Melbourne live reviews
Chaka Khan and Nile Rodgers at the Bowl – like an open-air Studio 54
This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes Chaka Khan, Nile Rodgers and Chic, Red Stitch’s Flake, Hour of the Wolf, The Visitors, The Chicks, Punjabi star Diljit Dosanjh, jazz saxophonist Troy Roberts, Elvis: A Musical Revolution, and Mamma Mia! The Musical.
- by Vyshnavee Wijekumar, Tony Way, Cameron Woodhead, Kate Herbert, Kate Lahey, Bridget Davies, Tyson Wray and Jessica Nicholas
Latest
‘Dazzling’: Jose Navas’ homage is an exceptional night of dance
In other Fringe dance productions, Mechorstra shakes and shimmies, Shower Thots drips with sensual energy, Shian Law carries the weight of history, Leisa Prowd shows resilience and Joel Bray blurs gender and genre.
- by Andrew Fuhrmann, Vyshnavee Wijekumar, Cher Tan, Stephen A Russell and Lefa Singleton Norton
Extended Rainbow History Class is a comedy treat
From Rainbow History lessons and victims of hacking to career changes and fart jokes, our reviewers take a look at the shows bringing the laughs, at Melbourne Fringe.
- by Donna Demaio, Vyshnavee Wijekumar, Tyson Wray, Cher Tan, Cameron Woodhead, Nell Geraets, Hannah Francis and Lefa Singleton Norton
Elvis is king in this rock-n-roll fever dream of a jukebox musical
This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes Dilijit Dosanjh, Elvis: A Musical Revolution, Mamma Mia! The Musical, Mozart and Beethoven concertos, a five-star performance by Weezer, Bell Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, and more.
- by Kate Herbert, Kate Jones, Cameron Woodhead, Tony Way and Mahmood Fazal
Manic multi-tasking: Endorphin levels surge in Fringe theatre Burnout
Fringe Theatre goes on the treadmill in Burnout Paradise while other shows offer high octane dance/theatre fusion, AI monsters and invitations into strangers’ loungerooms
- by Cameron Woodhead, John Bailey, Stephen A Russell, Cher Tan and Vyshnavee Wijekumar
Twenty years on, Delta reminds us she was born to try
This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes Delta Goodrem at Hamer Hall, My Sister Jill at Melbourne Theatre Company, Yuldea, Maho Magic bar and more.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Cameron Woodhead, Andrew Fuhrmann, Elizabeth Flux, Billy Burgess, Julie Fenwick, Tony Way and Bridget Davies
New spin on Swan Lake takes flight
This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes the Australian Ballet’s new spin on Swan Lake, and an undersea odyssey hosted in a soon-to-be-demolished former picture house.Â
- by Andrew Fuhrmann and Cameron Woodhead
This meditation on the mystery of time is as intriguing as it is entertaining
This wrap of shows includes A Book of Hours, The Nervous Atmosphere, Turn, Turn, Turn, Culture Club at Rod Laver Arena and Maria Stuarda.
- by Andrew Fuhrmann, Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Andrew McClelland and Bridget Davies
★★★★½
Arts
The 20th century’s ‘best play’ is tragically relevant. LaPaglia’s salesman will convince you of that
Neil Armfield’s star-powered production of Death of a Salesman is creative while staying true to Arthur Miller’s vision.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen
Eye-catching debut for the futuristic festival aiming to transform the city
From turning the Royal Exhibition Building into a dance floor to a free trail of art, the Now or Never festival had lofty ambitions.
- by Nick Buckley
Latest reviews
What’s on
An unforgettable gig by an artist on the rise
This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes Forest Claudette at the Night Cat, G Flip at the Forum, the glamorous Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Julius Caesar and more.
- by Kate Jones, Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Andrew Fuhrmann, Kate Herbert, Tony Way, Vyshnavee Wijekumar and Jessica Nicholas