Observer

OBSERVER: Gasworks turns 40

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Located at 21 Graham Street, Albert Park, Gasworks turns 40 in 2026, with a new vision as a home for creativity under new Creative Director and CEO Sam Strong.Complete with park upgrade, a new brand and a renovated foyer, Gasworks will now be curated in quarterly instalments, with the first season of four shows for…

Observer

OBSERVER: The Wizard Of Oz

PLOS Musical Productions are preparing for their holiday season musical production of The Wizard of Oz, being presented at the Frankston Arts Centre from December 31 to January 10.Directed and choreographed by Michael Mitchell, with musical direction by Malcom Huddle, The Wizard of Oz not only invites audiences to follow the Yellow Brick Road, but…

Observer

OBSERVER: Fine Lines

Some 26 Fine Lines dancers, aged between 45 and 80, will present a new work, Four, in the Sylvia Staehli Theatre in Dancehouse, North Carlton, from December 12 -14.Described as a ‘vibrant and deeply moving new work’, Four is created by Louisa Duckett and Katrina Rank, inspired by Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.Four follows the seasons of…

Observer

OBSERVER: Peter Pan – A Twinkle In Time

Peter Pan: A Twinkle in Time will be presented as part of the Midsumma Festival from January 20 – 24 at the Theatre Works Explosives Factory.The brainchild of writer and performer Dean Robinson, Peter Pan: A Twinkle in Time follows the well-known character in a whole new context, navigating the world of today, in a…

Observer

OIBSERVER: Peninsula Summer Music Festival

The Peninsula Summer Music Festival 2026 will be presented from Saturday January 3 – Sunday January 11 in 18 events across the Mornington Peninsula.Attendees can enjoy a Baroque Opera Gala, The Bamboos, Karin Schaupp, David Greco and Chad Kelly, AYO Young Artist Theonie Wang, Cedar Collective, Ensemble 642, Aaron Wyatt, Ensemble Offspring and more, at…

Observer

OBSERVER: Shakespeare’s Best Bits

An Australian Shakespeare Company production, Peter Quince Presents: Shakespeare’s Best Bits, will take the Bard off the school syllabus and let his fun characters run loose in the Royal Botanic Gardens from December 20 – January 17.Led by Peter Quince (the carpenter), the Atheneum Players – Athens’ premium troupe at the time (1595) unleash their…

Observer

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

OSMaD: Come From Away. Until December 13 at the Geoffrey McComas Theatre, Scotch College Campus, 1 Morrison St., Hawthorn. Director: Daragh Wills; Music Director: David Barr. Bookings: osmad.com.auThink First Theatre Company: A Christmas Presence (Written and directed by Elizabeth Semmel) December 13 at 11am/2pm, December 14 at 11am, December 19 at 7pm, December 20 at…

Observer

OBSERVER: Vale Arthur Higgins

Former Melbourne television newsman Arthur Higgins died on Saturday, November 29 at age 85.His daughter Gemma Dewar made the sad announcement. Arthur have battled a number of health conditions with cheer and courage for some years.In recent times he had lived at Kilmore, near family, but it was a long way from his first days…

Observer

OBSERVER: DIVA Exhibition

DIVA, an acclaimed international exhibition developed by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum celebrating some of history’s most provocative and powerful divas, will open the new Australian Museum of Performing Arts on December 11.An Australian exclusive, DIVA will feature more than 250 objects including 60 spectacular costumes, jewellery, photography, art and music drawn from the V…

Observer

OBSERVER: A Christmas Presence

Think First Theatre Company presents the family musical play A Christmas Presence on December 13, 14, 19 and 20 at the Mills Street Warehouse Theatre, Mills St, Cheltenham.The show is written and directed by Elizabeth Semmel, who describes the production as “a Mary and Joseph Christian story told in a fun, musical way, with shepherds,…