Melbourne live reviews
A ritual once marked marriage as a spiritual death for women. It’s now a stunning performance
The Bridal Lament by Rainbow Chan brings together the ancient and contemporary to explore the line between cultures.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Barney Zwartz and Cameron Woodhead
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Beauty and horror collide in this famous exploration of ‘madness’
One of opera’s most famous ‘mad scenes’ is on show in Melbourne Opera’s production of Lucia di Lammermoor.
- by Bridget Davies, Cameron Woodhead, Tony Way and Andrew Fuhrmann
A rare act of impersonation: Heather Mitchell’s enthralling RBG
Inhabiting someone as illustrious as US Supreme Court judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg is no mean feat, but Mitchell doesn’t just capture her likeness – she captures her spirit.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Nadia Bailey, Jessica Nicholas and Vyshnavee Wijekumar
When this play premiered, its actors were arrested for obscenity. Now it’s back
A controversial classic, and a smart contemporary response to it, takes the stage at La Mama in an excellent double bill.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Karl Quinn, Tony Way and Sonia Nair
Puppeteering and tiny tombstones? This festival has it all
From lurid family histories to Excel-lent stand-up, this year’s comedy festival is in full swing. Keep an eye on our ever-growing list of reviews here.
- by Sonia Nair, Lefa Singleton Norton, Hannah Francis, Tyson Wray, Stephen A Russell, Cameron Woodhead, Vyshnavee Wijekumar, Donna Demaio and John Bailey
Melbourne undies on stage at Tom Jones? It’s still not unusual
Tom Jones has been touring for six decades, but his arena show was anything but nostalgia.
- by Will Cox, Cameron Woodhead and Tony Way
Surreal and lewd (and sometimes nude): This year’s comedy festival is off to a strong start
From Tim Tams to a screenplay written by an 11-year-old this year’s comedy festival is off to a roaring start. Keep an eye on our growing list of reviews here.Â
- by Stephen A Russell, Lefa Singleton Norton, Mikey Cahill, Tyson Wray, Sonia Nair, Hannah Francis, Vyshnavee Wijekumar, Guy Webster, Cher Tan, Cassidy Knowlton and Cameron Woodhead
★★★★★
What’s on
He was playing the ‘wrong’ instrument – but nailed the concert anyway
Listeners were dazzled with the dizzying accuracy of Vikingur Olafsson’s fast hand-crossing, which was made far more perilous on a modern piano.
- by Tony Way and Cameron Woodhead
This revolutionary feminist was executed at 31. Her ideas never died
Farewell Lady Autumn at La Mama is inspired by the life of Qiu Jin, who was executed after being implicated in a failed assassination plot.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Kosa Monteith, Jessica Nicholas, Barney Zwartz and Tyson Wray
This three-course menu pairs the wine perfectly with its cocaine-addled chef
‘Gluttony: A Play in Three Courses’ offers an immersive performance as part of Melbourne’s Food & Wine Festival. Don’t worry, your only participation requirement is enjoying the food.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Andrew Fuhrmann and Barney Zwartz
After a blistering Golden Plains set, this duo sets out to conquer Melbourne
This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes Gaslight, Mahler 3, The Streets, Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul, and The Human League.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Barney Zwartz, Cameron Woodhead, Nadia Bailey and Andrew McClelland