Observer

OBSERVER: Ordinary Days

Sunday, August 24, 2025

The ordinary takes flight in Adam Gwon’s chamber musical Ordinary Days.Set in New York, Jason (Bobby Fox) and Claire (Sarah Morrison) are moving in together.Meanwhile, Warren (Joel Granger) has found Deb’s (Melanie Bird) misplaced notes for the thesis she is writing. Their lives intersect in a form of poetic symmetry where the simplest dots of…

OBSERVER: The Life of Chuck

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Before seeing The Life of Chuck, it helps to know that the film is in three acts, and travels back through time. Each act focuses on a different cast, with the character of Chuck (played as an adult by Tom Hiddleston) being the common link.The story is by famed horror novelist Stephen King, and the…

OBSERVER: Trophy Boys

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

The return season of Emmanuelle Mattana’s Trophy Boys is not just a testament to its theatrical durability but to the importance of the insights and messaging. The work is superbly crafted, luring audiences in with a seemingly comic send up schoolboy culture.Owen (Myfanwy Hocking), David (Leigh Lule), Scott (Gaby Seow) and Jared (Fran Sweeney Nash)…

OBSERVER: Entertaining Mr Coppin

The Show Room at Arts Centre Melbourne was packed to capacity for the launch of Simon Plant’s exciting new book Entertaining Mr Coppin:An Antipodean Showman in Civil War America, commissioned and published by Theatre Heritage Australia.Actor, digger, entrepreneur, innovator, influencer, traveller, speculator and politician George Coppin (1819-1906) also undertook an extraordinary journey to America in…

OBSERVER: Crisis Actor

In Crisis Actor, audiences do more than just watch – they use their phones to help shape the outcome of a dark and playful performance that blends silliness with solemnity.Premiering at Arts House in partnership with Now or Never, Crisis Actor is part surrealist comedy, part live-action video game and will be presented from August…

OBSERVER: Destiny

Melbourne Theatre Company presents Destiny, the intimate family drama of allure and loyalty, until September 13 at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner.Written by and starring award-winning South African-born actor and playwright Kirsty Marillier and directed by Zindzi Okenyo (Is God Is), Destiny is set against the canvas of world-changing events.It serves as a potent reminder that…

OBSERVER: MSO Concert

In a wonderful evening of classical music, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra delighted with three works, one contemporary and two from the 19th century.The works were: the premiere of The Ascent, a Klearhos Murphy composition; Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto; and Brahm’s Second Symphony.The orchestra’s Cyber Young Composer in Residence, Greek-Australian Murphy’s short piece The Ascent consisted of…

OBSERVER: Troy

Rehearsals are underway for Malthouse’s Troy, the epic new production written by Tom Wright and directed by Ian Michael being presented from September 4-25 at Malthouse’s Merlyn Theatre.This bold retelling of the ancient Greek myth features an ensemble of Australian stage talent, each taking on iconic roles from the Trojan legend. The cast includes Ciline…

OBSERVER: State Schools Spectacular

PHOTO: Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Victorian State Schools Spectacular returns in 2025 for two shows on Saturday September 13 at 1pm and 6.30pm at the John Cain Arena.Since the inaugural VSSS in 1995, Victorian students have had the opportunity to take part in the Spectacular where it has seen talent such as Vanessa Amorosi,…

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

Monday, August 11, 2025

Shows The 1812 Theatre: Home, I’m Darling (by Laura Wade) Until August 30 at 3 Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Director: Amy Calvert. Bookings: 1812theatre.com.auBeaumaris Theatre: The Witches (based on the book by Roald Dahl. Adapted by David Wood) Until August 23 at Beaumaris Theatre, 82 Wells Rd., Beaumaris. Director: Leah Osburn. Bookings: beaumaristheatre.com.auBrighton Theatre…