The best theatre, comedy, magic, circus and stage shows this summer
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Arts
04.12.2024

The best theatre, comedy, magic, circus and stage shows this summer

melbourne stage shows
Words by Juliette Salom

Beat the heat and pull up a seat in a perfectly air-conditioned theatre!

The city is alive with activity, and while we all love a good ol’ outdoor festival, there’s something undeniably luxurious about avoiding the heat of the afternoon with a matinee show.

Luckily, the calendar is filled with enough free and ticketed stage shows to last us until spring. This December and January, find comedy, cabaret, theatre, improv, black box shows, magic and more. So much more!

If that all sounds pretty nice, then read on, because we’ve curated a list of some of the most interesting, impressive and iconic shows that’ll be gracing Melbourne stages in the coming months.

Explore Melbourne’s latest arts and stage news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Something Good: Improv Comedy Show

  • Comedy Republic
  • 4, 11 and 18 December

No two shows are the same for the comedy improv group show Something Good. Featuring cast and crew from Thank God You’re Here, this long-form improv performance invites the best of the best to make comedy gold out of literal thin air.

Whoop Dee Doo Revue

  • Viva Melbourne
  • 5 December

Miss Maple Rose and Myra Magdalene are here to take you on a journey of your wildest burlesque dreams. These transcendental performers will whisk you away and into the golden age of burlesque, as well as into the world of neo-performance art.

Melbourne Magic Show

  • Melbourne Marriott Hotel
  • 6, 13 and 20 December

Strap in for some jaw-dropping magic as master magician Luke Hocking performs a plethora of tricks and illusions, right before your very eyes. The beloved master of trickery is bringing his Impossible Occurrences live show to town this December.

Improvised Comedy: F#*k This, I Quit

  • The Improv Conspiracy
  • 6, 13, 20 and 27 December

Turn your workplace woes into a slice of Friday night entertainment as the improvisational comedians behind F#*k This, I Quit adapt your horror stories from horrible jobs into funny bone fodder for audiences to feast on. Maybe don’t bring your colleagues to this one.

Kings of Comedy: Underground, Uncensored, Unrivalled

 

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  • The Colonial Hotel
  • 7 December

All hail the newest comedy royalty coming up on the circuit as King of Comedy presents the best new names in the local scene. The show will not only feature the best and brightest of Melbourne’s rising comedy stars but also a tried-and-true professional headliner to give these newbies a run for their money.

Gorilla Theatre

 

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  • Impro Melbourne Theatre
  • 7 and 14 December

What do you get when you put five improvisers, an audience, a gorilla and a whole bunch of bananas in a theatre together? Gorilla Theatre is the newest improvisational theatre experience that will have you crying from laughter, clutching at your stitches and – yes – going bananas.

Shakespeare in the Supreme

 

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  • Supreme Court Library
  • 11 and 12 December

It’s Shakespeare – but make it Supreme. Unfurling in Melbourne’s Supreme Court Library, witness your favourite of the playwright’s plays as they take place between old-timey bookshelves and gold-framed portraits. To sweeten the deal, this event is completely free, although bookings are required so jump on them fast.

Lucy Best’s Disgraceful Christmas

  • The Butterfly Club
  • 13 and 14  December

A combination of comedy and cabaret that centres around the tightening tensions between naughty and nice, this one-woman Christmas-themed show by Lucy Best is sure to have you giggling all the way through the festive season.

Circus Arcana

  • Club Voltaire
  • 14 December

Witness your favourite tarot deck characters come to life in this circus extravaganza of mystical figures and daring deities. Watch on as the spectacular team behind Circus Arcana transforms in front of your eyes, combining circus, burlesque and comedy into a show for the ages.

Every Outfit Live

 

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  • The Capitol
  • 14 December

If you haven’t heard of famed and funny podcast Every Outfit, get ready to become their newest fan. Chelsea Fairless and Lauren Garroni are bringing their hilariously witty hot takes live to Melbourne audiences this December at The Capitol Theatre. From fashion to pop culture and everything in between, things are sure to get spicy at this show.

Steve Backshall’s Ocean

 

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  • Hamer Hall
  • January 18

Discover the mysterious beauty of the Big Blue, paired with performance, footage and Steve Backshall’s love of the ocean – all while staying dry. Come along on a ride of a lifetime at Hamer Hall this January and embrace the power of Steve Backshall’s Ocean, and what we can all do to help save it.

Love Actually? The Musical Parody

  • Athenaeum Theatre
  • Throughout December

If you want a dose of festive cheer in the lead-up to Christmas, as well as a good chunk of cheek-pinching comedy, there’s no going past Love Actually? The Musical Parody. Follow along as your favourite festive film gets a comedy musical makeover at the Athenaeum Theatre this Christmas season.

The Vaudeville Revue: Cabaret, Comedy and Burlesque

  • Speakeasy Theatre
  • Throughout December and January

Whether you’re visiting Melbourne on holiday or you’re a local wanting to spice up your summer, there’s no going past the famous Vaudeville Revue. Featuring everything from cabaret to comedy, sideshow stunts to circus acts, burlesque to bravado – this will be one unmissable extravaganza.

The Wind in the Willows

 

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  • Royal Botanic Gardens
  • Throughout December and January

Catch the beloved classic story of The Wind in the Willows over the summer at the Royal Botanic Gardens for a show of merry magic, family-friendly fun and spectacular storytelling. Celebrating 35 years of this iconic story in the Gardens, there’s never been a better time to check it out.

Laughs on Tap

  • Speakeasy Theatre
  • Throughout December and January

Settle in for a night of some of the best comedy going around town as both established performers and up-and-comers hit the stage. Not only will you be kicking yourself laughing throughout this night of hilarious stand-up, but there’s also free pizza on offer for attendees after the show.

For more on Melbourne stage shows this summer, head here.