Ruby Staley

What’s weird, wonderful, and welcoming audiences back for another year of exciting experiences and immersive entertainment? Melbourne’s much-loved winter festival, Rising, of course – it’s returning with a stacked program of evening events revolving around the city’s heaving centre. Under the glow of moonlight, uncover the city’s best and brightest experiences during one of the darkest periods of the year. From June 7 to 18, explore music, food, art and culture in abundance from impromptu participation moments and immersive installations to noteworthy live performances and artworks beyond belief. Hosted at venues ranging from the Forum to Birrarung Marr, the packed itinerary spans across more than 185 interactive events that make the perfect addition to a CBD night out.

The timeless story of Alice in Wonderland is a classic that appeals our sense of childlike wonder, while also exploring themes of growing up and the social pressures that come with it. Now, that story comes to Melbourne for four days of performances chronicling Alice's adventures down the rabbit hole.  Playing at the Athenaeum Theatre, the internationally acclaimed Alice in Wonderland: Lewis Carroll’s Timeless Classic will bring to life much-loved characters from the White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter to the Cheshire Cat and the Queen of Hearts, led by a cast of talented actors. Audiences can expect bright costuming, ingenious stagecraft techniques and imaginative puppetry that promises to excite the entire family.  Directed and adapted by Penny Farrow, the production stays true in many ways to the original book. With plenty of wordplay and humour for the adults, and colourful scenes and physical comedy for the kids, it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser. Alice in Wonderland: Lewis Carroll’s Timeless Classic arrives at the Athenaeum Theatre on January 15. Grab your tickets from $39.90 at the website to join Alice on her adventures. Into theatre? Here's the best of Melbourne theatre this month.

Experience an evening of allure, pure extravagance and exciting dance numbers at Shimmery Couture’s production of Shimmery Burlesque. Showing to audiences for just one weekend at the end of November, the intricate show has been developing in production for more than half a dozen years. According to the team at Shimmery, the show includes thousands of shining rhinestones, more than a hundred costumes and fun Burlesque routines brought to life by a chorus of fabulous performers – all in the one place. The production follows the life of Lady Shimmery, a chic Parisian who is inspired by the city of love and entranced by the art of burlesque. As a costume maker by trade, Lady Shimmery designs and creates intricate pieces for the Cabaret from her glittering work room. Let the story guide you through sparkling dressing rooms, romantic sewing stations reminiscent of traditional Parisian design and finally into a glorious French garden scene complete with park benches, fountains and artists. Indulge in a showstopping night of entertainment at one of Shimmery Couture’s four  Melbourne shows. Reserve tickets at the official site before they sell out. Can't wait? Here are the best shows and musicals happening in Melbourne this month.

Dress the tree, pop the turkey in the oven and pour yourself a glass of eggnog, because Aussie comedians Rhys Nicholson and Joel Creasey are here to make the Yuletide gay. The pair is teaming up to host their very own, very flamboyant Christmas extravaganza, and we're all invited.  The pair of comedy icons and self-described "drunk aunties" will treat Sydneysiders to a show at Newtown's iconic Enmore Theatre on Friday, December 1. Featuring a yet-to-be-revealed line-up of special guests, the cheeky shows are set to celebrate the end of a huge year for both comics. After winning the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Most Outstanding Show Award, Nicholson also returned as a judge for RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under while also starring in Netflix’s sci-fi series The Imperfects. The other half of the duo, Creasey, continued to successfully co-host one of Australia’s favourite national drive shows with Kate Richie and Tim Blackwell, as well as Eurovision with Myf Warhurst.  If that's not incentive enough to check out this outrageous Yuletide party, we don't know what is. Tickets start at $36 and are on sale now, snag them here. RECOMMENDED: Sydney's best gay and queer bars The best comedy nights in Sydney

Dress the tree, pop the turkey in the oven and pour yourself a glass of eggnog, because Aussie comedians Rhys Nicholson and Joel Creasey are teaming up to host their very own, very flamboyant Christmas extravaganza. And we're all invited.  The pair of comedy icons and self-described "drunk aunties" will treat Melbournians to a show at Thornbury Theatre on Saturday, December 9.  Featuring a yet-to-be-revealed line-up of special guests, the cheeky shows are set to celebrate the end of a huge year for both comics. After winning the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Most Outstanding Show Award, Nicholson also returned as a judge for RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under while also starring in Netflix’s sci-fi series The Imperfects. The other half of the duo, Creasey, continued to successfully co-host one of Australia’s favourite national drive shows with Kate Richie and Tim Blackwell, as well as Eurovision with Myf Warhurst.   If that's not incentive enough to check out this outrageous Yuletide party, we don't know what is. Tickets are from $36 and are on sale now, snag them here. Love a good live show? Here are the best theatre shows happening this month.

Wander slightly off St Kilda Road down a sparkling river path lit by glowing elm trees and let your nose follow the sweet scent of buttery popcorn and hot chocolate to a magical world of ice-skating, culinary delights and winter fun. Watch as The Rink at Birrarung Marr materialises in front of you, frozen over to make room for ice skaters of all ages and abilities to glide at their own pace. Kicking off on June 1 to celebrate both Rising and the beginning of Melbourne’s winter, this pop-up invites visitors to carve up the glacial arena under a blanket of glimmering lights that mimic and augment the night sky. Stay on your toes and fuel up during skate sessions with the plethora of tasty culinary options – from woodfired pizzas and hot dogs to crêpes and fancy cheeseboards – that surround the frosty rink.  There will also be daily presentations by professional coaches (who will definitely put your shaky routines to shame), free art workshops and a rotating line-up of DJs. Entry to the precinct is free, while ice skating tickets cost $22 for children and $34 for adults. Book a 90-minute session via the website. Want more winter fun? This is your guide to Melbourne's best winter festivals and events. Plus, here's everything glowing and illuminated this month.

Ever wish you could be a part of a record-breaking live performance? Rising’s hugely ambitious, mass participation event 10,000 Kazoos offers you a chance to do just that. Projected to be one of the biggest musical projects Melbourne has ever staged, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create howling melodies and ground-shaking sounds alongside 9,999 other kazooists. Luckily, the humble kazoo requires no musical skill, so anyone with a set of working lungs and an eager attitude is welcome. To get involved, simply sign up here, make your way to Federation Square on June 10, help yourself to a biodegradable kazoo (the event organisers will ensure there are plenty to go around) and prepare to flex your musical muscles for a truly unique experience. Admire the almighty chorus produced by such an array of wind instruments for the first (and possibly only) time in the heart of the CBD.   Want more winter fun? This is your guide to Melbourne's best winter festivals and events. Plus, here's everything glowing and illuminated this month.

A retrospective solo exhibition covering 50 years of Peter Tyndall’s iconic career is set to open in Melbourne, starting December 9. The exhibition will be the most comprehensive to date, featuring more than 200 works, including over 130 unstretched paintings. Drawing from the University of Melbourne’s own collection and also including works on loan from national institutions and private collections, the show is set to display some never-before-seen pieces. Tyndall's preoccupation with perception of meaning and how art is comprehended is contrasted by an exacting, almost pop-art style of painting – a distinction that is front and centre in this exhibit. The university's contemporary art museum, Buxton Contemporary, will house the retrospective and also host a series of educational programs on the artist. The exhibition will be accompanied by an extensive publication on the artist that will include important essays by the curators, Doug Hall AM and Dr Claire Roberts. Samantha Comte, senior curator of Art Museums, says this exhibition continues Buxton's focus on the practices of artists and tendencies within contemporary art through its programs. "Attracting a cult following since his stellar rise in the 1970s, Tyndall is known by many in the art world as unique in his vision," she says. "This exhibition celebrates half a century of his constant, inventive permutations, looking at art, ourselves and the world, which we are eager to introduce to a new generation." The Peter Tynd

As a first for Australia, the Heide Museum of Modern Art are set to showcase over 40 artworks by acclaimed British artist Dame Barbara Hepworth DBE within its main gallery. The exhibition, Barbara Hepworth: In Equilibrium, is a rare opportunity for Australian audiences to see the sheer genius of one of the world’s greatest sculptors – up close and personal.  On display at the Heide from November 5, 2022, to March 13, 2023, works from both noteworthy international and national collections are set to be included, each telling part of the remarkable story of the creative talent that was Barbara Hepworth. Designed by the award-winning architects from Studio Bright, the exhibition notes the trajectory of her artistic career – from early marble carvings to large-scale abstract works. Drawing from the sculptures' love and admiration for nature in all its forms, the exhibition will exist in conversation with the surrounding natural landscape. As a figurehead for the modernist movement in sculpture in 20th century Britain, Hepworth is widely known and recognised for her abstract sculptures. The method of ‘piercing’ the form has also been attributed to her innovation and is seen throughout many of her works. In preparation for the exhibition, “Barbara Hepworth’s contribution to the evolution of modern art cannot be overestimated," says the museum’s head curator Kendrah Morgan. "Hepworth’s combination of modernist reductive form and timeless materials produces its own particular magic.

Great news for lovers of alternative popstar Aurora: she’s preparing her Australian return to tour her new album, The Gods We Can Touch. The Norwegian born singer, songwriter and producer is set to bring an ethereal live performance to venues along the east coast early next year. Gracing Melbourne’s Palais Theatre in March 2023, audiences can expect an immersive and entertaining night of music including Aurora’s classics like 'Runaway', and tracks from the new album like 'The Woman I Am' and 'The Devil Is Human'.   Since releasing her debut album in 2015, Aurora has amassed a dedicated following due to the unique nature of her sound and the messages behind her songs. Though her previous albums focused on issues like capitalism and the climate crisis, this time around, her latest record looks inwards as she shares a little more of herself. In the wake of playing international festivals and receiving the Spellemann Award for International Success Of The Year, Aurora is set to stun Australian audiences with her other-worldly stage presence. Before they sell out, grab tickets to The Gods We Can Touch Tour at Secret Sounds. Love live music? Here's the live shows on sale now in Melbourne.

Pasteup is Melbourne’s hub for authentic Australian street art. Hidden away in the Nicholas Building, the store houses a range of original works, gifts and homewares from a variety of artists, and was opened in response to the tourist and local interest in the street art surrounding the city. The new space is the only art destination in the Melbourne CBD that works directly with some of the city’s most loved street artists, and ensures these artists benefit financially from the cultural and aesthetic impact they have on the city. Pasteup works with 18 local talents including the likes of Adi, Conrad Square, Gnashingteeth, Manda Lane, Mort Murray, Ruskidd, Tom Gerrard and VKM, and stocks a range of items including cards, stickers, tea towels, stubby holders, car air fresheners and a range of original works. Pasteup’s vibrant space, located right in the heart of the city, offers an excellent opportunity to enrich your experience of Melbourne’s widely revered street art scene. Into urban art? Find the best street art spots in Melbourne.

Ours Fitzroy is a multi-disciplinary space which hosts an apartment, a shopfront and a gallery, each designed to showcase the best of local art and design. Opened by amateur furniture maker, Zane Curwen-Walker, the space was primarily cultivated as a physical celebration of people in and around Naarm.  The vibrancy and variety of the pieces scattered and displayed within the space is only enhanced by the warm atmosphere cultivated by Zane and his community of creatives. A labour of love for those who work in the space, the gallery displays a variety of paint, ceramic sculpture, photography, leadlight, illustration, printmaking and tufted rugs with works available for purchase at a variety of sizes. In the wake of the gallery’s successful opening night, Ours Fitzroy is officially operating Fridays to Sundays, or by appointment for anyone and everyone interested in the best artistry born out of Naarm. You can even stay there for the weekend – just ask. Into the Melbourne art scene? Check out the best art exhibitions in the city.

Recently renovated, Ballarat's Civic Hall is once again one of the city's most popular event spaces. Hosting a plethora of world-class events year-round, the Civic Hall is just a stone's throw from the Ballarat's CBD and bustling dining sector.