Observer

OBSERVER: The Revlon Girl

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Encore Theatre Company presents The Revlon Girl from October 10 – 19 at the Clayton Community Centre Theatrette, Cooke St, Clayton.Written by British playwright Neil Anthony Docking and directed by David Krause, this emotion-evoking, uplifting award-winning play tells of the tragic aftermath of the 1966 Aberfan disaster in Wales.The tragic incident caused the death of…

OBSERVER: The Mutineers

Another totally engaging performance by Monash Uni Student Theatre with their sold out season of The Mutineers, written by emerging playwright Tavisshi Dhawan who also shared Co-Director with Tiara Pires. A challenging piece of theatre meticulously handled by all cast and crew alike.The writer explained why the title Mutineers? “It is one who speaks of…

OBSERVER: An Evening on Broadway

In what was a thoroughly entertaining celebration of the Broadway musical, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s An Evening on Broadway at Hamer Hall was a resounding success.Consisting of two halves, the first act had 10 musical theatre pieces followed by a second act consisting of nine pieces. Each half consisted of a mix of instrumental works…

OBSERVER: Grease

Babirra Music Theatre presents Grease from October 10-18 at The Round, Nunawading.Directed by Mark Cluning, with musical direction by Vicki Quinn and choreography by Steph Clare-Cover, Grease is set in 1959 at Rydell High School.Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski’s summer romance is put to the test when they unexpectedly reunite on the first day of…

OBSERVER: British Film Festival

The 2025 Russell Hobbs British Film Festival will be presented by Palace Cinemas in Melbourne from November 5 to December 7, featuring ‘exquisite dramas, fascinating documentaries, much-loved retro-spectives, comedies and more’ at Palace Cinemas, Palace Nova and Luna Palace Cinemas.The festival centrepiece is the highly anticipated drama Anemone starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sean Bean and Samantha…

OBSERVER: New at MTC Board

The Melbourne Theatre Company has announced international award-winning playwright Suzie Miller as a new board member.Suzie Miller (pictured) is a globally celebrated playwright, screenwriter and novelist whose work has been staged in over 100 productions worldwide.With degrees in law and science, she is drawn to complex human stories and contemporary themes.Her breakthrough play Prima Facie…

OBSERVER: Hawke

An Australian prime minister dies and wakes up in purgatory, wondering why he is there.No, it’s not a new political joke, but the premise of a new musical play called Hawke, about the legendary Robert James Hawke, Australia’s 23rd prime minister.Written by P. Kauffman, and Denny Lawrence, with original music written by David Pereira and…

OBSERVER: Brothers Bare

Ranting Mime Productions in conjunction with Theatre Works present Brothers Bare at 7.15pm from October 7-11 at the Theatre Works Explosive Factory in St Kilda.Co-written by Jessica Fallico and Iley Jones and directed by Jessica Fallico, Brothers Bare is described as: ‘A dark dissection into the nature of the Grimm’s Brothers work. A discovery of…

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

ShowsThe Basin Theatre Group: Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Sarah Ruhl) Until October12 at The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Rd., The Basin. Director: John Putman. Bookings: 0494 065 006.The 1812 Theatre: Speaking in Tongues (by Andrew Bovell) Until October 25 at 3 Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Director: Dexter Bourke. Bookings: 1812theatre.com.auCLOC Musical Theatre: Juliet. October 10…

OBSERVER: Melancholipedia

Being melancholy in this day and age is often seen as a negative emotional and mental state and to be avoided at all costs.However, across the ages this wasn’t always so. In his often hilarious yet also somehow disturbing one-man show Melancholipedia, which played at Trainscendence in Collingwood, Robbie O’Brien sought to remind us of…