Observer

OBSERVER: The Birds

Thursday, May 22, 2025

This production of Daphne du Maurier’s classic, gothic horror The Birds, is craftily adapted for stage by Louise Fox and Director Matthew Lutton.On each seat is placed a set of headphones to be worn by audience members for the entirety of the show.Testing instructions are clear and are repeated when the headsets are first put…

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OBSERVER: Femme Play

The Butterfly Club is the atmospheric venue for feminist writer Judy Doubas’s latest work, Femme Play (ungrateful slut) playing until May 31 as part of the Drama Queen Festival.Well-directed by Susan Rundle, Femme Play is a modern-day exploration of female identity vs. the patriarchy – by socially conscious Al (a delightful performance from Gabby Llewelyn),…

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OBSERVER: The Creation

Mention the name Haydn to a lover of classical music and they are likely to smile and sigh with happiness.Haydn was equally adept at creating instrumental and choral masterpieces, and one of his greatest pieces of music is the oratorio The Creation, which is being performed by Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra and soloists…

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OBSERVER: Away

When you first step into the MUST space at the Monash Clayton Campus, you are met with an overwhelming sense of community, passion, and joy.And, as the curtain rises for act one of Away, that feeling of excitement and enthusiasm within the cast, crew and company only grows.Away by Michael Gow is a play about…

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OBSERVER: Storked

The inventive theatricality of writer and performer, Myf Hocking’s, Storked, shows a creativity and awareness of stage craft with projections (Lara Gabor) and scenes behind a scrim (Viv Hargreaves) suggesting how simple techniques bring about a powerful dramatic effect. Maude Davey’s direction would also be instrumental in this.What is hard to reconcile is the multitude…

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OBSERVER: Cabaret De Paris

The internationally acclaimed Cabaret De Paris returns to The Palms at Crown for two performances only on Saturday July 5 at 2pm and 7.30pm.Back by popular demand, this Parisian-themed burlesque extravaganza is a celebration of old-fashioned showgirl glamour featuring a parade of bejewelled dancers who have graced legendary stages from Moulin Rouge to the Lido…

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OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

ShowsPeridot Theatre Company: Proof (by David Auburn) Until May 25 at the Clayton Theatrette, Clayton Community Centre, Cooke St., Clayton. Director: Damian Jones. Bookings: peridot.com.auCLOC Musical Theatre: Nice Work if You Can Get It. Until May 31 at the National Theatre, St Kilda. Director: Mark Taylor; Musical Director: David Clausen-Wisken; Choreographer: Susan Lewis; Ass’t. Choreographer:…

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OBSERVER: NICA

The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) presents the third-year student ensemble show, titled Proteus, co-directed by international artists Sage Bachtler Cushman (2010 NICA alumna) and Hugo Oliveira, showing June 18-28 at NICA National Circus Centre in Prahran.With a postmodern deconstructionist point of departure, a peculiar world sets in. Voyaging through the city’s architectural spaces,…

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OBSERVER: Shadow Boxing

He is a Boxer, with problems. Living in the shadows of his infamous father who had a failed boxing career. At the same time, his own sexuality comes to play and he has many dilemmas in meeting the expectations of his father and the world.Shadow Boxing written by English actor James Gaddes in 1989, is…

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OBSERVER: Spanish Film Festival

The 2025 HSBC Spanish Film Festival will be presented in Melbourne at Palace Cinemas, Palace Nova and Luna Palace Cinemas from June 13-July 2.The Festival includes a curated selection of 30 films from Spain and Latin America, starting with Opening Night comedy Samana Sunrise (Amanece en Samaná), featuring an all-star cast including Luis Zahera, María…