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Emmaline Carroll Southwell and Freddy Collyer in Beyond the Neck.

A response to the Port Arthur massacre, this is not an easy play to watch

Beyond the Neck underscores the importance of memorialising, reflecting upon, and grappling with the terror and the trauma of public violence at scale.

  • Cameron Woodhead, Sonia Nair, Andrew Fuhrmann, Jessica Nicholas and Tony Way

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Playwright Kath Duncan has written a play, Specials, which will premiere at Arts House this month.

Not all kids in ‘special schools’ had bad experiences – but this writer absolutely did

Kath Duncan draws on her own experience for her play, Specials. “I hated it,” she says. “It was a torture chamber.”

  • Will Cox
John Perceval exhibition gif

These works have been hidden from view for far too long. This week, that changes

Opening at Heide tomorrow, we take a first look at the largest survey of John Perceval’s work to be staged since the early ’90s.

  • Kerrie O'Brien
Peach PRC performs at the Palace foreshore on March 12, 2026

When the performer herself says it’s almost too cold to sing, you have a problem

At Peach PRC’s gig, it’s freezing, and the light rain and cold wind blowing in from St Kilda beach make for harsh conditions to fully embrace the experience.

  • Vyshnavee Wijekumar, Sonia Nair, Cameron Woodhead, Will Cox, Michael Dwyer and Tony Way
Flora unfolds across 12 short chapters.

This sumptuous work features one of the most beautiful entrances you’re ever likely to see

Spectacular and lush, Flora is a major new collaboration between Bangarra and The Australian Ballet.

  • Andrew Fuhrmann, Cameron Woodhead, Tony Way and Bridget Davies
Rising artistic director Hannah Fox, centre, with breakdancers Michael Fox and Demi Sorono in the Flinders Street Station ballroom.

No mean feet: Dance returns to Flinders Street ballroom after decades away

This year’s Rising festival will bring public dance classes to an architectural gem for the first time in more than 40 years.

  • Karl Quinn
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Public Figures perform at Golden Plains 18.

After the clouds cleared at Golden Plains, it was clear we were all waiting for one thing

This year’s festival was meant to be its coming of age, but a turbulent political cloud hanging over the weekend meant it struggled to get into top gear.

  • Calum Jaspan
Rain Dogs perform at The Tote, February 27, 2026.

The floor is sticky, it smells bad, and a pint is $10. It’s perfect

Rain Dogs performed at The Tote in a gig that dripped with atmosphere and sweat.

  • Will Cox, Martin Boulton, Tony Way and Sonia Nair
Jarvis Cocker’s voice has lost none of that breathy lustre.

Pulp just gave us the best one-two opening punch I’ve ever seen at a live show

Last night there was both a blood moon and Pulp’s return to Melbourne. I know which one I’ll remember better.

  • Will Cox
Grace Jones performs on the Palace Foreshore stage on March 2, 2026.

Hula-hooping and a nip slip: Grace Jones delivers chaos and fun at St Kilda gig

On an ominous, stormy night on St Kilda foreshore, Grace Jones makes a declaration that sounds a bit like a threat: “I’m gonna have some fun tonight.”

  • Nick Buckley