Culture
Theatre
Actor Ian McKellen, 85, is in ‘good spirits’ and expected to recover from stage fall
He lost his footing and fell off the stage, startling theatregoers. The theatre was evacuated and the play was cancelled as medics treated the Lord of the Rings actor.
Latest
This play is set in 1947. What it says about us will surprise you
A Streetcar Named Desire lands with impeccable timing for the MTC. As the nation grapples with the awful toll of gendered violence, what we’re seeing feels anything but dated.
- by Lindy Percival
‘Like stalking a deer’: How this humble actor was lured to a huge role
Robert Menzies says he never expected to play Shakespeare’s King Lear.
- by Joyce Morgan
Why is one of our most talented actresses so filled with doubt?
As she tackles Lady Macbeth in an updated take on Shakespeare’s blood-stained queen, Bojana Novakovic is keen to prove herself wrong.
- by John Bailey
Exclusive
Arts
Lavish Opera Australia production of Sunset Boulevard cuts back shows
The decision follows mixed reviews and rising concerns over the cost of living impacting spending behaviour.
- by Elizabeth Flux
How rejection and three days in a hotel room led to a creative breakthrough
Actor Francis Greenslade’s ambitious debut play, The Platypus, skips between genres while tracking the breakdown of a relationship.
- by Stephen A Russell
‘The school feels bad’: True story of bullying is touring Qld region where it occurred
Fourteen, the stage version of Shannon Molloy’s memoir of extreme bullying, is also touring other towns where its message of hope is needed most.
- by Nick Dent
Hot nights and cool gigs: Your guide to Melbourne’s best this winter
From Rising to Pharoah, a sea slug count and the Reclink Cup, these are your must-see events in the city this winter.
- by Kath Dolan
‘I felt I could understand this role’: Sarah Brightman on playing Norma Desmond
The world’s best-selling soprano makes her return to the stage for the first time in 34 years in Sunset Boulevard.
- by Lenny Ann Low
Worried you’ll nod off during this eight-hour show? You won’t be alone
Just as in real life, REST happens between 9pm and 5am. Audiences can even wear their PJs.
- by John Bailey
More than just lights - here’s our pick of Vivid Ideas
From meeting strangers to spying on strangers, there is plenty of variety in the Vivid Ideas program.
- by Nick Galvin