Nicola Dowse

If you're looking for a break from the inner-city grid, there's no better cure than a day trip from Melbourne. The state of Victoria is full of friendly neighbourhood towns, whether you're in the mood for a winery tour, a road trip or a national park to explore. These one-day escapes are just what the doctor ordered, so get out there and explore Melbourne's beautiful backyard.  No car? No problem. Here are the best carless day trips to take from Melbourne. Looking for somewhere to stay? Here are five road trip-worthy motels.

We are truly living in the golden age of the escape room. It's hard to remember a time when there weren't super-fun puzzle rooms throughout Melbourne, but the first one only opened in 2014. Now there are virtual escape rooms and online escape rooms, along with the bricks-and-mortar kind. Each escape room revolves around a different theme – and they cater to all manner of phobias. Time Out took the challenge of visiting escape rooms all over Melbourne. Whether we got out in time is a different matter. Need a drink to calm the nerves? These are the best bars in Melbourne. If you're after something a little less stressful, check out the best places to play mini golf in Melbourne. 

As Australia's cultural capital, Melbourne is peppered with public artworks that burn bright against our urban cityscape. Wander the streets, gardens and intimate laneways, and discover an accessible world of art and sculpture that awaits.  Public art is a key factor in unlocking the culturally diverse art scene in Melbourne and to encourage you to get out and look, we have rounded up our favourite artworks and the stories that lie at the root. We've even created a handy map so you can go out and spot them all.  Love art? Check out where to find the best street art in Melbourne.

The paramount rule in any spooky situation is to not be the denier. The jock who says, “ghosts aren’t real” is always the first one to get throttled by an angry apparition. So with open minds and willing spirits, we invite you to explore Sydney’s most haunted sites. These former insane asylums, abandoned roads, converted gaols and chilly tunnels may not appear to be the stuff of nightmares in the sensical light of day, but one too many shadowy coincidences coupled with gruesome histories have inspired us to get our ghost-hunting gear together and investigate. RECOMMENDED: If you want some wraith-watching advice from a pro, check out these spine-tingling ghost tours operating in Sydney. If you need a moment of reprieve from the manic hunt, forget all these grisly tales while you get pampered at Sydney’s best spas. Want more spooky stuff? Check out how many of these classic Sydney landmarks used to be cemeteries.

It can be tempting to skip eating before a show, but that's a rookie error. There’s nothing quite as embarrassing as your stomach growling during a particularly silent scene, or being too hungry to appreciate your favourite band. And there’s nothing unusual about wanting to take the edge off your day before the show goes on. Save yourself the pain of having to buy plastic cups of beer or survive on box office peanuts: hit up one of these restaurants or bars before your next show. Spent all your money on the show? Here are some of Melbourne's best cheap eats. 

Melburnians have a reputation for being loud and proud about how much we love our city. We know how awesome it is, and boy, do we love talking about it. But it makes sense when there’s a brilliant restaurant on almost every corner, great events happen every weekend, and our arts and culture scene is the envy of the world. But there are also a bunch of niche things that we are weirdly proud of – and you only understand if you live in Melbourne.  1. The Hoddle Grid. 2. How much we dislike Sydney. 3. The Free Tram Zone. 4. Abusing the Free Tram Zone and not getting caught. 5. Being able to tell people about a brand-new underground bar/brunch spot before the crowds have hit it. 6. Our reputation as the cultural capital of Australia. 7. Revs. 8. Our ability to adapt to hourly weather changes. 9. Bars on the water. 10. The ruthlessness of the Montague Street bridge. 11. Franco Cozzo. 12. That man who wanders around Melbourne holding a giant carrot. 13. Being able to do a hook turn. 14. Melbhenge. 15. Our excess of cool laneways and beautiful arcades. 16. That we don’t care about Neighbours as much as British people do. 17. Funky Bunny, that bass-playing busker who dresses up like a bunny. 18. South Melbourne dim sims. 19. How snobby we are about coffee. 20. Our core strength on trams. 21. The Grand Final Day public holiday. 22. Calling it Jeff’s Shed instead of Melbourne Convention Centre. 23. How we manage to jam ourselves onto crowded trams. 24. Wearing black all the time (here's

When you live in a city, you tend to avoid the popular tourist traps and attractions in favour of things that are off the beaten path like hidden bars or secret gardens. And while a lot of tourist attractions are simply money sinks, many of them are popular with visitors for a reason.  That's why we've rounded up 28 experiences that we think are actually worth your while and showcase the best that Melbourne has to offer.  For more inspiration in Melbourne, work out your bucket list with 101 things to do in Melbourne before you die, or munch your way through the city with the 50 best restaurants in Melbourne.

The roaring '20s are here again, and naturally, that means jazz is due for a comeback. Here in Melbourne, jazz never really went out of style, with a population of clubs dedicated to the city's hepcats. Whether you're after a full dinner show or just somewhere you can sit back and relax with a whisky and some Coltrane, these are the top places to listen to jazz music in Melbourne. Then take the music home with you at one of Melbourne's best record stores. Or drop into one of the city's slickest wine bars for a post-gig drink. Want more live music? Check out the best gigs happening in Melbourne this month.

Chocolate is full of powerful antioxidants and helps the release of serotonin. Basically, it's good for you (or so we wish to believe). Melbourne is home to several specialty chocolate shops that would make even Willy Wonka a little jealous. Many allow you to order online, so you can get your fix to enjoy at home if you're too cosy to brave the cold. If you're looking for chocolate in the form of gelato, you can find a list of Melbourne's best ice cream and gelato here.

Fancy yourself a bit of a general knowledge whiz? Put your brains to the test at these pub trivia nights, where questions on anything from film to sport are supplemented by cool beers and food specials. Nearly all of them are free to join, and fun prizes like bar tabs or jugs are up for grabs. Pub trivia isn't the only fun you can have while drinking – check out our top bars for dancing, first dates and live music.

During Old Melbourne Gaol’s nearly 80 years of operation as a prison, the foreboding bluestone building was witness to 133 executions – not to mention countless more deaths as the result of poor conditions and treatment. While the building hasn’t seen a living inmate since the 1920s, there have certainly been sightings of former inmates who have lingered long after death... and nowhere in the jail is more inclined to spooky occurrences than the notorious Cell 17. Located unassumingly in a corner of the jail’s middle floor, the infamous Cell 17 has hosted some of the creepiest, most spine-tingling episodes to occur in what is already a ghostly location. And it’s not hard to understand why the jail has given rise to rumours of restless spirits. Old Melbourne Gaol tour guide Aurora says that with so many awful events unfolding at the gaol during its heyday, it’s unsurprising that so many visitors (and staff) now experience the unnatural there. “People tend to say that places where there have been really negative experiences tend to sort of manifest with ghosts,” he says. “And there were definitely some pretty negative things that happened [at] the jail while it was operating. It was definitely a real hub of cruelty.” I don't really believe in ghosts, but I believe that the Old Melbourne Gaol is haunted Cell 17 seems to be the supernatural epicentre of the jail, with many visitors reporting downright terrifying experiences inside the room. Aurora reports that he’s seen people run

We recommend getting out and exploring Melbourne on foot when the weather permits. But if you think the main streets are passé, we've got good news: you can traverse a good part of Melbourne CBD via laneway, without ever setting foot on a street in the Hoddle Grid.  But with over 40 laneways and arcades in Melbourne, how can you efficiently distinguish the good ones from the ones filled with garbage? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. When you're entertaining out-of-towners or keen to revisit some old favourites, consult this guide to the best laneways and arcades in Melbourne. Get out there and poke your head around corners to find graffiti-laden lanes filled with one-off shops, high-end restaurants and a few dozen hidden bars. RECOMMENDED: Where to find the best street art in Melbourne.

Smash Splash comes basically as advertised. It’s a venue where you can smash things, or you can splash things, namely paint. The 20-minute splash sessions give you the chance to get messy and splatter a room with paint.  After suiting up, up to three people enter the splash room where you can paint the walls red, blue, green or whatever colour. Smash Splash provides paint balloons which you can throw or smash at the wall with a bat, or you can go old-school and just use brushes or your hands to get creative. You can play your choice of music while splashing away plus you’ll have the chance to photograph your masterpiece once finished. The venue also operates as a break room, a place where you can go and (safely) destroy things to vent a little steam. You can throw glassware, smash items with baseball bats and sledgehammers, and really work out your repressed rage in a healthy way. All protective gear is provided and Smash Splash provides a special selection of items (like TVs) you can purchase to smash. RECOMMENDED: How to let off steam in Melbourne with these alternative stress relief activities.

Piccolina Gelateria is a cute pastel green gelato shop sitting pretty on Smith Street, Collingwood. They’re just up from Gelato Messina, but a little competition never hurt anyone. They don’t have the cultish following of Messina, but their gelato is just as tasty. Plus it’s made in the traditional Italian way and with natural ingredients. All flavours are made from scratch – everything from jam to nut butters to chocolate sauce. They’ve also got four vegan gelato flavours to try: passionfruit, strawberry, lemon and chocolate brownie. If you find yourself in Hawthorn you can also pick up some gelato from their Glenferrie Road store. Season three of Piccolina's much anticipated The Piccolina Gelato Project has just begun, an 8-week collaboration with some of Melbourne's most exciting chefs. Until August 15 2023, the gelateria will churn out 24 limited edition flavours, showcasing each chef's culinary ethos, creative flair and style of cuisine. Expect plenty of whimsical combos throughout the weekly menu rotation, with unconventional ingredients and fresh new takes on everyone's favourite ice cream.  Taste creations from Ross Magnaye (Serai), Nornie Bero (Mabu Mabu), Charlie Snadden-Wilson (Clover), chef and food writer Ella Mittas, Nagesh Seethian (Manzé), Ellie Bouhadana (Hope St Radio), Coskan Uysal (Tulum) and Brigitte Hafner (Tedesca Osteria). To find out which flavours are available this week, visit Piccolina or check out the website.

It's been a hot minute since Lorde last graced Australian shores, but the wait is almost over. Lorde's rescheduled Solar Power tour brings her to Sydney this month (Mar 13-14) to showcase her distinct pop ballads at the Aware Super Theatre at the ICC Sydney. While Lorde may have burst onto the scene with a dark and almost melancholic style of pop with Pure Heroine and Melodrama, the star's Solar Power album is more sanguine. Lorde has said: "The album is a celebration of the natural world, an attempt at immortalising the deep, transcendent feelings I have when I’m outdoors. In times of heartache, grief, deep love or confusion, I look to the natural world for answers. I’ve learnt to breathe out, and tune in. This is what came through.” See Lorde as part of her Solar Power tour in Sydney on March 13 and 14, 2023. Want an affordable bite to eat on your way to the theatre? Here's our guide to the best cheap eats in Sydney.

Horridus the Triceratops has landed at Melbourne Museum with visitors able to visit the huge dino from March 12 as part of a brand new exhibition.  Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs takes over two levels of Melbourne Museum in an exhibition that tracks the story of the dinosaurs from the perspective of Horridus – i.e. that of a triceratops. Guests are plunged into the Cretaceous period for the exhibit, where they'll learn about the world in which Horridus lived and the creatures the dino lived alongside.  As part of the exhibition, you'll of course also be able to gaze in wonder at Horridus, the most complete triceratops skeleton in the world. This big guy comprises of 266 bones and tips the scales at more than 1,000kg. Museums Victoria's senior curator of vertebrate palaeontology, Dr Erich Fitzgerald, says: "Horridus the Triceratops is a simply spectacular fossil, with the science behind Triceratops revealed like never before. Until you’ve seen Melbourne Museum’s Triceratops, you haven’t seen Triceratops at all." In the exhibition visitors will also learn about the process of fossilisation and paleontology, tracking the story of the dinosaurs from Horridus's era right through to the modern day, where dinosaurs' descendants live among us as birds.  Entry to Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs is free with museum entry. The exhibition opens on March 12.  Recommended: learn more about Horridus the Triceratops.

For many people, their dogs are their children. Unlike normal children, however, they never stop being cute, rack up huge phone bills or get tired of your hugs. They also never go to school – but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a daggy-cool school photo taken. Dog Photog, a specialty dog photography studio, is hosting a school photo day for very good boys and girls this January. Bring your canine along and they’ll get their portrait expertly taken against the classic blue marble background from your school days.  Your dog won’t get detention for being out of uniform either, with Dog Photog providing props like polo tee shirt collars, ties and school pins (is your dog library monitor, prefect or school captain material?). It costs $55 to get your dog’s photo taken, or $85 for two dogs from the same household. This price includes one screen resolution image but you can purchase extra images and photo packs (yep, just like at school) for a little extra.  There are two school photo sessions available, on January 28 and 29. Both sessions will be held at 55 Cromwell Street in Collingwood and bookings are a must. Planning out your social calendar? Here are the best things happening in Melbourne this week.

Lido Cinema’s rooftop cinema makes a triumphant return this summer for another series of films under the stars.  Lido on the Roof will be hosting a number of alfresco sessions across the warmer months, with screenings of new release flicks like The Banshees of Inisherin and Babylon. Other films currently lined up include the 2022 Palme d'Or winner Triangle of Sadness, Steven Spielberg's heartwarming coming-of-age story The Fabelmans, horror flick M3gan and Tar – a psychological drama starring Cate Blanchett, whose performance is garnering plenty of Oscar buzz. There are also films for the kids (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish) and those who love a hit of nostalgia (10 Things I Hate About You, The Big Lebowski). No need to BYO snacks: Lido's food and drink counter serves up great movie treats, from choctops and vegan-friendly popcorn to edamame and craft beers.  Check out the full program to see what's showing this year. ICYMI: Australia snubbed in Rolling Stone's Greatest Singers of All Time list.

Walking up the stairs of the Nicholas Building into RetroStar feels like stepping into another (very colourful) world. This vintage store specialises in 1940s-1990s clothing, shoes, accessories and bags.  Seventies fanatics can't go past the range of flares, kitsch tees and leather jackets. If you're looking for a '70s style that's cool rather than pisstake, this one's for you. Music nuts won't leave disappointed either, with a huge range of band T-shirts and streetwear. There's even a Christmas section for when you're feeling jolly, but also kitsch. Remember, RetroStar isn't an option and the prices are reasonable given the products (having said that, there is a $20 and less area for stylish cheapskates). Even if you're not into wearing vintage it's worth visiting RetroStar to wonder at the sheer collection of clothes from yesteryear. 

The open-air Queen Victoria Market is loud and proud, packed with veteran stallholders who are passionate about fresh produce (and are happy to tell you about it). It's popular with locals as their go-to for fresh fruit, veggies, meat and an outstanding variety of dairy and small goods, but has also become something of a 'must visit' for tourists.  And why not? With a huge number of stalls selling clothes, accessories and other bric-a-brac, the markets have evolved into more than just the place to get your weekly shop. Cafés line the market's outskirts and are usually heaving with brunchers every weekend. Be mindful of Queen Vic's opening hours before visiting (it's closed Monday and Wednesday) and be sure to get a hot jam doughnut before you leave.  In summer and winter, be sure to visit the Night Markets, held every Wednesday evening. Here, the market takes on a new guise as a hub for designers, food trucks and live performances. RECOMMENDED: How to do Queen Vic Market like a pro.

Celebrated English-Australian artist Bruce Munro is presenting his first-ever museum exhibition at Heide this winter. From Sunrise Road features both indoor and outdoor interactive installations that show off Munro's adept skill in working with light. Here in Australia, Munro is perhaps best known for his massive 'Field of Light' installation at Uluru. The installation was first shown in 2016 and has 50,000 flower-like spindle light bulbs cover the desert – and it's from this work that Munro's new outdoor installation at Heide, 'Candent Spring', draws from. Within 'Candent Spring' you'll also find 'Time and Again', a series of tessellating abstract clock faces or stainless steel water lilies marked with symbols that try to give the concept of time a visual representation.  During daylight hours 'Time and Again' works as mirrors, literally reflecting the passage of time as the sky changes from the morning, to noon and to dusk. At night, the gleaming discs shine like stars and are amplified by the clusters of "fireflies" (spindly, anemone-like fibre optic forms) that guests can walk in between and explore. From Sunrise Road continues indoors, with Heide presenting several of Munro's top works. 'Ferryman's Crossing' comprises dozens of recycled CDs meshed together like an ocean with reflecting beams of light projected onto the work in morse code. 'Ferryman's Crossing' is inspired by the Herman Hesse novel Siddhartha, with the light projections echoing how mariners could communic

Chicken nuggets (or “nug” as the kids call them) might not be haute cuisine, but golly gosh are they wholesome and comforting. And very much deserving of their own festival – which is why northside food truck park Welcome to Thornbury is hosting a Chicken Nugget Festival this June. On Saturday, June 25, Welcome to Thornbury will welcome a stack of vendors hawking various variations of the humble nug. In the past, this event has seen a range of vendors coming together to dish out chicken nugget burgers, chicken nugget subs, chicken nugget pizzas, baos and doughnuts, among other snacks celebrating the humble nug. As usual, entry is free and there’s an on-site ATM. Children welcome until 8pm, dogs welcome all day and night. Looking for more things to do? Check out our guide to the best events happening in Melbourne this week.

Golden Square car park has been used for many things in its lifetime, occasionally even for parking cars. During Rising, however, the inner-city car park finds a new lease on life as it’s turned into a multi-level art precinct showcasing some of the most exciting contemporary artists around.  When you arrive at the car park (for those unfamiliar with it, Golden Square is located between Lonsdale and Little Bourke) you’re invited to start your journey on the rooftop. Here you’ll be able to grab a drink from a pop-up bar before exploring the exhibition’s artworks – which include everything from melting ice sculptures to performance with kayaks. Artists involved in Golden Square include Scotty So, Atong Atem, Jenny Holzer, Patty Chang, Lu Yang and more .  Keep a special eye out for 'Parade for the Moon', a twice-nightly performative work by Jason Phu, James Nguyen, Nabilah Nordin and Veisinia Tonga that features a parade of people celebrating the moon and its importance across cultures. Tickets are on sale now, and you'll need to specify your arrival time on booking. 

Malthouse Theatre’s artistic director Matthew Lutton is jumping ships temporarily to direct the anti-capitalist musical comedy Happy End. Created by Elisabeth Hauptmann, Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, the work originally only ran for seven performances when it premiered in 1929 Berlin, and it was largely ill-received at the time. The Guys and Dolls-esque show of gangsters in 1915 Chicago premiered on Broadway in 1977 (starring Meryl Streep, no less). Happy End is something of a musical rom com, with the story revolving around gangster Bill Cracker (Adam Murphy, Aladdin) and his unlikely romance with Salvation Army lieutenant Lillian Holiday (Lucy Maunder, Fun Home). The cast is rounded out by Ali McGregor (Lorelei) and Euan Fistrovic Doidge (Fun Home).  Happy End is showing at Arts Centre Melbourne with five performances only from March 23 to 26.

Melburnians will soon have an extra transport option to zip around the city. From February 1, Melbourne is teaming up with Lime and Neuron Mobility to provide residents and tourists with 1,500 e-scooters to ride on.  The e-scooter rollout is part of a one-year trial that will place the vehicles in three inner-city council areas: Melbourne, Yarra and Port Phillip. Should it prove successful, the trial could  be extended.  The new low-emission e-scooters can travel up to 20km per hour and can be accessed via the Lime and Neuron apps, similar to how you might hire a Lime e-bike. The vehicles can be used in bike lanes, shared paths and low-speed roads but not on footpaths – riders also must wear a helmet while riding and give way to pedestrians on shared paths.  Photograph: Supplied / Lime Melbourne lord mayor Sally Capp said: "The trial will provide another fun new way to get to your next meeting, meet people after work or explore our stunning city." "It’s going to be exciting seeing flashes of neon orange and green on our streets, and we can’t wait to see people safely scooting about." The Lime and Neuron e-scooters begin rolling out across Melbourne from February 1. This grocery (and RAT) service can deliver your order in just 15 minutes.

In 2016, Carlton lost one of its oldest buildings when two developers illegally demolished the Corkman Irish Pub (formerly the Carlton Inn). While we can't bring the pub itself back, we can remember it with a new public artwork memorialising the 160-year-old pub.  'Distant Things Appear Suddenly Near' is a new public art commission from Melbourne city council that recreates the façade of the Corkman hotel. Created by Irish artist, Sean Lynch, who says the artwork directly speaks to the notorious demolition of the building. "'Distant Things Appear Suddenly Near' places an emphasis on objects and understandings of spaces that have been marginalised in the continued growth of the contemporary city," said Lynch. The work also interweaves elements of another pubic work (specifically Hossein Valamanesh’s 'Faultline') and has an accompanying voiceover. The public work will live for the next 18 months at University Square in Carlton, just around the corner from where the pub itself once stood.  Here are more public artworks that you should know around Melbourne.  

Travelling into the Melbourne CBD is about to get a lot cheaper, with the state government giving away 250,000 free public transport vouchers this summer. To encourage people back into the city over the festive season and summer holidays, 50,000 public transport vouchers are up for grabs across five event categories. Those categories include Christmas, performing arts, galleries and attractions, dining, and shopping.  The vouchers are available from the PTV website from Thursday, December 16. Those successful in securing a voucher simply need to show it to staff when entering or exiting their station (or if stopped by a ticket inspector) while travelling on the valid voucher date. Vouchers can be used from December 18 onwards. Even if you miss out on a free travel voucher, you can still take advantage of free public transport across the network on Christmas Day and on New Year's Eve. The free holiday travel periods run from 3am December 25 to 3am December 26, and from 6pm December 31 until 6am on January 1. No special ticket is required on metro transport, simply don't use your Myki during those periods. If you're catching a V/Line service you'll still need to make a free booking to secure a spot. Metro trains and most trams will run all night on New Year's Eve as well. It's not all good news, however, with metro public transport fares increasing an average of 2.3 per cent from January 1, 2022. That rise means that daily fares in zone 1, zone 2 and zone 1 and 2, will be 20 ce

Circus Oz has announced today that it will cease operating following a poll that had company members reject reforms laid out in a government review.  Over the last two years, Circus Oz has undergone an internal assessment that looked at different artistic and business models that would allow the company to prosper, support performers and the art form, and entertain audiences. A vision to achieve these goals was confirmed by the Circus Oz board. This year, Circus Oz underwent an independent review commissioned jointly by Creative Victoria and the Australia Council for the Arts. This review highlighted "systemic issues holding back the company" and asked for certain reforms to be made (such as broadening membership criteria and introducing an entirely skills-based board) if Circus Oz wanted to continue to receive public funding.  Following this, Circus Oz company members (a body that is made up mostly of former Circus Oz employees) were anonymously polled to indicate whether they would support the proposed reforms. The poll indicated that a formal vote to accept the reforms would fail – meaning the company would lose vital government funding, leading to the decision to close Circus Oz for good after more than 40 years of operation. Circus Oz was launched in 1977 and had only recently announced its first show post-lockdown, an innovative city-wide production called Everything but the Circus. The board has released a statement stating: "After surviving the pandemic challenges and

The Earth’s environmental issues have been given the back seat in the face of the current coronavirus pandemic and after years of discouraging single-use items, they’ve made a roaring, necessitous comeback in the form of masks, face shields and gloves.  But UK designer Alice Potts is proving that the two issues can work together, creating 'Dance Biodegradable Personal Protective Equipment (DBPPE) Post Covid Facemasks', a series of 20 “fully degradable” face shields out of sustainable bioplastics as part of the blockbuster NGV Triennial exhibition. While the face shields really capture the 2020 zeitgeist, they aren’t what Potts originally planned to present for the blockbuster exhibition. Potts was approached to take part in the Triennial prior to lockdown, and the idea was that she’d present one of her sweat crystallisation works – where she turns literal sweat into crystals and crystalline objects. “Then Covid happened and I think that changed everyone’s work and everyone’s practice,” says Potts. “I had a massive fear that if I used people’s sweat and crystallised it, would Covid still be able to survive as a crystal?” With that in mind, Potts turned her attention to the bioplastics elements of her practice – material that looks and feels like plastic but is made out of organic matter like algae and seaweed (and in Potts’s case, made from discarded food waste). “I made it a challenge for myself, to develop materials with all the restrictions that were going on. So the [UK's]

Subscriptions are out but performances are back on at Malthouse Theatre, with the company shifting to a new model for its 2022 season. Those keenly awaiting the annual season launch are out of luck, with Malthouse moving away from disclosing all its secrets at once in favour of rolling production announcements throughout the year – the first of which have just been revealed.  In 2022, Malthouse presents ten new Australian productions, shepherded in by the company's summer outdoor stage program that's on from now until April. Lockdown-proof, digital productions that have been in the works while theatres were shut in 2021 are also in the works, including a massive, user-friendly and innovative archive of Malthouse's history called M Stories and an incredibly in-depth and interactive digital version of Because the Night that essentially turns the watershed production into a video game that can be played anywhere with an internet connection. Photograph: Supplied / TS Publicity That's before we even get to the indoor, in-real-life productions that are planned, the first of which is comedy Stay Woke (Feb 25-Mar 13) by Aran Thangaratnam. The work revolves around brothers Niv and Sai, who head off on a ski trip hoping to resolve their lifelong rivalry. But the holiday chit-chat turns political, with Sai's girlfriend Kate ending up in the middle of it. Malthouse artistic director, Matthew Lutton, calls Stay Woke an "astonishingly good and addictive comedy", with the work featuring G

Melbourne's annual New Year's Eve midnight fireworks have a little competition this year. To help ring out 2021, Melbourne is hosting Australia's largest ever drone display, with 350 drones taking to the sky to wow audiences with a dazzling aerial performance.  The seven-minute drone swarm will take place over Dockland's Victoria Harbour twice on New Year's Eve, before both the 9.30pm and midnight fireworks displays. Melbourne lord mayor, Sally Capp, said: "With 350 drones lighting up the sky – this will be one of the first drone shows of this scale to ever take place in the southern hemisphere." The show comes from international drone art organisation Celestial, which has previously provided a drone performance for Edinburgh's 2020 New Year's Eve celebrations, as well as for Amnesty International's 60th anniversary. Take a look at the Edinburgh performance below to get a sense of the scale and spectacle of the Melbourne event.  Melbourne will once again instate ticketed celebration zones for the New Year's Eve displays, with zones planned in Alexandra Gardens, Docklands, Flagstaff Gardens and Treasury Gardens. These areas will feature family-friendly entertainment, food trucks, music and amenities, and you must be fully vaccinated to attend.  The New Year's Eve Street Feasts are also back for 2021, with eight precincts around Melbourne (including in Russell Place, Cohen Place and at Fed Square) to host food pop-ups from favourite local restaurants as well as live musi

Renowned Australian entertainer Bert Newton will be honoured by Melbourne's east end theatre district tonight in memory of his contribution to the city's performing arts community. At 7.30pm on Thursday, November 11, some of Melbourne's most famous theatres will dim their lights for one minute as a tribute to Newton. The dimming of the lights is a tradition reserved only for those who've gone above and beyond in contributing to the theatre industry, with participating venues (such as the Princess, Regent, Athenaeum and Comedy theatres) unanimous in their decision to grant this honour to Newton.  Born in Fitzroy in 1938, Bert Newton entered the entertainment industry at the age of 15 working for radio station 3XY which was based out of the Princess Theatre. During his career Newton was also part of the great revival of Melbourne's theatre industry, and has performed most of the city's major theatres in productions of Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of Music, The Producers, Annie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Wicked. CEO for the Marriner Group, Jason Marriner, said: "Bert made an enormous contribution to the theatre, and we should be forever grateful that so many of his iconic performances were on the stages of Melbourne’s east end theatres.” A state funeral service for Bert Newton AM MBE will be held at St Patrick's Cathedral in East Melbourne on Friday, November 12 and will be live-streamed. 

If you've been hankering to see the full mammoth magical production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in Melbourne, you better book your tickets ASAP. From March 27 2022, the original five-hour, two-part production will close to be replaced by a one-part, reimagined production that will reopen at the Princess Theatre in May.  The one-part, reimagined production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child comes from the play's original creatives, including Jack Thorne, John Tiffany and (of course) J.K. Rowling. Thorne and Tiffany said: "Revisiting the play has been an illuminating process of rediscovery; we challenged ourselves to find a new way to distill our story in the simplest and most truthful way possible." While not as long, the new version still follows the same story, in which audiences return to Hogwarts 19 years after the seventh book ended.  Melbourne isn't the first city to debut the condensed version of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, with the Broadway production reopening with the world premiere of the new one-part play on November 16, 2021. Toronto and San Francisco will also host the reimagined play, while the West End and Hamburg productions will continue with the original two-part format.  Those wanting to see the original two-part production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child can book tickets now for performances until March 27, 2022. Tickets for the reimagined one-part play go on sale November 19 for performances from May 2022 – or you can sign up for th

Been missing family and friends in NSW? From November 1, fully vaccinated Victorians can freely travel to Sydney and regional NSW. That means you can hop on a plane or in the car from today and travel to NSW without having to quarantine. Previous to November 1, all Victorians (regardless of vaccination status) were required to spend 14 days in quarantine if entering NSW. However, Victorians aged 16 and over who are not fully vaccinated cannot enter NSW for recreation purposes or a holiday from November 1. All travellers must apply for a permit to enter or re-enter Victoria, with different restrictions in place depending on your vaccination status. From November 1, Victoria (as well as NSW and the ACT) is also allowing fully vaccinated Australian citizens or permanent residents to return from overseas without having to quarantine. You can also depart Australian for international destinations from the same date, so long as you are fully vaccinated and get tested and receive a negative result within 72 hours of your departing flight.  Confused about what's currently open in Melbourne? Here's everything you need to know.   

The dazzlingly romantic musical An American in Paris is finally making its way to Australian audiences. The Australian Ballet, alongside GWB Entertainment, is bringing the Tony Award-winning musical comedy to Australia in 2022, with seasons locked in most major Australian cities.  An American in Paris is based off the Gene Kelly-starring 1951 MGM film of the same name, in which a young American World War II vet falls in love with a French woman in (you guessed it) Paris. The enthusiastic dance numbers are backed by a score composed by George and Ira Gershwin, and include songs like 'I Got Rhythm' and 'Love is Here to Stay'. It's a lively, lavish and delightfully romantic production that premiered on Broadway in 2015 (the Time Out New York team even got to peek behind the scenes) before going on to play on the West End, Tokyo and Beijing – winning four Tony Awards along the way.  Expect a mix of ballet and Broadway, with director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon bringing An American in Paris to life. David Hallberg, artistic director of the Australian Ballet, said: "An American in Paris has been adapted for the stage by one of the world’s most in-demand choreographers and we have a great and long-standing relationship with Christopher. It’s exciting to be collaborating with him again, but this time on a musical, and we welcome the opportunity for a number of our dancers to perform in this incredible production and broaden their skills as artists.” An American in Paris wi

Mark it in your calendars: live, in-person music will return to Melbourne on October 30. The state government has announced that a concert for "several thousand people" will be held at Sidney Myer Music Bowl on October 30, subject to approval from the chief health officer, with smaller gigs also planned around to happen simultaneously around the state.  The line-up for the concert is still to be announced, though it is expected to showcase Victorian talent. The concert forms part of Victoria's "vaccinated economy" trials, which will test event settings that are attached to the state's 80 per cent double vaccination target – which we should hit around November 5.  Flemington Racecourse will also be taking part in the trials, with up to 10,000 guests expected to be permitted for the Melbourne Cup Carnival's final two days, Oaks Day and Stakes Day. Crowds will be permitted so long as Victoria has reached its 80 per cent double-dose target, with those wanting to attend needing to be fully vaccinated and wear a mask.  Similar trials are currently underway at venues such as cinemas, salons, churches, gyms, cafés and hotels in regional Victoria. Musician Georgia Maq is helping reopen Melbourne by working as a nurse vaccinator.