Observer

OBSERVER: Come From Aawy

Saturday, October 24, 2026

Come from Away at the National Theatre is the remarkable story of how the residents of Gander, in remote Newfoundland, Canada, opened their hearts and homes to total strangers, in the wake of the attacks on New York on September 11, 2001.Welcome to the Rock introduces town residents. The Mayor, Claude (Rick Birkett), teacher Beulah,…

Observer

OBSERVER: A Twist of Fate

Scary Goats Theatre is bringing back A Twist of Fate for its sixth season to “terrorise and titillate audiences” at The Motley Bauhaus from October 29-31.Inspired by The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror, this new season of A Twist of Fate contains four short plays about the unusual and otherworldly, each with their own devastating…

Observer

OBSERVER: An Evening Without Kate Bush

Developed in collaboration with director Russell Lucas, Sarah-Louise Young’s An Evening Without Kate Bush is a one-woman show that packs a punch.A ghost-like apparition appears on stage and immediately launches into an eerie rendition of Kate Bush’s “And Dream of Sheep.”Next, the audience is asked to practice collectively howling at a metaphorical moon.“She’s not here,…

Observer

OBSERVER: NICA Anniversary

Congratulations to the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) which celebrates its 25th anniversary from November 20-21 (preview November 19) with Coming Home, a special performance and fundraising event, curated by NICA’s Head of Circus Studies Juliana Neves.Coming Home brings generations of alumni, trainers and current students together on stage for a journey through the…

Observer

OBSERVER: Morning Melodies

Friday, October 23, 2026

Opera stars Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Georgia Wilkinson will present two performances of Morning Melodies at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne on Monday, November 9 at 11am and 1.30pm.Baritone Teddy has been acclaimed for his performances in South Pacific and Carmen, while soprano Georgia is known for The Magic Flute, The Phantom of the Opera…

Observer

OBSERVER: Metropolitan Opera

New York’s Metropolitan Opera celebrates 20 years of Live in HD Productions with a season of opera that will screen in cinemas around Australia from later this month.The 20th season of The Met: Live in HD confirms the company’s position as the leading provider of alternative cinema content in the world.The Met Opera is the…

Observer

OIBSERVER: 50 years for Essendon Theatre Company

Congratulations to members of Essendon Theatre Company who celebrated ETC’s 50th anniversary with many folk who made the milestone possible by sharing time, talent and passion.Actors, directors, front-of-house personnel, backstage volunteers and audience members came together at the Bradshaw Street Community Hall for an afternoon of memories and celebration.Essendon Theatre Company started as ‘The Jacobians’,…

Observer

OBSERVER: Closer

Avid Theatre presents Patrick Marber’s drama Closer as a co-production with The 1812 Theatre in the intimate venue of bakery@1812, Rose St, Upper Ferntree Gully, from October 28 to November 7,Described as a ‘gripping and unflinching drama’, Closer lays bare the anatomy of modern relationships.The play follows four strangers whose lives collide in a volatile…

Observer

OBSERVER: Gospel According To Paul

Subtitled ‘the second coming’, the return season of this one-man show has lost none of its verve and vigour.Jonathan Biggins has seamlessly added contemporary political references that are hilarious and reverberate like a gut punch from the man he portrays, former Prime Minister, Paul Keating.The mannerisms and voice are pitch perfect, given a sense of…

Observer

OBSERVER: Grease

PLOS Musical Productions will present Grease from December 31 to January 10 at the Frankston Arts Centre.This is the first of PLOS’ The Next Generation productions.Featuring all the familiar songs such as Greased Lightnin’, You’re the One That I Want, Summer Nights and more, Grease tells the story of young love in the setting of…