Running from 18-21 September at the National Institute of Circus Arts in Prahran, Fall With Me is a stunning ensemble show that showcases the remarkable talents of the 2024 NICA second year students. Directed by the insightful Katie Cawthorne, the performance intricately weaves themes of trust and vulnerability through a captivating exploration of the human psyche. The show features breathtaking acts, including aerial acrobatics, teeterboard, hair hang, hoops and Chinese pole, each pushing the boundaries of physicality and emotional connection. Cawthorne’s direction shines as the performers navigate their aerial feats with grace and precision, highlighting not only their technical skills…
Author: Caroline Duncan
The Glow Winter Arts Festival returns for its 10th anniversary, taking over Central Park in Malvern East to light up each night from 18-21 July 2024. Each night during the festival, the historic park will be transformed into a breathtaking wonderland, offering a free program of mesmerising outdoor light and sound installations that ignite the imagination. Melbourning was invited to take a sneak peek of this year’s immersive installations the night before they officially open to the public. I took a 17 year old and a 12 year old along for the ride. We braved the freezing cold and at times…
The critically acclaimed production of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Red Stitch Actor’s Theatre now playing for a strictly limited season at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre, crackles with electrifying performances and razor-sharp dialogue, delivering an unforgettable night of theatre. Starring AFI and Logie Award winner Kat Stewart, the play is masterclass in dramatic literature that delves into the complexities of marriage, illusion, and disillusionment. Set in the living room of George – a history professor at a small New England college – and his wife Martha whose father is the president of the university, the play unravels over…
I am writing this negative review because in a cost of living crisis I feel I have a moral obligation to warn families not to spend their hard-earned money on an event that is clearly taking the piss. On the weekend I took two 19-year-olds, a 17-year-old and a 12-year-old to the Firelight Labyrinth event that’s currently running underneath Marvel Stadium. I need to mention their ages for context: these were not bored toddlers with no attention span. These were fully-formed human beings who have the requisite awareness to understand when they’ve been hoodwinked by the City of Melbourne. The…
Alcotraz – an immersive cocktail experience has opened in Melbourne this week – a unique theatrical night out that involves going to a fictional prison to drink cocktails and interact with a cast of actors who play inmates and guards. Melbourning was given the opportunity to attend a preview evening of the experience ahead of its official opening. Inspired by the notorious Alcatraz prison off the coast of San Francisco, Alcotraz requires participants to become inmates attempting to smuggle contraband liquor past a few shifty guards who are willing to look the other way. The concept has already been delivered…
Tom Gleeson stepped onto the stage on the opening night of the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival and thanked the audience, tongue-in-cheek of course, for taking a chance on a middle aged, white, rich male comedian. It set the pace for the hour that followed in his new show Gear – an uproarious journey through the absurdities of modern life. This show will leave you both laughing and pondering the absurdities of the world around us. With a career spanning more than two decades, Gleeson has established himself as a comedic powerhouse in Australia – earning acclaim for his stand-up…
Chicago now playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne is an electrifying spectacle that immerses the audience in the seductive and ruthless world of 1920s Chicago. Led by a stellar cast, this production delivers a five-star performance that razzle-dazzles from start to finish. The musical is beloved classic that follows the stories of two sensational murderesses, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, as they vie for fame, fortune and freedom in the corrupt world of 1920s Chicago’s criminal justice system. With catchy tunes, sizzling choreography, and razor-sharp wit, the show explores themes of celebrity, manipulation, and the pursuit of the American…
Gaslight currently playing at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre is a modern adaptation of the 1938 suspenseful thriller by Patrick Hamilton starring Geraldine Hakewill, Toby Schmitz and Kate Fitzpatrick and Courtney Cavallaro. This production of Gaslight is a version of an adaptation from Canadian writer / performers Patty Jamieson and Johnna Wright that world-premiered at the internationally renowned Shaw Festival in Canada in 2022. It is directed by highly-acclaimed Australian director Lee Lewis, and produced by Rodney Rigby. The play, set in 1901 London, is the original source of the term ‘gaslighting’. Gaslighting, a term widely used in today’s society, refers to the psychological manipulation of individuals, making them doubt their own sanity.…
The smash hit Broadway musical Wicked flew in to Melbourne’s Regent Theatre on the weekend and treating the audience to an extraordinary evening of musical theatre, that captivated them from start to finish. From the moment the actors took to the stage, the audience was transported into a mesmerising world filled with magic, friendship, and the power of self-discovery. I was lucky enough to snare tickets to the special preview performance on Saturday night ahead of its official opening. The audience at this performance was full of enthusiastic fans who were ecstatic to be returning to the land of Oz.…
Pink loves Melbourne, and Melbourne loves Pink. The beloved singer has just completed two concerts at Marvel Stadium as part of her Summer Carnival world tour and the show on Saturday 24 February was nothing short of electrifying, leaving the audience spellbound and exhilarated from start to finish. From her powerful vocals to her mesmerizing stage presence, Pink delivered a performance that transcended expectations and solidified her status as a true superstar. Emerging from a giant mouth above the stage and bungee jumping down, she kicked things off with her party anthem Get the Party Started. In true Pink style,…
Groundhog Day the Musical currently playing at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre delivers an outstanding and captivating performance that leaves the audience thoroughly entertained. Tim Minchin’s musical adaptation of the beloved film seamlessly blends humor, heart, and catchy tunes to create an unforgettable experience. The talented cast brings the characters to life with impressive vocals and stellar acting, staying true to the spirit of the original movie. I went along to the performance not really knowing what to expect. I knew that it had rave reviews on London’s West End, but hadn’t done so well on Broadway. And the first 15-20 minutes…
The Rain Room by Random Interactive is an expansive interactive art piece that combines art, technology, and nature. This immersive experience, first introduced to Australia in August 2019 as part of Jackalope Hotel’s art collection, features a 100 square meter continuous rainfall where visitors can interact with and move through the rain. I’ve wanted to visit the installation, having missed out on the first two seasons it was in Melbourne. I went with an 11 year old and a 17 year old as a summer school holiday outing. Positioned in a specially designed pavilion in St Kilda, Rain Room has…