Observer

OBSERVER: Sisters In Crime

Saturday, October 18, 2025

Australian women crime writers continue in the tradition of using police procedurals for writing crime novels, but are adding new elements – women detectives, deadly small-town secrets, and different takes on violence against women.A stolen baby, a stolen corpse, and a missing woman are at the centre of the novels by Vikki Petraitis, Sarah Bailey…

OBSERVER: Chimp

There is a certain simian similitude to Conor Lynch’s contribution to the Fringe Festival. Given there is no dialogue, Lynch, in the appropriately titled production Chimp, must convey the desires of his alter ego in mime from captivity to an almost civilised entity.While the anthropological mimicry may not be sufficient to distinguish a capuchin monkey…

OBSERVER: Grease

Thursday, October 16, 2025

The iconic musical Grease first opened on Broadway in 1972. Since then, I have seen many versions, professional and amateur, including the Melbourne premiere also staged in 1972.Babirra Music Theatre’s production of Grease presented at The Round in Nuna-wading was a first-class, all-round standout interpretation.The exuberant opening set the show’s tone, featuring musical director Vicki…

OBSERVER: The Lucky Country

Musicals, as you’d expect, are all about the music — and in that regard, The Lucky Country delivers in spades.It’s filled with memorable melodies, a deft balance of heart and humour, strong storytelling, emotional depth, and marvellous voices.Billed as a story about what it means to be Australian, The Lucky Country explores familiar themes of…

OBSERVER: Sarahtonin

Fresh from a successful season at the Perth Fringe Festival earlier this year, Sarah Bower’s one-woman cabaret show Sarahtonin was a joyous celebration of the small things in life.The show was simplicity itself as Bowers, accompanied by John Packer on acoustic guitar, sang a variety of songs and shared personal stories about love, life and…

OBSERVER: Malthouse 2026

Vivia Hickman, Malthouse’s Executive Producer, says that hope was a guiding force in choosing productions to showcase for 2026.An eclectic mix of old and new, including dance, drama, and comedy, is on offer.Here are just some of the highlights.The season kicks off with Black Light, starring real-life actor sisters Rachael and Lisa Maza.Written and directed…

OBSERVER: Rourke’s Reviews

Caught Stealing(MA). 107 minutes. Available to rent or buy on selected digital platforms.Following the artificial, hollow and unsatisfying The Whale (which received wild praise and an Oscar for Brendan Fraser), director Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem For A Dream, Mother!) makes a huge return to form with Caught Stealing, which while openly embracing its influences, also…

OBSERVER: What Lies Beneath

Sarah Miller’s What Lies Beneath, uses the myth of Demeter and Persephone as the centrepiece of her production.What is difficult to establish is just how integral that myth is or the message Miller wishes to convey.In the myth, Persephone (Daphne Gerolymou-Papadopoulos) is abducted by Hades, the God of the Underworld, leaving Demeter (Rosa Voto) bereft.Between…

OBSERVER: AYO in 2026

Friday, October 10, 2025

The Australian Youth Orchestra invites audiences across the country to experience a season of exhilarating music-making, boundary-pushing repertoire, and a renewed commitment to accessibility.From Adelaide to Darwin, Sydney to Perth, AYO’s concerts will feature world-class soloists and international conductors, thrilling premieres, and unforgettable performances that celebrate both the greats of classical music and the voices…

OBSERVER: Mrs Warren’s Profession

Generational change and class structure intertwine in Mrs Warren’s Profession, a sharp societal critique of the limited options available to late-Victorian working-class women.Real-life mother and daughter duo, Imelda Staunton and Bessie Carter, portray Mrs. Kitty Warren and her daughter Vivie in George Bernard Shaw’s classic 1893 melodrama directed by Dominic Cooke.Banned briefly by the chief…