Things to do in Melbourne this weekend

My first encounter with the viridescent power of Wicked was through the sliding door of a suburban dance studio. Face pressed against the glass, I strained to hear the optimistic refrains of ‘One Short Day’, eyes bulging and dopamine levels skyrocketing. So widespread is the pop-cultural impact of this fan favourite musical, that half of Melbourne likely has a similar memory of discovering Wicked.  This faithful revival of the bewitching blockbuster sees the show fly into Melbourne for the third time in 15 years with an abundance of pine-hued pizazz, after celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Broadway premiere at the Sydney Lyric Theatre. It’s also worth noting that the Gregory Maguire novel that forms the basis of the plot was published back in 1995. After all this time, it’s only fair to check in and ask: does Wicked remain evergreen? The costumes, choreography and sets are as slick as they come, which is exactly what’s expected from a show that’s had this many chances to get it ‘right’. This version of Wicked is not reinventing the wheel – instead it’s the cast who keep the cogs turning in a fresh way.   There’s no mistaking that these performers are magical. While Melbourne always loves to get a show before Sydney, our advantage here is that the cast has had time to fully take command of their characters – and they’re flourishing.  Courtney Monsma’s G(a)linda is slap-your-knees, let-out-a-squeal funny. She re-shapes the virtue-signalling mean girl role and makes Glinda

Heather Mitchell’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg shares with us a piece of wisdom she received upon wedding her husband Marty: earplugs are the secret to a happy marriage. This nugget reflects the unexpected humour threaded throughout RBG: Of Many, One, which is seen equally in Mitchell’s biting impressions of her male contemporaries. Her version of President Bill Clinton makes a ridiculous yet convincing “nomnomnom” sound, while her Trump is just so… unnervingly Trumpian. This play might be modest in its set dressing and number of cast members, but its sizeable reputation precedes it. Aside from the gargantuan legacy of the former Supreme Court justice whose life this play chronicles, the reputations of both its star and playwright also measure much taller than RBG’s five feet. Suzie Miller, the lawyer-cum-playwright behind Prima Facie, has again put her legal expertise to good use to chronicle RBG’s epic life in a way that demonstrates her deep understanding of the case law underpinning her legacy.  Heather Mitchell is known for Binge’s Love Me and Sydney Theatre Company’s Still Point Turning: The Catherine McGregor Story. Here, under impeccable direction from Priscila Jackman, she excels with a character study so spot on that it feels completely effortless. We meet RBG as she waits anxiously for the call from President Clinton – will she be his next nominee for the Supreme Court of the United States? If she makes the grade, she’ll be the second-ever woman and the first Jewish woman

If you haven’t heard of Hawkeye Vintage by now, honestly where have you been? As one of Melbourne’s most respected purveyors of designer pre-loved goods, Hawkeye Vintage is famous for holding blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sales where you can nab luxury items for less.  Well good news, Hawkeye Vintage is hosting one of their famous pop-up sales in South Yarra next weekend — with luxury items coming out the wazoo. Expect to see pieces from brands like Hermes, Chanel, Fendi, Celine, Gucci and Louis Vuitton with a 100 per cent authenticity guarantee.  As for the price range, those looking for something a little more wallet-friendly will find handbags under $1,000 — which is worth it if you've always wanted to elevate your style with something designer. In fact, pairing a designer item with what you already have in your wardrobe is a really effortless way to make any outfit look put together. Just head down to Ovolo in South Yarra on Friday, May 3 or Saturday, May 4 and explore Hawkeye Vintage’s exclusive range of designer items in-person. Entry is $10, so register online to get your designer-fix at the website here.

From May 3 to 5, head to Federation Square for the Buddha's Day and Multicultural Festival, a three-day event celebrating the birth of Buddha and Melbourne's multi-faith community. This year, the festival boasts a huge line-up of traditional ceremonies, concerts, transformative digital activations, art, live music and immersive experiences. On the first night, visitors will be treated to the Light It Up Opening Ceremony featuring performances from the Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne, National Boys Choir, Taiko Drums, as well as guest speakers. The ceremony will conclude with an epic fireworks display and the lighting of all the festival's illuminated installations. Throughout the rest of the event you can visit the Lumbini Garden (home to giant-sized sculptures), which replicates the garden where Buddha was born and provides a calming oasis for prayer and mindful relaxation. Nearby is the Lotus Flower Sanctuary filled with 30 giant LED statues of lotus flowers and a Mindfulness Forest filled with illuminated columns for visitors to colour their way to calmness. Dance workshops on the main stage and guided Ch’an meditation classes will be offered. For the kids, there will be face painting, giant bubble blowing, mindfulness colouring and dragon dance workshops. The festival is free for all to attend and bookings are not required. Find out more at the Buddha's Day website.  Looking for more things to do? Check out our round-up of the best things happening in Melbourne this we

“I thought you were going to tell me I didn’t need the pills anymore,” says eighteen-year-old Anna (Max McKenna) to her child psychiatrist, Vivienne (Louisa Mignone). Anna has completely misread the tenor of the conversation, which was actually about the need for her to transition towards seeing a therapist trained to work with adults. This early moment encapsulates the key struggles of The Almighty Sometimes, a coming-of-age story illustrating a young woman torn between emancipation and comfort, with the reality of a never-defined yet ever-present mental illness adding layers of complexity to what would otherwise be a universally relatable tale.  This multi-award-winning drama by Kendall Feaver has been staged in Australia before by Queensland Theatre and Griffin Theatre Company, yet the issues explored in this iteration from Melbourne Theatre Company feel topical and fresh with tight direction from Hannah Goodwin.   Screen legend Nadine Garner (Savage River, Neighbours, City Homicide) plays Renee, a school teacher and dedicated mum to ‘troubled’ daughter Anna. Alongside Anna’s new boyfriend Oliver (Karl Richmond) and her psychiatrist, Renee grapples with supporting her daughter as she pushes against the routines and limits that kept her safe during her adolescence.  Having recently rediscovered pages upon pages of her childhood writings, Anna has begun to wonder if the version of her that existed before she went on medication was a child prodigy destined for literary greatn

Grab your wands and your Hogwarts house tie, because a brand new magical experience that is every Potterhead's dream is coming to Melbourne. Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience is apparating to the Mornington Peninsula in 2024, with a mystical encounter that will have you living out your witch or wizard fantasies in the muggle world. Follow in the daring footsteps of Harry himself through the infamous Forbidden Forest, where you'll meet hippogriffs and unicorns, as well as cast powerful spells. The outdoor trail adventure will lead you on a fully immersive journey, finishing with a Potter-themed village that has food, drink and merch on offer. Warner Bros is bringing this exciting experience Down Under after whirlwind success in the US, UK and Europe, with the Forbidden Forest making its Australian debut deep in the woods of Mt Martha next April.  Suitable for fans of all ages, tickets for this magical experience are on sale now. You can find out more on the website here.  Looking for more fun things to do in Melbourne? Check out what's on this week here. 

After a stellar opening in Sydney, Bell Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is going on tour – and the next stop is Melbourne. The classic comedy will be calling Arts Centre Melbourne home from April 25 to May 11.  Kicking off a jam-packed 2024 season, Bell Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream tells the tale of love and mischief over one magical night where fairies, runaway lovers and bumbling actors get entangled in an enchanted forest. Follow along as a talented ensemble of cast and creatives reimagine the magical play, led by director Peter Evans who has pared back the play to 110 minutes and done a spectacular job at reinventing the timeless tale for a new audience. The all-star cast includes Ella Prince playing Puck, along with Ahunim Abede as Hermia, Isabel Burton as Helena, Mike Howlett as Demetrius, Matu Ngaropo as Bottom, Richard Pyros as Oberon, Imogen Sage as Titania and Laurence Young as Lysander. Tickets range from $40 - $110 and you can book them here.

There has been a disappointing run of big name shows underserved by low-key production design of late, with both the revivals of Rocky Horror and Grease seriously lacking in the razzle-dazzle department. So why does a similarly stripped-back staging of musical maestro Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb’s Chicago pull it off, like so many of the cast’s silken mesh costume changes? Perhaps something in the bare bones of this deceptively dark comedy, set in the Windy City in the fast and loose 1920s, lends itself to simplicity? Delivered via a sassy brawl between warring molls Velma Kelly (Zoë Ventoura) and Roxie Hart (Lucy Maunder), it’s a broken bottle-sharp commentary on an America that values celebrity crime most malignant over justice and the good of heart, that cuts even deeper now we’re staring down the barrel of a possible second Trump term. That swirling, prophetic darkness lends itself well to scenic designer John Lee Beatty’s darkened stage flanked by cabaret chairs and dominated by a bandstand atop which gamely charismatic musical director James Simpson leads a brass-heavy band through John Kander’s razzmatazz music.  “Give ‘em an act with lots of flash in it, and the reaction will be passionate … What if your hinges all are rusting? What if, in fact, you’re just disgusting?”The contradiction is inherent in the work. And so when Roxie opens the show by shooting dead the beefy but not bright Fred Casely (Devon Braithwaite, a stand-out in a spectacular ensemble) because he had the

It seems Victoria has a foodie fest for every type of eat: ice cream, dumplings, rocky road, mussels – heck, even garlic bread! But if it's the humble potato that holds the key to your heart, then make sure you check out the Great Trentham Spudfest this year.  This annual tater-ific festival takes place in the charming small town of Trentham from May 4 to 5, with a program packed with fun, food, wine, music, kids' activities, history, potato eats and tons more. Spud and spoon race? Of course, that's on the agenda. Blind spud tasting challenges? Yep, you'll get the chance to discern your désirées and Dutch cream tots in the 'Name that Spud' game. Proceedings kick off at 10am on the Saturday – known traditionally as the festival's Carnival Day – with a Welcome to Country ceremony and an official welcome from Hepburn Shire Council. From there, there are four fabulous foodie precincts to explore. Check out what's happening on the main stage or enjoy a potato scone at the Railway Precinct, then make your way to the Market Street Precinct to meet some artisan makers and stock up on gifts and goodies. Brimming with lively bars and eateries, the High Street Precinct is perfect for lunch and a drink or two, while the Town Square Precinct is where you can fill a basket with some of the finest fresh produce from the region.  There are free potato-related activities and the spud Olympics, a music program, and even the Spudfest Ceilidh (traditional Gaelic dance). On Sunday, highlights inc

Calling all insomniacs with a penchant for round-the-clock revelry: Sleepless Footscray Festival is returning for a third edition this May. This festival of public art, music and unexpected activations will bring dormant laneways and forgotten indoor spaces to life, transforming them into inviting nightscapes.  The heart of vibrant Footscray will play host to a series of adventurous events celebrating the world-class diversity and creativity coming out of Melbourne’s Inner West. Running from May 4-19, the festival will consist of an eclectic line-up including music, film screenings, art installations, theatre and more.   For lovers of offbeat cinema, the Melbourne Nocturnal Film Festival will bring the weirdest and most wonderful local shorts to Footscray’s Bluestone Church Arts Space for three days.  For those aiming for auditory delights, the Melbourne Trap Orchestra will play a high-energy greatest hits set at Kindred Studios. Over at Footscray Records, Cowpunk band Goatlaw and post-punk disco groovers Carpal Tunnel will play for one night only. If it’s a musical journey you’re after, Astra Choir will literally transport you from the chambers of commerce to the halls of higher powers.  Festival artistic director Troy Rainbow says Sleepless will give Melburnians an opportunity to support the arts during a difficult time for the live entertainment industry. “By making Sleepless as accessible as possible, we’re giving music and arts lovers the opportunity to support the incr