Observer

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

Friday, April 4, 2025

ShowsWarrandyte Theatre Company: When the Wind Blows (by Raymond Briggs) Until April 12 at the Warrandyte Mechanics’ Institute, 180 Yarra St., Warrandyte. Director: David Tynan. Bookings: trybooking.com/cyjqtThe 1812 Theatre: The Thrill of Love (by Amanda Whittington) Until May 3 at The Bakery, The 1812 Theatre, 3 Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Director: Pip Le Blond….

OBSERVER: Breaking The Musical

To the growing list of unlikely heroes of the Olympics, Eddie the Eagle, Eric the Eel, the Jamaican bobsledders, Steven Bradbury, Australia can add another: our very own underdog queen of breaking, Spraygun, immortalised in creator Stephanie Broadbridge’s rollicking Breaking the Musical.Sprachael (Broadbridge), a wide-eyed, young(ish) Doctor of Breakdancing, hailing from the mean ghetto streets…

OBSERVER: An Age To Remember

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Abby Hampton presents her Melbourne International Comedy Festival show An Age to Remember from April 15 to 20 at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre at 6.30pm.Just before her 20th birthday, Abby asked the world (Facebook) advice for the decade of her 20s.She was flooded with guidance from well-meaning friends, family and that person she forgot…

OBSERVER: Anastasia

John Frost for Crossroads Live and Opera Australia has announced that the Broadway hit musical Anastasia will have its Australian premiere at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne in December.Inspired by the mysterious tale of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov’s rumoured escape in the dawning days of the Russian Revolution, and the 20th Century Fox animated fairytale…

OBSERVER: Adele, Adele, Adele

Friday, March 28, 2025

Award-winning British comedian Adele Cliff asserted her presence in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival even before arriving in town, by creating the longest show title in the Festival.Adele, Adele, Adele … Cliff It Isn’t The Consequences Of My Own Actions is a high-energy solo standup show presented by this hard-working dynamo until April 20 at…

OBSERVER: Becky Lucas

Becky Lucas (pictured) tours Things Have Changed, But The Essence Remains with her appearances at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival until April 20 at the Victoria Hotel.As an experiment, Becky is inviting audiences to text her on her real number 0410 472 546 asking her to say something funny.Becky promises to respond to all text…

OBSERVER: Tiny King

Nathan Hugh Robért presents Tiny King as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival from April 7 – 20 at The Motley Bauhaus, Carlton.In his show about height, power, and the absurdity of being small, Nathan plays a banished king trying to save his kingdom with comedy. The only problem is he’s not a comedian….

OBSERVER: Winni Wizard and the Ditzy Dizzard

Comedians Lisa Gatenby and Jacob Sacher will join forces to entertain ‘4-400 year olds’ as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in their show Winni Wizard and the Ditzy Dizzard, from April 5-11 at 2pm at the Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub, and April 12-17 at 2pm at Kindred Studios, Yarraville.Their story follows Winni…

OBSERVER: Roland Rocchiccioli

Author and actor Roland Rocchiccioli shared colourful stories of his remarkable theatrical journey over nearly 60 years at a Theatre Heritage Australia event held in the Process Lab, Arts Centre Melbourne.Roland engaged his audience with firsthand entertaining accounts of how the boy from the goldfields of Western Australia discovered the theatre and gained his start…

OBSERVER: Mr Snotbottom vs The Zombie Boogers

Mr Snotbottom vs The Zombie Boogers: The Science of Snot will be presented at the Melbourne Museum Theatre in Carlton as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival from April 2 – 14 at 2.45pm.This award-winning show is described as ‘ a side-splitting, gooey escapade and an adventure that’s nothing to sneeze at.’The promotional blurb…