Observer

OBSERVER: Midsumma launch

Sunday, November 30, 2025

Last week we witnessed the big reveal of 2026 Midsumma Festival, Victoria’s premier festival of LGBTQIA celebrated through arts and culture January 18 – February 8 at BMW Edge Theatre and coinciding with Transgender Awareness Month. Victoria, both city and regional, will host over 200 events in over 150 venues.Djirri Djirri dancers opened with welcome…

OBSERVER: Midsumma Festival

The Midsumma Festival 2026 program is now live and tickets are on sale. From January 18 – February 8, over 250 events showcasing queer culture will be presented, featuring local, interstate, and international artists in spectacular performances, talks and social events, bringing a kaleidoscope of preeminent queer arts and cultural festivities.The 2026 Festival features a…

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

The 1812 Theatre: Rhinestone Rex and Miss Monica, Until December 6 at The 1812 Theatre, 3 Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Director: Chris and Libby Procter. Bookings: 1812theatre.com.au 9758 3964.Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company: Sister Amnesia’s Country Western Nunsense Jamboree (book, lyrics and music by Dan Goggin) Until December 6 at the Lilydale Mechanics’ Institute, Castella…

OBSERVER: Rourke’s Reviews

Friday, November 21, 2025

Horse Girl (MA). 103 minutes. Now streaming on Netflix.Bolstered by a superb central performance, Horse Girl, like Daniel Isn’t Real, deals with the issue of mental illness, and while it doesn’t become as wildly fantastical like the latter, this expertly crafted film does present its story in a way that tries to keep the viewer…

OBSERVER: Guewel

Seven years in the making, Guewel was a landmark collaboration between Arts House, 13.12 and the National Theatre of Senegal. The show had a well-deserved standing ovation at its premiere in Melbourne.Non-linear in narrative form, the play consisted of a series of tableaux involving song, dance, music and ritual that together portrayed an ancient African…

OBSERVER: Rhys and Joel’s Family Christmas

Rhys Nicholson and Joel Creasey have reunited to return to Melbourne for a one night variety-style celebration, Rhys and Joel’s Family Christmas, at The Capitol, Swanston St., Melbourne on December 6.Their 2023 tour sold out across the country and became a Foxtel/Binge Christmas special. After taking last year off, they’re returning with new stories, surprise…

OBSERVER: From Fields of Stone

A large crowd comprising family, friends and book lovers attended the launch of Isabel de la Rambelya’s historical novel From Fields of Stone at the Beaumaris Bowling Club.For the past 20 years, inspired by her mother Olive’s stories of family history, Isabel has explored and recorded the life of her great-great grandmother, Nappy King.Nappy was…

OBSERVER: Red Stitch 2026

Melbourne’s Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre has unveiled its 2026 season, marking the company’s 25th anniversary with a program that reflects its ‘legacy of risk-taking, excellence and artist-led storytelling.’Anchored by a landmark revival of Ray Lawler’s The Doll Trilogy, the season also features new international works, and a world premiere as part of Red Stitch’s INK…

OBSERVER: Carmen

Opera Australia’s Carmen is a sultry, sensual and passionate production.I was both excited and privileged to attend the opening night of Opera Australia’s shiny, new, freshly updated production of Bizet’s Carmen at the majestic Regent Theatre in Melbourne.The Regent was the most perfect venue for this sumptuous evening of spectacular singing, clever sets, splendid costuming…

OBSERVER: German-Australia Opera Grant Final

Overlooking the banks of the Yarra, this year’s German-Australia Opera Grant Final was held in The Edge Auditorium at Federation Square but the eyes of the contestants were firmly set upon the Hessisches Staatstheater in Wiesbaden where the winner would take up a year’s long contract to develop their craft as an opera singer.Baritones Ziggy…