Written and directed by Sophia Davidson Gluyas. Presented by Davidson Gluyas Productions for the MELT Festival. New Benner Theatre, 30 October – 1 November, 2025
There’s a certain magic in theatre that resurrects places long gone. In Tell Me Something, written and directed by Sophia Davidson Gluyas, that magic is poured lovingly into the ghost of Sydney’s Hopetoun Hotel (affectionately known as “the Hoey”). Gluyas first brought it back to life in a ten-minute invisible theatre piece for the Surry Hills Festival a decade ago, and now, as a full production, that seed of nostalgia has grown into a funny, heartfelt, and beautifully messy ode to friendship and queer identity in the mid-2000s.
By Rick Abbot. Directed by Paul Treasure and Bree Hartley. Roleystone Theatre, WA. Oct 24 - Nov 1, 2025
Play On is a chaotic comedy about an amateur theatre production, where everything goes wrong, in a similar vein to The Play That Goes Wrong. A love letter to community theatre, played well, it is slick, funny and clever, and Roleystone’s production manages to hit nearly all the notes, making it a very satisfying, very clever production.
Book & Lyrics by Lee Hall. Music by Elton John. Red Tree Theatre, Tuggerah, NSW. Oct 17 – Nov 1, 2025
A lot will be happening at the Red Tree Theatre at Tuggerah next year. At the opening night of Billy Elliot on Friday 17th October, the entire season for 2026 was announced which drew a lot of excited noises from the full house. The option of season tickets was also introduced, which will make this already very affordable theatre space even more available to cash-strapped enthusiasts on the Central Coast. Exciting times ahead.
By George Reinblatt, Christopher Bond, Frank Cippola and Melissa Morris. Big Job Productions. Directors: Elise Bagorski and Tommy Howard. Musical Direction: Sheng-Yan Lynch. Lighting: Jason James. Set: Elise Bagorski. Making Team: Ally Jardine, Willow Mourant (SM) and Vi Reeve. Fight choreography: Andrew Casey. The Hidden Theatre, Hobart. October 29th – November 1st 2025
They say that crime scene investigators can smell blood. In this production of The Evil Dead Musical, you can smell the chocolate sauce. Heck, you can even taste it.
Perfectly timed for Halloween, with midnight performances scheduled, The Evil Dead will make you scream…with laughter. Full of over-the-top gore and dark humour, this is Sam Raimi’s cult classic satire with a rock score.
Adapted by Benjamin Law. Based on the book by Cory Taylor. Presented by Melbourne Theatre Company. Directed by Jean Tong. Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Rd, Southbank Melbourne. 25 October — 29 November 2025.
Dying undoubtedly seems like a very confronting and unappealing topic for any storytelling format. However, Cory Taylor’s account is poignant, funny, mournful and, above all, very real. Genevieve Morris as Cory is phenomenal. The adaptation for the stage is extremely clever in the way the text keeps Cory at the centre of the performance.
Created and performed by Iulia Benze and Kurt Murray. Presented by Bubble Laboratory as part of MELT Festival. The West End Electric, Brisbane. 22 October to 9 November 2025.
Bubble Show for Adults Only is an intoxicating mix of high-skill artistry, cheeky humour, and bubbly delight that transforms soap and water into an hour of pure, effervescent theatre magic. Blending elements of circus, cabaret, and performance art, this inventive production from Bubble Laboratory demonstrates that bubbles can be playful, captivating, and thoroughly grown-up.
By Simon Beaufoy. Malanda Theatre Company. Director: Nicola Salisbury-Faulkner. November 13th-23rd, 2025
It is 1980s industrial Sheffield, England. The steelworks have closed and men are out of work. This bleak setting provides the backdrop to The Full Monty, a play that captures the times and behaviour of the people who lived through it all.
Though the original steelworks were hell on earth to work in, the men in the play are angry, frustrated and confused as to why they have lost their jobs. But desperate times call for desperate ideas and the one they come up with is to become male-strippers.
Book by Joe Tracz, music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki, adapted from the novel by Rick Riordan. Hanson Creative. BackDock Arts, Brisbane. 23 to 26 October 2025
This unexpected and highly entertaining adaptation of the novel by Rick Riordan is a fun addition to the Percy Jackson franchise. As a ‘fractured fairytale’ type take on the Greek myths, it’s smart and witty, with lots of high-energy songs, making it a fun show for the cast and crew, and for all the family to enjoy. The team at Hanson Creative (indie production company established by freelance creative, lighting designer and tech operator, Emma Hanson) celebrated several sold-out performances.
Music: Alan Meken. Lyrics: Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. Book: Linda Woolverton. Presented by Encore Theatre Academy, Launceston. Director: James Parker. Musical Director: Andy Prideaux. Choreographer: Megan Martin. October 28-29, 2025.
Hot on the heels of Georgy Girl (and making great use of the shell of that set) comes the much-anticipated, inaugural production from Encore’s newly minted Performing Arts Academy for young people. Beauty and the Beast is the perfect way to get as many youngsters on stage as humanly possible.
Presented by Queensland Symphony Orchestra. QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane. 24&25 Oct 2025
A new instalment of movie music lit up the stage this week, continuing the Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s eclectic 2025 season this time with veteran conductor/compere Benjamin Northey once again at the helm. Designed to be a crowd-pleasing concert of colour, flair, and nostalgia, with the orchestra dressed in a spectrum of vibrant attire under the atmospheric and ever-changing lighting design, the audience was soon whisked away on a cinematic journey through sci-fi, fantasy, musicals, and more.
