Observer

OBSERVER: Small Poppy

Friday, March 20, 2026

MILKE presents Gabbi Bolt in Small Poppy as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival from March 26-April 19 at The Malthouse – Playbox.Poppies are tricky. Nurture them too much and they wilt; ignore them and they thrive until they don’t. Harvest too early? Disaster. Grow too tall? Well, we all know what happens to…

OBSERVER: Hold Me

A Kissing Booth Productions writer Jake Stewart, staged his Hold Me Hold Me Hold Me at The Mission for Seafarers, Docklands.An historic complex built last century in 1916, being a part of a worldwide support organisation with headquarters in London, while it has four like Mission locations in Victoria and some 30 locations around Australia.Probably…

OBSERVER: The Riddle of Wash Pool Gully

Friday, March 13, 2026

Gasworks Creative Precinct announces the Melbourne season of The Riddle of Washpool Gully, presented by Dead Puppets Society from April 8-11.“Far beyond the outskirts of the big city, near a tiny town that nearly everyone forgot, lies a dry creek bed once known as Washpool Gully.“The world may have moved on from insignificant places –…

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,…