Things to do in Melbourne this week

When Western Sydney playwright S Shakthidharan first invited us into Counting and Cracking, his collective and poetic reckoning with Sri Lanka’s devastating civil war (1983 to 2009) and the persecution of the Tamil peoples, its simple staging made way for magnetic storytelling driven by character.There was little need for bells and whistles with a voice as strong as his. Instead, the drama spun out in a dusty courtyard. The actors’ magnificent performances were enough, aided with simple props, signposts, musicians on stage and a heart of dance. Co-written and directed with Belvoir lead Eamon Flack, The Jungle and the Sea, now playing at MTC’s Southbank Theatre, looks very similar at first glance.  Once again, the transportation relies on the bare bones of a tall-walled courtyard. But there’s a huge difference in Dale Ferguson’s set design: here, there is no door, and the stone is pocked with bullet holes. So is The Jungle and the Sea spinning a similar story? Yes and no. While Counting and Cracking spent more time in Sydney, turning on its wounded heel to look back at the desperate race to escape war, here we mostly live through that horror, with a brief glimpse at a brighter future in the Harbour City.We see waves of fear and loathing crash over the island nation as the Sinhalese government brutally clamps down on the Tamil Tiger insurgency, with all-too devastating echoes of Israel’s merciless destruction of Gaza and its repeated declaration of ‘safe’ zones, only to...

Melbourne’s stages have seen a slew of jukebox musicals tread the boards over the past few years. They’ve ranged from the powerful (Tina – The Tina Turner Musical) to the cheesy-yet-crowd-pleasing (Mamma Mia! The Musical) and the glossed-over tributes (MJ the Musical). Thankfully, at a time when it feels more important than ever to encourage people to get out and support the local arts industry, A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical arrives at the Princess Theatre full of razzle-dazzle, an abundance of infectious energy and a stacked setlist guaranteed to appeal to the masses. What is A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical about?  Written by Anthony McCarten, directed by Michael Mayer and created in collaboration with Neil Diamond himself, A Beautiful Noise opens on a dour therapy session between an older Diamond (played with commanding gravitas by Terence Crawford) and his doctor (Monica Sayers). It’s an unflinchingly sharp first introduction to the musical legend – all the more surprising given the heavy involvement of Diamond and his wife Katie – who is being particularly stubborn about revealing anything about the “clouds” that darken his demeanour. Enter the doc whipping out a book of all his lyrics, and suddenly, in true musical theatre fashion, the songs are quite literally spilling onto the stage in the form of the ensemble singing a teasing medley of hits to come.   From there we’re transported back in time as a young Diamond (Will Swenson) gets his big...

You’ve probably heard about the Rs of living more sustainably: refuse, reduce, recycle, repair and reuse. Now it’s time to reset. Fed Square’s free sustainability-focused RESET Festival returns to Melbourne this spring, running across September into the school holidays. The program is designed to make greener living a whole lot more fun – think live music, workshops, swaps, outdoor cinema, family activities and plenty of creative ways to live better every day. Get to the Planting Party on September 5, featuring live music, food, a plant market, workshops and hands-on activities at the Skyline Car Park and Test Garden. It’s also marks the end of a month-long effort to plant thousands of native plants across different Victorian sites. On September 12, the Zero Waste Festival brings repair and mending sessions, clothes, book and fabric swaps, sustainable cooking and creative activities for kids. It culminates in the first ReWear Runway, showcasing garments transformed through repairing, reclaiming and repurposing. Then there’s Book Doof on September 13 – essentially a daytime rave for readers. Bring a book, grab a free tea or coffee and settle in to read, journal or sketch while a DJ spins vinyl from the Atrium balcony.  The school holidays bring even more sustainable fun, including the Big Toy Swap on September 23 and upcycling workshops. Kids can also enjoy free outdoor screenings of classics including Flipper (September 30), Free Willy (October 1) and Fly Away Home...

The perfect backdrop for your next Instagram pic awaits – and it's going to be blooming gorgeous. The Tesselaar Tulip Festival returns to the Dandenong Ranges from September 12 to October 11. Celebrating its 71st year, this much-loved festival transforms five acres of farmland into a kaleidoscope of more than one million bulbs in full bloom. And in 2026, the Yarra Valley Floral Day Pass makes it easy to turn your flower-filled outing into a full-day adventure. Available on select midweek dates, the pass includes access to both the Tesselaar Tulip Festival and CherryHill Orchards' Blossom Festival, just a ten-minute drive away. For $50 per adult, you'll get entry to both venues, plus score a complimentary tractor ride through the tulip fields and a refreshing cherry Spritz. While the tulips are undoubtedly the stars of the show, there's plenty more to enjoy. There are themed weekends: Turkish (September 12-13), Dutch (September 19-20) and Irish (October 10-11); two children’s weeks featuring characters from The Octonauts and Peppa Pig; All That Jazz (September 25-27); and Rock the Fields (October 3-4). There are also food and market stalls, tractor rides and plenty of photo opportunities in those fields of tulips. Our tip? Make sure to check out Australia's largest wooden clog at the Clog Shop. The Tesselaar Tulip Festival runs daily from September 12 until October 11, 10am to 5pm. For more information on tickets, head here.   Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time...

Score vintage treasures, designer items, crafted goods and op shop finds at the Round She Goes vintage market at Coburg Town Hall. The market features more than 60 stallholders selling handpicked and vintage clothing (1940s onwards), jewellery and accessories for cheap.  Stallholders are carefully handpicked by the Round She Goes team so that quality is ensured, sizing is diverse and the prices remain reasonable. In the past, shoppers have been able to snap up preloved designer goods from the likes of Zimmerman, Miu Miu, Versace, Scanlan Theodore, Marc Jacobs, Romance Was Born and so many more.   The market is held several times annually, with the next one taking place on September 13 from 10am to 3pm. Entry is $4, payable by cash or card, and there's plenty of free parking. Go early to fetch a good bargain and don't worry, there's coffee and baked goods inside to keep you going. Find out more here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. Keen to snag more clothing? Here are Melbourne's best fashion markets. 

If your knowledge of American football begins and ends with the Super Bowl, halftime shows and Travis Kelce, consider this your introduction to the NFL. The MCG is gearing up for the first-ever regular-season NFL game to be played in Australia, with the Los Angeles Rams going head-to-head with the San Francisco 49ers on September 11. And to celebrate the momentous event, the NFL Kickoff Festival will also be taking place.  From September 10-12, Melbourne Park will host a three-day celebration of all things American football, presented by American Express and Live Nation. The festival is designed to bring the sport to life with interactive experiences, live entertainment and plenty of American food. There will be NFL exhibits, team activations, retail pop-ups, Flag Football clinics (a fast-growing, non-contact version of the game), official watch parties and live music. Sports fans can snap a photo with the Vince Lombardi Trophy (given to the winners of the Super Bowl) and all 60 Super Bowl championship rings, while NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will appear for a live Q&A. On the music front, a stacked line-up of local artists has been announced. Peking Duck, Sneaky Sound System, Kita Alexander, Hot Dub Time Machine, Grinspoon and Public Figures are all locked in to perform. And if you have been lucky enough to score tickets to the big game, the Jonas Brothers will be performing live as part of the official halftime show. And you won’t go hungry – an American food...

If you thought history class was boring, Six the Musical is here to change your mind. Created by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, this high-energy musical returns to Australia and will be at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre from July 24. In this foot-tapping show, the six wives of King Henry VIII are reimagined as modern-day pop stars out to reclaim their stories. One by one, Catherine of Aragon (Sarah Murr), Anne Boleyn (Mia Paris Scalise), Jane Seymour (Cara Bessey), Anna of Cleves (Kadesa Honeyhill), Katherine Howard (Angela Brischetto) and Catherine Parr (Lorinda May Merrypor) take the mic, wowing you with their power ballads and rock anthems. Since its breakout debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017, the show has become a global sensation thanks to its infectious songs, sharp wit and empowering message. It’s making a triumphant return to Australia, so get ready to say “Yasss Queen”. For more info and to secure your tickets, head to the website.  Read on for our five-star review of Six the Musical from 2024. *** Divorced, beheaded… live? This unconventional pop rock musical takes a dry historical topic and turns it into a rowdy 80-minute concert to rival the Spice Girls themselves. Everyone knows that King Henry VIII had not four, not five, but six wives – enough to require a mnemonic technique to keep track. History has reduced the legacies of these ladies to little more than singular words in a rhyme detailing their fearsome fates, but what if we carved out space to...

Love video games? You’re invited to step inside one at ACMI, where acclaimed Chinese artist Feng Mengbo transforms modern Chinese history into a surreal, interactive adventure. Presented by ACMI and the City of Melbourne’s Now or Never festival, Feng Mengbo: Long March Restart reimagines China’s rapid 20th century modernisation through this retro video game. Inspired by the Long March of 1934-36 (the military retreat of the Chinese Red Army that helped establish Mao Zedong’s rise to power), the artwork takes history into unexpected territory. Visitors can guide a Red Army soldier across two giant screens, navigating a pixelated world filled with supernatural creatures, pop culture characters and historical references. The soldier is armed with an unlikely weapon: Coca Cola cans. The visuals draw on iconic 1980s games including Super Mario Bros. and Street Fighter II, while the different levels weave together historical landmarks, Cold War science fiction and retro video game imagery. Feng, who grew up during China’s Cultural Revolution and the later period of economic reform, is a pioneering figure in Chinese digital and interactive art. Feng Mengbo: Long March Restart reflects his fascination with how technology and popular culture can reshape the way we understand history. 'Feng Mengbo: Long March Restart' is on now until January 31, 2027, in the foyer near the ACMI Shop. Entry is free; no bookings are required. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne...

In a world where misinformation travels faster than facts, photojournalism is the need of the hour. A powerful photograph bears witness, challenges perceptions and captures history in a unique, compelling way. The World Press Photo exhibition is coming to Victoria for the first time in a decade, with the Art Gallery of Ballarat presenting the acclaimed showcase at the Ballarat Mining Exchange from August 8 to September 20. And, yes, entry is completely free. Run by the World Press Photo Foundation, this year's showcase features work selected from an astonishing 57,376 photographs submitted by 3,747 photographers across 141 countries. The 42 winning images range from defining global news events to stories that have flown under the radar. From conflict and courage, resilience and resistance, climate change and conservation, gender politics and human rights – the photos offer an unflinching snapshot of our times. Australian audiences will also find a local story among the winners. Sydney Morning Herald photographer Edwina Pickles is recognised for her powerful image documenting last year's Bondi Beach terror attacks, while fellow Sydney Morning Herald photographer Nicky Catley serves as one of this year's judges. The exhibition travels to more than 60 cities across the globe and this is a chance for Victorians to experience it in all its guts and glory. The World Press Photo exhibition runs from August 8 to September 20 at the Ballarat Mining Exchange. Entry is free, and you...

From the bush to our own backyards, the eucalypt has long shaped the Australian landscape and imagination. A new exhibition at the Potter Museum of Art delves into the significance of this iconic tree with more than 163 works and five significant new artist commissions. Opening on July 10, Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree draws on Australian art history and contemporary works from the University of Melbourne's collection, alongside major loans from across the country to explore the tree as a source of creative inspiration. Colonial paintings by John Glover, Eugene von Guérard and Frederick McCubbin will sit alongside 20th century works by Arthur Boyd, Hans Heysen, Albert Namatjira, Grace Cossington Smith and Jessie Traill, as well as contemporary artists like Nici Cumpston, Vincent Namatjira, Joan Ross and Christian Thompson. Translating to “breathing for us” in the Woi Wurrung language, Ngarn Wa’ngal considers the gum tree as both subject and symbol, prompting conversations around Indigenous sovereignty, Australian identity, ecology, climate and the global legacy of the eucalyptus.  A major feature of the exhibition is five new commissions created specifically for the showcase, including a photographic work by Jane E. Brown using early carbon-printing techniques; an installation of seed-filled papier-mâché forms by artist Dean Cross of Worimi descent; a large-scale piece by interdisciplinary artist Megan Evans featuring eucalyptus leaves collected over decades; a...