Our monthly guide to the best theatre and stage shows happening across Melbourne, in print and online.
Hour of the Wolf
This is immersive theatre on its most grand scale. Hour of the Wolf is set in the fictional location of Hope Hill, between the hours of 3am and 4am. As the play unfolds audiences are invited to roam about the space, and choose their own story to follow. It’ll be nothing short of interactive and captivating.
Hour of the Wolf is happening at the Malthouse Theatre from October 19
Victorian State Ballet Presents The Nutcracker
With Christmas looming as the next festive period after Spring, the Victorian State Ballet are celebrating the commencement on the season in classic fashion. The Nutcracker is a quintessential Christmas ballet performance, so expect all that you have come to know from its narrative with a unique twist.
The Nutcracker takes to the Palais Theatre stage on October 28
Manifesto
This dance performance comes in nines. Nine drummers play nine drumkits with nine dancers leading the movement. A symbiotic relationship is established between each dancer and drummer pronouncing the rhythmic parallels between percussion and movement. This performance has captivated audiences globally, be sure to secure tickets.
Manifesto is being performed at the Playhouse from October 25
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert
The MSO are continuing their run of musical scores accompanying Star Wars movies. This time around the moving image will be the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back. It’ll be grand and symphonic, and the optimal way to watch a cult classic film.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert is on at Hamer Hall from October 05-21
Church of the Clitori
“Welcome people with and from the clitoris. From where we all doth cum.” Lillian Rodrigues-Pang & Malika Reese have created their body positive space in attempts to achieve true salvation, clitoral salvation. A ceremony like no other, riddled with double entandras and celebration of all things clitoris, The church of the Clitori is part of this years Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Church of the Clitori is running at The Motley Bauhaus from October 09-15
Kitty Flanagan
Longstanding laugh-inducing comic Kitty Flanagan is back live with a stand-up encore performance. Recently she has come to be loved on TV shows, Fisk, Utopia and Have You Been Paying Attention, but Kitty is no stranger to the world of a stand-up, a setting she as reigned with hilarity for years.
Kitty Flanagan performs the State Theatre from October 27-29
Starfish the Redacted
Dark in its humour, Starfish The Redacted dissects the power of art and its omnipresence in the human existence. Equal parts dystopian and historical regurgitation, This production will have you questioning the censorship that governments are capable of imposing upon people.
Starfish the Redacted is on at Hamer Hall from October 04-15
The Visitors
Australia’s history is fraught, but The Visitors is a production discussing the early impacts of colonialism and its affect on First Peoples. Woven together by Aboriginal customs, melody and humour at the hands of composer Christopher Sainsbury and libretto by playwright Muruwari woman, Jane Harrison, The visitors is stacked with metaphors. Told from the perspective of elders this production will feature at the Playhouse for four nights.
The Visitors is coming to the Playhouse from October 18-21
Constellations
Love unfolds with the possibility of countless parallel universes existing simultaneously. Navigating the fragility and sheer randomness of connection and romance, Constellations considers what might be possible and more.
Constellations is happening at Fortyfive Downstairs from October 04-15
