Observer

OBSERVER: The Sacrifice of Farinelli

Having its Australian premiere, the play The Sacrifice of Farinelli is a bold undertaking by Subverse Theatre which asks the question “What price the pursuit of perfection?”Set in the 18th century, two Italian brothers who live for music are Riccardo and Carlo Broschi.Riccardo is a composer while Carlo, a singer with a heavenly falsetto voice,…

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

The 1812 Theatre: Treasure Island (by Ken Ludwig) Until August 29 at 3 Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Director: Erin O’Hare. Bookings: 1812theatre.com.au24th South Gippsland One Act Play Festival (FAMDA – Foster Arts Music and Drama Association) August 29-30Details and tickets: vdl.org.au/vdl-event/24th-south-gippsland-one-act-play-festival/Brighton Theatre Company: The Trouble with Harry (by Lachlan Philpott) Until August 29 at the Bayside…

OBSERVER: The Magic Sceptre

Track Youth Theatre presents The Magic Sceptre from August 28-29 at the Clayton Community Centre.With script and music by Ed Bailey and directed by Sophie Jevons, The Magic Sceptre tells of all being well in Herenway, as while the Queen holds the Magic Sceptre, everyone from princesses to peasants are happy.But this changes when an…

OBSERVER: Tipping Out of Trouble

It’s easy to get dispirited when most of the headlines we see in our newspapers and on our televisions are about all the major problems the world is facing, but scientist and author Martin Scheffer says we can do something about it.He maintains that world crises, wealth inequality, declining trust and climate change are not…

OBSERVER: Tales by the Brothers Grimm

Shake and Stir Theatre Company presents Grimm, Tales from the Brothers Grimm, from August 25 to September 12 at the Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Mel-bourne.Audiences are invited into a world where fairy tales are reimagined with “profound intensity and irreverent glee”. But there is a warning that these bedtime stories might cause nightmares.Within the walls…

OBSERVER: Admissions

Friday, July 31, 2026

Peridot Theatre presents their VDL entry Admissions from August 14-23 at the Clayton Theatrette, Cooke St, Clayton.Written by Joshua Harmon and directed by Alison Knight, Admissions tells of Sherri Rosen-Mason, head of the admissions department at a New England prep school, fighting to diversify the student body.Alongside her husband, the school’s headmaster, they’ve largely succeeded…

OBSERVER: Two

HOTO: Chris Mentor and Angelique Malcolm portray seven roles each inTwo. Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group (STAG) presents the two-hander comedy-drama Two from August 20-29 at the Strathmore Community Theatre, Loeman St, Strathmore.Written by Jim Cartwright and directed by Natasha Boyd, Two is set in an English pub in the 1980s, where two actors play seven…

OBSERVER: Funeral Flowers

Lucy Ansell’s portrayal of the homeless Angelique is a triumph. There is a physical litheness and vocal dexterity in her approach as she seamlessly moves between characters in Emma Dennis-Edwards’s monologue script, Funeral Flowers.Adding to the completeness of performance is the integration of light (Kyra Ryan) and sound (Christian Biko) where these theatrical elements embody…

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

Saturday, July 18, 2026

Shows Friends of Black Rock House: The Jewel by the Sea (by Cheryl Threadgold) Until July 25 at Black Rock House, 30-36 Ebden Ave., Black Rock. Director: Debbie Keyt. BYO refreshments. Bookings: Trybooking.Theatrical: Bring It On. Until July 26 at the National Theatre, St Kilda. Director: Tahra Canon; Musical Director: Claire Gurrin: Choreographer: Louise Panagiotidis….