Now You See Me LIVE | QPAC in association with Tim Lawson & Simon Painter
The pacing is razor sharp—card tricks flow into daring escapes, sleight of hand gives way to full-scale spectacle, and the audience is even let in on a few lessons about misdirection (just enough to make you think you’re clever… right before you’re fooled again).
Sweet Charity | Prospero Arts
Sweet Charity is presented more as a concert, with limited lighting, set, and costumes. Although this gives the audience the opportunity to admire the musicianship and vocal talents of the cast, it requires a show that doesn’t depend too heavily on spectacle, big dance numbers and the general ‘oomph’ that major musicals reply on to attract large audiences and command high ticket prices.
We Were Promised Honey | AllEntertainment
Raising the spectre of debates around determinism vs free will, Tenielle reminds us that the We Were Promised Honey dialogue is already written. But there is still a sense of immediacy and even improvisation in the performance, thanks to interactions with the audience that includes several willing patrons repeating and even reading, lines from the script.
A Few Good Men | Queensland Theatre Company
A Few Good Men is the must see show of the year—or possibly the Queensland Theatre Company (QTC) production of the decade. It is a show for our time, and a play that goes to the heart of what it means to be honourable and courageous. Director Daniel Evans has created a show that is both epic and intimate, and which emphasises the light and shade of the story. It gets a 6-star, 10 out of 10 rating from me. Go if you can find a ticket for this show!
Bahala/o | Buddy Malbasias
Bahala/o is a new, genre-defying experience. You can’t order this one online, or have it delivered to your door. This is a rice dish that is worth leaving home for.
HEAT | Zen Zen Zo
Heat takes place in the sweetly nostalgic backyard of Morningside Scout Hall, a classic school-yard style building with layered timber and a tall roof. The addition of a clothesline, a ring of eucalypts, a sunset and a passing trainline results in a richly sensory experience that charms the early show audience.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD! THE MUSICAL! | Ghostlight Theatre Co.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD! THE MUSICAL! is a raucous, cleverly unhinged tribute that proves even horror’s darkest origins can find new life in song. Go for the zombies, stay for the satire—and maybe rewatch the original 1968 masterpiece before or after.
Body Code: Can AI transform disabled experiences in the Arts? | Vulcana Circus
In conjunction with members from the Deaf and Disabled communities, Vulcana’s latest offering, Body Code, will bring together circus, poetry, research, technology, and live music. Through the delivery of what is promised to be a ‘very different kind of performance’, Body Code is slated to address what has become the very controversial topic of AI within the realm of the creative industry.
Life With Herpes: First Symptoms | Rebel Star
Rebel Star’s new work, Life With Herpes: First Symptoms, is deeply personal, delightfully silly, and surprisingly educational.
Horse Play | Nathaniel Crossinggum & Lunch Friend
Following punter Georgie as she is dragged into activist Pony’s impending bomb plot targeting the Melbourne Cup, Horse Play is an exploration of the intersection between protest, obligation, and fear, unpacking this venn diagram so thoroughly that by the end, you’ll be wondering why you’re not doing more.
Tell Me Something | Davidson Gluyas Productions
Tell Me Something is a great piece of theatre, and I hope that its inclusion in the 2025 Melt Festival attracts queer and wider audiences. Yes, the protagonists are queer, and yes there are some strong sexual references and deep themes. But each of these themes have a universality that is not limited to sexual orientation or identity. Tell Me Something is a reminder to all of us to be truthful with ourselves, and with our closest friends.
Make Me Better Ma | Jazz Zhao
Throughout her reading, Zhao’s vulnerability was palpable, permeating the theatre space with its rawness and authenticity and yet still encouraging laughter from the audience.
Whitefella Yella Tree | La Boite Theatre
Whitefella Yella Tree is the Romeo & Juliet of our times. The La Boite debut of award-winning Palawa playwright Dylan Van Den Berg deserves a sold-out close to its short run. It is a clever, and sometimes funny, piece of writing that addresses big issues through a sensitively told story.
Blanc de Blanc Encore | Strut & Fret
If you have been to a Strut & Fret show before you will know what to expect: incredible circus and burlesque artists, impressive comedians and singers, lots of audience interaction, and a captivatingly decadent 18+ event. If you have never been to a Strut & Fret show before, then be ready to be entertained and wowed by Blanc de Blanc Encore’s top-shelf entertainment; just be aware this is not for the prudish.
Malacañang Made Us | Queensland Theatre Company
Malacañang Made Us is a must-see show: great writing, clever design, and a strong cast. And I also love the way in which this show normalises and integrates queer identities and culture. Malacañang Made Us is a great choice for the Queensland Theatre Company program, and is certain to be on many top three lists from the 2025 Melt Festival. Go and see it if you can.
Survival On A Strange Planet | Darcie Rae Boatswain and Calum Johnston
‘Survival On A Strange Planet’ is an often funny take on how an alien might try to understand humanity through pop-culture that doubles as showcase for the aerial, lip-synching and whip-cracking skills of Grace Law (Performer), and for the puppetry talents of Calum Johnston (Co-Creator and Performer).
kaisiki | An Invitation to Witness the Ebb and Flow of Feminine Grace
“There’s something incredibly empowering in being part of a space where women uplift each other, share their vulnerabilities through art, and grow together. That quiet sisterhood - the shared breath before a performance, and the knowing glance in rehearsal and the mutual respect- has been one of the most beautiful parts of this journey.”
Terms and Conditions Apply | Play on Stage
The play is witty, funny and has some great dance moves. Unsurprisingly, as Day, Dombay and Hosie are each credited as co-creators and writers, the artists are well-cast and portray each of their characters as believable twenty-something housemates.
LOOK UP, it’s the 2025 Backbone Youth Arts Festival
“LOOK UP not only provides that platform but encourages artists to embrace the messiness of creation. Which is something I deeply value in my own process. For emerging artists, it also acts as a vital pipeline for development, allowing new voices to be witnessed, nurtured, and celebrated.”
Chelsea August, Director - Make Me Better Ma.
Saint Joan | The Island of Misfit Players
The Island of Misfit Players have approached Saint Joan with a level of respect and earnestness that felt refreshing to me; with no urge to modernise or reimagine the script, what they have achieved is an excellent, straightforward adaptation of the play while still maintaining a very personal stamp on their interpretation.