Things to do in Melbourne in September 2024

What’s better than gorging yourself on scones, finger sandwiches and Champagne at a regular high tea? Gorging yourself on piles and piles of cheese at the Westin’s un-brie-lievable High Cheese event, of course. Yes, the insanely successful event is back at the Westin's Allegro Restaurant for 2024 and we turophiles couldn't be more thrilled. The idea for High Cheese first crystallised a few years ago when the Westin's executive chef at the time, Michael Greenlaw, teamed up with Anthony Demia from Maker and Monger to bring a series of cheeses together in both sweet and savoury dishes. Years later, the much-loved tradition continues. In 2024, the indulgent menu has been curated in collaboration with renowned cheese masters, brother-sister duo The Studd Siblings. Ellie and Sam Studd, both members of the International Guilde des Fromagers and Certified Cheese Professionals, have joined forces with the Westin's current executive chef, Apoorva Kunte, to curate an enticing three-tiered selection of dairy-licious treats. We're listening... Each creation showcases the finest quality cheese from around the world. On the first tier, treat yourself to cloth-aged cheddar and candied apple scones, complemented by whipped organic butter and quince nectar. The second tier enters savoury territory, featuring six tantalising cheese-centric bites served with all the fruit and lavosh accoutrements: a tart of vine-ripened tomato tartare; Sarakatsani tribe-inspired ewe’s milk Galotyri with Congo p

From the story’s origins hundreds of years ago, to its transformation into the classic 1991 Disney film, Beauty and the Beast really is a tale as old as time. In its musical form, the production hasn’t been seen in Melbourne since the ’90s, when Hugh Jackman famously performed as Gaston in his first professional role. Fast forward three decades and we’re once again seeing a Melbourne stage transformed into the provincial town and Baroque castle we know so well. Only this time round, the lavish set design is augmented with cleverly integrated digital screens. It’s just one of several updates that ensure this reimagined production of the beloved fairytale keeps up with the times. From the moment the curtain rises, it’s clear this is a large-scale musical with all the belles, whistles and big bucks. Visual splendour is the MO here – think kaleidoscopic costumes, gasp-inducing illusions and spectacular lighting – and it’s easy to see why this show broke box office records at Brisbane’s QPAC.  However, all that Disney investment would be useless without the gifted cast. Shubshri Kandiah exudes whimsy-with-a-backbone as bookworm Belle, charming us with her sweet songs and sassy moments – though the folks in her provincial town just don’t get it.  Brendan Xavier’s beast is alternately ferocious and boyish. His startled squeals and hair-twirling moments help make Belle’s dramatic change in feelings a touch more believable. Both leads shine in their solo numbers, with Xavier’s ‘If I C

If your kids have dreamed of running away with the circus, then this is your chance. Melbourne’s eccentric and wonderful National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) has unveiled its circus holiday program dates for 2024. Keep the kids blessedly busy with NICA’s school holidays program, running from September 23 to October 4. No matter what their fitness level, they’ll be able to learn fun tricks like juggling, tumbling, plate-spinning, pyramids, unicycling and more. The flexible timetable allows you to come for a couple of hours, a day or the whole week, and a small student/teacher ratio ensures everyone is safe and looked after at all times. It’s the perfect holiday pastime for curious, active kids. The holiday program runs during each of the four school term holidays, so if you're busy this time around, your kids have two more opportunities to run away and join the circus (momentarily, that is). Get your diaries out and pencil in January 13 to 24 for the next installments of the circus holiday program. For the big kids at heart, here's also the Come & Try Circus Days, which run four times a year before each school term begins. If your New Year’s resolution is to be more daring or learn a new trick, then this is the perfect opportunity to leap into a circus class. You’ll not only have buckets of fun, but can make new friends in a supportive environment, challenge yourself physically, and learn specialised skills under the guidance of trained professionals. Sessions are $25 each

When you hear the words ‘naked fashion show’ what springs to mind? Whatever you're thinking, it’s probably not this.  In what is most probably a first for Melbourne, our city is becoming host to an incredibly wholesome, safe and absolutely not creepy at all female-only nude fashion show. Yes, you’ve read that right. At this fashion show, there will be no clothes. (PSA: Only participating women will be involved, there will be no photograph and outside guests are not allowed.) This revolutionary event has come from a super successful run in Sydney, and it's from the same mind behind Strip Her: The Pop Up, a women’s-only strip show that’s all about making the audience the stars of the show (think a totally safe and sensual space, lingerie, and feminine divine good times). Created by former stripper and birth doula Caitlin Erica, Witness Her is her newest offering, and it’s arguably the wildest.  So, how does it work and what happens?  Before you make any judgements, know that this event isn’t about getting suddenly and jarringly nude with no warning. We’re told that this day will involve an intimate group of everyday women coming together in one safe space, and walking together through a specially tailored three-hour body confidence workshop. You’ll start off with gentle activities geared towards getting everyone relaxed with the situation and one another, which will then lead to a gradual shedding of layers of clothing – as well as emotional baggage. After you’ve shaken off you

Fans of sneaky street art, rejoice! The acclaimed works of Banksy, the mysterious master of graffiti, are coming to Australia, and you won't even need to scour the city's laneways to see them for yourself. The Art of Banksy: Without Limits is a blockbuster exhibition that will feature murals, sculptures, photos, mapping shows (aka images or animations projected onto irregularly shaped surfaces), installations (including an “infinity room” filled with mirrors) and a simulation of ‘Dismaland Bemusement Park’ (for those who’ve never heard of it, it’s a gritty, dark theme park that was created by Banksy in 2015). It will also include a mix of replicas and originals of some of the artist's most famous works, like 'Rude Copper', 'Flower Thrower' and the instantly recognisable 'Girl with Balloon'. But wait, that's not all: Banky's recent Ukraine murals will be referenced, and there’s even a space that pays homage to the MV Louise Michel, the high-speed boat that Banksy financially keeps afloat in the Mediterranean Sea to rescue refugees. The exhibition will take place at The Disctrict Docklands, and has just been extended until October 13. You can snap up a ticket here.  Will Banksy be in attendance? Is this the moment Banksy's real identity will be revealed? The artist hasn't endorsed the exhibition, but knowing him, anything could happen!  Get pumped for the Banksy exhibition by checking out the best street art in Melbourne.

Walk, talk and gawp like an Egyptian at this blockbuster exhibition all about ancient Egyptian art and culture. The NGV's 2024 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition, titled Pharaoh, constitutes the biggest loan of ancient Egyptian artefacts that the British Museum has ever presented to international audiences – most of which are on display in Australia for the very first time. Curated especially for the NGV by the British Museum, Pharaoh runs until October 6, 2024, and include a wide display of objects from monumental architecture to awe-inspiring statuary and exquisite pieces of jewellery. For the night owls, make sure to experience ancient Egypt afterdark when Pharaoh opens late every Friday night this winter for NGV Friday Nights: Pharaoh. Each week, there will be a changing line-up of live music, spanning classical, jazz, blues, funk and more – so grab your nearest and dearest for your next Friday outing. Spanning from the first dynasty (3000 BCE) to the Roman period (fourth century CE), Pharaoh will celebrate some of the works commissioned by Egypt’s most famous kings and queens, including the boy king Tutankhamun; Ramses II and Queen Nefetari; Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza; and foreign leaders such as Alexander the Great. The works featured in Pharaoh provide a sense of the vast scale of this ancient civilisation, including a carved green siltstone 'Head of Tuthmose III'; a five-centimetre wide ivory label depicting King Den of the first dynasty; a larg

The colourful creatures that make up ACMI’s latest, world premiere exhibition burst to life from a single drawn line, before growing and changing right before your eyes. The more you move and interact in the space, the more animated these curious characters will get, morphing between forms and textures for a hyperreal experience.   Beings is the name of this innovative exhibition, which will stick around until September 29. The name refers to the friendly digital critters seemingly ‘living’ in the exhibition’s large-scale digital screens, just waiting for you to come and play. These generative digital artworks are constantly changing, which means no two people will see the same exhibition, and each time you visit will also be unique. So, how do these joyful (and seemingly magical) creatures remain so responsive to their environment? The technology behind Beings is an impressive mix of video game engines, evolving algorithms and visual effects software usually used in film. All these fancy technologies combine to produce what promises to be a bunch of fun lil’ (or not that little) guys who want to hang out and play, becoming more active in response to your presence.  The folks behind this exhibition are a UK-based art and design collective called Universal Everything. They specialise in “soulful technology” and they’ve created 13 brand-new artworks for this premiere curated by ACMI.  Beings is suitable for all ages, so you can bring along the whole fam. Tickets will go on sale

Buckle up dino nerds, because a real T-Rex fossil is coming to Victoria for the first time ever. Not only is Melbourne Museum giving Victorians the rare opportunity to see a real Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton IRL, but it also happens to be one of the biggest and most complete fossils of its kind anywhere in the world. Victoria the T.rex (because of course she has a cute name) will form the centrepiece of an exhibition of the same title arriving at Melbourne Museum on June 28, and sticking around until October 20. Roll on up and take a 66-million-year journey back to the Cretaceous period, when dinosaurs ruled and Victoria roamed the Earth.  To give you an idea of the sheer scale of Victoria, this well-preserved fossil comprises a whopping 199 bones! She spans more than 12 metres long and 3.6 metres tall, too. The interactive exhibition will make the most of the latest technologies and advances in palaeontology, offering fascinating insights into the way Victoria lived and died. Expect digital elements including holography, film and augmented reality. Multi-sensory installations will also give visitors a glimpse into how the T-Rex may have experienced smell and sight. In addition to being the temporary home of Victoria the T.rex, Melbourne Museum is also the permanent home of another massive marvel from the Cretaceos. Horridus, the most complete Triceratops fossil in the entire world, has been residing in Carlton since 2022. So, prehistoric fanatics will now be able to see two wo

For the First Peoples of so-called Australia, the term ‘Country’ describes much more than simply a place or nation. Instead, it describes a deep connection to land, animals and plants, ancestors, language, culture and the wisdom of the land itself. Relationships to Country are individual and dinstinct, but always grounded in mutual respect. A new installation within Melbourne Museum called Biik Milboo Dhumba – Country is Always Talking encourages visitors to consider what it means to listen to Country. As you enter the tranquil space of the museum’s living Forest Gallery, you’ll encounter portraits of Elders and community members of the Eastern Kulin Nations. Use your phone to listen to their stories, detailing their unique and personal relationships to Country. Wander among the tall trees as you learn about cultural practices including scarring trees, seed collecting and cultural burning. A towering new sculpture by artist Robert Young provides the perfect place to stop and reflect on your journey. In the words of senior Elder N’Arweet Dr Carolyn Briggs: “‘We have to sit with Country and understand how it talks to us. The landscape informs us if we learn to see and hear it.” This installation is now open and access is included with museum entry. You can find out more at the Melbourne Museum website. Want more? Check out the best art and exhibitions happening in Melbourne this month.

Have you ever dreamed of walking with dinosaurs? Well Melbourne, life finds a way. Jurassic World: The Exhibition is roaring into the city this year following a hugely successful stint in Sydney. This enormous and immersive experience celebrates 31 years of the film franchise that began with the ground-breaking 1993 movie Jurassic Park. At this family-friendly exhibit of Jurassic proportions, you can walk through the iconic “Jurassic World” gates and encounter a life-sized brachiosaurus and velociraptors, plus the most fearsome dinosaur of all, the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex. (We’re yet to receive confirmation on whether you’ll also encounter the glistening, exposed chest hair of Jeff Goldblum as you explore the richly themed environments.) Visitors will be able to imagine what it would have been like to roam amongst these breathtaking creatures (the dinosaurs, not Sam Neil and the gang), and even interact with baby dinos, including “Bumpy” from the popular animated series Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (currently streaming on Netflix). Are you finding yourself thinking that the mad scientists behind this experience “were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should?” Well, hold onto your butts. They’re not playing God with real extinct creatures, but with life-like animatronics. So, Melbourne should avoid an apocalyptic T-Rex escape situation – phew! The exhibition engages audiences of all ages in settings inspired by the Jurassic Wo