Local Newspapers from Melbourne, Victorisa, Australia
Friday, September 18, 2026
Observer
The art of theatre improvisation is quite a skill and often lost under the radar, or underrated,in this era of blockbuster shows underpinned by wizard technicals, excellent choreography, and expensive rehearsal hours.Comedy Republic offers improvised shows throughout the Comedy Festival and I was fortunate to attend a 4.30pm performance of Something Good, thus very light…
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Observer
The wonderful Pilot program founded by Dylan McBurney last year, helps stage the first long-form comedy shows for emerging young comedians in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.A comedian himself, Dylan experienced the barriers young people face when transitioning from presenting five-minute sets to their own solo shows.Six hand-picked comedians with proven comedy experience are given…
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Police News
Echo Taskforce detectives yesterday charged six people, one a former patched member of the Rebels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, and seized four firearms, two imitation firearms and various drugs of dependence following an investigation in drug and firearm trafficking in Melbourne. Members from the Critical Incident Response Team arrested a 26-year-old Melton at his home address…
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Observer
Zoe Coombs Mar (pictured) is no stranger to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival – she won an award way back in 2016 for ‘most outstanding show’ – and she continues to make waves (pardon the pun) in The Splash Zone, her latest offering for the 2025 MICF.Fear not front-seat enthusiasts, you’re safe – but only…
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Observer
Not many author duos would have as fascinating past lives as Louise and Gareth Ward (pictured.The two New Zealand-based authors have just released their second novel together, a crime noir book called The Bookshop Detectives 2: Tea and Cake and Death.The book’s protagonists are ex-police officers Garth and Eloise, who run their own bookshop.In real…
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Observer
ShowsWarrandyte Theatre Company: When the Wind Blows (by Raymond Briggs) Until April 12 at the Warrandyte Mechanics’ Institute, 180 Yarra St., Warrandyte. Director: David Tynan. Bookings: trybooking.com/cyjqtThe 1812 Theatre: The Thrill of Love (by Amanda Whittington) Until May 3 at The Bakery, The 1812 Theatre, 3 Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Director: Pip Le Blond….
Read More about OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report
Observer
To the growing list of unlikely heroes of the Olympics, Eddie the Eagle, Eric the Eel, the Jamaican bobsledders, Steven Bradbury, Australia can add another: our very own underdog queen of breaking, Spraygun, immortalised in creator Stephanie Broadbridge’s rollicking Breaking the Musical.Sprachael (Broadbridge), a wide-eyed, young(ish) Doctor of Breakdancing, hailing from the mean ghetto streets…
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Uncategorized
Two brothers with alleged links to international organised crime have been charged over a complex drug importation plot involving 80kg of cocaine. The men appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday (Apr. 2) after the Australian Federal Police arrested them earlier in the day. One of the men, 38, from Seabrook, was remanded…
Read More about NORTH-WEST: Brothers charged over 80kg cocaine importation plot
Police News
A Melbourne man who gave false testimony and provided falsified evidence to the Family Court of Australia has been sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment. The man, now 36, will spend six months in prison, before being released from custody. The remaining 12 months of his sentence is to be served on a Recognisance Release Order,…
Read More about MELBOURNE: ‘Lied to Family Court about $4m assets’
Police News
A Victorian man has been charged with allegedly threatening a Commonwealth Parliamentarian via email. The AFP charged the Ballarat man, 51, after an investigation into alleged threats made in two emails to the Parliamentarian’s electoral office. The AFP allegedly traced these messages to the man’s personal email account and executed a search warrant on Thursday…
Read More about MELBOURNE: Man alleged to have threatened MP