Review
Updated
Melbourne live reviews
Lady Macbeth deserves a better fate. Does this play offer that chance?
Horrors both supernatural and human abound in this creative and provocative re-working of The Scottish Play.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Barney Zwartz, Andrew Fuhrmann, Vyshnavee Wijekumar, Michael Dwyer, Jessica Nicholas and Tony Way
Latest
Missy Higgins review: Quips, raw emotion and an immaculate album run-through
The Melbourne singer-songwriter gave two concerts for the price of one.
- by James Jennings
★★★★★
Arts
This three-way bet on the loopy power of opera is a five-star triumph
Our reviewers cast a critical eye over this week’s big shows.
- by Joyce Morgan, John Shand and Harriet Cunningham
It might be a tale as old as time, but this musical is pure delight
Musical theatre lovers with fond memories of seeing Beauty and the Beast as children will find them refreshed in this production (and kids will love it too).
- by Cameron Woodhead, Tony Way and Jessica Nicholas
★★★★
Melbourne live reviews
This moving and vibrant Rising show is a must-watch
Gurr Era Op, a beautifully composed dance theatre piece, is like a sea breeze: it blows strong and tastes fresh.
- by Andrew Fuhrmann, Cameron Woodhead, Tony Way and Vyshnavee Wijekumar
Opinion
Opinion
Settle down, Swifties – the Beatles are still the biggest thing to hit Australia
Looking beyond the headlines and focusing on the Eras Tour’s Australian leg in isolation, it’s worth noting a few sober facts now that we’ve all, ahem, shaken off the excitement.
- by Tom Compagnoni
★★★★★
Melbourne live reviews
One of Melbourne’s most underrated bands return home and blow off the roof
At first, indie duo Good Morning and the Melbourne Recital Centre seemed like an unusual match. But then the music started.
- by Will Cox, Andrew Fuhrmann and Brodie Lancaster
This Sunset Boulevard looks the part, but just isn’t dark enough to deliver
This production marks Sarah Brightman’s long-awaited return to musical theatre – but despite its many highlights, the show falls short.
- by Cameron Woodhead and Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen
Stellar performances (almost) make up for soulless venue: Tosca
Opera Australia staging of Puccini’s opera at Margaret Court Arena mostly paid off, plus New Zealand jazz pianist Jonathan Crayford hits Melbourne.
- by Bridget Davies and Jessica Nicholas
‘This is not an opera’: Macklemore tells Perth crowd to stand up and put their phones away
The constellation of distracting mobile phones, emanating from mostly young people filming much of the show, is one of the more infuriating aspects of modern-day gigs.
- by Sarah Brookes
An amusing take on the perils of living in a share house - in your 30s
Share-housing in your thirties is so in right now, Jude Perl has created a musical about it.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Barney Zwartz, Cameron Woodhead, Jessica Nicholas, Tony Way and Vyshnavee Wijekumar