Over the last decade — since it was established in 2009 by renowned art collector and philanthropist Judith Neilson — Sydney's White Rabbit Gallery has become the world's largest private collection of contemporary Chinese artwork. To celebrate the renowned gallery's tenth birthday, the gallery is bringing a few of its most epic pieces down to Melbourne for a major exhibition in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria. Open now and running until October 6, A Fairy Tale in Red Times: Works from the White Rabbit Collection showcases 26 of the most distinguished and exciting contemporary Chinese artists working today. Across installation, painting, photography and more, there are also five landmark works that have never previously been exhibited on Australian shores. More than just an awe-inspiring art collection, White Rabbit documents the post-Mao generation of artists and explores the changing social and cultural landscape of modern-day China. Below, we've picked out five of the most outstanding artworks that provide the perfect introduction to this striking exhibition. Entry is free, so lock in an afternoon to visit ASAP. ZHANG XIAOGANG 张晓刚: BATHTUB (2017) Spanning almost three-metres in length, Bathtub is the newest artwork to be added to White Rabbit Gallery's 2500-strong collection. It's the latest painting in Zhang Xiaogang's ong-running Bloodline series, which is one of the most iconic in contemporary Chinese art. It's also one of the most highly valued; the works have fetched some fairly outrageous prices around the world — one sold for 94.2 million HKD (around 17 million AUD) in 2014. The large-scale oil painting considers memory and imagination, while drawing inspiration from both European surrealists and the family portraits that are symbolic of China's era of Cultural Revolution. SHI YONG 施勇: A BUNCH OF HAPPY FANTASIES (2009) Presented in a hazy red gloom, Shi Yong's A Bunch of Happy Fantasies simultaneously explores illusion, poetry and installation. Spread across the artwork are virtually indecipherable Chinese poems that appear upside down and cryptic, having been written by a friend of the artist in an opium-induced daze. Forming seemingly random sentences and ideas – like 'roses made from water' – Shi Yong took this calligraphy and created an installation that ponders the idea that fantasy is inseparable from reality. Featured in its own dedicated space at the NGV, this work alone makes visiting A Fairy Tale in Red Times well worth it. ZHU JINSHI 朱金石: THE SHIP OF TIME (2018) Undoubtedly one of the most intricate works on display throughout A Fairy Tale in Red Times, Zhu Jinshi's The Ship of Time is hard to miss as it fills a cavernous space hanging from above. Delicately produced, its massive cylinder form was created from 14,000 sheets of xuan paper, 1800 pieces of fine bamboo and 2000 cotton threads. Appearing for the first time in Australia, the work represents a journey into the past with the fireproof xuan paper being collected from ancient villages dotted across the Yellow Mountains. Meanwhile, the work also references the prominent Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi, whose parable, The Empty Boat, encourages people to discard their ego and anxiety. SU MENG-HUNG 蘇孟鴻: THE ALBUM OF IMMORTAL BLOSSOMS IN AN EVERLASTING SPRING BY GUISEPPE CASTIGLIONE (2012) You likely haven't heard of the 17th century Italian Jesuit missionary and painter Giuseppe Castiglione, but his work had a profound effect on artist Su Meng-Hung. Having worked within the imperial courts of three Chinese emperors, Castiglione was one of the early artists to combine both western and Chinese painting techniques to great success, while also contributing European architectural styling to a variety of Chinese royal palaces and gardens. Bringing new life to Castiglione's art, Meng-Hung borrows the ancient artist's creative lexicon and fuses it with his own interest in life and death, empires, and the nature of art in a globalised world. ZHAO ZHAO 赵赵: CONSTELLATIONS (2017) Training under the guise of China's most provocative artist Ai Weiwei, fellow conceptual artist Zhao Zhao follows closely in his mentor's footsteps with his Constellations series. Having observed photographs of bullet holes found in the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, Zhao decided to delve into to the concepts of violence and the endless passage of time. To create his ongoing work, he fired a gun into sheets of glass and painted over the resulting damage. Zhao later decided to team up with his mother to replicate these spidery splinters — but, this time, across a massive three-metre work of silk embroidery. A Fairy Tale in Red Times: works from the White Rabbit Collection is on now and free to attend at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne until October 6, 2019. Images: Tom Ross for NGV.
Along with Glastonbury, Coachella is one of the biggest, most famous and highly coveted music festivals in the world — the type of fest that everyone wishes they could nab a ticket to at least once. But 2020's eager revellers will need to wait a little longer to dance in a Californian field, with the festival joining the growing list of events changing plans due to the coronavirus. Originally slated to take place across two weekends next month — April 10–12 and 17–19 — Coachella 2020 has been postponed until October. If you've been preparing to head along, or you've just blocked out those dates to watch the always-popular livestream, you'll now be catching sets by headliners Travis Scott, Frank Ocean and Rage Against the Machine on October 9–11 and 16–18. Fest organisers haven't specifically commented on the lineup, but the event did post the full existing list of talent with its rescheduling announcement. So, for now, it's safe to assume that the same folks will hit the stage during the later timeslot — including Lana Del Rey, Flume, Calvin Harris, FKA Twigs, Run the Jewels, Charli XCX and Fatboy Slim. Announcing the shift of dates in a statement, Coachella's powers-that-be said "while this decision comes at a time of universal uncertainty, we take the safety and health of our guests, staff and community very seriously. We urge everyone to follow the guidelines and protocols put forth by public health officials". https://twitter.com/coachella/status/1237514789762416640 All ticket purchases for the original dates remaining valid for October — and for those no longer able to attend thanks to the postponement, refunds will be available. As COVID-19 keeps spreading around the globe, this kind of news is quickly becoming the new normal. Already today, Australian winter arts festival Dark Mofo has pulled the plug on its 2020 iteration. Coachella's delay comes hot on the heels of South by Southwest's cancellation this past weekend, less than a week before it was due to kick off for 2020. Last week, new Bond flick No Time to Die pushed back its release from April to November, too — and for upcoming events such as the Tribeca and Cannes film festivals, the Tokyo Olympics, Eurovision and the aforementioned Glastonbury, cancellations and/or postponements seem increasingly likely. Coachella will now run from October 9–11 and 16–18 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. To find out more information or register for the fest's waitlists, visit coachella.com. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
If yoga is a thing you like to do with your body on your weekends but negronis are also a thing you like to do with your body on weekends, fear not — there are ways of ticking both boxes. Howler is holding a yoga and negronis session on Sunday, September 16, proving that you can have it all, and that Sundays are for doing things good for the soul and the stomach. With yoga by yoga expert Rosie from I Live In Balance and DJ Zev Tropp on soundtrack duties, you'll be downward dogging your way to weekend bliss and whispering "shavasana" as your get-you-through-the-week mantra. The yoga class itself will be more of a fun, accessible-for-all vibe than a difficult sweaty time, and there'll be a guided full body relaxation included at the end. Tickets are $30 and include a negroni each.
Melbourne is fuelled by a mix of coffee and beer, so really it makes logical sense that we've got a festival combining the two. Coming to Thornbury's 3 Ravens Brewery for the second year this Sunday, March 25, On The Bend / On The Mend will see eight local breweries team up with eight beloved coffee roasters on eight unique beers featuring coffee as a key ingredient. Collingwood's Stomping Ground (beer), neighbours Proud Mary (coffee), Preston's Tallboy & Moose (beer) and Brunswick's Industry Beans (coffee) are just a few of the collaborators to jump on board. Last year's creations included a cold brew-infused English bitter and a white stour brewed with sea urchin, cacao nibs and coffee beans — which should give you some idea of how wild things can get. Entry is free, and all the coffee, beer and coffee-flavoured beer will be available to purchase. Or, if you want to lay down $20, you can partake in a masterclass, which includes a tasting paddle of all eight brews.
And just like that, there was a teaser trailer — for HBO's new Sex and the City spinoff And Just Like That..., that is. First announced back at the beginning of 2021, and already locked in for a December release, the ten-part series reunites Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon more than a decade since they last shared a screen in the terrible 2008 and 2010 Sex and the City movies. And, if you're wondering what's in store, the first teaser trailer has just been released. Obviously, Parker's Carrie Bradshaw narrates the sneak peek. It really wouldn't be a Sex and the City-related series otherwise, and you'd probably want to a pair of Manolo Blahniks at your screen in protest if that was the case. This time, the famed fictional New Yorker is waxing lyrical about life's changes — and obviously the words "and just like that" get uttered. The teaser doesn't provide much in the way of narrative detail, but it is filled with images of Carrie, Miranda (Nixon) and Charlotte (Davis) going about their lives — and of plenty of other familiar Sex and the City faces as well. The series' main trio won't have Kim Cattrall's Samantha for company, but Chris Noth, Mario Cantone, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler and the late Willie Garson all return. Yes, that's Big, Anthony, Steve, Harry and Stanford all accounted for. Grey's Anatomy's Sara Ramírez features, too — and, in news that's worth raising a few cosmopolitans, the ten-episode spinoff now has an exact release date. So, you'll be able to stream the first two episodes on Thursday, December 9 via Binge in Australia, with new episodes dropping weekly on Thursdays afterwards. In New Zealand, it'll air on Neon and Sky Go from Friday, December 10, with new episodes dropping at 1pm each week. It'll also head to SoHo from 9.30pm on Mondays from December 20. Due to Cattrall's absence, And Just Like That... is being badged as a "new chapter' in the Sex and the City story, rather than an additional season of the existing 1998–2004 program. Parker, Davis and Nixon are also named as producers on And Just Like That..., alongside Michael Patrick King, who worked as a writer, director and executive producer on the original (and on the two movies). Check out the first teaser trailer below: And Just Like That... will start streaming in Australia via Binge from Thursday, December 9. In New Zealand, it'll air via Neon and Sky Go in New Zealand from Friday, December 10, and also on SoHo from 9.30pm on Mondays from December 20.
During winter, it's easy to fall into a rut of the 'work, home, Netflix, sleep and repeat' kind. Luckily, Melbourne is chockers with venues and events that are doing their best to tempt you out of the house. So, we've teamed up with Melbourne ridesharing app DiDi to inspire you to do more with your winter nights. These five activities are worth braving the cold for and promise to warm you up once you get there. Plus, DiDi offers super competitive fares for getting you around the city, which means you'll have more cash to splash once you arrive. Read on to discover an all-night arts festival, a European-style winter market, a new restaurant serving hearty bowls of pasta and all the cheese you can handle. Grab your mates, throw on a warm jacket and make a night (or weekend) of it. [caption id="attachment_650235" align="alignnone" width="1920"] White Night Melbourne[/caption] PARTY ALL-NIGHT AT WHITE NIGHT FESTIVAL Every summer, Melburnians look forward to the all-night arts spectacular that is the White Night. Now, for the first time in its six-year run, the free festival is shining during winter instead. Taking place over three nights from Thursday, August 22–Saturday, August 24, the massive new winter program will span the Carlton Gardens, Birrarung Marr and the Treasury Gardens. Expect even more live music, street projections and after-dark gallery openings, plus heaps of design, film, food, performance and street art events. It'll keep you hopping around the city all weekend long and help you forget all about that chill in the air. INDULGE YOUR WINTER APPETITE AT HIGH CHEESE Cheese fiends Maker & Monger have once again teamed up with Westin Melbourne to bring you its version of high tea, which is filled with tiers upon tiers of cheese. Both sweet and savoury cheese dishes will be on offer daily until Saturday, August 31 — think gouda scones, roquefort with Four Pillars marmalade and cheesy tiramisu with salted white chocolate. You'll also get to try ricotta-filled cannoli, gruyère-stuffed gougères and even an entire baked Normandy camembert. It'll cost you $70 all up, with unlimited coffee and tea also included (wine will cost you extra). To reserve your spot, head to the website. GO ICE SKATING AT THE WINTER VILLAGE You don't need to take a trip abroad to indulge in some European-vibes this winter. Melbourne's Federation Square has been transformed into The Winter Village — a European-style market that boasts an ice rink, private igloos for hire and fried cheese aplenty. Expect local DJs to keep you entertained while you sip espresso martinis from the tap. If you're keen to see some snow, head to the oversized igloo dining hall where it 'snows' inside every hour. The pop-up has been extended until the end of September, too — so you have plenty of time to take advantage of it. EAT YOUR WAY AROUND THE WORLD AT QUEEN VICTORIA WINTER NIGHT MARKET If variety is your thing, Queen Victoria Market is where you should head on Wednesday nights during winter. Each week, the Winter Night Market offers a lineup of 30 food stalls serving up cuisine from around the world — there's pasta tossed in a wheel of parmesan, Italian loaded flatbreads and churro bowls topped with vanilla ice cream and hazelnut sauce and much more. Apart from the food, you can stay warm by sipping mulled wine and steaming hot cider, then dance along to live music, roving entertainment or at the silent disco. Over 50 maker stalls are also on the docket. And, in July, the market will take on a Christmas theme each week, with snow machines, decorations and the requisite ugly sweaters. Entry is free each and every week, too. [caption id="attachment_725156" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peter Dillon[/caption] TUCK INTO HEARTY BOWLS OF PASTA AT LUPO There's nothing better on a cold night than a steaming bowl of hearty pasta. This winter, highly lauded chef Scott Pickett (Saint Crispin, Estelle, Pickett's Deli, Matilda) is bringing you just that. He's recently transformed his 60-seat Smith Street digs into a classic Italian diner. Lupo offers up the likes of spanner crab lasagne, squid ink linguine and black truffle risotto. The extensive wine list will warm you up, too, with over 120 wines to choose from. And the barrel-aged negroni is the perfect pre- or post-dinner pick-me-up. If spending the night at one of Collingwood's hottest new restaurants doesn't entice you out of the house this winter, we don't know what will. Switch to DiDi and save heaps of cash that you'd rather spend on the fun stuff — like indulgent wintry adventures. To start riding, download the app here and use the code CONCRETE to score up to $50 in vouchers. Image: Queen Victoria Winter Night Market.
It is often said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. However, there is considerable argument about who first said it. In this post modern era, it has been well argued that everything worth doing has probably already been done. And as anyone who has raided their grandparents' wardrobe for vintage classics will tell you, fashion and design are cyclical. Despite all this, as a culture we still value and believe in authenticity, innovation and originality. And we support the rights of artists and designers to sue the pants of anyone who wittingly rips their ideas off. But what if you unwittingly rip some off yourself? What if, by chance, two artists independently come up with the very same idea? Is that impossible? And where do you draw the line between being influenced by someone and blatantly copying their ideas? Where does referencing end and plagiarism begin? These are the questions which occupy retired professor of Graphic Design Bob Caruther, and are the theme behind his flickr page entitled, Similarities. In this extensive collection, Caruther pairs up two or more similar images without making either comment or judgement. In many pairs the similarities were well-intentioned, as for example in Rufus Wainwright's homage to Judy Garland and The Clash's homage to Elvis Presley. However, in other examples, intentions are not quite as clear, leaving the viewer to contemplate whether the later image is a coincidence, proof of an artistic collective unconsciousness, or grounds for a lawsuit. We'll let you decide.
There's a whole swag of ways to celebrate Lunar New Year in Melbourne, but if your ideal one involves feasting on Singaporean and Malaysian flavours, you'll want to book a table at Hawker Hall. From Friday, February 9–Sunday, February 11, the hawker-inspired eatery is launching into the Year of the Dragon with an exclusive banquet menu, plus lion dances, giveaways and more. Head in to enjoy a sumptuous $88 set menu, starring plates like kingfish sashimi paired with red chilli sambal and lychee, roast duck wontons, Singapore-style Moreton Bay Bugs doused in chilli and served with Chinese doughnuts, and more. Plenty of a la carte options will also be available to order individually, and you'll even find a few Lunar New Year-inspired cocktails on the menu. Visit for dinner between February 9–11 and you could also nab yourself prizes ranging from free drinks to $888 restaurant vouchers just by cracking open your fortune cookie. On Friday and Saturday night, there will also feature traditional lion dance performances weaving through the dining room. And if you can't make it for these nights, don't fret. The Lunar New Year set menu will be running a little longer, up until Thursday, February 29.
For the next six months, a patch of rare Australian greenery is blooming on the other side of the world. As part of the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale, more than 10,000 native grassland plants are currently sitting in and around the event's Australian Pavilion — not only highlighting the endangered nature of the species on display, but also showcasing the importance of architecture that integrates the natural with the man-made. In what the artists have dubbed a "living installation", visitors wander past an array of plants before entering a room filled with them, with the field of vegetation appropriately titled Grasslands. It's comprised of 65 species of Victorian Western Plains grasslands, of which only one percent remains in Australia since European settlement. As the exhibition's guiding forces — Melbourne architects Baracco+Wright (Louise Wright and Mauro Baracco) with collaborating artist Linda Tegg — explain, the plants on display are "smaller area than that of an average Australian family house. Such an area takes around an hour to bulldoze." Their statement about the impact of urbanisation, agriculture, grazing and industrial land use on native Australian plant life forms one part of the overall exhibition, which also has a very fitting moniker: Repair. As presented by the Australian Institute of Architects, the showcase also includes a piece called Skylight, and it's practical as well as informative. The custom-designed lighting installation mimics the sun's 24-hour cycle in order to keep the plants alive — and its daily rotation is drawn from Australian time and sun patterns. For energy, Skylight takes its power from the Italian electricity grid, using 64 percent fossil, 21 percent hydro, nine percent wind and solar, five percent nuclear, and one percent geothermal sources. The final aspect involves a video series titled Ground, as projected on five-metre by eight-metre screens throughout the pavilion — highlighting 15 architectural projects that embody different notions of the overall theme of repair. The Venice Architecture Biennale runs from May 26 to November 25. For more information, visit the Australian Pavilion's website. Images: Rory Gardiner
The Maribyrnong River Trail runs alongside the Maribyrnong River through the northwest suburbs of Melbourne and it's often populated with runners, walkers and cyclists. When you're taking the trail, you're on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong Country, which has a rich history dating back over 40,000 years. Today, there are plenty of places to stop while pacing the route, whether to rest, check out some community gardens or to grab a green juice or cup of coffee to keep you going. To help you make the most of it, we teamed up with Adidas to bring you seven rewarding pit stops to make when you're tackling the trail. Take a look, then plan your own adventure using the map below. [caption id="attachment_804268" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parks Victoria[/caption] BRIMBANK PARK Start off amid native grassland and wetlands at Brimbank Park, located in Keilor East. The expansive green space neighbours the Maribyrnong River, and it's home to diverse wildlife, including ducks, wallabies and native birds. There are plenty of picnic areas and open spaces where you can warm up with lunges, leg swings, arm circles and side shuffles. It's also right next to Horseshoe Bend Farm, a rural-farm space where, though there aren't any animals, you can peruse its original 1930s weatherboard cottage while you get blood flowing to your muscles. [caption id="attachment_804270" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elaine Casap; Unsplash[/caption] AVONDALE HEIGHTS COMMUNITY GARDENS Make a pit stop at Avondale Heights Community Gardens to soak in some good community vibes and admire the local produce and plants. While you walk around the plots, take time to get some oxygen back into those lungs. You may even learn a thing or two about organic and sustainable gardening practices and principles. Or, if you're lucky, you'll find yourself at an open day with produce, preserves, seeds and seedlings on sale. PARTICLE CAFE Particle Cafe is the perfect spot to pick up a green juice or mid-run coffee. The eatery on Military Road, in Avondale Heights, is 100-percent vegan — with gluten free options available, too. It also has nut-based milks, like macadamia, cashew, hazelnut and almond. Alternatively, try a chia pudding, healthy choccy bowl, tofu scramble or a 'Vegan is Possible' burger. Whatever you choose, it'll be jam-packed with plants, which can only fuel your run ahead. [caption id="attachment_804692" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moonee Valley City Council[/caption] CANNING RESERVE LOOKOUT As you run on you'll reach Canning Reserve Lookout, just by Canning Reserve Playground. It's a great spot for a photo — or to stare out at the scenic views, including Melbourne's skyline in the distance. There's a walking dock so you can keep moving, or plenty of spots under gum trees to have a breather. Simply enjoy the fresh air while nodding to the other runners as they pass by. [caption id="attachment_803175" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Samson Katt[/caption] FAIRBAIRN PARK Mix up your run by stopping off at Fairbairn Park. The wide-open space is ideal for interval training on the sports fields. The park also has access to the river and dogs are allowed off-leash here, so be prepared to share your space with some cute, furry friends. While you're in workout mode, try not to be swayed by nearby Highpoint Shopping Centre. [caption id="attachment_803451" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Maribyrnong City Council[/caption] MARIBYRNONG AQUATIC CENTRE Take a break at Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre, adjacent to Thompson Reserve and Pipemakers Park. Take to a lane in the heated 50-metre pool and swim a few laps to get in some extra cardio, or hang out in the leisure pool for a while. Alternatively, head straight for the spa to start relaxing, followed by the sauna and steam rooms to sweat it out and unwind. Bookings are essential right now, so make sure to jump online and time your run to finish here. It's $12.90 for a spa, sauna and steam session. Access to the pool is $7. CAFE BOUTIQUE Reward yourself at the end of your run by heading to Cafe Boutique, on Cumberland Drive at the corner of Harbour Park. It's time for a pancake and a well-earned latte with waterfront and Flemington Racecourse views. If you're there for brekkie, enjoy the likes of yoghurt-layered muesli, french toast or eggs florentine. Or, if stopping in for lunch, sink your teeth into a salmon salad, carbonara or greek salad with lamb. You could also grab a takeaway sandwich and head to the park nearby for a snack and a nap in the shade. You've earned it. In need of a new pair of runners? Take a look at the new Adidas Ultraboost 21 runners here. Launch the map below to start plotting your own running adventure in and around Melbourne. Top image: Visit Victoria
On Saturday, September 3 from 11am, right through until Sunday, September 4 at 9.10am, three Melbourne cinemas will become the most magical places in the city. That's when and where all eight Harry Potter films will grace the big screen again, as part of a whole day and night of wizarding wonder. BYO time-turner if you don't think you'll be able to get through it all otherwise. On the bill at the Lido, Classic and Cameo cinemas: watching Harry, Hermione, Ron and co spend their first day at Hogwarts, play quidditch, search for the deathly hallows and battle He Who Must Not Be Named. They'll navigate potions classes, bust out spells, face off against evil and their classmates, and get plenty of enchanting help, too. You know how the story goes, of course — and now, 21 years after Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone first hit cinemas, you can revisit the whole saga in one big go. Potter Party — All-Night Harry Potter Marathon does include two breaks: 55 minutes for dinner between Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and 20 minutes for breakfast to split up Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. Dressing up in costume is always highly recommended, as is indulging in 22 hours Potter nerdery — with tickets costing $50.
If you're just a hunk, a hunk of burning love for the one and only Elvis Presley, and you live in Australia, you've been having quite the year or so. For four months in 2022, a massive exhibition dedicated to the king of rock 'n' roll hit Bendigo. Since June, Baz Luhrmann's AACTA-winning and Oscar-nominated biopic Elvis has been wowing fans at festivals, then in cinemas, then also at home. And now, when the middle of 2023 hits, a new Presley-focused stage musical will start doing the rounds across the country. Called Elvis: A Musical Revolution, this brand-new production will feature more than 40 of the singer's hits, because there's just that many songs to include. Expect all of the favourites to be worked into the biographical musical, which means everything from 'Jailhouse Rock', 'Hound Dog', 'That's All Right' and 'All Shook Up' through to 'Suspicious Minds', 'Heartbreak Hotel', 'Burning Love' and 'Blue Suede Shoes'. 'Good Rockin' Tonight', 'Earth Angel', 'Don't Be Cruel' and 'Are You Lonesome' are also set to get a whirl as well, as are 'Blue Moon of Kentucky', 'See See Rider', 'Can't Help Falling in Love' and 'A Little Less Conversation'. That's what you'll be hearing. As for what you'll be seeing — what'll make the musical one for the money, naturally — the show's action will tell Elvis' tale from his childhood in Tupelo, Mississippi through to his triumphant '68 Comeback Special. If you've seen the aforementioned Elvis, none of it will be new news, but expect Elvis: A Musical Revolution to work its hip-swinging magic anyway. Exact dates haven't yet been revealed, or a full list of cities that'll get this musical in their buildings. But the show will get started at Sydney's State Theatre in July, and also head to Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre from September. Cross your fingers for more stops afterwards. The cast hasn't been unveiled yet either, with a national talent search set to be held to find the right actor to slip into the blue suede shoes. Yes, following up Austin Butler's Oscar-nominated efforts will be a huge task. Elvis: A Musical Revolution hails from David Venn Enterprises, which has also been behind Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical, The Wedding Singer and Bring It On: The Musical — and arrives via a partnership with Authentic Brands Group, the owner of Elvis Presley Enterprises. Also behind the scenes, the musical's book comes courtesy of David Abbinanti and Sean Cercone — who have Saturday Night Fever: The Musical and Ghost: The Musical on their resumes — with Abbinanti also composing the orchestrations, arrangements, and additional musical and lyrics. "We are honoured to be tackling one of the world's greatest icons through a Broadway musical. Elvis' life is such fervent ground for this medium from his epic concerts to his unprecedented meteoric rise to fame. There was no roadmap, no guide, and no limit on what could be created. His journey, from dirt-poor shotgun shack Tupelo, Mississippi to a singular name, Elvis has fascinated generations and we're excited to have him tell it in his own way," said Abbinanti and Cercone. ELVIS: A MUSICAL REVOLUTION 2023 AUSTRALIAN DATES: From July 2023 — State Theatre, Sydney From September 2023 — Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne Elvis: A Musical Revolution will start touring Australia from July 2023. Head to the show's website for further details, and to join the ticket waitlist — with seats on sale from Wednesday, March 1.
If you agree that one of the best ways to deal with chilly temperatures and rainy days is to just eat until you feel better, Oriental Teahouse has you covered. Following a sold out run during this year's Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, the South Yarra location is bringing back their Dumpling Degustation for one night only on Thursday, July 27 from 6:30pm. The feast that awaits you on Chapel Street includes 25 different types of dumplings, meaning the lucky partakers get to try every single dumpling on the menu. It won't just be your average fried pork and chive, either (though their fancy version of the classic is included) — think lobster and wild mushroom, green curry lamb, Angus beer and pulled pork varieties, along with an AFL-themed football dumpling of pork, shrimp, dried shiitake and bamboo, topped with a crispy bacon and sesame. We're not sure what the combination has to do with footy, but it sounds delicious and that's all that matters. Five brand new flavours will also make the menu. The degustation isn't cheap — especially compared with the $22.50 all-you-can-eat dumpling dinner happening at POW Kitchen on the same night. Orienal Teahouse's version starts at $80, or $120 for a matched beverage pairing which includes craft beer, cocktail, wine, sake and premium tea. But no one says you can't treat yourself to a night of fancy dumpling gorging and, for lobster dumplings, the price may be worth it. To book email chapel@orientalteahouse.com.au or call on 03 9826 0168.
Directed by David Mackenzie (Young Adam, Hallam Foe), You Instead is a romantic comedy that is set and filmed live at T In The Park, one of Scotland's biggest music festivals. The rock'n'roll love story begins when two musicians are handcuffed together after a feud. Adam (Luke Treadaway) is the lead singer from an electro-pop band and Morello (Natalia Tena) plays in a post punk riot band struggling to make it to the top. Morello's band is going to play their biggest gig at T in the Park and being handcuffed to Adam makes things a little more interesting. After spending so much time together they realise that there may be a connection between them, proving difficult as Adam has a supermodel girlfriend and Morello is dating a banker. Concrete Playground has five double passes to giveaway. To go in the running to win tickets to You Instead, make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au
If your idea of bliss is a lengthy soak in warm water in a stunning location, you have a date with the outback Queensland town of Cunnamulla in your future. Before summer is out, it'll be home to a new hot springs that boasts seven geothermic pools, is perched right by Warrego River for the ultimate in scenic surroundings, and will also get you relaxing by sunrise and sunset. And, it hails from the Peninsula Hot Springs crew. Not content with getting folks steeping on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula and at Metung Hot Springs in East Gippsland — both in a state vying to become home to a 900-kilometre hot springs trail — plus at Maruia Hot Springs in New Zealand, the team is spreading its footprint. Cunnamulla Hot Springs was announced in 2023, and originally set to launch last winter; however, the fact that the Peninsula Hot Springs Group is now running it is new, and so is the Thursday, February 1, 2024 opening date. The local Paroo Shire owns the five-star venue, which cost $11.7-million to establish, with contributions from both the federal and Queensland state governments. But, now that Cunnamulla Hot Springs will soon welcome in patrons after becoming the largest-funded project that the Paroo Shire Council has ever undertaken, it has handed over day-to-day operations to one of the big Australian names in the business. The site's pools are surrounded by native trees, and feature mineral- and vitamin-rich water taken from and heated naturally by the artesian basin underneath. Learning about the latter around your soak is also part of the experience — relaxing your body and feeding your mind at the same time. Each of Cunnamulla Hot Springs's bathing spots sport different temperatures, so you can get steamy, opt for a stint in the chilled plunge pool or both. One has been specifically built to be shallow, so that folks sitting in it can gaze at the stars in the most immersive way possible. In the state-of-the-art complex, a sauna and a steam room is also part of the setup, as is an area for salt scrubs and clay masks. The aforementioned early-morning and late-afternoon dips are all about taking advantage of day's cooler temperatures. Dawn bathing starts at 6am, while a twilight soak is on offer from 5–9pm on weekdays. Patrons aren't merely surrounded by Cunnamulla's landscape as they sit; everything about Cunnamulla Hot Springs has taken its cues from its environment, with Cox Architects on design duties. Think: earthy colours, and using stone and ironbark timber among other natural materials — plus the thermal waters, of course. "Cunnamulla Hot Springs in one of the remotest destinations in one of the least populated countries in the world. We want guests to connect with the outback, the local indigenous communities and most importantly, the water — the mineral-rich artesian water that is found at Cunnamulla," said Peninsula Hot Springs' Charles Davidson. "Our hope is that Cunnamulla Hot Springs will create a sense of community by embracing the land, culture and wellbeing — as the Mornington Peninsula did when it opened, over 18 years ago." When it was announced last year, Cunnamulla Hot Springs was named as a highlight on the Outback Queensland Traveller's Guide, which is filled with things to do inland in the Sunshine State. Queensland isn't just about beaches, rainforests and the tropics, even if that's what it's best known for. So, the bathing venue joins everything from starlight river cruises in Longreach and Winton's Australia Age of Dinosaurs Museum through to the Southwest Queensland Indigenous Cultural Trail and a heap of national parks (and other outback spas and baths, including in Julia Creek, Bedourie, Quilpie, Mitchell and Yowah). If you're now planning a trip to Cunnamulla, it's around a nine-hour drive west from Brisbane, with flights via Rex, and also boasts an outback river lights festival; the Artesian Time Tunnel, which explores the Artesian Basin's history; and safari-style glamping — among other attractions. Cunnamulla Hot Springs will open at Lot 5 Ivan Street, Cunnamulla, Queensland on Thursday, February 1 — head to the venue's website for bookings and further information. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Victoria's 61-day run of no new locally acquired COVID-19 cases has come to an end with the state recording three new cases in the 24 hours leading up to midnight on Wednesday, December 30. As a result, the Victorian Government has introduced new gathering and mask restrictions ahead of tonight's New Year's Eve celebrations. As of 5pm today, Thursday, December 31, gatherings at private homes will be limited to 15, which is down from the previously allowed 30. Which means, you may need to quickly reassess your plans for this evening. Additionally, masks will be mandatory in all indoor settings — except from when you are eating and drinking — from 5pm. "If you are planning to leave your home at the moment, we ask people to carry their masks with them, we are now asking them to wear a mask if they are indoors in any location which is not their private home," Acting Premier Jacinta Allen said in a press conference today. https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1344398374485843973 The Victorian Government has also announced new border restrictions, with Victorians located in Wollongong and the Blue Mountains having until 11.59pm tonight Thursday, December 31 to return to the state. On return, they will need to get tested and self-isolate for 14 days regardless of the result of the test. After this time, Victorians that have visited these areas — as well as the previously announced Greater Sydney area, the Central Coast and the northern beaches — in the last 14 days cannot enter Victoria. You can find out more about Victoria's border restrictions at the Victorian Government website. The Government has also strongly urged Victorians to reconsider plans to visit NSW. "Do not go to New South Wales, if you are in Victoria," said Minister for Health Martin Foley. "If you are a Victorian in New South Wales, well beyond Wollongong and the Blue Mountains, come back. Do not want to be caught on the wrong side of a rapidly evolving situation." https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1344195448752406528 All three cases recorded yesterday dined at Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant in Black Rock on Monday, December 21, and anyone who visited the restaurant on that date must get tested and isolate until they receive a negative test result. The Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services has also released a list of additional venues that have been linked to positive cases on its Twitter page and website. More locations are expected to be added across the day, too. https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1344429850933645315 For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Victoria and current restrictions, head to the DHHS website.
Here's an incredibly obvious but still always true statement: the finest sushi you'll ever eat is found in Tokyo. That's just a delicious reality, but so is struggling to get into the best sushi joints during your Japan holiday because they're impossible to book. Thanks to Melbourne eatery Uminono, however, there's now a tour jetting out of Australia this spring that'll let you spend five nights eating your way through Tokyo's finest sushi restaurants. And yes, it takes care of all the reservations for you — including to quite the selection of exclusive spots. First, you'd best check your bank account. The Uminono x Plan Japan Luxury Sushi Discovery Experience doesn't come cheap, costing $9600 if you're willing to share a room and $11,900 if you want to bunk solo. But that fat stack of cash will get you the kind of Tokyo holiday you've only dreamed of, as co-guided by Uminono sushi chef Arnaud Laidebeur. Between Sunday, September 25–Friday, September 30 — departing out of Melbourne, and presumably assuming that Japan allows tourists back in by that time — this trip will hit up the likes of eight-seater boutique Sushi Amamoto, which boasts two Michelin stars, plus acclaimed chef Masamichi Amamoto in the kitchen; and Sugita, an extremely well-known standout that uses traditional Edomae skills to make its sushi. Also on the list are Ginza's Hakkoku, a six-seater that serves up to 30 different fish varieties; and Sushi Kimura, which is all about aged sushi and non-conventional fish varieties. While sushi is the main focus, the tour also includes a range of Tokyo fine-diners with a particular focus on French-Japanese fusion. So, that means a meal at the world-acclaimed Sugalabo, as well as Florilège and Été, with the latter only seating up to four guests a day. The exact itinerary hasn't been locked in just yet, but other restaurants on the list include Arai, Shimazu, Takamitsu and Sushi Ryujiro among the sushi spots; Ode from the French-Japanese eateries; and also eight-seater upmarket seafood and steak joint Tacubo, yakitori standouts Torishiki and Yakitori Eiki, yakiniku spot Yoroniku, the wagyu-covering Wagyumafia, Toyosu market, and a heap of street food and ramen places. Only six seats are available for the tour's September dates — so if this'll let you live your sushi dreams, and you can afford it, getting in quick is obviously recommended. And, you'll be slumbering in hotels to match the luxe culinary experience on offer, such as Palace Hotel Tokyo in the Marunouchi district and Shangri-La Tokyo, which is right near Tokyo Station. The Uminono x Plan Japan Luxury Sushi Discovery Experience arrives in Tokyo on Sunday, September 25, then returns to Melbourne on Friday, September 30. For more information or to register your interest, head to the Plan Japan website.
Love indulging in a few-too-many gins on a summer evening, but don't love the dull, dehydrated, hungover face you wake to the next day? We've now got the perfect solution, thanks to an exciting new collaboration between two beloved Aussie brands: Four Pillars Gin and Go-To Skincare. Together they've launched My New Go-To Gin, a new "wildly limited edition" spirit set to be your tipple of summer. The perfect Christmas present for both that skincare fanatic and gin connoisseur in your life, this new addition to your liquor cabinet has all of the peachy goodness you'd expect from Zoe Foster Blake's beloved beauty brand. Not only is it made with quandong, a native Aussie peach and some tart ruby grapefruit, the familiar Go-To label aesthetic means you could probably add it to your bathroom counter's line-up, and nobody would notice anything out of the ordinary. And if you sip a few too many the night before another event (hello, festive season) you're in luck: Every bottle comes with a Go-To 'Transformazing' sheet mask to soak your skin in much-needed moisture. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Go-To (@gotoskincare) Go-To Skincare has become well-known for its cult following of skincare fanatics across the world. The beauty venture from Foster-Blake has been so wildly successful since its 2014 launch, she just sold her majority stake in the company for a cool AU$89 million. Meanwhile, Aussie spirits producer Four Pillars has also become well-known known for innovation. Its inventive collaborations and tasty creations like the rare dry and bloody shiraz gin ranges have earned it the title of World's Best Gin for two years running now. With two very intense fanbases onboard, we imagine this one is going to sell out from shelves quick smart, so do yourself a favour and grab it while you can. Currently, it's just available for sale on the Four Pillars website, with orders limited to maximum of one per order — it's up to you if you gift it to a friend, or keep it for yourself. They've also included a specialty cocktail recipe, perfect for the festive season. Find more information about My New Go-To Gin on the Four Pillars website.
Each year The Age Good Food Guide tells us something we already know: that we take food way too seriously. What it also unveils — apart from the realisation of just how many places you can get a feed — is which Victorian restaurants you should add to your must-eat list. Last night, in their 35th year, the Good Food Guide Awards made your wish list that little bit longer, announcing the winners of their 2015 accolades. Both newcomers and hospo veterans were rewarded at this year's awards, and it was clear that longevity is both aspirational and revered. Taking top spot as Chef of the Year was, unsurprisingly, Andrew McConnell, who added Supernormal to his super successful restaurant empire in May. Restaurant of the Year went to Dan Hunter's Brae, which also entered the guide with three hats. In other news, Birregurra just booked out for the rest of the year. When cooking food it's rather important to wear a hat. Metaphorically, of course. So which restaurants will be wearing the all-important headwear this year? The Town Mouse received one hat (to much applause from the rest of the industry), as did Union Dining, No. 8 by John Lawson and the aforementioned Supernormal. Hats aside, we were happy to see one of our favourites Nieuw Amsterdam pick up an award for best drinks list, and for Angie Giannakodakis of Epocha be commended for service excellence (we wrote about her killer service here). Forever showing their commitment to the local hospitality industry, this year's Good Food Guide saw over 650 restaurants reviewed — some up to four times. Not surprisingly, there was a movement towards casual dining, a resurgence of pickling and fermenting, and a whole lotta barbecue. No awards were given for Burger Artisan of the Year, but maybe that's one for 2016? You can see the full list of Good Food Guide Award winners here.
When May hits, the Gold Coast will boast yet another attraction — and it doesn't involve sun, surf, sand or theme park rides. Southeast Queensland's popular tourist destination will open its new $60.5 million, six-level art gallery, which'll become the country's largest art gallery outside of a capital city. If the news sounds familiar, that's because it was first announced back in 2018, with an early 2021 opening date set at the time. And yes, it's sticking to that timeframe. While the pandemic has delayed more than a few things over the past year, the new addition to HOTA, Home of the Arts at Surfers Paradise's isn't among them. It'll launch on Saturday, May 8. Art lovers can get excited about a multi-floor gallery with more than 2000 square metres of exhibition space, including a main area that'll be used for touring exhibitions, plus a permanent collection space across three levels, a children's gallery and an area for storing works that aren't on display. Simply called the HOTA Gallery, it has been built at the top of the site's concert lawn, and overlooks HOTA's outdoor stage. View-wise, there'll be much to look at if you're keen on gazing at creative pieces. That includes two sculptural installations that'll be placed outside, as created by Queensland Waanyi artist Judy Watson and Sri-Lankan born, Sydney based artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran. Watson's artwork will hero Indigenous native plants, plus a pathway that forms a topographical map of Nerang prior to European settlement. Piccabeen basket and dilly bag sculptures designed with Quandamooka artists Libby Harward and Elisa Jane Carmichael will also feature, as will a two-metre-tall feather canopy and snippets of local language sandblasted onto the bleachers. As for Nithiyendran, he has crafted a six-metre-high, double-sided sculpture made out of bronze, concrete, neon and fibreglass that's designed to reflect the vibrancy of the new building. Visitors will also be able to peer at something other than the art gracing the walls, with the building featuring a rooftop bar and restaurant. Called The Exhibitionist Bar, it'll take over 233 square metres, and pair panoramic views with tapas, share plates, cocktails, wine, beer and house-made sodas. And, it's also opening in May. Both indoor and outdoor terrace seating will feature, and you'll get a vantage that sprawls over the Goldie's waterways, Surfers' Paradise skyline and the hinterland. Plus, in terms of decor, the venue is taking its cues from rainforests — as does the building itself, which is inspired by William Robinson's 'The Rainforest'. HOTA Gallery and The Exhibitionist Bar are both set to open at HOTA, Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise on Saturday, May 8. For more information, visit the HOTA website. Top images: Scott Chrisman, Pixeltape Media
Quiet achievers Little Dragon are a bit of an elusive bunch. Despite jamming together for nearly two decades, the Swedish quartet only gained a serious fan-base following their breakout hit 'Twice' in 2009. But these high school pals-turned-internationally touring chart-toppers are proof that sometimes the best things take time. Making their way around Australia for a string of Laneway Festival appearances, Little Dragon have squeezed in a couple of sneaky sideshows for those not festivaling. Channeling their signature blend of genre-bending beats, their latest fourth studio album Nabuma Rubberband sees a smooth set of dance tracks with strong electro-pop and R&B tendencies. Previous collaborations with the likes of the Gorillaz, SBTRKT and Big Boi have seen these guys go from virtual unknowns to a globally recognised act. With captivating vocals courtesy of Yukimi Nagano guaranteed to get audiences grooving, these performances won't disappoint. Supported by Kilter.
It's a tale as old as time: feuding siblings, an envy-fuelled rivalry, and an attempt to survive in harsh conditions. All three elements drive Icelandic effort Rams, as do the titular animals. Yet there's little about this perceptive examination of the bonds of blood, the struggles of farming life, and the importance of finding hope and humour in even the bleakest of circumstances, that feels routine or overly familiar. Perhaps focusing on the woolly creature's importance to rural townships helps, with the feature's narrative following brothers Gummi (Sigurður Sigurjónsson) and Kiddi (Theodor Juliusson) as they operate neighbouring sheep farms. Perhaps the measured pace, meticulous detail and observational atmosphere does as well, all stemming from writer/director Grímur Hákonarson's documentary background. Indeed, though Rams is a work of fiction, in exploring the hardships of working the land it seems ripped straight from reality. After entering their prized beasts into an annual competition, Kiddi emerges victorious, but a bitter Gummi is convinced that something is awry. Secretly inspecting the winning critter, he spies signs of a highly contagious disease that could wipe out Kiddi's flock, infect his own and cripple the entire village's livelihood. The duo hasn't spoken in four decades, exchanging messages via sheepdog to communicate when needed. However only by working together can they hope to save their animals and their community. While compromise might be called for within the story, as the bickering brothers are forced to unite to fight a shared cause, the movie itself prefer to dwell upon contrasts rather than find common ground. Hákonarson doesn't try to soften the difficulties he depicts, even when he's giving them the quirky comic treatment. Instead, he endeavours to present both tough times and happy moments, and demonstrate the importance of taking the good with the bad. Accordingly, Rams becomes not just an empathetic tale of striving to triumph over adversity, but an intricate exercise in balance. The film shows amusing attempts to outwit the agricultural authorities one minute, and the fearsome impact of the unforgiving Icelandic environment the next. But it never lets the former overpower the latter or vice versa. Of course, when a feature revolves around squabbling siblings, more than a bit of to-ing and fro-ing is to be expected. What makes the film soar isn't its determination to delve into opposing sides, but the way in which it embodies those underlying divides in everything from its visuals to its performances. Cue images that jump between vast sights and intimate interiors, and portrayals that similarly pit bold and subtle traits against each other. In Hákonarson's hands, the many juxtapositions prove not just effective in conveying the story, but insightful as well. Here, the extremes of existence exist as part of a continuum, constantly coming into conflict and yet still managing to coexist. That's the core of Rams, and the secret to making a film feel both immediate and timeless.
Cliffhangers aren't a new creation. On the page, abrupt endings and shock revelations that leave you hanging for the next chapter date back centuries, in fact. On the screen, they've been around as long as movies and TV shows have existed, too, and have popped up in everything from The Empire Strikes Back to Twin Peaks. Streaming platforms love them with a particular passion, however. End an episode with a cliffhanger, and viewers will ideally keep watching the next instalment right there and then, and the one after that, until they've just binged the entire program in one go because they simply couldn't wait to find out what happens. We've all been in that situation — and, once you press play on Dr Death, you're likely to find yourself in that same terrain again. Now streaming on Stan, the true-crime series deploys the tactic masterfully. When each episode ends, the audience desperately wants more. That's a product of the show's structure, with jumping around between different years in Christopher Duntsch's life part of its approach, and also a result of the stressful story itself. As played by Joshua Jackson (Little Fires Everywhere), Duntsch is full of charm when he's trying to encourage folks with spinal pain and neck injuries into his operating theatre — or when he's attempting to convince hospitals, particularly in Texas, to hire him. But again and again, those surgeries end horrendously. And if he's not endeavouring to sweet talk someone to get what he wants — and maintain the reputation and lifestyle he demands — the neurosurgeon's charisma melts into pure arrogance, including when he's dealing with his patients post-surgery and/or their loved ones. That's the narrative that Dr Death charts, all based on Duntsch's real-life tale — with the series following The Case Against Adnan Syed and the first and second seasons of Dirty John in jumping to the small screen from podcasts. If you've heard the Wondery release that shares Dr Death's name, you'll know how it all turns out, but that doesn't make the show any less effective. If you're coming to it all anew, prepare to watch a horrific scenario unfold over and over in this eight-episode drama. The longer he's allowed to operate, the bleaker Duntsch's story gets, all while fellow Texas surgeons Randall Kirby (Christian Slater, Dirty John) and Robert Henderson (Alec Baldwin, Pixie) do whatever they can to bring his misdeeds to light. Working in Dallas during the past decade, Duntsch was originally a rising neurosurgery star. Then, as the series charts, his patients started leaving the operating theatre either permanently maimed or dead. And, as Kirby and Henderson begain to realise, these weren't just the kind of mistakes that any highly skilled surgeon might make. If you've ever faced going under the knife, this is pure, unfettered and deeply disturbing nightmare fuel — and Dr Death rightly treats it as such. The plot here is inherently petrifying anyway, given that it all really happened; however, directors Maggie Kiley (another Dirty John alum), Jennifer Morrison (also an actor on House) and So Yong Kim (Lovesong) draw out every ounce of terror and tension, as does series creator Patrick Macmanus (Homecoming) and his writing staff. Playing Duntsch, Jackson is worlds away from his well-known work on Dawson's Creek, The Mighty Ducks and Fringe. When the situation calls for it, he can win over whoever he needs to, but something chilling lingers in every moment. It's a powerful performance in a series that also boasts great work from Slater and Baldwin — the former sliding into his usual talkative on-screen persona, and gifted one particular line that'll make Mr Robot fans laugh; the latter operating in a quieter and more solemn tenor. As the Dallas prosecutor who takes the case, AnnaSophia Robb (Words on Bathroom Walls) plays dogged and determined with aplomb as well. Obviously, this is grim viewing — and gripping, anxiety-riddled, cliffhanger-filled and highly bingeable viewing, too. It's also a damning indictment of America's health system, the push for profits infiltrating medicine, the lack of checks and balances afforded egotistic white men with high-powered jobs, and the rockstar standing that's handed out much too easily and quickly to those same culprits. Check out the trailer below: Dr Death is available to stream now via Stan. Top image: Scott McDermott/Peacock.
Sydneysiders, don't throw away your shot to see the biggest thing in musical theatre this century — again. Lin-Manuel Miranda's game-changing, award-winning, rightly raved-about Hamilton is returning to the Sydney Lyric Theatre after its lockdown-induced shutdown. You'll only have a few months to be in the room where it happens, however, before Melburnians will get their turn. In Sydney, the hit show will return to the stage on Tuesday, October 19 — a day before fellow big-name musical Come From Away will also resume its local season. Hamilton's Lyric Theatre run is now set to last until Sunday, February 27, with the production already slated to kick off its Melbourne shows at Her Majesty's Theatre from Wednesday, March 16. Like much about life after lockdown, there'll be a few rules in place for Sydneysiders eager to take an all-singing, all-dancing trip through US history, with updated conditions of entry set to come into effect. While Come From Away has already announced that it'll only be welcoming in fully vaccinated audiences, the requirements to see Hamilton haven't yet been revealed, other than noting that the show will operate "in line with the relevant NSW Government Public Health Order when it is available." All current ticketholders will be contacted by the Sydney Lyric Theatre with the updated guidelines, while all new customers will be need to accept the conditions of entry when they buy their tickets. The Broadway blockbuster finally made its way to Australia earlier this year, opening in March with a cast that includes Jason Arrow as Alexander Hamilton, Chloé Zuel as Eliza Hamilton, Lyndon Watts as Aaron Burr, Akina Edmonds as Angelica Schuyler, Matu Ngaropo as George Washington, and Victory Ndukwe as Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson. Also featuring in this lively exploration of 18th-century American politics in song: Shaka Cook as Hercules Mulligan and James Madison, Marty Alix as John Laurens and Philip Hamilton, Elandrah Eramiha as Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds, and Brent Hill as King George III. Haven't become a Hamilton obsessive yet? Not quite sure why it has been the most-talked about theatre show of the past six years? The critically acclaimed hip hop musical, for which Miranda wrote the music, lyrics and the book, is about the life of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, as well as inclusion and politics in current-day America. In addition to its swag of Tony Awards — 11 in fact, which includes Best Musical — it has nabbed a Grammy Award and even a Pulitzer Prize. The filmed version of its Broadway production also just won an Emmy. Over the past few months — and before March this year — Australians eager to see the show had to be content with watching that stage-to-streaming recording, which hit Disney+ in 2020 (and yes, it's as phenomenal as you've heard). Tickets for Sydney shows are back on sale, with seats for dates between Tuesday, December 21–Sunday, February 27 set to release on Friday, October 1. Melbourne tickets are currently on sale now, too — and Brisbanites, start crossing your fingers that Hamilton plans a move up north after its Melbourne run. Hamilton will return to the Sydney Lyric Theatre from Tuesday, October 19–Sunday, February 27, with tickets on sale now. It'll then kick off its Melbourne season at Her Majesty's Theatre from Wednesday, March 16. Head to the musical's website for further details. Images: Daniel Boud.
These cold winter nights require a little extra incentive to leave the house. Luckily, the already warm and inviting Chato has your new midweek fix — of the all-you-can-eat variety. Every Wednesday from July 4 through September 27, you can devour plates upon plates of their signature tapas to your stomach's content from 5pm—9pm. For $30 per person, you'll be free to indulge in everything the tapas buffet has to offer — think patatas bravas, grilled spicy scallops, empanadas and fried calamari, along with all the paella you can handle and, our personal favourite, the coliflor rebozada (deep-fried cauliflower in saffron and manchego butter). Wash it all down with a glass of Spanish wine, a cocktail or both and you've got yourself one hell of a winter pick-me-up. And if you somehow still haven't gotten your fill, head to all-you-can-eat dumplings at POW Kitchen on Thursday night — you legend.
Maybe you lived through the 90s rave scene. Perhaps you spent every weekend enjoying club life in the 00s. Or, you might just wish you were old enough to have ticked both boxes. Ministry of Sound was around to see both, and now it's revisiting the experience — bringing back its massive Testament parties for another year, this time touring them around Australia over two weekends. If cutting loose like you've travelled back in time is your ideal way to mark absolutely anything, then you'll want to make a date with Testament when it hits up Melbourne. For two nights across Saturday, August 12–Sunday, August 13, the event will have you making shapes to 90s and 00s bangers at The Timber Yard. It's a choose-your-own-adventure type of affair, so fans of old-school tunes can hit up the session dedicated to 90s house, rave, trance and garage tracks, and lovers of 00s electro and breaks get their own shindig. Leading the bill at the 90s party are Barbara Tucker, Inner City, Phil Hartnoll and Tall Paul, while The Bloody Beetroots, Digitalism, Freq Nasty and Stanton Warriors are their 00s counterparts. On the Melbourne-specific leg of the national tour, Papa Smurf, John Course, Anthony Pappa, Jason Digby, Kasey Taylor, Mark Dynamix, Mark Pellegrini, Sean Quinn and Sgt Slick are also on the 90s bill. Fleshing out the 00s: Boogs, Dirty South, Orkestrated, Andee Van Damage, Bang Gang Deejays, Gab Oliver, John Course, Minx, Sunshine and T-Rek.
Daniel's Donuts, a 24-hour doughnut store on Princes Highway in Springvale, has inspired queues, sell-outs, and (probably) tears over its sweet, doughy goods. It's the second venue for the family-run business, after its bakery in Melbourne's west became well-known for churning out thousands of Nutella donuts. The bakery gained media attention in 2015 for the sheer amount it was producing, using around 2400 kilograms of the sweet hazelnut spread each week. The treats are no less sweet and a little more expanded in variety at the Springvale outpost, and they're now heading northside — the bakery will pop up in Brunswick's Barkly Square for the month of July. Situated next to Kmart, the pop-up doesn't quite match the Springvale mammoth effort of being open all day, every day — but it comes damn close. It's open from 6am–10pm (or until sold out), so you've got generous time either side of your work day to get there. But we recommend being the early bird, if past reports and reviews of its Springvale store are anything to go by. Flavour-wise, you can expect Ferrero, raspberry white chocolate, lemon meringue and — of course — the requisite Nutella filled situation. No word yet on whether the infamous durian doughnut will be available to purchase but fingers crossed, we guess.
Some film festivals celebrate the latest and greatest movies a particular part of the world has to offer. Others go broad and new, amassing hundreds of the freshest titles wowing the international circuit. Or, a cinema showcase might focus on a particular theme, such as human-rights issues. The Melbourne-based Human Rights Arts and Film Festival clearly takes the latter approach, and has been doing so more than a decade — including in its 2023 program. Exactly how this annual fest explores its subject matter, what it covers and where it screens has varied over the years. Past iterations have included stints around the country, and some fests have solely remained in the Victorian capital. Across Thursday, May 4–Tuesday, May 9, 2023's lineup is only hitting cinemas in-person in Melbourne, but has a date with viewers elsewhere thanks to its online component. In its physical form, HRAFF opens with Kash Kash — Without Feathers We Can't Live, a documentary from first-time filmmaker Lea Najjar about her hometown of Beirut. For folks elsewhere, or for those who can't make it along on the night, it's one of the movies on the event's digital bill as well. From a lineup that includes work from Iran, Brazil, Ireland, Lebanon, Venezuela, South Sudan, Mexico, the US, Canada and more, Melburnians can also look forward to North Circular, which highlights the importance of music in culture in Ireland; Dark Days, telling the tale of a community living in New York City's underground train tunnels in the 90s; and Uýra: The Rising Forest, about trans non-binary Indigenous artist Uýra. From Venice 2022, Alice Diop's Saint Omer is an absolute must-see, with the documentarian drawing from true events to craft a drama about a young Parisian journalist and novelist attending murder trial, then wading through the complexities it surfaces within her own family history. In The Last Daughter, Wiradjuri woman Brenda Matthews charts her experience being taken from her family as a toddler, growing up with a white foster family, then being returned to her parents. And in closing night's Fashion Reimagined, designer Amy Powney's efforts to create a sustainable collection are in the spotlight. Viewers watching on from home can also enjoy The Endangered Generation?, which boasts narration by Laura Dern (Jurassic World Dominion) as it explores the fight against climate change — plus the world-premiere of We Eatin' Good, which sees Matisse Laida and Nisha Hunter get recipes for food and life alike from members of Melbourne's queer community. To take care of the 'arts' part of its name, HRAFF is hosting two exhibitions as well: Real Job, which ponders how the labour of visual artists is so often neglected; and A Wholesome Gang, a storytelling photo series by South Sudanese Dinka woman Awak Rech Kongor (and shot and edited by artist Joshua Sims). The Human Rights Arts and Film Festival runs from Thursday, May 4–Tuesday, May 9 at various venues around Melbourne and online. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the festival's website. Top image: Nick Prendeville.
When Zach Braff announced he was making a follow-up to Garden State, there were mixed reactions. While the 2004 film was a landmark for quirky coming of age stories, the manic pixie dream girl and alternative tweens "finding themselves", time has not been kind to it. Yelling into the infinite abyss inevitably seems a bit more heavy-handed than meaningful these days, and yes, Natalie Portman, everyone has heard of The Shins now. Regardless, the (sort of) sequel is happening and its first inevitably twee trailer is here. Wish I Was Here tells the tale of a struggling thirtysomething actor who homeschools his two children out of financial necessity. You won't squeeze more plot than that out of the trailer, but what we can conclude is that the film will feature meaningful slow motion frontal shots, people looking impossibly magical underwater, another infinite abyss and more music from The Shins. Braff has constantly pointed out that the film isn't a direct sequel to Garden State, but more a continuation in theme and tone — a fact made pretty evident from the cringeworthy first line: "You can pick whatever [wig] you want. Just as long as it's unique and amazing... like you." The trailer comes just under a year after the controversial Kickstarter campaign that funded the film. Instead of teaming up with willing production companies, Braff opted to try his hand at crowdfunding. Though the project was wildly successful — garnering over $3 million — the filmmaker came under harsh scrutiny for taking advantage of his loyal fans. Despite the backlash, Braff claimed it was a necessary measure to retain creative control over his sophomore endeavour. Time will tell if those millions were worth it. Reviews from Wish I Was Here's Sundance premiere were less than kind, but the film won't see a general release in the US until July 18. At the very least, Braff will enjoy a ticket sale from each ex-Garden State devotee. Myself included.
The United Colors of Benetton is at the centre of controversy after the company's new 'Unhate' campaign showed some of the world's leading political figures locking lips. Benetton's advertising campaign addressed some of the most vital conflicts in global politics and turned them on their head in six striking, amusing images. These include North Korea's Kim-Jong Il kissing South Korean president Lee Myung-bak in a passionate embrace, while President Obama gets cosy with Venezualan president, Hugo Chavez. A statement from the brand said that they 'seek to contribute to the creation of a new culture of tolerance, to combat hatred, building on Benetton’s underpinning values. It is another important step in the group’s social responsibility strategy: not a cosmetic exercise, but a contribution that will have a real impact on the international community.' Not surprisingly, the campaign has been widely condemned and been labelled as disrespectful. The Vatican formally requested that images of the Pope be removed, and even threatened legal action against the brand. Benetton has since complied with their requests and taken down the image of the Pope sharing the love with Sheik Ahmed el-Tayeb, an Egyptian Imam. Have Benetton overstepped the line here? Conservative homophobes across the globe seem to think so. However, if a handful of photoshopped images of world-famous leaders are enough to cause such a reaction, we really should applaud this well-executed advertising campaign and its clear message of acceptance and tolerance. [Via PSFK]
Yarra Valley winemaker Innocent Bystander might have temporarily closed to visitors, but there's now a virtual version of its cellar door that should help fill the void. The team's taking to Facebook to host a series of weekly wine-sipping sessions you can enjoy from the comfort of home. The Live Tasting Bar is set to grace screens from 5pm AEST over the next three Fridays, April 17–May 1, led by Innocent Bystander's own sommelier Margaret. Get comfy and tune in each week for a relaxed wine tasting experience, complete with tasting notes, food pairing tips and general wine-related chat. Each session will be themed around a different variety — from this Friday's Sipping Syrah to Chatting Chardonnay on May 1 — so you can line up a bottle of the same to sip while you watch. As an added bonus for those that want to stock up in preparation, the winery's offering a neat 20-percent-off all drops in its online store, along with free shipping.
Midweek dining just got more comforting — Brunswick East hotspot Etta is serving its famed coconut curry laksa in the front bar every Wednesday throughout winter. Created by Head Chef Lorcán Kan, the dish has long been a restaurant favourite not only for guests, but also the staff seeking an enriching pre-service family meal. Delving into the ingredients, it's not hard to understand why it's become so popular. Headlined by a rich aromatic broth steeped in lemongrass, garlic, makrut lime, galangal and chilli, a mix of egg and rice noodles combine with house-made golden tofu, fresh herbs and punchy Nonya sambal. There are just 20 serves available each Wednesday, so book ahead to secure your bowl. Each laksa is complemented with lok-lok, a skewer of deep-fried school prawns which you're invited to dip. Inspired by classic Malaysian street-food vendors, affectionately known as 'skewer aunties', this much-loved steamboat-style skewer is ever-present in the country's night markets and roadside stalls. Opened in 2017 by renowned restaurateur Hannah Green, Etta has become one of Brunswick East's most cherished restaurants. Kan's Chinese-Malaysian heritage guides the venue's menu, bursting with forward-thinking but approachable dishes. Supported by a stellar wine list, Etta's reputation has only grown stronger in recent years. Now Green is preparing for the launch of her next project just a couple of doors down, with Daphne expected to open in the former home of Bar Romantica in September. Focused on elevated woodfired cuisine, expect a welcoming space that Green hopes will feel like stepping into her home, where you can stop for a quick wine or a fully fledged meal. In the meantime, Lorcán's Laksa & Lok-Lok special is more than enough reason to plan a midweek visit to Brunswick East. Priced at $30, the special also lets skewer fans explore additional lok-lok options for $8 — including house-made fish balls of flame tail snapper, arrowhead squid brushed in sambal and cooked over hot coals, and woodfired satay curry-marinated chicken. Etta's Laksa & Lok-Lok special is available every Wednesday night throughout winter. Head to the website for more information. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen.
After revealing its December programming last month, Moonlight Cinema has unveiled the next part of its 2021–22 program. As always, one piece of advice bears repeating: pack your picnic basket and get ready to watch a heap of flicks under the summer evening sky. While the outdoor cinema runs until different dates in different parts of the country — till mid-January in Adelaide, the end of January in western Sydney, late February in Brisbane, the end of March in Melbourne and Perth, and early April in Sydney — it's latest announcement focuses on its January films. So if you're keen to catch a movie under the stars over the break, take note. As always, plenty of recent favourites and new movies are on the bill — including No Time to Die, Dune, Spider-Man: No Way Home and West Side Story, as well as King Richard, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, House of Gucci and The Matrix Resurrections. Depending on your city, there's also the new Scream, The French Dispatch, Kristen Stewart playing Princess Diana in Spencer, sing-along sessions of Bohemian Rhapsody and A Star Is Born, and late-90s classic 10 Things I Hate About You. It's also worth remembering that every city is BYO except Brisbane — but, wherever you're settling in for an outdoor cinema session, there'll be food, snacks, a bar and (if you'd like to pay for them) bean bags as well. And, in great news for movie-loving pooches, you can bring them along to all venues except Perth, too. MOONLIGHT CINEMA 2021–22 DATES Adelaide: Friday, November 26–Sunday, January 16 (Rymill Park) Brisbane: Friday, November 26–Sunday, February 20 (Roma Street Parkland) Melbourne: Thursday, December 2–Sunday, March 27 (Royal Botanic Gardens) Perth: Thursday, December 2–Sunday, March 27 (Kings Park and Botanic Garden) Sydney: Thursday, December 9–Sunday, April 3 (Centennial Park) Western Sydney: Thursday, November 16–Sunday, January 30 (Western Sydney Parklands) Moonlight Cinema runs through until April 2022. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the cinema's website.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us many things, and reminded us of plenty of advice that we've all heard for years. We're all now well and truly aware that any situation can change quickly, for instance. In the latest example to prove those words accurate, the Australian Government has moved forward its vaccine rollout plans — just a day after announcing its last fast-tracked inoculation schedule. Yesterday, Wednesday, January 6, Minister for Health Greg Hunt said that COVID-19 vaccinations would begin at the beginning of March, which was earlier than the previous date of late March (which, in turn, had been brought forward from the second quarter of 2021). Then today, Thursday, January 7, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in a press conference that the timeline for kicking off vaccinations has now been shifted to February. First in the queue when jabs start being administered mid-to-late next month (with an exact date yet to be revealed): frontline workers — particularly those working at hotel quarantine sites and international border checkpoints — as well as health workers and residential aged care facility residents. They'll comprise the first of five priority groups, with elderly Aussies aged over 70, Indigenous Australians over the age of 55, other health care workers, younger adults with an underlying medical condition, and other critical and high-risk workers falling into the second group. From there, adults aged 50–69, Indigenous Australians over 18 and the next tranche of critical and high-risk workers will receive the vaccination, followed by the balance of the adult population. Department of Health Secretary and former Chief Health Officer Brendan Murphy noted that children will fall into the last group. The Prime Minister also advised that that the rollout will begin with a target of giving 80,000 vaccinations per week, starting with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. By the end of March, it's expected that four million Australians will have been vaccinated — with capacity ramping up once the University of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is approved. Several vaccines have not only been created over the past year — much faster than the usual timeline — but have started being used in countries around the world. The latter is happening in places such as the UK and the US, where coronavirus case numbers have remained at enormous levels. In Australia, where the situation thankfully hasn't reached the same scale, the federal government has decided on a different approach. Vaccines need to be evaluated and approved locally by the Therapeutic Goods Administration before they can be rolled out anyway, and that process is currently underway for multiple different vaccines, including from Pfizer-BioNTech and University of Oxford-AstraZeneca. As the Prime Minister announced in mid-2020, vaccines will be provided to every Aussie for free when they are available. Australia currently has agreements to receive ten million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which will be manufactured overseas, and 53.8 million doses of the University of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, with production of the latter already starting locally. Both require two doses per person to be effective — and you have to get two doses of the same vaccine (so you can't mix and match them). If you're wondering how it'll all work logistics-wise, there'll be specific hubs to deliver the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine — at 30–50 hospitals around the country — first up. After that, when the University of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine becomes available, vaccinations will be available at other sites, such as GPs and respiratory clinics. Obviously, it's expected that specific details about sites and dates will be revealed before vaccinations start in February. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, visit the Australian Government Department of Health website.
After debuting in 2023 with Solange and Sampa The Great taking to its stages, the Art Gallery of New South Wales' Volume music series is going big again for its 2024 return. André 3000 making an Australian-exclusive stop with the Outkast rapper's experimental jazz project André 3000 New Blue Sun LIVE, Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, Ghanaian Australian talent Genesis Owusu and Zimbabwean Australian singer-songwriter Tkay Maidza: they all lead a lineup that shouldn't just get Sydneysiders excited, but is worth travelling from the rest of the country for. Volume's main names will each play their own dates between Friday, July 5–Sunday, July 21 at The Tank, a Second World War oil tank that's been turned into a performance and art venue. It's located inside Naala Badu, AGNSW's $344-million extension that opened in late 2022 — and this is quite the way to check it out if you haven't had the chance before. [caption id="attachment_954053" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dexter Navy[/caption] Genesis Owusu will kick off Volume across Friday, July 5–Saturday, July 6 with a visual arts-inspired show. Audiences will hear tunes from his records Smiling with No Teeth and STRUGGLER, with The Black Dog Band — aka Kirin J Callinan, Touch Sensitive and Tim Commandeur — doing the backing honours. The next weekend, on Saturday, July 13, Tkay Maidza will play her first Aussie headline show in 2024 — and she has Sweet Justice, her second album, to showcase. This is a one-night-only return to Australia for the LA-based rapper, because she's also playing Chicago's Pitchfork Music Festival in June. Kim Gordon's Aussie tour — which is also stopping at Illuminate Adelaide, as well as in Brisbane and Melbourne — will bring her to Volume on Thursday, July 18–Friday, July 19. The main focus: The Collective, her latest solo record. And on Saturday, July 20–Sunday, July 21, André 3000 New Blue Sun LIVE will wrap up the AGNSW lineup. The performance takes its name from André 3000's debut solo album, which released in 2023 — and will also feature percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Carlos Niño, and guitarist and guitar synthesist Nate Mercereau, alongside Surya Botofasina playing the keyboards, plus Deantoni Parks on synthesiser and drums. This is André 3000's first trip Down Under in ten years, with Outkast's headlining slot at 2014's Splendour in the Grass his latest live gig in Australia. [caption id="attachment_954055" align="alignnone" width="1920"] @trippydana[/caption] "We are thrilled to be inviting some of the most innovative and bold local and international musicians to The Tank to create unique music experiences that will make audiences think, feel and move. We look forward to seeing how each artist responds to this remarkable space," said Art Gallery of New South Wales Director Michael Brand. There's still more details to come for Volume, which will pair its headliners with a lineup of free events that's still to be announced. If it sounds huge, that's because it is — and both AGNSW buildings, aka north building Naala Badu and south building Naala Nura, will play host. [caption id="attachment_954056" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bec Parsons[/caption] Volume 2024 Headliners and Dates: Friday, July 5–Saturday, July 6 — Genesis Owusu Saturday, July 13 — Tkay Maidza Thursday, July 18–Friday, July 19 — Kim Gordon Saturday, July 20–Sunday, July 21 — André 3000 New Blue Sun LIVE [caption id="attachment_880681" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Tank space in the Art Gallery of New South Wales' new SANAA - designed building, 2022, photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter[/caption] Volume 2024 runs from Friday, July 5–Sunday, July 21 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, with ticket presales from 11am on Tuesday, May 21 and general sales from 11am on Wednesday, May 22 — head to the festival website for further details. Top image: Sven Mandel via Wikimedia Commons.
If you've been hangin' out down the street again, getting a huge blast from the past from That '90s Show in two ways — as a sequel series to That '70s Show and as a jump back to its titular decade — then you've been enjoying one of 2023's most easy-to-binge new shows so far. And, you can now make a future date to do the same old thing you did over the past few weeks. This follow-up is keeping on keeping on itself, with Netflix renewing That '90s Show for season two. "Going to Point Place last season was a real treat for all of us. We're thrilled to return," said co-creator and executive producer Lindsey Turner to Netflix's Tudum website. "We here in Point Place are thrilled that we're doing a second season," added co-creators and executive producers Bonnie and Terry Turner, who were also behind That '70s Show (and, fitting the multigenerational theme of the ongoing franchise, are Lindsey Turner's parents). "We'd like to thank all of the fans old and new for tuning in. We're truly grateful," they continued. That '90s Show's first season hit Netflix in mid-January, arriving 17 years after its predecessor wrapped up after running from 1998–2006 — and bringing a new take on That '70s Show's Cheap Trick-sung opening theme tune along with it. This time, teenager Leia Forman (Callie Haverda, The Lost Husband) and her friends are the focus, after she decides to spend the summer of 1995 saying "hello Wisconsin!" at her grandparents Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp, WandaVision) and Red's (Kurtwood Smith, The Dropout) house. Accustomed to feeling like she doesn't fit in back in Chicago, Leia — the daughter of Eric Forman (Topher Grace, Home Economics) and Donna Pinciotti (Laura Prepon, Orange Is the New Black) — finds a much-needed connection during her Point Place stay. That's where the elder Formans' neighbours Gwen (Ashley Aufderheide, Four Kids and It) and Nate (Maxwell Acee Donovan, Gabby Duran & The Unsittables) come in, as well as Michael Kelso (Ashton Kutcher, Vengeance) and Jackie Burkhart's (Mila Kunis, Luckiest Girl Alive) son Jay (Mace Coronel, Colin in Black & White), plus the witty Ozzie (Reyn Doi, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar) and Nate's super-smart girlfriend Nikki (Sam Morelos, Forgetting Nobody). While Rupp and Smith are main cast members again in That '90s Show, the bulk of the OG crew — including Wilmer Valderrama (NCIS) and Tommy Chong (Color Out of Space) — only make brief appearances. That '90s Show's overall formula is the same, but it's firmly devoted the new group of high schoolers making the most of the Forman family basement. Netflix hasn't announced when That '90s Show will return for season two but, when it does, the series will be set during the next summer. "We can't wait to return to Point Place for another summer of laughs and surprises. Hello, 1996!," said co-creator, executive producer and showrunner Gregg Mettler. Check out the trailer for That '90s Show below: That '90s Show streams via Netflix. Read our full review of season one. Images: Patrick Wymore/Netflix © 2022.
Everyone's 2022 streaming obsession is mere months away from making our comeback, bringing all those beef sandwich cravings along with it. After proving one of the best new shows of 2022, and also increasing the amount of times that "yes chef!" is yelled by approximately 75,000 percent, The Bear will return this winter. To whet appetites, it has just served up its first teaser trailer for its second season, too. When season two arrives, don't expect to slide back into The Bear's kitchen chaos like no time has passed, though. As this debut sneak peek shows, things have changed at the show's central sandwich shop. That won't come as a surprise if you've watched season one, of course — and where the Golden Globe-winning series is going from here hasn't yet been revealed. The Bear was renewed for season two before the show even made its way Down Under, after debuting in the US last June, then reaching Australia and New Zealand via Disney+ at the end of August. Given that it's now a huge hit, here's hoping that audiences here won't experience a delay again this time around when it hits the US in June again. This go-around will span ten episodes, giving viewers two extra servings of chaos surrounding Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White, Shameless) and his culinary endeavours. While season one already saddled him more than his fair share of troubles and struggles, there's no way that season two is going to a cruisy dream for the kitchen ace. If you missed the first season, it jumped into the mayhem after Carmy took over The Original Beef of Chicagoland, his family's business, after his brother Mikey's (Jon Bernthal, We Own This City) suicide. Before returning home, the chef's resume spanned Noma and The French Laundry, as well as awards and acclaim. Accordingly, trying to bring that fine-dining level of meticulous to a neighbourhood sandwich shop didn't go smoothly. That's just the beginning of the story, in a series that truly conveyed what it's like to work in the hospitality industry — including navigating a restaurant kitchen's non-stop intensity. Yes, the mood is anxious from the outset, with The Bear's creator Christopher Storer (who also has Ramy, Dickinson and Bo Burnham: Make Happy on his resume) starting the series as he definitely meant to go on, but still expertly managing to balance drama and comedy. Also a crucial part of the show: the rest of the impressive cast, such as Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Dropout) as Richie, aka Cousin, aka Carmy's brother's best friend; Ayo Edebiri (Dickinson) as new sous chef Sydney; Abby Elliott (Indebted) as Carmy's sister Natalie, aka Sugar; and Lionel Boyce (Hap and Leonard), Liza Colón-Zayas (In Treatment) and Edwin Lee Gibson (Fargo) among the other Original Beef staff. Check out the first teaser trailer for The Bear season two below: The Bear streams via Disney+, with season two set to return in June — we'll update you with an exact season two release date when one is announced. Read our full review of season one. Top image: Matt Dinerstein/FX.
Good Beer Week is back for its eighth year, taking over Melbourne and regional Victoria with a huge number of beer-related events running from Friday, May 11 through Sunday, May 20. It will all kick off with an opening party at the Beer Deluxe Federation Square festival hub and proceed on to the festival's craziest program yet. If you attended the Showcase Gala, you'll know they've got some big acts in store. This year, the events have been subdivided into nine categories: Beer Lover, Foodie, Beer Geek, Beer School, Good Times and Good Beer Mates, along with Pint of Origin, Festival Hub and Trade Hub. On the docket are homebrew competitions, wild ale showcases and an all-you-can-eat meat fest, along with your requisite tap-takeovers, beergustations, happy hours and collab brews. Plus, beer school classes will run out of the festival hub all week, where you can train your palate to pick out beer faults, take a blending masterclass and learn about all things barreled-aged. Yes, it's an overwhelming number of events and yes, we've got our shortlist right here. First up, there's the biodynamics and beer dinner, hosted by acclaimed chef Paul Wilson (Wilson & Market). He's teaming up with Byron Bay's Stone & Wood to showcase a feast of sustainably-sourced seafood, ethically farmed meat and wood roasted veggies — all paired with brews, of course. Stone & Wood's head brewer Caolan Vaughan is also joining forces with Three Blue Ducks' Darren Robertson, and the two interstate heavy-hitters will also showcase sustainable produce in a six-course beer degustation at Vue de Monde. Speaking of big name chefs, Blackman's Brewery is turning its Geelong restaurant over to Aaron Turner (The Hot Chicken Project, Igni), who will serve up a menu of his signature Nashville-style treats alongside the launch of a seasonal produce-inspired brew. There's plenty of Japanese-influence on the menu this year, too. You've got the Japanese craft beer and dumpling dinner at Zhou Zhou Bar and an izakaya and beer dinner at Kumo, plus Moon Dog is bringing back its drunken beer ramen event at Shizuku. Pizza lovers shouldn't miss the 3 Ravens and Lazerpig quest to find the perfect pizza beer, either. On the cultural side of things, Fempocalypse has made its way down south from Sydney Beer Week 2017 for round two, with Two Birds and Wayward Brewing showcasing women in the hospitality industries. Sydney's Wildflower Brewing & Blending will also head to Melbourne, taking over Richmond's Slowbeer for an unusual bugs and blending wild beer session. Check out the full program here. As with previous years, many of the events are free, but ticketed events are selling out fast. Best get to scheduling out your week now — along with your pre- and post-festival detox sessions.
Flinders Lane's cocktail bar and pizza joint Trinket is celebrating its new lunchtime hours in a big way — by giving away 500 mini pizzas for free on Wednesday, May 15. The bar will now be open from noon every day, serving up a new menu that includes 13 stone-baked pizzas. To nab your freebie, you'll have to scout the CBD for a marked empty pizza box from noon–2pm — with the locations revealed through the venue's Instagram stories. Bring that box along to Trinket to redeem your free pizza for dine-in or takeaway. The lucky 'golden ticket' pizza box holders can choose from any pizza on the menu. Those include smoked eggplant and squash with salsa verde and goats cheese; prawns and anchovies with zucchini and mozzarella; pumpkin with sage, ricotta and onion; and meatballs with blue cheese and pickled onion. That's Wednesday lunch plans sorted.
Pilot and architect by trade, Massachusetts-based photographer Alex S. MacLean knows a thing or two about perspective. Taking a bird's eye view of theme parks, tennis courts, playgrounds and waterslides in the US, MacLean's latest series Playing is a playful reminder of the surrealist, hedonist nature of leisure time. Water parks, tennis courts, putt putt courses, basketball courts, public pools — we've gotten pretty good at adapting to climate, taking advantage of natural geographical perks and building the ultimate escapist fun houses for our selves. MacLean explores about the dynamic relationship the constructed American landscape and the idea of play — we continue to build playgrounds well after our playdates have turned to wine dates. So, taking cues from MacLean and his whole Playing collection, I guess you could say there's a bunch of concrete... playgrounds... out there. Yeeeop. Concrete. Playgrounds... Via Fast Company and Design Wreck. Images courtesy the artist.
Professional boxers aren’t typically renowned for their eloquence. Pre-fight press conferences tend to centre around the two combatants standing silently and mashing their foreheads together, while the post-fight ones rarely escalate beyond monosyllabic grunts and the flaunting of novelty-sized belts. Maybe it’s the boxers' traditionally low socio-economic backgrounds at play, maybe it’s the almost guaranteed head trauma, or perhaps they’re simply still trying to figure out why a square arena is called a ‘ring’ and why anybody thought ‘light heavyweight’ wouldn’t sound ridiculous as a fighting category. In Southpaw, Jake Gyllenhaal plays one such professional ‘boxymoron', and he takes the inarticulacy to the extreme — presenting his character Billy Hope as a man who drools in the place of dialogue. It’s a bold choice for the accomplished actor, whose commitment to both it and the role’s physicality can't be overstated. One glance at the posters for Southpaw is enough to see that Gyllenhaal got jacked for this film, with muscles so enormous they should almost receive separate billing. He looks like a boxer, moves like a boxer and absolutely sounds like a boxer, meaning — in Southpaw — we totally believe him as a boxer. It’s a phenomenal performance, and without it the movie would be a complete write-off. Director Antoine Fuqua is fast establishing himself as the go-to action director in Hollywood, much like John Woo was in the '90s. With recent offerings including Olympus Has Fallen and The Equalizer, he’s continued to deliver slick, high-octane pictures without ever quite managing to repeat the success of his breakthrough film Training Day. The problem isn’t with the direction so much as the scripts, whose stories and dialogue languish in a mire of cliches. Southpaw is another example of this, failing to offer anything new despite coming tantalisingly close at its preface. The film’s early scenes touch upon compelling themes of administrative oversight, bureaucratic corruption, capricious management and the threat of ‘punch drunkenness’ courtesy of Hope’s particular fighting style in which he shirks defence and absorbs countless blows from his opponent until it makes him angry enough to retaliate. All of this largely falls by the wayside, however, as soon as family tragedy strikes and Hope finds himself bankrupt and alone. Redemption, then, becomes the order of the day, but the problem is we neither feel particular involved in it nor satisfied when it inevitably comes. This isn’t so much a tale of personal growth as it is one of reinstitution, where the only thing Hope really learns by the end is how not to get punched. Eminem was originally slated to play Gyllenhaal's role, but in his absence the roles of ‘singers trying to act’ were taken up by 50 Cent and Rita Ora, both delivering adequate performances as line delivery systems. Rachel McAdams pops in as a caricature of a boxer’s WAG and Oona Laurence does a decent job as Hope’s young daughter despite often unspeakably bad lines to work with. The only real other performance of note is from Forest Whitaker as Hope’s eventual trainer, whose brief screen time nonetheless reminds us why he’s one of the most gifted actors of his generation. He seems to find things in scripts that not even the writer could see, and injects some much needed humanity into Southpaw’s later stages, when neither the boxing nor the family troubles prove capable of sustaining the drama.
The future of wearable technology is like thinking about the universe: the possibilities of what could be discovered are endless. But it's annoying enough to integrate an Apple Watch or a Fitbit into your life, let alone walk around wearing weird spy cam glasses all the time, ala Google Glass. Seriously, no one want to be that guy. But what if you could simply attach this technology to your skin with, say, a small temporary tattoo? Well, that sound pretty good to us, and Austin-based mobile development company, Chaotic Moon, are trying to make it happen. The technology, dubbed Tech Tats, are temporary electronic tattoos that would live on top of the wearer's skin, and use the skin as an interface. The tattoo holds an ATiny85 microcontroller, which stores and receives data from temperature sensors via electroconductive paint to interact with your body. "Everyone has this idea of the future as this guy with Google Glass and the Apple Watch and five Fitbits," EricSchneider, Chaotic Moon's Creative Technologist says. "But the goal is really wearable technology that you can’t even see." As well as tracking your movements and fitness, and storing your credit card details and so on, the tats would also be able to monitor your vital signs an send that data to your phone — or even your doctor. The technology is just a prototype at the moment, but it isn't too hard see this coming to life sooner rather than later. Chaotic Moon have said — if the product gets to the public — they want to keep the price point accessible, perhaps even selling the Tech Tats in packages, like Band-Aids. It seems like a happy medium between clunky, wearable technology and getting microchips implanted under the skin — we don't want to go full robot just yet. Via Motherboard.
When Splendour in the Grass made a comeback in 2022 after two pandemic-affected years, it was hugely anticipated. Due to wet weather and flooding, however, the event's big return sadly turned into Splendour in the Mud — Splendour in the Pool, too. That didn't work out well for the festival's 20th birthday, but organisers are hoping its 21st will be better, locking in July dates for its 2023 run. Pop Friday, July 21–Sunday, July 23 in your calendar, and start searching for your gumboots now — while hopefully this year's fest won't be as boggy, sturdy footwear is always a Splendour must. As usual, the fest is returning to North Byron Bay Parklands for its latest big birthday party. If you're wondering who'll be on the bill, though, that hasn't yet been revealed. [caption id="attachment_891058" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dave Kan[/caption] Pre-COVID-19, Splendour's lineups would start dropping between February and April, so expect further details soon. So far, the fest crew has advised that 2023's event will feature "the world's most prolific artists and national music treasures" if you want to start speculating. Splendour's confirmed 2023 dates arrive a week after the festival crew issued an apology for 2022's event, stating that "Splendour in the Grass 2022 was, without a doubt the most challenging and difficult year ever... it was not what any of us wanted". [caption id="attachment_891057" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Claudia Ciapocha[/caption] "While we can't control the weather, we can manage how we respond and for that we are deeply sorry. We thank all of you who took the time to complete our survey and share your experience at Splendour 2022," the festival team continued. "We want you to know we have listened to your feedback and we have acted from all that we learned. We continue to work furiously behind the scenes to make #SITG23 the sweetest, most comfortable and exciting music festival to date with the best experience possible for you, the local community and all who participate in the event." [caption id="attachment_891055" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Charlie Hardy[/caption] Ahead of the 2023 lineup announcement, Splendour Member applications are now open for guaranteed tickets in a dedicated presale. To qualify, you need to have purchased tickets and attended Splendour five times or more. And, if approved, you can buy up to four tickets. If that's you, you've got until 5pm AEDT on Friday, March 10 to register. [caption id="attachment_891054" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ian Laidlaw[/caption] Splendour in the Grass will take over North Byron Bay Parklands from Friday, July 21–Sunday, July 23, 2023. We'll update you with the lineup details when they're announced. For more information in the interim, head to the festival website. Top image: Jess Gleeson.
With the recent mammoth announcement for this year's Splendour in The Grass, there's no doubt that some punters are already planning their list of must-sees and bathing in anxiety over possible timetable clashes. With this being said, we at Concrete Playground have compiled our list of the five most essential acts to catch at this year's Splendour instalment. Keeping in mind that there's a tonne of bands on the line-up, and we only have space for five, so don't be upset if we haven't included your most respected idols. However, feel free to hurl abuse and/or musical knowledge in the comments section. Have a look at our picks below. Who knows, you might find your new favourite artist. 1. AT THE DRIVE-IN While The Mars Volta and Sparta both have their dedicated fanbases, neither group comes close to matching the sheer power of post-hardcore powerhouse At The Drive-In. Minds were blown when the group reformed and appeared on the line-up for this year's Coachella festival, and now Australian fans will also be treated to the live experience. With an abundance of afros, quirky dance moves and furious convulsion-inducing tracks, this will be nothing short of epic. Please, for the love of God, see this band. 2. SMASHING PUMPKINS If you're still fond of the dreary teenage years that you spent smoking cigarettes and hating "the man," then Smashing Pumpkins will be right up your alley. As one of the biggest alternative bands to hit the nineties, their appearance will undoubtedly draw alot of older, angrier people to Splendour this year. Even if you hate their music, you should go along, stand in the front row and yell multiple quotes from the Simpsons episode that they featured in. 3. THE SHINS Having appeared on The OC and the roster of the highly-regarded Sup Pop Records, The Shins have become a staple in every hipsters iTunes library. Crafting indie tunes with youthful pop appeal, the sheer catchiness of their catalogue will resonate well with audiences at Splendour. Having just released their fourth album Port of Morrow earlier this year, fans can expect a slice of fresh material as well as old favourites. 4. AZEALIA BANKS Azealia Banks comes straight outta New York - the same city that produced vicious female emcees like Lil' Kim, Remy Ma and Foxy Brown. Banks has been one of the most hyped artists of 2012, having collaborated with production heroes Major Lazer and gaining recognition on BBC and NME. If you ever need proof that females can spit a verse, catch Banks in her element at Splendour. Alternatively, you could go see Nicki Minaj when she visits in May - but I don't think that's as acceptable. 5. SEEKAE This electronica trio have been causing significant waves over the past few years, and their inclusion on this year's line-up is indicative of their rising popularity. From their humble beginnings in Sydney's indie scene, they've grown to even be featured on an advertisement for Hyundai. With sounds that are mellow yet strikingly powerful, catch these guys getting real ambient in Byron Bay. Will appeal to chilled fans of instrumental hip-hop and dubstep (whatever that term even means anymore).
It's been three long, chaotic, pandemic-interrupted years since the Australian music festival scene welcomed Festival X, which debuted back in 2019 with Calvin Harris leading the bill. We all know why the event hasn't been able to return since, but it's remedying that absence this November and December — with Harris as one of its headliners again. That's fantastic news if you're a fan of the Scottish DJ. If you're keen for a hot girl summer — or the days leading up to summer in some cities — Festival X's comeback has something for you, too. Also topping the lineup is Megan Thee Stallion, who'll be heading to Australia for the first time ever. Festival X has five stops in its sights between Saturday, November 26–Sunday, December 4, all huge outdoor gigs — playing Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Alabaster Sports Fields on the Gold Coast, Bonython Park in Adelaide, Sydney Showground and Perth's Burswood Park. Also hitting the stage: Don Toliver, Boys Noize, Green Velvet, John Summit, Luude and MaRLo — and, yes, the list goes on. Festival X hails from quite the list of industry big guns, with Onelove (Stereosonic), Live Nation (Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival) and Hardware (Piknic Electronik, Babylon) behind the touring event. It's the latest massive fest to lock in plans for the end of 2022, following Grapevine Gathering, Falls Festival, Lost Paradise, Spilt Milk, Summer Camp, Beyond the Valley, Listen Out and Woodford Folk Festival. Festival-goers, it's going to be a busy summer. If you're keen, Festival X tickets go on sale from 12pm AEST on Thursday, June 2, with a LatitudePay presale from 12pm AEST on Monday, May 30 and a festival presale from 12pm AEST on Wednesday, June 1. FESTIVAL X 2022 LINEUP: Calvin Harris Megan Thee Stallion Don Toliver Boys Noize Green Velvet John Summit Luude MaRLo Nina Kraviz Sub Focus DJ Set & ID Tchami Wilkinson DJ Anna Lunoe Babyface Mal Badrapper Blastoyz Choomba Cosmic Gate Franky Rizardo Haliene Key4050 Feat John O'Callaghan & Bryan Kearney Laura King Nifra Nora En Pure Prospa Solardo Sunset Bros Taglo Tyson Obrien FESTIVAL X 2022 DATES: Saturday, November 26 — Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne Sunday, November 27 — Alabaster Sports Fields, Gold Coast Friday, December 2 — Bonython Park, Adelaide Saturday, December 3 — Sydney Showground, Sydney Sunday, December 4 — Burswood Park, Perth Festival X 2022 tours the country from Saturday, November 26–Sunday, December 4. For more information or to buy tickets — from 12pm AEST on Thursday, June 2, with a LatitudePay presale from 12pm AEST on Monday, May 30 and a festival presale from 12pm AEST on Wednesday, June 1 — head to the festival website.
We love it when art takes over the city, and the Biennale of Sydney does it better than anyone else. Perhaps Australia's best-known contemporary art event, the Sydney Biennale will take place for the 21st time in 2018 with 70 leading local and international artists presenting work across seven of Sydney's top-notch galleries, museums and unconventional spaces. A free exhibition, the Biennale of Sydney is held from Friday, March 16 until Monday, June 11. As per the first announcement, provocative Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is the headline act, which comes off the back of his 2016 double-bill exhibition alongside the works of Andy Warhol at the National Gallery of Victoria — the highest selling event in the gallery's history. At the Sydney Opera House, Weiwei will screen his new feature-length cinematic documentary Human Flow, which explores the global refugee crisis across 23 countries in a single year. He'll also install a 60-metre-long inflatable boat on Cockatoo Island, which will be made from the same materials as the boats used by asylum seekers crossing the Aegean Sea. Meanwhile, there's French multimedia artist Laurent Grasso, whose art considers science and the supernatural; the sculptural works of South Korean artist Haegue Yang who transforms space with found and forged objects; British artist Oliver Beer uses the human voice to take over the Opera House for his acclaimed Resonance Project; and Sydney's own Yasmin Smith takes to Cockatoo Island to create a ceramics studio, an open-air kiln and a new installation that's finished in a hand-made wood ash glaze. The first biennale under the leadership of recently appointed artistic director Mami Kataoka, 2018's event is based around the idea of 'superposition', a quantum mechanics term that refers to often-paradoxical and overlapping events. While it's a tad hard to explain, Kataoka says the 2018 biennale's artists have been chosen for their work's power to "offer a panoramic view of how opposing interpretations can come together in a state of equilibrium". With three months to check out the work of so many great artists, there's no reason why you can't spend autumn cramming in as much art as you can handle. And if you're not a Sydneysider, the event is a good catalyst for a Sydney trip. The Biennale is free to attend. The 21st Biennale of Sydney will run from March 16 till June 11, 2018. For more information, visit biennaleofsydney.com.au.
At the 2021 Emmys, The Crown won every acting award it could, with the regal series collecting shiny trophies for Olivia Colman's performance as the Queen, Josh O'Connor's portrayal of Prince Charles, Tobias Menzies' work as Prince Philip and Gillian Anderson's efforts as Margaret Thatcher. One star who didn't get a gong: Emma Corrin for playing Princess Diana. But her version of the people's princess is just one of several hitting screens — and not simply because Tenet's Elizabeth Debicki will take over the role when season five of The Crown arrives. When that new season of the show premieres in 2022, it'll continue to explore a part of royal history that's been talked about for decades, aka the difficult marriage between Princess Diana and Prince Charles. But on the big screen, the Kristen Stewart-starring Spencer will get there first. This isn't quite a twin films situation — where two movies about the same or similar topics appear around the same time, like Armageddon and Deep Impact in the 90s, Finding Nemo and Shark Tale in the animation space, and the two Fyre Festival documentaries in 2019 — but only because The Crown is a TV show and Spencer is a feature. Otherwise, there will indeed be two different takes on the tale hitting screens small and large in short succession. In Spencer's case, it hails from Pablo Larraín, the Chilean filmmaker who has never made a bad film — see: his recent masterpiece Ema — and also directed Natalie Portman to an Oscar nomination in Jackie. In both of these movies, he's honed in on complex women in difficult situations, one fictional and one factual, and shown a stunning eye for emotion and detail. And, based on the the initial sneak peek and the just-dropped full trailer for Spencer, that isn't going away in his next feature. After last appearing in films as varied as Underwater, Charlie's Angels, Seberg and Happiest Season, Stewart plays Diana in 1991, at a time where her relationship with Prince Charles (Jack Farthing, Official Secrets) is struggling, but the royal family has gathered together for Christmas. Spencer focuses on a few specific days, as rumours swirl about affairs and divorce, and Diana attempts to navigate the obviously complicated situation. She isn't handling it well, and she certainly isn't willing to just plaster on a smile and carry on because she's married into royalty — as this new trailer delves into. Timothy Spall (The Party), Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water) and Sean Harris (Mission: Impossible — Fallout) also feature, but Stewart is obviously the star of the show — and looks to be settling into Princess Di's wardrobe, bobbed hairstyle and simmering yearning with aplomb. Spencer premiered at the Venice Film Festival earlier in September, ahead of its US release in November and Australian debut on January 26, 2022. Check out the full Spencer trailer below: Spencer releases in Australian cinemas on January 26, 2022.
Over the past few years, Gelatissimo has whipped up a number of creative flavours, including frosé sorbet, gelato for dogs, and ginger beer, Weet-Bix, fairy bread, hot cross bun, cinnamon scroll, chocolate fudge and bubble tea gelato. Earlier this year, it made its own spin on Caramilk gelato, too. For its latest offering, the Australian dessert chain is getting festive, all while still turning something that everyone loves into gelato. The new source of inspiration: gingerbread — and it's mixing it with choc chip cookie dough. Can't choose between tucking into gingerbread or licking your way through a few scoops of choc chip cookie dough ice cream? Why not do both, because Gelatissimo now has the short-term solution. That very combination is on the menu all throughout December. 'Tis the season and all that. Whether you opt for a cone or a cup, you'll be tucking into gelato made with choc chip cookie dough, a ginger cookie crumble, ginger creme and ginger caramel. That ginger hails from Buderim Ginger on the Sunshine Coast — and apparently the limited-edition flavour goes mighty well with Christmas pudding. If your stomach is now rumbling, you can get gingerbread cookie dough gelato in stores Australia-wide. Or, Gelatissimo also delivers take-home packs via services such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Menulog and Doordash. Gelatissimo's gingerbread cookie dough gelato is available from all stores nationwide throughout December.
Right now, we all fall into two categories. Firstly, there's the hefty group of people who are already devoted to The Last of Us, the hit video game that's been a button-mashing favourite since 2013 and spawned a sequel in 2020. Then, there's the folks that are about to start obsessing over its new HBO adaptation when it arrives in 2023. Whichever camp you fall into, the just-dropped first teaser trailer for the streaming series sets a moody, creepy, action-packed scene — as expected of a game-to-TV show that dives into a tense and fraught post-apocalyptic version of the US. For The Last of Us newcomers, here's the premise: 20 years after modern civilisation has been destroyed, survivor Joel is hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie out of a tough and oppressive quarantine zone. There wouldn't be a game, let alone a television version, if that was an easy task, of course — and if the pair didn't need to weather quite the brutal journey, as well as a nightmarish quest for survival. So far, so intriguing — and while the debut sneak peek does indeed conjure up memories of The Walking Dead, that just comes with the basic concept. The Naughty Dog-created PlayStation game wouldn't be the huge hit it's proven for almost a decade now if it simply cribbed from that TV show, obviously. As a series, The Last of Us also boasts a heap of impressive names — starting with star Pedro Pascal (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) as Joel, plus Game of Thrones' alum Bella Ramsey as Ellie. Fans of the game will note that Ashley Johnson (Blindspot) and Troy Baker (Young Justice), who voiced the two characters in the source material, will indeed pop up in the HBO show. They'll clearly be playing different characters, however. Also pivotal to HBO's adaptation: co-creator, executive producer, writer and director Craig Mazin, who already brought a dystopian hellscape to the US network (and to everyone's must-watch list) thanks to the haunting and horrifying Chernobyl. He teams up here with Neil Druckmann from Naughty Dog, who also penned and directed The Last of Us games. Alongside Pascal and Ramsey — and Johnson and Baker — the series also boasts Gabriel Luna (Terminator: Dark Fate) as Joel's younger brother and former soldier Tommy, Merle Dandridge (The Flight Attendant) as resistance leader Marlene and Aussie actor Anna Torv (Mindhunter) as smuggler Tess. And, Nico Parker (The Third Day) plays Joel's 14-year old daughter Sarah, Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus) and Nick Offerman (The Resort) feature as isolated survivalists Frank and Bill, Storm Reid (Euphoria) pops up as Boston orphan Riley, and Jeffrey Pierce (Castle Rock) plays quarantine-zone rebel Perry. As seen in the trailer, Yellowjackets' Melanie Lynskey also guest stars. The Last of Us doesn't have an exact 2023 premiere date yet — it'll be available in Australia via Binge and in New Zealand via Neon when it does — but you can check out the trailer below: The Last of Us will hit streaming in 2023, including in Australia via Binge and New Zealand via Neon— we'll update you with an exact release date when one is announced.
In Westeros, and in books and TV shows that head to the fictional location, some things are simply inevitable. People saying "winter is coming" is one of them. Creepy relationships, whether because of gross age differences or blood ties, is another. Flowing long blonde hair is yet another certainty. People stabbing each other in the back for the Iron Throne ranks right up there, too. Indeed, there are so many predictable eventualities, you could make a drinking game out of watching new Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon — and we did. Here's something we should've included but didn't, though: House of the Dragon proving such a hit straight away that HBO has already renewed it for a second season. If you already been enjoying the show's jump back into House Targaryen's history, to 172 years before the birth of Daenerys and her whole dragon-flying, nephew-dating, power-seeking story, then rejoice — like winter, more is coming. Again, the news is hardly surprising, especially given that House of the Dragon's debut episode, which arrived on Monday, August 22, gave the US cable network its largest American audience for any new original series in the history of HBO. Yes, House of the Dragon is basically a case of new show, same squabbles, as it was easy to foresee it would be. Yes, it's pretty much Game of Thrones with different faces bearing now well-known surnames — and more dragons. And yes, this latest adaptation of George RR Martin's popular fantasy books is bound to continue on for more than just two seasons, but that's all that's confirmed for the moment. If you haven't yet caught up with the series, it dives into the battle for the Iron Throne before the one we all watched between 2011–19. Paddy Considine (The Third Day) plays King Viserys — and it's exactly who should be his heir that sparks all the Succession-style fuss. The words "succession" and "successor" (and "heir" as well) get bandied around constantly, naturally. The king has a daughter, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (played by Upright's Milly Alcock, then Mothering Sunday's Emma D'Arcy), who is also his first-born child. But because putting a woman on the throne isn't the done thing, the King's younger brother Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith, Morbius) considers that spiky iron chair his birthright. And, this wouldn't be Westeros if plenty of other people didn't have an opinion, including Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans, The King's Man), the Hand of the King; his own daughter Alicent (The Lost Girls' Emily Carey, then Slow Horses' Olivia Cooke); and Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint, It's a Sin), who is married to Princess Rhaenys Velaryon (Eve Best, Nurse Jackie), who had a better claim to the throne when Viserys was named king instead. All that feuding over the realm's spiky metal seat will continue across House of the Dragon's ten-episode first season, of course, before returning for a second go-around. HBO hasn't announced a date for the show's second patch of episodes, but you could bet all the wine in King's Landing on it arriving around this time in 2023. House of the Dragon is the culmination of years of planning to extend the GoT franchise by HBO. Firstly, the American cable network announced that it was considering five different prequel ideas. It then green-lit one to pilot stage, scrapped it and later picked a contender to run withL House of the Dragon. It has also opted to give novella series Tales of Dunk and Egg the TV treatment, too, and to work on an animated GoT show. And, it's been reported that another three prequels are also under consideration — plus a Jon Snow-focused sequel series. Check out the full House of the Dragon trailer below: House of the Dragon streams Down Under via Foxtel and Binge in Australia and SoHo, Sky Go and Neon in New Zealand. Read our full review of season one. Images: Ollie Upton/HBO.
