Theatre & Dance
Latest Melbourne theatre and dance reviews and previews
How to get cheap theatre tickets in Melbourne
Venerable American theatre critic Jonathan Kalb once remarked that the only way to really enjoy theatre was in large doses. The playwright Terrence McNally recommends three nights a week at a minimum. Excellent advice! But what about your precious doubloons? That much theatre doesn't come cheap – not unless you strategise. Group bookings Most venues offer discounts group bookings, many for groups as low as eight. That's, like, what? Four couples? Two families? One book club? Easy. This is especially useful for those big musicals at the top end of town. Ticketek have their own group bookings department where you can expect to save between $5 and $20 per ticket depending on the promoter. The advantage of a group discount is you won't get stuck in seat ZZ 99 for the sake of saving a few bucks. Just the opposite: you might end up with a few perks thrown in. Subscription Duh. Of course, taking out a season or part-season subscription will save you money. But don't forget that subscriptions aren't just for the big "arts precinct" companies. You can also purchase season tickets for ambitious independents. At a place like Red Stitch you can save almost 30% per ticket by signing up for a full season. You might also consider purchasing subscriptions to smaller companies that don't have a permanent venue. Concession Again, duh. You don't need us to tell you that most venues offer some kind of concession rate for "eligible card holders". But wait – there's more! Many companies al
Five reasons you should head to Hobart's Dark Mofo festival this winter
Now in its fifth year, Tasmania’s Dark Mofo festival has a reputation for programming the dark, demented and esoteric with huge success. The secret seems be partly the niche-ness itself, and partly the fact that they make sure there’s enough free and accessible art and performance to create a genuine sense of festivity across the whole city for two weeks in June. There’s a Nude Solstice Swim, light and sound installations that take place across the harbour and foreshore (this year’s sonic intervention is Siren Song by Melbourne sound engineer Byron J Scullin and the Supple Fox collective), a public art park (Dark Park), and an outdoor market (Winter Feast) that serves up street food with a local focus, alongside performance and music – and lots of outdoor fire. Dark Mofo Nude Solstice Swim 2016 Photograph: Rosie Hastie If you haven’t experienced the dark arts yet, here are 5 reasons to go this year in particular. CONTENT WARNING: the image for #5 may be distressing to herbivores and people who feel queasy about blood. 1. Mogwai The Scottish post-rockers are headlining the music offering – so even if you’re not a metal/noise/drone fan (and if you are, boy are you covered by this festival) you can get into an appropriately ritualistic mindset via one of their wall-of-sound sets. 2. A 200km theremin pilgrimage. Billed as a “200km theremin pilgrimage from church to church”, Crossing is a progressive performance that will take viewers from Launceston’s Pil
Theatre, dance, musicals and opera on now in Melbourne
A guide to Melbourne's theatre scene
Latest theatre reviews
Wild Bore
Artists review the critics in this biting and sometimes hilarious piece of meta-theatre by three subversive performers
Minnie and Liraz
Musical theatre legend Nancye Hayes AM stars with stage and screen favourite Virginia Gay in a new play by Lally Katz, about Jewish grandmothers
1984
Headlong's acclaimed production of George Orwell's dystopian novel gets an all-Australian cast
My Fair Lady
Dame Julie Andrews has created a 60th anniversary production of the Tony Award-winning musical that feels trapped in amber – for better or worse
What's on at...
You might also like...
Blanc de Blanc
After sizzling hot runs in Sydney, London and Adelaide, Blanc de Blanc is finally making its way to Melbourne for a season of Champagne-fuelled cabaret. The evening of adults-only circus, dance, acrobatics and other antics will be heating up the Spiegeltent at Map 57, a brand new arts precinct in St Kilda. This winter cast of quirky performers – comedians, models, show girls, singers, contortionists and aerial artists – will turn the night into a mad romp that begins in a sophisticated Parisian cabaret venue and slowly transforms into a crazed nightclub party. Expect bubbles, burlesque, balloons, sequins and tops off, for a hands down good time. "If Baz Luhrmann made a nightclub it'd be like this" – Time Out Sydney Find out more about Blanc de Blanc.
This month at Knowledge Market
The Knowledge Market is an initiative of Victoria Harbour, Melbourne's waterfront residential development on the CBD's doorstep. A thriving hub of peer-to-peer networking and local creativity, the Knowledge Market has an ever-changing rotation of activities that anyone can get involved with – some that are about benefitting your business, and others that are all about enriching your life. Jiva Wellbeing have just partnered with the Knowledge Market to bring casual yoga classes five days a week. Also, Spendlove and Lamb will be giving their insights into storytelling, digital strategy, content production and management for businesses, through a three-hour workshop on May 25. You can also hear the sweet sounds of the Melbourne Acapella Singers, or join in on the fun yourself. It's free and anyone can rock up and sing – no experience necessary, with sessions on May 4, 13, 20 and 25. The young guns from Melbourne City Rotaract Club meet on Tuesday evenings to foster ways to create positive change in the local community. Your Time Matters business talks offer practical advice for start-ups and local businesses. The next seminar will focus on Networking with a Twist, dishing out the secrets for getting the maximum mileage out of your business networking relationships, taking place on Thursday May 11 at 5pm. There's loads more workshops, free events, creative kick-starters and inspiring networking opportunities, so make sure you keep your eye on the Knowledge Market. Find
Alluvial Restaurant
At Alluvial Restaurant the past never feels far away. You’ll find the dining room located between Collins Street’s Rialto and Winfield buildings, both of which were built in the 1890s during the twilight years of Melbourne’s gold rush; the former is designed in Venetian neo-gothic style. Once a laneway, Alluvial Restaurant is now a soaring glass atrium, running all the way from Collins Street to Flinders Lane. Look up, and you’ll notice floors of five-star hotel rooms that once served as wool and wheat stores. Look down, and you might miss another of Alluvial Restaurant’s secrets: beneath the floorboards is the original bluestone cobbled laneway. While Alluvial Restaurant embraces its history, there is nothing passé about chef Tijn Bremmers’ menu, which takes inspiration from Melbourne’s many diverse cultures and brings them to life using local produce, fresh herbs from the hotel’s rooftop garden and honey harvested from their rooftop beehives. Start with finely sliced kingfish ceviche, topped with thin ribbons of cucumber and flanked by button-sized dollops of zingy lemon gel. Seafood lovers will also jump on the squid ink linguine – heirloom tomatoes and crayfish butter providing a rich sauce to the fat tiger prawns. Moreton Bay bugs come adorned with flavoursome crisp chicken skin, along with mild, melt-in-your-mouth pumpkin ravioli. And those crunchy, smoked paprika fries with garlic aioli? Follow your instinct and order them. When it comes to choosing a wine from the 1
Have a Scandinavian cooking experience with ASKO
Dreaming of Scandinavia lately? You’re not alone. It seems everyone is vibing on those misty northern European countries quite a bit lately. Luckily you can now get your Scandinavian fix without the expensive plane ticket. ASKO Appliances are hosting a Scandinavian cooking experience at their head office in Moorabbin. Hosted by ASKO’s dedicated professional in-house chef Paul Mounsey (from Cooking with Steam), this cooking demonstration will dive into the flavoursome world of Scandinavian cooking. Guests can enjoy food and learn how to create meals using ASKO’s feature-rich appliances. A sample menu of the day consists of steamed asparagus and duck egg, herb and mustard crusted eye fillet, 52ºC steamed Atlantic salmon fillet and a reverse lemon tart. ASKO cooking demonstrations aren’t like your regular sit-and-watch demonstrations, however. These events encourage full cooperation and involvement. The best part? ASKO demonstrations are free to attend. The next event will take place on Wednesday April 18 from 11am to 2pm at ASKO Head Office at 35 Sunmore Close in Moorabbin. Due to small class sizes, bookings are essential.