Latest Reviews

Macbeth
By Darby Turnbull In a brief reprieve from Naarm’s recent heatwave; the weather turned pleasantly crisp for Friday night’s performance of Macbeth with overcast skies and some moderate wind; the ambience could not have been more ideal for transposing rural, medieval...
An Evening Without Kate Bush
By Bec Johnston. Downstairs in the Fairfax Theatre at Arts Centre Melbourne, there's a windstorm building. The sheer flat of the stage could, conceivably, be mistaken for the wily, Wuthering moors somewhere out in West Yorkshire. There is nothing resting upon it but a...
Panti Bliss – If these wigs could talk
By George Dixon. The “Queen of Ireland”, Panti Bliss, holds court with her latest creation, “If these wigs could talk”. This seventy-five-minute solo production is packed with heart-warming and, at times, intense accounts and insights into her life as a Drag Queen....
Wuthering Heights
Review by Tim Garratt First published in 1847, Wuthering Heights was Emily Brontë’s only novel. Today, this Victorian romance, fusing Gothic and Romantic elements, has a firmly entrenched place among the classics and has been the subject of numerous film and...
Comedy At The Shirley
By Jennifer Beasley. Aim for a solid six and mind who takes up residence in your head, as this hilarious quartet ensures no refunds are required. I really enjoy going to The Shirley Burke Theatre. Supported by the Kingston City Council, it’s a lovely 167 seat venue...
Shirley Valentine
By Nick Pilgrim. From the outside looking in, monologue-driven theatre may be the easiest medium to produce but amongst the most difficult and challenging of the performing arts to execute well. Separated from viewers by only their wits and a handful of props, it can...
Not Done Yet, Ripe for Action
By Karyn Lee Greig Baby boomers were born between 1946 and 1964. According to liveaboutdotcom, some common workplace values are that they are ‘workaholic, independent and self-assertive . . . . competitive and self-actualised. As they age, they are changing people’s...
Follies
With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Goldman, Follies premiered on Broadway in 1971. The musical tells the story of a group of former showgirls, the Weismann Girls, who are invited to a reunion at the Broadway theatre where their musical...
37 by Melbourne Theatre Company & Queensland Theatre
By Adam Rafferty. After a successful first run in the 2024 season, the Melbourne Theatre Company are kicking off (pun intended) this year with the triumphant return of 37, and it’s not hard to see why. This is a waggish, raucous and ribald comedy that also delivers a...
Features

Geumhyung Jeong – Shall we create this experience together?
In Fire Drill Scenario, South Korean choreographer and artist Geumhyung Jeong investigates the excitement, and real-life risks that artists and audiences take when partaking in live performance experiences. Expect the unexpected in this wry, somehow ridiculous but...
Sam Routledge and the inspiration behind Goldfish
Terrapin in association with Aichi Prefectural Art Theater, bring their dynamic and wondrous show, Goldfish, to the stage later this month. The show is aimed at children aged 8+ and their families and is a place where reality and fantasy collide. A fascinating...
Arielle Gray and the magic of The Last Great Hunt’s Night Night
Night Night, the latest work by iconic Australian theatre makers The Last Great Hunt, is fascinatingly described as a story of life, death and other dimensions. The work began as an online collaboration between The Last Great Hunt’s Arielle Gray and Tim Watts with...
Joe Paradise Lui and Merlynn Tong Talk Legends (Of The Golden Arches)
Written, directed and starring Joe Paradise Lui and Merlynn Tong, Legends (Of The Golden Arches) is a rip-roaring ride plunging two best friends into the depths of the Chinese afterlife. A piece many years in the making, the show premieres its 2025 season shortly,...
Jessica Wilson Opening New Types of Dialogues in Shadows in Twin Cities
Shadows in Twin Cities brings together children from Jeonju (Korea) and Melbourne (Australia) in unusual conversations between each other and their city landscapes. The children meet and connect via life-sized screens. It's unusual and candid one-on-one exchange...
Alyssa Mastromanno delivers her message of curiosity and courage in The Wind in the Willows
Melbourne’s beloved family classic, The Wind in the Willows, returns to the Royal Botanic Gardens this summer. Presented by The Australian Shakespeare Company, The Wind in the Willows celebrates its 38th year of outdoor theatre family entertainment. Actor Alyssa...
News
Perth Festival – Illuminating Perth nights with incredible music, theatre and art
Whether it's a first look at the reinvigorated East Perth Power Station and its global musical offerings, venturing to His Majesty’s Theatre to immerse in the opulent storytelling of Mahabharata, or discovering your new favourite artists through the Boorloo...
Arts Centre Melbourne’s Autumn Winter Families offering set to inspire and delight
This Autumn and Winter Arts Centre Melbourne has curated a program of three unique and engaging works, the Boy & the Ball, Wonderbox and Yong, designed to inspire and delight children and their families. Arts Centre Melbourne Creative Producer Families and...
MPAC unveils 2025 season where First Nations programming takes centre stage
Monash University Performing Arts Centres (MPAC) is thrilled to announce the launch of its 2025 program, with a strong emphasis on First Nations programming. Curated by MPAC’s Senior Producer First Nations, proud Gunditjmara man Tom Molyneux — the season showcases...
THE DICTIONARY OF LOST WORDS begins national tour next month
Sydney Theatre Company (STC) and State Theatre Company South Australia’s (STCSA) acclaimed adaptation of The Dictionary of Lost Words will play a strictly limited encore season at STC’s Roslyn Packer Theatre from 1-22 March 2025, as part of a six-city national tour...
Competitions

Win Tix to Three Sisters
Win one of 2 double passes for the upcoming season of Three Sisters for the 7:30pm show on Saturday the 8th of March, playing at Theatre Works on Acland Street in St Kilda. To be in the running, please send your response to the below question to:...
Win Tix to Our Monster’s Name is Jerry
Win one of 2 double passes for the upcoming season of Our Monster’s Name is Jerry for the 7:30pm show on Saturday the 15th of February, playing at Theatre Works on Acland Street in St Kilda. To be in eh running, please send your response to the below question to:...
Win a double pass to Phantom of the Opera – in cinema!
Win a double pass to see The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall in cinemas from Thursday 31st October To enter simply email allison.hilbig@theatrematters.com.au with your name and why you want to win a double pass to see The Phantom of the Opera at the...

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About Us
Theatre Matters is a community group that loves, promotes and discusses all things to do with Australian theatre.