Observer

OBSERVER: Who’s Talking?

Friday, April 4, 2025

Before Bron Lewis (pictured) was one of Australia’s most promising new comedians, she was a high school teacher for almost a decade.Bron says she became a teacher because she hates learning – she would rather saw off her own legs than learn a new card game, and in her opinion whoever coined the term ‘board…

OBSERVER: Something Good

The art of theatre improvisation is quite a skill and often lost under the radar, or underrated,in this era of blockbuster shows underpinned by wizard technicals, excellent choreography, and expensive rehearsal hours.Comedy Republic offers improvised shows throughout the Comedy Festival and I was fortunate to attend a 4.30pm performance of Something Good, thus very light…

OBSERVER: Pilot

The wonderful Pilot program founded by Dylan McBurney last year, helps stage the first long-form comedy shows for emerging young comedians in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.A comedian himself, Dylan experienced the barriers young people face when transitioning from presenting five-minute sets to their own solo shows.Six hand-picked comedians with proven comedy experience are given…

OBSERVER: Splash Zone

Zoe Coombs Mar (pictured) is no stranger to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival – she won an award way back in 2016 for ‘most outstanding show’ – and she continues to make waves (pardon the pun) in The Splash Zone, her latest offering for the 2025 MICF.Fear not front-seat enthusiasts, you’re safe – but only…

OBSERVER: Bookshop Detectives

Not many author duos would have as fascinating past lives as Louise and Gareth Ward (pictured.The two New Zealand-based authors have just released their second novel together, a crime noir book called The Bookshop Detectives 2: Tea and Cake and Death.The book’s protagonists are ex-police officers Garth and Eloise, who run their own bookshop.In real…

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

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…