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Observer

OBSERVER: Pride and Prejudice (sort of)

Friday, July 3, 2026

Writer Isobel McArthur has given the full pantomime treatment to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, in this (sort of) reimagining.Complete with slapstick, physical comedy, sight gags and contemporary song, lovers of Austen may well claim the caricatures who inhabit the novel were the forerunners of the genre such is the comic timing and enthusiasm of…

Observer

OBSERVER: Break Of Day

Acclaimed Australian director Sarah Goodes is reuniting with AACTA award-winner Kat Stewart for the premiere of Steve Rodgers’s Break of Day. This new Australian classic will play at Malthouse’s Merlyn Theatre from August 7–29.Stewart, recipient of the 2025 Sydney Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production for Who’s Afraid…

Observer

OBSERVER: Evocation

The Royal Melbourne Philharmonic will be spreading its musical magic beyond Melbourne, with its forthcoming concert called Evocations, which is a program of short choral works from around the world.Over the weekends of July 11-12 and 18-19, the RMP will perform this concert in Melbourne, Ballarat and Castlemaine.RMP Artistic Director Andrew Wailes (pictyured) has chosen…

Observer

OIBSERVER: A Beautiful Noise – The Neil Diamond Musical

PHOTO: Broadway star Will Swenson plays Neil Diamond in A Beautiful Nose: The Neil Diamond Musical. Producers Paul Dainty and TEG Dainty, Ken Davenport and Bob Gaudio, have announced the new release of tickets for the Melbourne season of A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, following overwhelming demand.The season has been extended by two…

Observer

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

Shows Leongatha Lyric Theatre: Billy Elliot the Musical Until July 18 at the Memorial Hall, Leongatha. Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1576537 sGeelong Repertory Theatre Company: The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark (William Shakespeare) June 26 – July 11 at The Woodbin Theatre, Coronation St., Geelong West. Director: Greg Shawcross. Bookings: Geelong Arts Centre 1300 251 200 geelongartscentre.org.auEltham…

Latest Issues

OUT NOW: Wed., July 1, 2026 – First Edition

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

The First Edition of this week’s Local Paper/Melbourne Observer is published online.Other Editions will be published progressively. Read online at: https://isu.pub/0n6DsDN Next print/online issue is Wed., July 8, 2026

Politics

STATEWIDE: Crackdown on dodgy taxi drivers

Monday, June 29, 2026

n The State Government says that it is introducing stronger reforms to crack down on taxi and rideshare drivers who refuse short trips, turn away assistance animals, rip people off and make passengers feel unsafe.From today (Wed., July 1) the ‘two strikes you’re out’ rule will expand to include misusing the meter, refusing a receipt…

Emergency Services

MOONEE VALLEY: Fire at Ascot Vale

Fire Rescue Victoria responded at 9.54am on Sunday (June 28) to an incident in Savige Street, Ascot Vale after callers to Triple Zero (000) reported a building fire.Firefighters arrived on scene within six minutes to find an approximately 50 x 10 metre, brick apartment fully involved in fire.The apartment was on the ground floor of…

Police News

CASEY: Police probe assault at soccer game

Police are appealing for public assistance as they investigate an assault at a soccer game in Doveton.An 18-year-old man, who was on the field at a reserve on Power Rd, was assaulted by three male offenders earlier ths year, about 8pm on Thursday, April 23.It is understood there was an earlier physical altercation between two…

Observer

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

Sunday, June 28, 2026

ShowsWarrandyte Theatre Company: The Father (by Florian Zellar translated by Christopher Hampton) Until July 4 at the Warrandyte Mechanics’ Institute, 180 Yarra St., Warrandyte. Director: Grant Purdy. Bookings: trybooking.com/DHJOPGeelong Repertory Theatre Company: The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark (William Shakespeare) Until July 11 at The Woodbin Theatre, Coronation St., Geelong West. Director: Greg Shawcross….