Werewolf by Australian writer and activist Van Badham is a darkly comic and socially poignant political thriller that takes aim at the rise of extremism and conspiracy theories in contemporary Australia. It’s currently playing at The Arts Centre Melbourne, until 26 October, as part of this year’s Fringe Festival. Van Badham writes in the program for Werewolf that when she was writing her bestselling book QAnon And On: A Short and Shocking History of Internet Conspiracy Cults she made many discoveries about modern extremists that seemed too crazy to even include. One of these was the story of a “white…
Author: Caroline Duncan
There are reports that the plagued Docklands observation wheel could spin again as early next year, with the liquidators in talks with a potential buyer who doesn’t want it for scrap. The Herald Sun reports “a takeover deal for the wheel is close, with “due diligence” checks being run to assess its viability and safety.” The Docklands Wheel – also known as the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel – ceased spinning in 2021 and entered liquidation. According to the Herald Sun report, liquidators Grant Thornton have confirmed there are talks about a potential resurrection and takeover of the wheel. The liquidators…
The Whitlams kicked off their Love This City 25th anniversary tour at the iconic Corner Hotel in Richmond on Thursday, which has seen them play a string of shows at the beloved Melbourne venue before they take it on the road across the country. I attended the Saturday night show (5 October) and paid witness to an unforgettable celebration of one of Australia’s most acclaimed albums of the 1990s. The band’s performance was a testament to their staying power and the timelessness of their music, delivering a live experience that was both nostalgic and invigorating. An iconic album with enduring messages…
Hire e-scooters are now scooting off out of the CBD, following the Melbourne City Council’s resolution to ban them at a meeting last month. The rental operators need to remove the scooters from the CBD by midnight on 24 September, or face fines. Social media users have noted the two companies – Lime and Neuron – have been busy rounding up the scooters from the city and removing them ahead of the ban. The Guardian reports that around 1500 e-scooters have been loaded one-by-one onto trucks and taken from the city. The publication also says that rental e-scooters that aren’t…
Running from 18-21 September at the National Institute of Circus Arts in Prahran, Fall With Me is a stunning ensemble show that showcases the remarkable talents of the 2024 NICA second year students. Directed by the insightful Katie Cawthorne, the performance intricately weaves themes of trust and vulnerability through a captivating exploration of the human psyche. The show features breathtaking acts, including aerial acrobatics, teeterboard, hair hang, hoops and Chinese pole, each pushing the boundaries of physicality and emotional connection. Cawthorne’s direction shines as the performers navigate their aerial feats with grace and precision, highlighting not only their technical skills…
The Glow Winter Arts Festival returns for its 10th anniversary, taking over Central Park in Malvern East to light up each night from 18-21 July 2024. Each night during the festival, the historic park will be transformed into a breathtaking wonderland, offering a free program of mesmerising outdoor light and sound installations that ignite the imagination. Melbourning was invited to take a sneak peek of this year’s immersive installations the night before they officially open to the public. I took a 17 year old and a 12 year old along for the ride. We braved the freezing cold and at times…
The critically acclaimed production of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Red Stitch Actor’s Theatre now playing for a strictly limited season at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre, crackles with electrifying performances and razor-sharp dialogue, delivering an unforgettable night of theatre. Starring AFI and Logie Award winner Kat Stewart, the play is masterclass in dramatic literature that delves into the complexities of marriage, illusion, and disillusionment. Set in the living room of George – a history professor at a small New England college – and his wife Martha whose father is the president of the university, the play unravels over…
I am writing this negative review because in a cost of living crisis I feel I have a moral obligation to warn families not to spend their hard-earned money on an event that is clearly taking the piss. On the weekend I took two 19-year-olds, a 17-year-old and a 12-year-old to the Firelight Labyrinth event that’s currently running underneath Marvel Stadium. I need to mention their ages for context: these were not bored toddlers with no attention span. These were fully-formed human beings who have the requisite awareness to understand when they’ve been hoodwinked by the City of Melbourne. The…
Alcotraz – an immersive cocktail experience has opened in Melbourne this week – a unique theatrical night out that involves going to a fictional prison to drink cocktails and interact with a cast of actors who play inmates and guards. Melbourning was given the opportunity to attend a preview evening of the experience ahead of its official opening. Inspired by the notorious Alcatraz prison off the coast of San Francisco, Alcotraz requires participants to become inmates attempting to smuggle contraband liquor past a few shifty guards who are willing to look the other way. The concept has already been delivered…
Tom Gleeson stepped onto the stage on the opening night of the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival and thanked the audience, tongue-in-cheek of course, for taking a chance on a middle aged, white, rich male comedian. It set the pace for the hour that followed in his new show Gear – an uproarious journey through the absurdities of modern life. This show will leave you both laughing and pondering the absurdities of the world around us. With a career spanning more than two decades, Gleeson has established himself as a comedic powerhouse in Australia – earning acclaim for his stand-up…
Chicago now playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne is an electrifying spectacle that immerses the audience in the seductive and ruthless world of 1920s Chicago. Led by a stellar cast, this production delivers a five-star performance that razzle-dazzles from start to finish. The musical is beloved classic that follows the stories of two sensational murderesses, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, as they vie for fame, fortune and freedom in the corrupt world of 1920s Chicago’s criminal justice system. With catchy tunes, sizzling choreography, and razor-sharp wit, the show explores themes of celebrity, manipulation, and the pursuit of the American…
Gaslight currently playing at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre is a modern adaptation of the 1938 suspenseful thriller by Patrick Hamilton starring Geraldine Hakewill, Toby Schmitz and Kate Fitzpatrick and Courtney Cavallaro. This production of Gaslight is a version of an adaptation from Canadian writer / performers Patty Jamieson and Johnna Wright that world-premiered at the internationally renowned Shaw Festival in Canada in 2022. It is directed by highly-acclaimed Australian director Lee Lewis, and produced by Rodney Rigby. The play, set in 1901 London, is the original source of the term ‘gaslighting’. Gaslighting, a term widely used in today’s society, refers to the psychological manipulation of individuals, making them doubt their own sanity.…