Observer

OBSERVER: Bek’s belated award

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Musical theatre performer Bek Chapman was thrilled to be nominated for Best Supporting Performer in a Female Presenting Role by the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria, for her role as Magda in Beaumaris Theatre’s production of Ladies in Black.Unfortunately, Bek became ill and could not attend the special MTGV gala event held at Camberwell Grammar…

OBSERVER: Love, Lies and What I Wore

Heidelberg Theatre Company presents Love, Loss and What I Wore from February 13 – 28 at Heidelberg Theatre, 36 Turnham Ave., Rosanna.Written by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron from the book by Ilene Beckerman, Heidelberg Theatre Company’s production is directed by Catherine Christensen.Love, Loss, and What I Wore is described as ‘a heartfelt celebration of…

OBSERVER: Stable Confusion

Curated by Liquid Architecture, music group Worlds Only and artists and technologists Junior Major, present Stable Confusion on February 13 from 7pm at Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall.Smashing sound and live visuals into an electrifying experience, Stable Confusion is said to push perception to its limits, where human intuition clashes with machine logic.As Worlds…

OBSERVER: Songs of the Bulbul

British-Indian dancer and choreographer Aakash Odedra’s award-winning solo show Songs of Bulbul will be presented at Arts Centre Melbourne from February 3-7.Winner of the Best Show Award at Edinburgh International Festival, this solo dance piece brings together the art of Kathak dance and Sufi storytelling to create a dialogue between intense physicality and a spiritual…

OBSERVER: Pirates of Penzance

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Victorian Opera presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s famous comic operetta The Pirates of Penzance until February 6 at the Palais Theatre, St Kilda.Ben Mingay (the Pirate King) and Antoinette Halloran (the long-suffering Ruth) lead the high-seas jinks, joined by theatre veteran Richard Piper as the Major General, and rising stars Nicholas Jones and Nina Korbe as…

OBSERVER: A Christmas Presence

A Christmas Presence is a show that I would one hundred percent see again.It was a great show that captured all of the events that happened to make Christmas ‘Christmas’.It was an enjoyable script that told the story really well and was executed brilliantly by the cast. You could clearly tell this show was worked…

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre: The Game’s Afoot or Holmes for the Holidays (by Ken Ludwig) February 12 – 28 at Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre, 39-41 Castella St., Lilydale. Director: Lucia Morris. Bookings: 9735 1777 lilydaleatc.comPEP Productions: Ride the Cyclone, February 13 – 21 at the Doncaster Playhouse. Director: Daniel Kim; Musical Director: Isaac Stott; Choreographer: Maya Lee….

OBSERVER: Vale Patsy King

Australian born actress Patsy King, best remembered for her principal role as Governor Erica Davidson in the iconic television series Prisoner, passed away on Monday, January 19 after a short illness. She was 95 years old.Patsy studied acting at Melbourne’s National Theatre and made her professional stage debut in 1951, playing the juvenile lead in…

OBSERVER: Theatre Works 2026

After something of an annus mirabilis in 2025, when the highest box office results were achieved in Theatre Works’ 45-year history, the company finished the year by launching its 2026 season.However, next year will be undoubtedly challenging as its powerhouse executive director/creative producer Dianne Toulsen departs in July.The launch, held at the company’s flagship venue…

OBSERVER: The Arcadians

Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria (GSOV) presents The Arcadians – outdoors from February 28 to March 9 at The Know, 4 Clarkmont Rd, Sassafras, and indoors at The Round Studio in Nunawading from March 13-15.Directed by Robert Ray and Naomi Tooby, a live quartet will accompany the cast with music specially re-scored by MD Geoffrey…