Observer

OBSERVER: Cicero’s Column

Thursday, February 6, 2025

• Tickets have sold out for the VicRoads Heritage plate auction on Tuesday February 18. Some 500 tickets were claimed. The auction can be viewed online at heritageonly.com.au• Melbourne Opera presents Richard Wagner’s comedy Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at 3pm on February 16 and 22, and 5pm on February 18 and 20. The performances will…

OBSERVER: Crime Every Mountain

Sisters in Crime present Crime Every Mountain at 8pm on Friday, February 28 at the Rising Sun Hotel, 2 Raglan St, South Melbourne.Women’s crime writing has risen to new heights. It’s left the dry, dusty plains behind and headed for the hills or rather the mountains – with thrilling and chilling consequences.Claire Sutherland (The Crag),…

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

ShowsPEP Productions: The Toxic Avenger (musical) February 14 – 22 at the Doncaster Playhouse, 679 Doncaster Rd., Doncaster. Director/choreographer: Natasha Harvey; Co-Musical Directors: Daniel Kim and Kristie Thai; Ass’t. Choreographer: Xi Gui Griffi. Bookings:Geelong Repertory Theatre Company: Bondi Legal (by Tony Laumberg) Until February 22 at the Woodbin Theatre, 15 Coronation St., Geelong West. Director:…

OBSERVER: $50,000 award for bold ideas

The National Institute of Dramatic Art is launching the $50,000 Jim Sharman Future Award. The Award is for a bold idea or project with the potential to transform the arts for generations to come.Open to artists and dreamers aged 16-30 from Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, this new triennial Award offers substantial funding alongside tailored…

OBSERVER: Radio man Philip Brady retires

Melbourne radio legend Philip Brady has hung up his radio microphone, at age 85.Brady recorded a farewell message to his listeners when co-host Simon Owens visited the veteran in his home suburb of Kew.“Well it has come to this, after 67 years in the business I am quitting and I am very sad to be…

OBSERVER: Sauna Boy

Monday, February 3, 2025

Sauna Boy, written and performed by Dan Ireland-Reeves and produced in association with Gavin Roach, is being presented until February 8 at The Motley Bauhaus, Melbourne.Sauna Boy tells of Dan who works at the south-coast’s most successful and infamous gay sauna. A place where men from all walks of life come to relax and socialise.This…

OBSERVER: Asia TOPA

sia TOPA (Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts) will present the Triennial’s Nightlife programme at Arts Centre Melbourne from February 20-March 10.Bringing together contemporary performance art and club culture, Asia TOPA is a city-wide celebration of the very best of Asia-Pacific arts, culture and ideas.Featuring a range of specially curated events across the city, from free…

OIBSERVER: Vizard’s book

Nation, Memory, Myth by Steve Vizard releases on April 16 from Melbourne University Publishing.In his new book Steve Vizard brings an original perspective to the foundational myth of Gallipoli as a sacred bearer of Australian national values and identity.Nation, Memory, Myth offers the reader a challenging new look at the extraordinary vitality of myth as…

OBSERVER: Whatever Happened To … Jenny Howard

I feel that the great stars of the Australian stage during the 20th Century are being forgotten by the modern generation.It is a great pity that we do not celebrate the lives of some of our performersw. I had the opportunity to see Jenny Howard in one show and it made a great impression on…

OBSERVER: Red Stitch’s “Honour’

Sunday, February 2, 2025

Red Stitch Actors Theatre presents Honour by Joanna Murray-Smith from February 19 – March 16 (Previews February 15-18) at the Red Stitch Theatre, Chapel Street, St Kilda.This return season of this poignant exploration of infidelity and identity is directed by multi-award-winning Sam Strong (commissioned and directed Boy Swallows Universe) and features Red Stitch ensemble member…