Things to do in Melbourne today

When Western Sydney playwright S Shakthidharan first invited us into Counting and Cracking, his collective and poetic reckoning with Sri Lanka’s devastating civil war (1983 to 2009) and the persecution of the Tamil peoples, its simple staging made way for magnetic storytelling driven by character.There was little need for bells and whistles with a voice as strong as his. Instead, the drama spun out in a dusty courtyard. The actors’ magnificent performances were enough, aided with simple props, signposts, musicians on stage and a heart of dance. Co-written and directed with Belvoir lead Eamon Flack, The Jungle and the Sea, now playing at MTC’s Southbank Theatre, looks very similar at first glance.  Once again, the transportation relies on the bare bones of a tall-walled courtyard. But there’s a huge difference in Dale Ferguson’s set design: here, there is no door, and the stone is pocked with bullet holes. So is The Jungle and the Sea spinning a similar story? Yes and no. While Counting and Cracking spent more time in Sydney, turning on its wounded heel to look back at the desperate race to escape war, here we mostly live through that horror, with a brief glimpse at a brighter future in the Harbour City.We see waves of fear and loathing crash over the island nation as the Sinhalese government brutally clamps down on the Tamil Tiger insurgency, with all-too devastating echoes of Israel’s merciless destruction of Gaza and its repeated declaration of ‘safe’ zones, only to...

This is not the Amazon. Neither the jungle, nor the multinational behemoth set on destroying any semblance of local community in our bonfire, AI-driven destiny of poisoned skies, blazing fires and toxic slop waters.  But Break of Day’s giant revolve on the Malthouse’s mighty Merlyn stage allows us a diorama cut-through of an analogous production line packing facility where Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? star Kat Stewart’s put-upon Pamela works like a dog all night long just to make nowhere near enough money to get by.  Like many of us, she feels thoroughly invisible in a system that’s designed to crush her into dust. We love Kat Stewart! We do! Savage River playwright Steve Rodgers has crafted a very specific character in the magnificent Stewart’s Pamela. One that’s all-too recognisable in our late capitalist death-spiral that purposefully crushes the human spirit. A worn-thin single mum, she’s trying to keep food on the table and is forced to share a bed with her teenage daughter, the academically-minded Rae (Sherry-Lee Watson), in their poky one-bedroom rental.But as strong as Pamela is on the page, with her pin-drop monologues about walking the estate in an outer city suburb somewhere in Australia, it’s Stewart who nails the bone weariness of Break of Day. As directed with urgent authority by Sarah Goodes, Stewart’s an empathy machine you can’t take your eyes or ears off. What’s Break of Day all about?  The working class. An increasingly amorphous group too-rarely...

The Mornington Peninsula, Great Ocean Road and Yarra Valley Chocolateries are famous for their month-long festival dedicated to hot chocolate in all its irresistible forms, and this year’s no different. A total of 31 limited-edition flavours will be available to try throughout August, with decadent options loaded with everything from giant marshmallows to golden syrup dumplings. Some of the flavours already revealed include Tipsy Lemon, which features a white chocolate cup filled with Limoncello ganache, piped meringue and a side of fresh biscotti; and Dot Cake, a take on the viral foodie trend complete with a polka dot-covered vanilla and white chocolate disc atop a milk chocolate hot chocolate. Heaven!  “This year’s Hot Chocolate Festival flavours are next level – we’ve been inspired to create adults-only ways to whisk with boozy accompaniments and extra decadent ingredients for melting, as well as whimsical ways to delight the kids with cute additions to dunk and slurp,” said head chocolatier, Allan Grandjean.  Can’t decide on just one hot choccie? Then the tasting sessions have your name on it. At $28 per person, it’s an opportunity to sample eight different flavours. You'll also get the chance to flex your culinary chops by choosing from different ingredients to make three bespoke creations. Throughout the festival, there’ll be a range of exclusive products available for purchase online, including DIY kits to recreate the hot chocolate magic at home. And you can also...

Melbourne’s cool and quirky winter festival of art, ideas, sound and technology is back from August 19–30. Across 12 days, more than 250 local and international artists will take over iconic venues and public spaces as part of Now or Never. This year’s theme, ‘A Whole New World’, explores how AI, immersive technology and digital storytelling are reshaping the way we see, hear and experience the world. Translation: expect plenty of things that make you stop and stare. The Royal Exhibition Building is at the heart of the action, with the particularly dreamy Somnia inviting audiences to spend the night beneath its famous dome. The overnight sleep concert features ambient pioneer William Basinski and Norwegian saxophonist Bendik Giske, so you can literally lie down and let the music wash over you. There’s a major celebration of American composer Philip Glass, with Orchestra Victoria performing In the Upper Room and concert pianist Maki Namekawa bringing his Piano Etudes 1–10 to life. You can also enjoy a breathwork and soundbath experience with First Nations artists David and Daniel Wilfred. Down by the Yarra River there will be free, large-scale light installations that transform the waterfront after dark. Look out for Taiwanese artist AKA Chang’s monumental laser work Multimmersion Upside Down V2 and Emily Parsons-Lord’s The Falls Before Us, which makes the Evan Walker Bridge appear to dissolve into mist. Meanwhile, Melbourne Town Hall gets a spectacular makeover, with...

If you thought history class was boring, Six the Musical is here to change your mind. Created by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, this high-energy musical returns to Australia and will be at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre from July 24. In this foot-tapping show, the six wives of King Henry VIII are reimagined as modern-day pop stars out to reclaim their stories. One by one, Catherine of Aragon (Sarah Murr), Anne Boleyn (Mia Paris Scalise), Jane Seymour (Cara Bessey), Anna of Cleves (Kadesa Honeyhill), Katherine Howard (Angela Brischetto) and Catherine Parr (Lorinda May Merrypor) take the mic, wowing you with their power ballads and rock anthems. Since its breakout debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017, the show has become a global sensation thanks to its infectious songs, sharp wit and empowering message. It’s making a triumphant return to Australia, so get ready to say “Yasss Queen”. For more info and to secure your tickets, head to the website.  Read on for our five-star review of Six the Musical from 2024. *** Divorced, beheaded… live? This unconventional pop rock musical takes a dry historical topic and turns it into a rowdy 80-minute concert to rival the Spice Girls themselves. Everyone knows that King Henry VIII had not four, not five, but six wives – enough to require a mnemonic technique to keep track. History has reduced the legacies of these ladies to little more than singular words in a rhyme detailing their fearsome fates, but what if we carved out space to...

There’s something so comforting about a pie. What’s not to love about the flaky, flavour-packed pocket of joy, warmed to perfection and slathered in tomato sauce? It’s little wonder, then, that one of the region’s most beloved winter drawcards is all about the hearty pastry. Returning for its fourth year this August 1-31, Ballarat’s Best Pie will see 30 bakeries, cafes, restaurants and pubs battle it out for the coveted title.  Take your pick from savoury and sweet (or both), with twists on traditional favourites and brand-new creations competing for the crown. This year’s line-up might be the most inventive yet, featuring everything from a chicken parma pie to a cheeseburger pie and an ice-cream pie inspired by Wagon Wheels.  Judging will take place on August 1, with a panel awarding winners across six categories before the full line-up is made available to the public, who have the entire month of August to try them out and vote for the People’s Choice. Better still, anyone who casts a vote will go in the draw to win a getaway to Ballarat.  Whether you’re a pie connoisseur or simply looking for a foodie getaway, there’s plenty to do in Ballarat this winter as the city warms up with a jam-packed program worth rugging up for. From a short film festival to a jousting championship, it's easy to see why Ballarat was recently named Australia’s happiest place with so much fun to be had. You can view the map of participating venues and follow the pie trail here.

In a world where misinformation travels faster than facts, photojournalism is the need of the hour. A powerful photograph bears witness, challenges perceptions and captures history in a unique, compelling way. The World Press Photo exhibition is coming to Victoria for the first time in a decade, with the Art Gallery of Ballarat presenting the acclaimed showcase at the Ballarat Mining Exchange from August 8 to September 20. And, yes, entry is completely free. Run by the World Press Photo Foundation, this year's showcase features work selected from an astonishing 57,376 photographs submitted by 3,747 photographers across 141 countries. The 42 winning images range from defining global news events to stories that have flown under the radar. From conflict and courage, resilience and resistance, climate change and conservation, gender politics and human rights – the photos offer an unflinching snapshot of our times. Australian audiences will also find a local story among the winners. Sydney Morning Herald photographer Edwina Pickles is recognised for her powerful image documenting last year's Bondi Beach terror attacks, while fellow Sydney Morning Herald photographer Nicky Catley serves as one of this year's judges. The exhibition travels to more than 60 cities across the globe and this is a chance for Victorians to experience it in all its guts and glory. The World Press Photo exhibition runs from August 8 to September 20 at the Ballarat Mining Exchange. Entry is free, and you...

Actress Elizabeth Taylor’s stunning diamond and ruby necklace. Dazzling tiaras worn by singer Rihanna. Princess Margaret’s rose-shaped diamond brooch. Treasured pieces owned by Australia's first international opera singer (and beloved Melburnian) Dame Nellie Melba. Yes, we’re talking obviously Cartier. Founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier, this French brand is synonymous with high-end luxury – and now, you can see it in all its glittering glory up close and personal.  The NGV’s blockbuster Winter Masterpieces exhibition, Cartier, will give you a chance to see some of the world’s most famous jewels on display. Exclusive to Melbourne and running from June 12 to October 4, the exhibition brings together nearly 400 jewels, gemstones, watches and decorative objects, many of which have never travelled to Australia before. Created by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum in partnership with the NGV and Cartier, the exhibition explores the evolution of the legendary French maison. Check out more than 20 spectacular tiaras, the iconic ‘Tutti Frutti’ collection with colourful rubies, emeralds and sapphires, as well as timeless timepieces and contemporary creations featuring Australian opals from Lightning Ridge. It promises to be a glittering journey through nearly two centuries of artistry, innovation and timeless style. Interested? Find out more here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your...

Even though temperatures are dropping, Melbourne’s culture calendar is just heating up. This winter, two of the city’s biggest cultural institutions, ACMI and Rising, are teaming up for a multi-sensory exhibition, celebrating music’s cultural impact and paying tribute to vinyl. From May 22 to August 31, The Vinyl Factory: Reverb will bring together some of the leading figures working in video and sound to deep dive into different eras of music, through large-scale moving image works, immersive sound installations and interactive vinyl experiences.  Spanning the early days of techno to contemporary digital art, you’ll see work from celebrated artists including Canadian media artist Stan Douglas; British-Nigerian filmmaker and visual artist Jenn Nkiru; American fashion visionary Virgil Abloh; US filmmaker and music video director Kahlil Joseph; London-based photographer and video artist Gabriel Moses; South African artist William Kentridge; Turner Prize-winning British artist Jeremy Deller; British poet and sound artist Julianknxx; Argentinian performance artist Cecilia Bengolea and German electronic music and sound art innovator Carsten Nicolai.  Highlights include hands-on access to Technics turntables with remixable loops; a fantasy rap battle; and access to The Vinyl Factory’s archive, which features 100 vinyl pressings with works by Marina Abramović and Thom York.  There’s also the chance to pick a record and take it into the Listening Room, which by day functions as a...

What do you get when you cross cheese with high tea? You get High Cheese – an indulgent cheese-centric experience returning to the Westin Melbourne for its third year. Taking over the hotel’s Allegro Restaurant from May 26 to October 17, this ever-popular event sees executive chef Apoorva Kunte joining forces with Richmond specialty cheese shop Supercheese, plus Punt Road Wines for a celebration of cheese and wine. High Cheese gives your traditional high tea a delicious spin with a three-tiered menu that shines the spotlight on cheese. Think sweet and savoury bites with expertly paired wines – all designed to showcase the versatility of great (or should we say, ‘grate’?) fromage. It’s a brie-lliant excuse to spend an afternoon grazing. Supercheese owner Jeremy Spradbery has selected cheeses for their quality, provenance and personality, drawing from niche local and international producers. Guests will move through a  progression of creations by chef Kunte, including a shared centrepiece and a final sweet offering, paired with a glass of Punt Road wine. “Supercheese has an incredible eye for producers with real character,” says Kunte. “For us, it’s about showcasing cheese in a way that feels elevated, unexpected and true to the ingredient.” To keep things fresh, the experience will evolve mid-season with a refreshed menu launching in August – which gives you a gouda reason to return. High Cheese at Allegro Restaurant is available every Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm onwards...