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Three women dressed formally arm in arm, laughing while walking into the theatre.

The ultimate theatre guide to Melbourne

What's on in Melbourne's theatres, clubs, cabaret bars and comedy spots.

The full cast of the musical Book of Mormon on stage singing and dancing, with a painted sky coloured background and other theatre props.
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The Book of Mormon

Australia’s biggest ever musical comedy returns this February.

Ballet dancer wearing 1920s fringed dress performing mid-air grand jete.
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The Great Gatsby: A Jazz Ballet Odyssey

Jazz, tap and ballet bring Gatsby to life in a dazzling theatrical spectacle.

Magician balancing one finger on a globe, suspended updside down, wearing a white suit and hat.
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Piccolo Teatro: Magic Theatre

Specialising in astonishing magic shows and immersive live entertainment.

A magician holding a crystal ball against a purple background.
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Melbourne Magic Festival

Casting its spell with performances and workshops for all ages this winter.

The Town Hall at night with Melbourne International Comedy Festival banners, signage, and red and blue spotlights and people lined up in queues on the footpath.
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Melbourne International Comedy Festival

The festival that takes over the city celebrates 40 years of funny - come have a laugh.

Characters from the PAW Patrol TV series performing live on a theatre stage, with streamers in the air above them and a large audience watching them.
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PAW Patrol Live: Race to the Rescue

The beloved pups of PAW Patrol hit the stage in this interactive live show.

A silhouette of a person dancing on a stage with a pink floor, in front of screens displaying the words "ONE LAST PASS"
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Heartbreak Hotel

The sold-out RISING hit Heartbreak Hotel returns to steal your heart again.

A musician holding a violinist under his arm, seated on a surreal natural setting featuring acacia wattle and gum leaves, as if floating in space against a pale background.
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Melbourne Chamber Orchestra: Overgrown Paths

Violinist Sophie Rowell and Helen Morse lead a luminous fusion of poetry and music.

A male magician in a top hat and suit on a smoky stage, holding a yellow and green fan and performing a trick.
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Illusionaire Family Magic Show

Sam Angelico is back in Melbourne performing his family-friendly show Illusionaire.

A seated group of improv comedians, all looking seriously at the camera.
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Improvised Comedy: The Remix

Improvised comedy from true stories, sampled and remixed to create comedy gold.

A woman in Regency-period costume including a white bonnet, white neck ruff and a red checked dress with puffed sleeves; holding a tea cup and saucer.

Dining with Jane Austen with Lise Rodgers

Join Lise Rodgers for a presentation delivered in costume on dining in the time of Jane Austen.

An actor in a suit, shirt and tie, holding a pair of glasses under his chair, with curly brown hair, looking serious.
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Julius Caesar

A thrilling new production of Shakespeare’s political masterpiece.

Children's performer, Mr Snotbottom, posing with thumbs up in a suit and Mickey Mouse ears, holding a doctors bag filled with small creatures.
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Mr Snotbottom/Mark Trenwith: P.Gee!

Clean but chaotic, harmless but hectic, innocent but edgy physical comedy for all ages.

Two young people seated on stone steps.
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Saplings

Youth theatre celebrating the survival instincts of young people.

Two performers on a stage, a man dressed in a suit, looking at a man with his arms outstretched suspended by an aerial rope above a low pool of water.
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Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan

A dazzling new operatic work by some of Australia’s most acclaimed creative talents.

A male circus performer in a purple jacket and black pants stands on a stage in a circus tent under bright lights, holding a flaming torch, with an audience watching and a large CIRCUS sign in the background.
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Circus The Show

A family circus spectacular that families are raving about.

A kids comedy troupe performing on stage in fun poses.
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Comedy Club for Kids

A laugh-a-minute hour the whole family will enjoy.

People milling around Fed Square at night.

Melbourne's essential night-time events

From hidden laneway markets to epic pop-ups, Melbourne gets lit once the lights go out.

Man wearing a tuxedo performing sleight of hands tricks with a glass in front of a seated audience.
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Melbourne Magic Show

Enjoy a theatrical magic experience like no other.

Illustration of a white swan, a trumpet and a yellow sun, all superimposed on top of each other, against a pale background.
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The Trumpet of the Swan

An adaptation of E.B. White’s gorgeous novel The Trumpet of the Swan for orchestra and actors.

Jungle Book bear character, paw raised and smiling, against purple background.
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The Jungle Book

Join Baloo and Mowgli as they reunite in this heart-warming and high-energy stage musical.

Three classical musicians surrounded by glittering scolls and stars.

The Wagner Gala Concert

A landmark, one-night-only musical event to mark the reopening of the Ian Potter State Theatre.

Vocal band, The 60 Four, posing in front of a sparkly background, wearing silver dinner jackets and with black lapels and black ties.

The 60 Four: Hits of the ‘60s and ‘70s

Relive a defining era of music history as The 60 Four bring the biggest '60s and '70s hits to life.

A man and a woman sitting up in bed, he is smiling and she's looking slightly bewildered.
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Romantic Comedy

Award-winning comedian couple take you on a hilarious journey through dating, comedy and more.

A spired building on a sunny day

The best kid's theatre shows on in Melbourne

Featuring musical theatre, magic shows and more.

Singers Amelia Ryan and Libby O’Donovan, both wearing dark tops and smiling, posed against a red velvet curtain.

I Am Woman

Hear a tribute to the women who redefined Australian music in the swinging 1960s.

Opera singers, Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Georgia Wilkinson, smiling and standing next to each other in front of a black background.

Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Georgia Wilkinson

Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Georgia Wilkinson perform at this Morning Melodies concert.

Illustration of an old-fashioned typewriter floating on the sea with the white buidings of a Greek island in the background.
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The Mermaid Sings

A play by Carolyn Masson focusing on the life of Charmian Clift.

Blonde woman wearing a 1920s jewelled cloche cap with mystical figures to her left.
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Cabaret Time Machine

Step into a time machine, with a different historic era every single night, as voted by you.

Comedian holding a microphone with his hand outstretched, in front of a screen of a spinning wheel.
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Comedy Roulette

Enjoy top comedians and big laughs in a stand-up comedy show with a spontaneous spin.

A director's chair in front of a small desk and mirror with makeup lights and a wig on a mannequin stand.
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Mackenzie

A camp, dark and deranged retelling of Macbeth, set in the heights of early 2000s TV stardom.

Performer wearing pink satin 18th-century costume with white wig and makeup.
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Adore Händel’s Cautionary Tales

Bringing beloved standards and new works to life with wit, drama and 18th-century glam.

A man wearing safety goggles bends down to cook with two small children - all wearing white shirts.
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Signor Baffo

Don’t miss this laugh-out loud treat for young children and their families.

Drag performer hosting bingo in the dimly lit Heartbreaker Bar.
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Drag Bingo

Enjoy a night of drag bingo at Heartbreaker.

Actress Alison Whyte portraying a character in the play The Glass Menagerie, holding a small glass figurine; black and white photo.
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The Glass Menagerie

A contemporary revival of one of the most beloved and enduring works of the 20th century.

A person wearing large yellow sunglasses, bright red lipstick, a blue drip coming out from one of their nostrils, and a white compression bandage around their head and chin, against a solid blue background.
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Losing Face

Strap in for a perimenopausal Weekend at Bernie’s – a wildly funny, no-holds-barred new comedy.

An orchestra dressed in red suits playing on a stage that is decorated in festive and seasonal Christmas decorations.

Christmas Melodies

Join in the seasonal celebration of a Morning Melodies Christmas concert.

Woman with face in profile, wearing glittery black gown and white silk gloves.

Sincerely Yours

Commemorate Anzac Day with a musical concert honouring Dame Vera Lynn, followed by afternoon tea.

Drawings of a spectacled man holding a black box, looking confused.

Dante's Wombat

Eb Brittlebank shares the comic potential of confusion itself through an hour of lyrical chaos.

Cartoon illustration featuring a large, orange, dragon-like character, the Pokémon Charizard, with wings and flames, playing a blue guitar, with figures on either side.
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Holographic Charizard

A comical music show about the greatest Pokémon and Pokémon card ever made.

More theatre and shows

Melbourne's major theatres

Three people striding into the Regent Theatre tiled entry with lights and city street in the background.

Regent Theatre

This landmark theatre is one of Melbourne’s premier live performance venues.

Rows of red seats in the historic Princess Theatre.

Princess Theatre

Melbourne’s iconic Princess Theatre is regarded by many as Melbourne’s most spectacular landmark.

Tiered seating and red plush stage curtain.

Her Majesty's Theatre

This heritage-listed theatre has provided entertainment for Melbourne since 1886.

Comedy Theatre stage and tiered seating.

Comedy Theatre

The historic Comedy Theatre hosts musicals, drama and yes, comedies.

Heritage-listed Athenaeum building, with columns and ornate capitals.

Athenaeum Theatre

This heritage-listed venue hosts comedy, music and theatre.

Striking geometric design of the Southbank Theatre, illuminated at night.

Southbank Theatre

Performance space and home of the Melbourne Theatre Company.

Arts Centre Melbourne with winter trees and blue sky, surrounded by city buildings.

Arts Centre Melbourne

With its iconic spire, the Arts Centre Melbourne is a cultural and architectural landmark.

Performance space and seating inside La Mama Courthouse.

La Mama Courthouse

One of the great independent theatres of the city with a focus on diversity and inclusivity.

More theatre venues

Seating and stage in Fairfax Studio, an intimate theatre space.

Fairfax Studio

An intimate theatre presenting smaller-scale and experimental productions.

Performance space and seating inside La Mama Courthouse.

La Mama Courthouse

One of the great independent theatres of the city with a focus on diversity and inclusivity.

A performer wearing a bikini and holding a firestick above her open mouth in a small cabaret venue.

Speakeasy Theatre

A lively, historic vaudeville theatre featuring burlesque, cabaret, comedy and circus every week.

Discover more

Two friends are leaving a theatre.

The best pre- and post-theatre dining in Melbourne

Fuel up before a big show or extend your city visit at these local eateries.

A stage with a grand facade to look like a building, with crowds waiting for a band to come on stage.

The ultimate Melbourne live gig guide

Concert halls and music venues hosting live music this week

People sitting in a dark movie theatre and facing the screen.

Film

Melbourne has a thriving film scene, with film festivals and screenings at cinemas year-round.

A smiling library worker holding up three picture books with their front covers facing out, seated cross-legged on the floor in front of library display shelves.
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Songbirds

Come along to City Library on Fridays for songs, rhymes and stories.