Observer

OBSERVER: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Sunday, November 2, 2025

Heidelberg Theatre Company presents the quirky musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee from November 14 – 29 at Heidelberg Theatre, 36 Turnham Avenue, Rosanna.Directed by Tim Scott with musical direction by John Clancy and choreography by Jenny Vincent-Green, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee tells of an eclectic group of adolescents (portrayed…

OBSERVER: MSO Academy Showcase

The end of year 2025 showcase for the MSO Academy cohort features an eclectic program flowing from the Romantic to Latin-inspired to contemporary works for brass.MSO Principal Trombone, José Milton Vieira, curated the program to highlight the unique combination of artists and instruments of the Academy.Young musicians Joolee Kim (flute), Joel Walmsley (trumpet), Michael Lo…

OBSERVER: Cruel Intentions

Williamstown Musical Theatre Company presents Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical from November 7- 22 at Altona Theatre, 115 Civic Pde, Altona.A 2015 American jukebox musical based on the 1999 film Cruel Intentions, the musical version has a score made up of hit songs from the 1990s. The film Cruel Intentions is itself a modern-day telling…

OBSERVER: Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again

Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again by Alice Birch is being presented by WIT Incorporated from November 25-29 at the Bluestone Church Arts Space, Footscray, and December 13 at The Bowery Theatre, St Albans..Directed by Emily O’Brien Brown, Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again dissects language, power and identity through vignettes.‘It twists words into weapons and turns…

OBSERVER: Russell Hobbs British Film Festival

From November 5 to December 7, the 2025 Russell Hobbs British Film Festival, will open in cities across Australia, screening at Palace Cinemas, Palace Nova and Luna Palace Cinemas.Opening the festival is the Australian premiere of The Choral, a wartime drama with a cast led by Ralph Fiennes, and directed by Nicholas Hytner.As a group…

OBSERVER: Reservoir Dogs

Avid Theatre presents a theatrical reimagining of Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs at The Bakery @ 1812 Theatre until November 8. Described as ‘tense, stylish and darkly funny’.After a jewel heist goes violently wrong, the surviving criminals meet in a warehouse to unmask the traitor among them.Paranoia builds, tempers flare, and loyalty unravels as the gang’s…

OBSERVER: One Night Only

Darebin Arts Speakeasy presents One Night Only by Jackson Castiglione and Rawcus from November 26-30 at the Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre.Multidisciplinary artist Jackson Castiglione (Field Theory, ICON, Anything & Everything) makes innovative live experiences that champion the voices of ordinary people. In this new theatrical adventure, One Night Only, he teams up with members…

OBSERVER: Control

Presented by Flatpack and Theatre Works, Control was an interesting sci-fi odyssey which gave a glimpse, but only a glimpse, into what the late 21st century might look like.The play had three acts. In the first, four astronauts are aboard a spacecraft heading to Mars to establish a colony. Or maybe they’re not. The second…

OBSERVER: I Swear

Written and directed by Kirk Jones, I Swear is a bittersweet, feel-good portrait that tells the true story of John Davidson (Robert Aramayo).Set in Galashiels in the Scottish borderlands, Davidson’s life is turned upside down with the onset of Tourette’s syndrome at age 14, a little-known neurological condition in 1980s Scotland.A promising goalie, an audition…

OBSERVER: La Mama 2026 launch

La Mama is back, with more enthusiasm and dedication than ever before.After a hiatus in 2025, and rebuilding and updating their theatre, the dedicated team behind La Mama are ready to face 2026. Caitlin Dullard and the La Mama Committee of Management have been hard at work securing sponsorship and grants to preserve the future…