Observer

OBSERVER: Disunited States

Monday, March 9, 2026

Comedian and actor Richard Mealey debuts a brand new original work at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival, critiquing his American homeland for Aussie audiences.In Richard’s words: “When your homeland falls under authoritarian rule, you only have two options: fight the tyranny or … ya know, pretend like you’ve never even been there.’Born to British…

OBSERVER: Twinkle Town

Thursday, March 5, 2026

Miss Darbus presents the 20 year anniversary performance of: Twinkle Town: The Forgotten High School Musical from April 6-19 at the Motley Spielhaus, Mel-bourne.After a rigorous and drama-filled audition process, this East High Winter Musicale Twinkle Town follows Minnie and Arnold as they Bop to the Top of the theatrical food chain while in rehearsals…

OBSERVER: Reg Livermore’s Ned Kelly

Victorian Opera presents its upcoming revival of an iconic work of Australian theatre – Reg Livermore’s Ned Kelly: The Musical, being presented on Saturday, March 28 at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat.Following its original seasons in Adelaide and Sydney in the late 1970s, this landmark musical returns to the stage for the first time in 48…

OBSERVER: Midwinter Break

Midwinter Break is one of those thoughtful, delightful films that feature people no longer in the first flush of youth, in whom we see reflections of ourselves.Going against the Hollywood stereotype of glossy airbrushed stars are fine British actors Lesley Manville as Stella and Ciaran Hinds as her husband Gerry.They are classic empty nesters, with…

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

ShowsGilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria (GSOV) The Arcadians (by Gilbert and Sullivan) Indoors on March 13, 14 at 8pm and March 14 and 15 at 2pm at The Round – Studio, 379-399 Whitehorse Rd., Nunawading. Director: Robert Ray. Tickets  theround.com.au/TheArcadiansGSOV Beaumaris Theatre: Chalkface (by Angela Betzian) Until March 21 at Beaumaris Theatre, 82 Wells Rd., Beaumaris. Director:…

OBSERVER: My Fair Lady

My Fair Lady remains one of the world’s most enduring and loved musical treasures, and a lavish recreation based on the 2016 Australian production which was directed by Julie Andrews, will be the first musical to return to Melbourne’s rejuvenated and beloved Ian Potter State Theatre in Melbourne.In keeping with the anniversary milestones, Opera Australia…

OBSERVER: Little Absences

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Established cross-disciplinary creative Grazia Marin presents her latest stage play Little Absences from March 18-21 at The Loft, Chapel off Chapel.Directed by Elnaz Sheshgelani, the story tells of Chris, a keenly intelligent and witty woman in the later years of her life, who is obstinately still living at home, despite the concerns of her daughter,…

OBSERVER: Hamlet

The National Theatre’s film of their stage production of Hamlet bears the marks of performers well versed in the delivery of Shakespeare’s lines.What is interesting is Robert Hastie’s directorial decisions to change the order of some of the scenes and place some of the well known soliloquies in different places.It makes for intriguing questions as…

OBSERVER: Eighteen Lives

Do Theatre presents Eighteen Lives from March 25-April 4 at The Explosives Factory Theatre, St Kilda.Directed by Fini Liu, this show is described as a ‘darkly funny, poetic comedy about the people we keep meeting again and again, across centuries, across lifetimes.’Three friends fall out, only to discover that their conflict began in a past…

OBSERVER: Lighting The Dark

Monash Performing Arts Centres (MPAC) present Lighting the Dark, directed by Chris Dyke, on Friday, March 27 at 7.30pm at the Alexander Theatre, Monash University, Clayton.Commissioned by dance company Dancenorth Australia, Lighting the Dark is the first mainstage dance work in Australia – and potentially the world – to be directed by an artist living…