January is typically a quiet month vis-à-vis Melbourne theatre. But January 2021 is the exception, with the month largely marking the return of Melbourne's theatre industry following almost a year of darkened stages.
It's not business as usual, but there's still a small, curated pool of live performances for audiences to get stuck into this January.
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Whether you’re a child of the ‘90s who grew up on a diet of animated films or simply a fan of feel-good musicals the whole family can enjoy, Anastasia makes for a charming theatre experience. And while some of the historical references (however glossed over they may be) will probably go right over the heads of any little ones, it won’t distract from magic of this captivating tale.
It's been seen by more than a million people on Broadway and many more on the West End, and now the Tony Award-winning MJ the Musical is heading to Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne. Centred around the making of his 1992 Dangerous World Tour, MJ the Musical features more than 25 of Michael Jackon’s biggest pop hits set to show-stopping dance numbers, including ‘Beat It’, ‘Smooth Criminal’, ‘Man In The Mirror’ and ‘Thriller’.
Due to popular demand, Melbourne Theatre Company's rip-roaring musical adaptation of My Brilliant Career is returning for a limited five-week run in 2026. This incredible production takes one of the best-known early Australian novels, the 1901 book of the same name by Miles Franklin, and twists it into a musical for a new generation. Six star Kala Gare is reprising her role as Sybylla Melvyn, with much of the original ensemble of actor-musicians also coming back.
If you’re ready to pop the Champers, laugh ’til your belly hurts and revel in tricks you didn’t know were humanly possible, strap in for a glittering night at Blanc de Blanc Encore. The cabaret spectacle fuses a delectable mix of circus, cabaret, jazz and comedy (with a couple of bottles of bubbles for good measure) for an effervescent night out – leave the kids at home for this one.
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