Stage
A Christmas Carol – David Wenham stars as Scrooge
Until 29 December at Comedy Theatre
Far from the cheery yuletide fable we’ve grown accustomed to, Dickens’ story of Ebenezer Scrooge and those ghosts of moral reckoning who visit him on Christmas Eve has, like his Oliver Twist, a social polemic smuggled inside it. The injustice of the British class system gets a bit of the spotlight in Jack Thorne’s Tony-winning stage adaptation, starring David Wenham as the miserable miser, who himself gets more of a personal backstory to explain why he is such a, well, Scrooge.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat – biblical musical returns
Until 15 January at Regent Theatre
It might seem unlikely now, but there was a time when the Bible was considered a central inspiration for musical theatre. While Stephen Schwartz was turning the gospel of Matthew into Godspell, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice were making hay with this story of the banished brother and his beloved coat of many colours. Euan Fistrovic Doidge plays the central role, famously played on the West End by Jason Donovan, and renowned recording artist Paulini plays the narrator. We called the show both “incredibly daggy” and “endearingly honest and entertaining”.
Hamilton – catch the revolutionary musical before it leaves town
Until 15 January at Her Majesty’s theatre
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical about US founding father Alexander Hamilton pushes the boundaries of historical narratives, politics and cultural education, with Miranda using African American culture – hip-hop, jazz and R&B – to tell a historically white story. Hamilton is captivating from start to finish – challenging, devastating and inspiring all at once.
Live music
Azealia Banks – Rap’s enfant terrible
10 December at Festival Hall
When she’s not posting 1,000-word, slur-ridden tirades, starting flame wars with Grimes and Lana Del Rey, or “cooking” her dead cat, Azealia Banks is actually one of our greatest hip-hop masterminds – though her legion of fans-slash-apologists already knew that, as well as anyone who has heard her mega-hit 212. With filthy come-ons and filthier takedowns, her raps – often overlaid atop house beats – are effortless earworms tossed off with all the nonchalance of someone who could grab headlines in her sleep.
Rüfüs Du Sol – Aria-winning dance trio return
15 December at Flemington Racecourse
Rüfüs Du Sol have – perhaps controversially – dominated the Aria awards this year, with seven nominations for their album Surrender. And while it may not be the most cutting-edge of dance records, it is testament to the Sydney trio’s dependable appeal, honed over a decade’s worth of releases which have undoubtedly shaped the sound of Australian electronic music. With big harmonies and bigger drops, Rüfüs are sure to leave the entirety of Flemington Racecourse doofing away.
The Killers – bombastic arena-rock anthems
13 – 14 December at Rod Laver Arena
The Killers’ Imploding the Mirage tour was scheduled to take place in 2020 in the wake of the release of its namesake album but the pandemic derailed tour plans. The Las Vegas band have not forgotten their southern hemisphere fans, and swaggering frontman Brandon Flowers is said to be in fine form in the lead-up to their first Australian tour since 2018. Prepare to scream along to noughties favourites Mr Brightside and Somebody Told Me, as well as new material from their latest release Pressure Machine – “their best album since 2004’s Hot Fuss”, we said.
Parties & festivals
Moonlight Cinema – starry, starry movie nights
Until March, Royal Botanic Gardens
Watching screen stars under the stars is the stuff of the Australian summer, and Moonlight Cinema is back with an (almost-nightly) program of new blockbusters and retro favourites. Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Steven Spielberg’s coming-of-age drama The Fabelmans is screening alongside comedic foodie thriller The Menu and Christmas favourites such as Elf, Love Actually and Home Alone. We’ll be shaking out the picnic rug for Blueback, a feature film adaptation of Tim Winton’s novella. Pet pooches are also invited, with plush bean beds and canine movie snacks available for purchase.
Falls festival – HNY with Arctic Monkeys and Lil Nas X
29 – 31 December at Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Falls festival makes its long-awaited return after a two-year hiatus due to Covid – but Victoria’s concert has been moved from Lorne to Birregurra and then finally to Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl after a fight over locations. The chaos hasn’t affected the star power, however: Arctic Monkeys, Lil Nas X, Peggy Gou, Chvrches, Ocean Alley, Jamie xx, Spacey Jane, Genesis Owusu, the OG Wiggles, King Stingray …
Tickets are $399.67 for three days, $203.37 for single day
Hot Dub Time Machine – time-travel dance party turns 10
10 December at Northcote theatre
Hot Dub Time Machine kept many Australians sane during Covid lockdowns, when Sydney DJ Tom Lowndes would livestream his “dance-through-the-decades audiovisual party” on Saturday nights from his living room, bouncing through the biggest rock and pop hits from the 50s up to today. IRL, Hot Dub has long been an international festival phenomenon, a surefire party starter for all ages and tastes. Now Lowndes is on a national anniversary victory lap, celebrating a decade of making people euphoric and sweaty through nostalgic joy. Get your friends together for a music history lesson you won’t want to miss.
Visual arts & family-friendly
Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse – enormous exhibition for fashion genius
From 11 December at National Gallery of Victoria
Alexander McQueen once said: “If you want to know me, just look at my work.” With 120 pieces and more than 80 artworks going on display at the NGV’s new show, you’ll never be better placed to understand the mind of the late fashion designer, who died in 2010. The NGV has been acquiring McQueen’s provocative and technically astounding designs since 1995, just three years after he founded his label in London. This promises to be a showstopper – dress to the nines for this one.
How I See It: Blak Art and Film – alternative realities from First Nations creatives
From 16 December at Acmi
Come for the air conditioning, stay for the exhibition. Acmi’s summer program interrogates how First Peoples have been historically represented on our screens, with eight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives using installation, documentary, photography and video games to dream up new futures. In addition, there will be screenings of films from the US, the Philippines and Senegal that explore cultural identity; a one-off music video-inspired dance workshop led by choreographer Amrita Hepi (for $25 you can learn how to move like Rihanna and Beyoncé); and an art workshop run by the team behind Australia’s first Aboriginal-led video game, Future Folklore.
Feast by Polyglot Theatre – make mud pies at MPavilion
21 – 22 December at MPavilion, Queen Victoria Gardens
The temporary space MPavilion is back in Queen Victoria Gardens with a whole five months of events planned, but this looks like a real standout for families. Run by Polyglot Theatre, a Melbourne company that specialises in arts experiences for children, Feast is a chance for kids to create dishes using arts and crafts, with fully dressed waiters on hand to serve up a truly mad meal. Children will be able to make “truly delicious, and sometimes really horrible, culinary creations”, they promise – can they do one for adults too?
Tickets are free; you are encouraged to register beforehand however.
