Latest Reviews
MICF – Bang On Live with Myf Warhurst & Zan Rowe
By George Dixon One of the Hottest Melbourne Comedy Festival shows for 2014 is undoubtedly,Bang On Live, presented by Myf Warhurst & Zan Rowe. I had absolutely no idea what Bang On was all about, so I was intrigued by the hundreds of people who had arrived at the...
MICF – Emerson Brophy Saccharine
By Jessica Taurins Emerson Brophy is known for upsetting conservatives the world over with his songs about abortion law and right-wing governments. He also does TikToks! In general, he's a pretty confident guy, so he opens his 2024 Melbourne International Comedy...
MICF – Adult Entertainers Australiatopia
BY Bec Johnston It's tough to so much as glance at your phone right now without being inundated with images of climate crises, war and genocide, unthinkable death and suffering. It becomes difficult to envision a better and brighter future when facing down such...
The Fire Raisers
The Fire Raisers is a play by Swiss novelist playright Max Frisch. Written in German in 1953, Herr Biedermann und die Brandstifte was initially a radio play before being adapted for television and the stage in 1958 as a play with six scenes. Two years later an...
MICF – The Most Upsetting Guessing Game in the World Live
By Jessica Taurins Presented by Grouse House and Aunty Donna, 'The Most Upsetting Guessing Game in the World Live' is, somehow, simultaneously incredibly amusing and incredibly unsettling at the same time. It's great! For those who haven't seen the show, it's fully...
MICF – Nina Conti Your Face or Mine?
By Jessica Taurins Nina Conti is a ventriloquist, stage performer, comedian, and more recently, actor / director in her upcoming film 'Sunlight', where she is also a monkey. She can, most impressively, do it all, and pulls a lot of it off under not-so-easy conditions...
MICF – Nick Robertson Leave To Enter
By Carissa Shale Have you ever felt the dread and panic set in as you’re travelling internationally, venturing through airport security, customs and passport control? I know I don’t have anything nefarious in my bag… but what if by some series of unfortunate events… I...
MICF – Josh Earl Four Burners
By Nick Pilgrim Each year prior to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Theatre Matters asks their team of writers to nominate which acts they would like to review. With over 500 choices on offer spanning across three hectic weeks, making the right move is no...
MICF – Mike McLeish Adult Beginner
By Nick Pilgrim Familiar to audiences on both the stage and screen, Mike McLeish is a man of many talents. His diverse list of performing credits includes: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Bed of Roses, David Bowie’s Lazarus, Georgy Girl: The Seekers Musical,...
Features
Patrick Whitbread: ready to rumble (even in the rain)
When Patrick Whitbread took to the stage in the role of Riff in West Side Story on Sydney Harbour it not only marked his Opera Australia debut, but also his professional debut in a leading role. Whitbread's first ever role was playing Louis in The King and I in...
Conor Leach talks the catharsis of Fourteen
The new smash-hit Australian play, Fourteen, begins its national tour at Riverside Theatres on 3rd May. Based on Shannon Molloy’s award-winning memoir of the same name, Fourteen is the inspirational true story of growing up gay in central Queensland, adapted into a...
Elijah Williams Makes A case for the Existence of God
Acclaimed Seymour Centre favourites, Outhouse Theatre Co (Consent, Ulster American) returns with an Australian premiere from one of America’s most celebrated contemporary playwrights. A case for the Existence of God is Samuel Hunter's heart-wrenching, compassionate,...
Gregory J Wilken talks Toy Symphony at Qtopia, Sydney
By Sarah Skubala Qtopia, Sydney’s inaugural performance season kicks off next month with Michael Gow’s Toy Symphony, presented by Ad Astra Theatre Company, the crown jewel of Brisbane’s professional indie theatre scene. Producer and actor Gregory J Wilken will be...
Sydney Comedy Festival – Ting Lim
Ting Lim – Enmore Theatre Thursday 16 May – Sunday 19 May https://www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au/event/ting-lim-well-this-is-awkward/ How would you describe the show to someone who knows very little about it? I find it very hard to say no. I’m a yes person. It’s about...
Rebecca Massey Talks Holding the Man
Holding the Man is a play that has been described as the love story which defined a generation. Based on Timothy Conigrave's autobiographical book, Holding the Man traces the devastating results of HIV though the lens of Tim and John and their enduring and tragic...
News
Last chance to see Groundhog Day!
LAST CHANCE TO JOIN THE 99,000 THEATREGOERS WHO HAVE LOVED GROUNDHOG DAY THE MUSICAL TIME AND TIME AGAIN The Australian production of Groundhog Day The Musical is now in its final week of performances before Punxsutawney Phil must leave Melbourne. With...
The Audition – Finding refuge in Australia can be challenging
Outer Urban Projects return its critically acclaimed theatre work, The Audition, with a Melbourne-metro tour to La Mama Courthouse, Bunjil Place and Bowery Theatre in May and June 2024. Inspired by two young Iranian immigrant artists Milad Norouzi and Sahra Davoudi,...
2024 MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED!
Today, on the steps of the Melbourne Town Hall the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award nominees for Most Outstanding Show and Best Newcomer were announced. The biggest Festival yet – with more than 800 performers over 650 shows and more than 7,800...
Patrick Whitbread starring in West Side Story on Sydney Harbour
Opera Australia’s smash-hit musical West Side Story on Sydney Harbour opened to a full house when it returned to the open-air stage at Mrs Macquaries Point on Friday 22 March. There was a buzz in the air as the glamorous, star-studded audience descended on the...
Competitions
Win a double pass to Ghosts.
Win one of 2 double passes to Ghosts. The passes are for the 7:30pm show on Thursday the 30th of May. It’s playing at Theatre Works on Acland Street. To be in the running, please email your response and name to the below question to: ...
Win a double pass to Billy Elliot
Win a double pass to Billy Elliot the Musical by CLOC 8pm Thursday 16th May at the National Theatre, St Kilda To enter, simply email allison.hilbig@theatrematters.com.au with: - Your name - Confirmation you can attend on Thursday 16th May - Why you...
... because theatre matters.
About Us
Theatre Matters is a community group that loves, promotes and discusses all things to do with Australian theatre.