Observer

OBSERVER: The Wrong Gods

Thursday, June 12, 2025

What do we worship and what happens if beliefs clash with progress?That’s an issue explored in the latest Melbourne Theatre Company/Belvoir St drama, The Wrong Gods, a new play by S. Shakthidharan.Set in a remote Indian valley, we meet Mother Nirmala (Nadie Kammallaweera) and daughter Isha (Radhika Mudaliyar). Nirmala is a traditional rural woman whose…

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

Shows Windmill Theatre: Mama Mia! Until June 21 at Bunjil Place, 2, Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren. Bookings: windmilltheatre.com.auThe Basin Theatre Group: The War of the Worlds (A radio play by Howard E. Koch, based on the novel by H.G. Wells) Until June 22 at The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Rd., The Basin. Director: Pip Le…

OBSERVER: Blackrock

The MC Showroom presents Blackrock, the gripping drama adapted from Nick Enright’s earlier 45-minute piece, A Property of the Clan, from June 25 – 28 at the MC Showroom, Level 1, 50 Clifton St, Prahran.This reimagined production by Lunatix Theatre takes a new look at a story that confronts issues of toxic masculinity, peer pressure,…

OBSERVER: Don’t Get Carried Away

Roy Barker’s one man show, Don’t Get Carried Away, is a picaresque account of events in his life that led him to becoming a jobbing actor.From his role in the primary school musical to work on advertisements and plays, Barker’s account, though linear in its narrative style, maintains a disarming charm given his delight at…

OBSERVER: In A Persian Garden

The Dunolly Gilbert and Sullivan Society presents In a Persian Garden: An Afternoon with Liza Lehmann and Friends on Saturday, June 28 at 2pm at St John’s Anglican Church, 5 Finch St, Malvern East.This song cycle for soprano, contralto, tenor and bass by Edwardian song-writer Liza Lehmann in a setting from 1896, will be narrated…

OBSERVER: Thomas Heywood

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Classical organist Thomas Heywood celebrates the 200th anniversary of organ music in Australia with a concert of classical favourites performed on the Melbourne Town Hall Grand Organ on Sunday June 29 at 2pm. Admission is free, but bookings are essential.Australia’s very first pipe organ had its first public performance on May 15, 1825 at St…

OBSERVER: Garcon

Award-winning visual artist, spoken word poet, and storyteller Wani Toaishara brings his one-person show Garçon to Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre, as part of Darebin Arts Speakeasy’s season of boundary-pushing performances from July 16-20.Recognised for his cross-disciplinary work exploring Black life, dislocation, and Indigeneity,Garçon offers an intimate and poignant journey through the streets and communities…

OBSERVER: Australian Tapestry Worskhop unveiling

The Australian Tapestry Workshop hosted a cutting-off ceremony to reveal Australia’s first 3D tapestry – a groundbreaking floating ellipse installation that is destined for the $1.5b new Footscray Hospital.It was a major cultural event at the intersection of public art, First Nations design, healthcare and architectural innovation.Welcome to Country – now you see me: seeing…

OBSERVER: Lightning Thief

A truly musical fantasy, first conceived by Rick Riordan, a story about the Greek God, Poseidon’s “half blood” son who has an attention deficit hyperactive disorder and dyslexia. Monash University Student Theatre (MUST) embraced the work to a full house season of some 10 performances under Director Kyra Hatzikosmidis and her formidable crew.The full title…

OBSERVER: Dog Man The Musical

Dog Man: the Musical is the performance adventure based on Dav Pilkey’s worldwide bestselling book series, and returns to Melbourne for 10 performances from September 30 – October 4 at the Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne.The show follows the chronicles of a canine superhero, who loves to fight crime … and chew on the furniture.While trying…