Observer

NILLUMBIK: Short Film Festival

Friday, September 26, 2025

Nillumbik’s young creatives are invited to submit their video work in the Nillumbeats Short Film Festival.Run by the Nillumbeats Committee – a group of young people passionate about all things art, music and culture – the festival showcases films by locals aged 12-18.Nillumbik Mayor Cr John Dumaresq (pictured) said the event provided an opportunity for…

OBSERVER: Colour and Light – David McLean’s Review

Thursday, September 25, 2025

The congruence of creativity, artistry and musicianship were at the fore during the retrospective of Sondheim’s work in Colour and Light.Sondheim’s songs were composed with not only wit and character but with depth and feeling. This allows artists to interpret and create a portrait of believable people that laughed, suffered and were unashamedly real.Vidya Makan,…

OBSERVER: Colour and Light

In what was a wonderful evening’s celebration of the work of renowned American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, Colour and Light: The Art of Sondheim met with a well-deserved rapturous reception on its opening night at Theatre Works.Set in a sumptuous recreation of a cabaret venue circa Berlin of the decadent inter-war years, the revue…

OBSERVER: Loud Jazz Will Fix Me

Melbourne-based performer Dylan McBurney presents his show Loud Jazz Will Fix Me for the Melbourne Fringe Festival from October 3-5 at the Festival Hub, Trades Hall in the Music Room.The show is created and performed by Dylan under the direction of Carly Rose Watson, with music composed by Cassie Hamilton.A self-described workaholic, Dylan McBurney believes…

OBSERVER: Last Night of thde Proms

The Last Night of the Proms are a famous British musical institution, but we have our own Australian version happening in Melbourne soon.Skunkworks Community, along with the City of Boroondara, are presenting Last Night of the Proms – a celebration of community music, on Saturday October 11 at Hawthorn Arts Centre, with around 140 musicans…

OBSERVER: Blanc de Blanc

Brunswick-based company Strut and Fret present Blanc de Blanc Encore for a three-month season from October 29 to February 1, 2026 at the new two-level entertainment precinct Spiegel Haus, 217 Lonsdale St, Melbourne.Blanc de Blanc Encore is billed as ‘a five-star, champagne-soaked spectacle overflowing with vintage French glamour, world class circus, lavish costumes, music, outrageous…

OBSERVER: Trial By Jury

Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria celebrates their 90 years of entertainment and 150 years of Trial by Jury with their special season of Jubilee, featuring Trial by Jury, being presented at the Athenaeum Theatre, Collins St, rom October 17-19.Trial By Jury is described as “probably the most successful British one-act operetta of all time” (Kurt-Friedrich…

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

Shows Frankston Theatre Group: Emma (by Jane Austen, adapted by Michael Bloom) Until October 5 at Frankston High School Performing Arts Theatre97 Foot Street, Frankston. Director: Candice Mitrousis. Bookings: frankstontheatregroup.com.auThe Basin Theatre Group: Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Sarah Ruhl) October 2 – 12 at The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Rd., The Basin. Director: John Putman. Bookings:…

OBSERVER: Tattoo Show

Rawcus presents Tattoo Show for the Melbourne Fringe Festival in collaboration with professional tattoo artist Xani Kennedy, from October 15-19 at the Festival Hub, Trades Hall – Solidarity Hall, Carlton.Under the direction of Katrina Cornwall, this ‘live art, truth and dare show’ will invite a volunteer from the audience to be interviewed and then inked…

OBSERVER: Comedy Games with Coach Mon

The Comedy Games with Coach Mon – ‘a seriously silly Olympics for the whole family’ is being presented from October 1, 2, 5 and 12 at 11am at the Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub.Coach Mon (Monique Warren) dreams of coaching real life athletes at The Comedy Games, an event loosely inspired by the Olympics.When her…