story of prodigal son Donal, who fled the ancestral distillery business 35 years ago for the bright lights and his music club in Chicago, and is finally persuaded to return to reconnect and clear…

FRANKSTON: Jersey Boys by PLOS Productions

PLOS Musical Productions presents Jersey Boys, The Story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons from July 24 to August 1 at the Frankston Arts Centre.The musical tells the true story of the 1960s American pop band Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and features all their hits including Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk…