Observer

OBSERVER: Nighttime Travesty

Sunday, February 2, 2025

A revamped production of A Nighttime Travesty will be presented at the Beckett Theatre at Malthouse from February 19 – 22 as part of Asia TOPA.Created by A Daylight Connection, with this new production directed by Stephen Nicolazzo, A Nighttime Travesty is set aboard the last plane hurtling out of Earth, following a motley crew…

OBSERVER: Frank van Straten Fellowship applications open

Saturday, February 1, 2025

Applications for the 2025 Frank Van Straten Fellowship close on March 23.Arts enthusiasts are offered the opportunity to research and develop a project of their choosing in exploration of the iconic Australian Performing Arts Collection (APAC).“We are so grateful and immensely proud to be launching this, our sixth Frank Van Straten Fellowship. Over the years,…

OBSERVER: Shirley Valentine

Natalie Bassingthwaighte returns to Australian stages to star in the comedy Shirley Valentine, directed by Lee Lewis and playing until February 16 at The Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne.This one-woman play by Willy Russell tells the inspiring and hilarious story of Shirley, a middle-aged, working class Liverpool housewife stuck in a life of routine.Talking to her kitchen…

OBSERVER: Free comedy stand-up

The Comics Lounge in North Melbourne is offering free stand-up comedy shows at 8pm between February 4 – 8 and February 12 or 13. This is an opportunity for audiences to sample performances from Comedy Festival shows from this year and last year in two hours of stand-up comedy.When: February 4, 5, 6, 7, 8…

OBSERVER: ‘Crossroads’ music column

Friday, January 31, 2025

Cricket MusicalCricket The Musical – 5 for 25, The 2025 (almost) National Tour will play on Sat. (Feb. 8) at Memo Music Hall, St Kilda . Denis Carnahan is taking his hilarious one-man cult hit musical comedy show on its first National Tour in 2025. Melbourne fans can cheer on their heroes as Cricket The…

OBSERVATIONS with Matt Bissett-Johnson

OBSERVER: To Di For – Fun In The Sun

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Valentines Day (Fri., Feb. 14) is a special day for many people, I thought I would top my weekend off by attending Summer Fun Fest. What a line up. And what a location, Rochford Wines in the Yarra Valley.With a ‘tour de force’ of the Australian music industry to perform at the inaugural music festival,…

OBSERVER: A Body At Work

As part of this year’s Midsumma Festival, A Body At Work had a return Melbourne season at Theatre Works and received a well-earned rapturous reception on its opening night.A solitary woman (Frankie van Kan) tells her story of being queer while working in various roles in the sex industry for well over a decade.Tale after…

OBSERVER: The Arts with Peter Kemp

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

YAYOI KUSAMA RETROSPECTIVE AT NGVYayoi KusamaFrom polka dots to pumpkins and more: Australia’s largest Yayoi Kusama retrospective exhibition opens exclusively in Melbourne with new, world-premiere work.The NGV celebrates the illustrious career of iconic artist Yayoi Kusama with a world-premiere blockbuster exhibition spanning her eight-decade practice, including the global unveiling of the artists most recent immersive…

OBSERVER: John O’Keefe’s column

The Fonz is coming to townLogie winner (1976) Henry Winkler is coming to Hamer Hall for a one- man show, February 15. Best known for his performances in the long running ‘Happy Days’, Henry will discuss all manner of topics about difficulties growing up, then acting , through to his very own family and kids….