Observer

OBSERVER: Encounters

Saturday, March 1, 2025

Four short plays written by award-winning Australian playwright Alex Broun will be presented in Encounters, from March 19 – 22 at the MC Showroom, Prahran.An ensemble of ethnically and age diverse Australian actors, spanning from Green-Room-award winning to experienced all-rounders, internationally renowned movie/stage performers to versatile rookies, tells stories about the human condition from quiet…

OBSERVER: Honour

Friday, February 28, 2025

Joanna Murray-Smith’s Honour has lost none of its vitality and relevance in the 30 years since its first performance.The writing is crisp and the examination of love in all its iterations and guises remains timeless.Murray-Smith does not attribute blame when the 32 year marriage of Honor (Caroline Lee) and George (Peter Houghton) unravels.The ambitious Claudia…

OBSERVER: Alanah Parkin’s Garage Sale

Described as a ‘character chameleon’, Alanah Parkin brings this debut solo show, Alanah Parkin’s Garage Sale to the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival from March 26 – April 6 at DoubleTree by Hilton in Flinders Street, Melbourne.Directed by Isaac Haigh (MICF Best Newcomer 2023, Melbourne Fringe Best Comedy 2022), Parkin has previously graced Melbourne’s festival…

OBSERVER: The Campers

Readers who enjoyed Maryrose Cuskelly’s bestselling novel The Cane will be intrigued by her latest book, The Campers.It is a story that looks at what happens when the concepts of ‘woke’ and ‘not in my backyard’ collide with each other.Protagonist Leah enjoys her live on The Drove, an inner-city cul-de-sac where the neighbours look out…

OBSERVER: Piera Dennerstein

Opera singer turned cabaret cantatrice Piera Dennerstein performs her award-winning solo cabaret Pursuing Pleasure at the Gasworks Arts Park, Albert Park, on March 7 and 8 and also at The Round in Nunawading on April 4, as part of a Creative Australia funded national tour.From Puccini to Cardi B, Piera tells the story, with humour,…

OBSERVER: Cleaved

Australian playwright, former journalist and cartoonist Jane Cafarella (pictured) has published her memoir titled Cleaved.Jane’s work has been widely published in Australia and overseas, her plays have been performed nationally and internationally, and her cartoon archive is held at the State Library Victoria.But what Jane didn’t write about until now was growing up with Milroy’s…

OBSERVER: Purple is the gayest colour

Alayne Dick never forgets an insult, in fact she wrote a whole show about it. Purple is the Gayest Colour will be presented at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival from March 26-April 6 at Tasma Terrace.Following sold-out seasons at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival and the New Zealand Fringe Festival, Alayne is bringing her…

OBSERVER: Vale Lorna Osborne

Lorna Osborne (Axon), veteran Melbourne-based Tivoli dancer, choreographer, director and long-term dancing teacher, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 19, aged 96.Born in Richmond on June 21,1928, and an only child, Lorna attended dance classes with Miss Lorna Vesper in Richmond from age five to fifteen.She studied RAD classical ballet, tap, musical comedy, Highland, Irish…

OBSERVER: Green Room Nominations

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

The Green Room Awards Association has announced the nominees for the 42nd Annual Green Room Awards.The most nominated productions this year include GROUNDHOG DAY (11 nominations), CANDIDE (9 nominations), 37 (8 nominations), MY BRILLIANT CAREER (8 nominations) and COUNTING & CRACKING (7 nominations). Anton Berezin, President of the Green Room Awards Association said: “During 2024,…

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

ShowsGilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria: Fledermaus! March 8, 9 at The Round Studio, Nunawading. April 12 at Moe Plaza. Director: Robert Ray; Musical Director: Geoffrey Urquhart. Bookings: gsov.org.auWilliamstown Little Theatre: Wicked Sisters (by Alma de Groen) Until March 3 at Williamstown Little Theatre, 2 Albert St., Williamstown. Director: Ellis Ebell. Bookings: wlt.org.au/Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company: Moon…