If you're feeling a tad jealous of seeing half the people you know living their European dream holiday (where do these people get the money?), you're in luck. The Europa Night Market will make its much-anticipated return this year to brighten up Wednesdays from September 27–October 25. Bellissimo. The market will host a vibrant Euro-style bazaar that will teleport you to a different European destination each week, with food, drinks, entertainment and market stalls to match. Kicking things off on Wednesday, September 27, the market will be saying 'ciao' to the flavours and sounds of Italy, with bites like Sicilian-style fried arancini, woodfired 400 Gradi pizza and homemade panzerotti. The following week (Wednesday, October 4) will see the market transform into a little Oktoberfest for Bavarian night. While Wednesday, October 11 will be a celebration of all things French with an evening of oozy raclette and decadent traditional French crepes — with your choice of fillings including Nutella and Biscoff. Oh, and keep an eye out for the French mime artists. The Iberian Peninsula gets a look-in on Wednesday, October 18, with paella and Portuguese street food from Portuguese Churrasqueira BBQ complete with entertainment by Spanish and Portuguese flamenco dancers. The final week (Wednesday, October 25) will be a celebration of all things Mediterranean, with melodies of Greek folk songs acting as the perfect soundtrack for sipping a Greek Blue Spritz from Spritz Bar (made from ouzo and spiced rum). Partner that with a souvlaki from Greek Trojan Yiros and the late spring air and you may as well really be on a Greek Island somewhere on the Aegean Sea. The Europa Night Market returns 5–10pm Wednesday, September 27–Wednesday, October 25. Find it at the Queen Victoria Market, corner of Queen and Therry Streets, Melbourne.
Fashion runways usually feature models of the leggy variety, but don't expect to see any of those at the NGV's Kids Summer Festival fashion parade, which instead will star a drove of tiny-legged dapperly dressed dachshunds. Taking over the NGV's Great Hall on Australia Day, this pup parade will conclude the annual, 11-day festival of kid-friendly fun. Although 'technically' for 'kids', anyone can head along to see the four-legged fashionistas show off their threads for free. Take a little one along and let them run wild in the gallery afterwards — they can unleash their own creativity by crafting dog-inspired 3D paper designs under the guidance of illustrator Alice Oehr and artist group Soft Stories. The whole dog thing is a homage to three dog-lovers being celebrated in NGV's hottest summer exhibitions — David Hockney (Current), and design duo Viktor & Rolf (Fashion Artists). The rest of the Kids Summer Festival program is chock-full of legitimately awesome free events — think magic performances, kids yoga, dance classes and a swag of creative workshops hosted by local artists. The dachshund fashion parade will take place in the NGV's International Great Hall from midday on Thursday, January 26. For more information, visit the NGV's website.
It was a sad day when Polaroid announced it was going to stop producing film. The iconic camera was used by artists Andy Warhol, Chuck Close, Helmut Newton and Robert Mapplethorpe and nothing quite matches the simplicity and beautiful graininess of Polaroids. But now, you don't have to feel glum whenever you look at your photo wall - it's not all over yet. The clever clogs at Polaroid have found a way to keep the camera alive without using the traditional film. Meet the Polaroid Z340. It is a 14MP camera with a 2.7-inch LCD display and an integrated printer that produces 3x4-inch color prints. The printer uses inkless printing technology from Zink Imaging where special print paper has embedded dye crystals which are activated by heat to form the image. It's not cheap at $299.99, and a pack of 30 photos costs $19.99. But hey, instant gratification is priceless. Fingers crossed that the images will still have that dreamy imperfection that makes them unique.
Change is coming to The Witcher, with Henry Cavill (Zack Snyder's Justice League) set to relinquish Geralt of Rivia's icy locks after Netflix's hit fantasy series' upcoming third season. Before that big switch — which will see The Hunger Games, The Dressmaker and Independence Day: Resurgence's take over the role — fear is coming first, as the just-dropped first trailer for the show's next batch of episodes teases. "Now, for the first time, I understand real fear," growls Geralt to kick off the debut sneak peek at The Witcher season three — complete with his sword at the ready. Elsewhere, Ciri (Freya Allan, The Third Day) has ghost cavalry on her tail, while Yennefer (Anya Chalotra, The ABC Murders) has her own scares to deal with. Need a refresher on the story so far? Haven't watched the first two seasons yet? If The Witcher's name sounds familiar, that's because it's based on the short stories and novels of writer Andrzej Sapkowski — and, as well as being turned into comics, it was adapted the video game series of the same name. A Polish film and TV show also reached screens in the early 2000s, although they were poorly received. In the Netflix series, Cavill plays the witcher of the title. Geralt of Rivia is a monster hunter who prefers to work — aka slay beasts — alone in a realm called The Continent. But life has other plans for the lone wolf, forcing him to cross paths with powerful sorceress Yennefer and young princess Ciri. When it tosses a coin to its witcher again, season three will take its cues from Time of Contempt, the second book in Sapkowski's series. The new batch of episodes will hit streaming queues this winter Down Under, featuring eight instalments split into two parts. Volume 1 arrives on Thursday, June 29, with Volume 2 following on Thursday, July 27. One of Netflix's big successes, The Witcher has been renewed for a fourth season, too, which happened back in 2022 long before its third had a trailer or a release date — something that also occurred with season three before season two dropped as well, and with season two before season one debuted before that. But instead of Cavill as Geralt, Hemsworth will replace him, as also announced in 2022. The Witcher franchise doesn't just include the show itself, but also animated flick The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, which hit Netflix in 2021. And, there's 2022 prequel series The Witcher: Blood Origin, which takes place 1200 years before Geralt's time, spans four episodes and stars Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh. Check out the first teaser trailer for The Witcher's third season below: The Witcher's third season will hit Netflix in winter 2023 Down Under, releasing in two parts — with Volume 1 arriving on Thursday, June 29 and Volume 2 on Thursday, July 27.
Game of Thrones fans might be waiting at least another year before the hit HBO show returns for its eighth and final season, but here's something that should help fill the void: an actual GoT-themed hotel, made almost entirely from ice and snow. Lapland Hotels SnowVillage is an annual pop-up hotel that opens in Kittilä, Finland each December, crafted by professional ice sculptors using around 20 million kilos of snow and 350,000 kilos of natural ice. Covering about 20,000 square metres, it's impressive at the best of times, though as Condé Nast Traveler reports, the owners have this year teamed up with HBO Nordic to give the hotel an extra memorable twist. A wintery homage to Game of Thrones, SnowVillage's latest iteration features its own 'Hall of Faces', a dragon-shaped ice slide, an Ice Mountain-guarded Ice Throne and ten impressive hotel suites with their own unique sculptures carved into the walls. In stark contrast to our current Aussie summer temperatures, the hotel's interiors only reach about minus-five degrees celsius, though you'll get a cosy sleeping bag to help see you comfortably through the night. Of course, if you're not quite sold on the idea of such a chilly sleepover, SnowVillage also has plenty to tempt day-trippers. You can chow down on a feed of local delicacies (reindeer included) in the ice restaurant, warm up with some themed drinks at onsite drinking spot Ice Bar, take in some scenery on a husky safari, or unleash some creativity of your own at one of the ice sculpture workshops. If you're heading to Finland in the next few months, entry to the SnowVillage costs €15 ($23 AUD), with rooms starting at €165 ($253 AUD). It's open daily until April 8, 2018. Via Condé Nast Traveler.
If life in general hasn't been dystopian enough for you over the past few years, your next HBO obsession will be: The Last of Us, the television adaptation of the hit video game. Expect a tense future 20 years after modern civilisation has been destroyed, plus a seasoned survivor given a tough mission involving a teenager — and, amid that nightmarish quest, the kind of monsters no one wants to see. If you've been a fan of the button-mashing favourite since it first arrived in 2013, then played the sequel in 2020, then you're already devoted to The Last of Us — and you know where HBO's version is going when it arrives in January, streaming in Australia via Binge and New Zealand via Neon. If you're new to the gaming franchise, get ready for what's certain to be 2023's first big show, complete with an eerie, creepy, action-packed mood, and a story that dives into a fraught post-apocalyptic version of the US. That's been the vibe in both the initial teaser trailer from September and the just-dropped full trailer, both of which help tease out The Last of Us' premise. Pedro Pascal (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) plays Joel, who has been hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie (Bella Ramsey, Catherine Called Birdy) out of an 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. So far, so intriguing — and while the sneak peeks so far do 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. Fans of the game will note that Ashley Johnson (Blindspot) and Troy Baker (Young Justice), who voiced the Ellie and Joel 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 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, Jeffrey Pierce (Castle Rock) plays quarantine-zone rebel Perry and Yellowjackets' Melanie Lynskey also guest stars. Check out the full trailer for The Last of Us below: The Last of Us will start streaming Down Under from Monday, January 16, 2023 — in Australia via Binge and New Zealand via Neon. Images: Liane Hentscher/HBO.
Great news, dog lovers of Australia: you can now expect to see more pups at more pubs around the country. When 18 venues around the nation start serving pooches their very own version of charcuterie — adorably dubbed 'barkuterie' — there's bound to be one big result: a flurry of humans bringing their four-legged best friends out for a bite. If you spend your life with a canine companion, you'll be able to take your barking buddy to bars in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia from Saturday, September 16. On the menu: barkuterie boards created in collaboration with online pet supplies retailer Pet Circle, featuring three dog treats from Nature's Cuts and Zignature paired with seasonal fruit and vegetables. So, while you drink and graze, so can your pupper. Just don't go giving your dog any beer to go with their barkuterie board, of course. The canine snack plate comes in at $12, and arrives to celebrate spring. It's a limited-time special, however, getting tails wagging for four weeks — or until stocks last. Of course BrewDog is getting in on the barkuterie spread, which is great news for folks who can hit up the Scottish beer brand's venues at South Eveleigh in Sydney and Murarrie, at its DogTap Brisbane Australian base, in Brisbane. Harbour City residents can also take their pup to The Winery in Surry Hills, while Sunshine State folks can make a date with the Crown Hotel in Lutwyche and Everton Park Hotel. In Victoria, Richmond's Bridge Hotel is joining in — and folks in WA have Victoria Park Hotel and The Bassendean Hotel to choose from. It's a great time to be a dog devotee in SA, with Brighton Metro Hotel, The Duck Inn, Mick O'Sheas, Waterloo Station, The Hope Inn, Robe Hotel, The Colonist, Parkside Hotel, Naracoorte Hotel and The Victoria Hotel in Strathalbyn all on the list. "More Aussies than ever consider their dog as their fur-child and are looking for experiences to do with them. They are taking them to cafes and pubs, and now dogs have their very own menu. They say the way to a dog's heart is through its stomach so we hope all the dogs really love the barkuterie boards," said Pet Circle Head Vet Teagan Lever. 2023 has already delivered doughnut-shaped biscuits for dogs — now this is your next excuse to treat your pet. Pet Circle's barkuterie boards will be available from Saturday, September 16 at 18 venues around Australia — for four weeks until Friday, October 13, or until stocks last.
The 2011 World’s 50 Best Bars list has been published by Drinks International, curated by editor Lucy Britner and US drinks writer, Camper English (I can imagine someone with that name sipping cocktails on a daily basis). The pair asked the opinion of around 100 bar professionals, including the Playboy Club’s Salvatore Calabrese, 'King of Cocktails' Dale DeGroff, Esquire US’s David Wondrich and diamond ice-carver Hidetsugu Ueno. These votes were combined with global votes and resulted in a list with bars from 16 countries. Your local favourite may not be on the list, but rest assured that all fifty are well worth the visit next time you find yourself in one of the world's culture capitals. Here are the top ten (and you can download a guide to all of them here). 1. PDT, New YorkPDT, short for Please Don't Tell, is a sexy speakeasy with a deep-fried twist - you can order drunk snack food from the low-key joint, Crif Dogs (from where you enter via the false rear wall of a phone booth), next door. An old-fashioned with a side of frankfurt? Yes please. Where: 113 St. Marks Place, New York 2. Connaught, LondonThe height of London elegance, if you order a martini the waiter will pour gin and vermouth from a crystal tumbler at your table and let you choose an infused bitters from their many flavours. Where: The Connaught, Carlos Place, London 3. Artesian, LondonModern touches like purple mock-snakeskin leather chairs and excellent service brings this Grand Victorian-styled bar into this century and at the top of the list. Play dominos whilst you sip on a rum-based cocktail. Where: Regent Street, 1C Portland, London 4. Death & Co, New YorkSome of the best cocktails in New York can be had in this dark, shadowy speakeasy. Where: 433 East 6th Street, New York 5. Milk & Honey, LondonThis bar is tucked away so not anyone can just wander in - it's members only for most of the week. Regular people can visit at the beginning of the week to try the phenomenal cocktails. Where: 61 Poland Street, London 6. American Bar at the Savoy, LondonThe bar that bore the ultimate cocktail guide, this is London's most iconic imbibing institute. Good luck getting a seat. Where: The Savoy, 100 Strand, London 7. 69 Colebrooke Row, LondonIf you were very, very rich, this bar might feel like your lounge room, complete with bow-tied butlers to make you cocktails and pour your water in tall glasses from cocktail shakers. Where: 69 Colebrooke Row, Islington, London 8. Drink, BostonAll you have to do is a name a flavour you feel like and a personalised drink will be yours. Where: 348 Congress Street, Boston 9. Harry’s New York Bar, ParisHemingway, Sartre and Blondin were all regulars at this famous bar that invented the Bloody Mary and the White Lady. A Paris must. Where: 5 Daunou street, Paris 10. Black Pearl, MelbourneSplit over two levels, head up if you'd like to drink out of Royal Doulton glassware or downstairs for a beer. Either way, you'll have a good time. Where: 304 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Melbourne Also... A special mention to Sydney's own Eau de Vie who finished in 13th place, and Wellington's Matterhorn who finished 33rd. For the rest of the list, click here.
When it was first published in 2011, A Discovery of Witches swiftly became a bestseller. Thankfully for readers instantly enamoured with Deborah Harkness' supernatural novel, there was more where that came from. The book was just the first instalment in the All Souls trilogy, with its follow-ups arriving in 2012 and 2014 — and, since 2018, fans have been able to watch a TV adaptation starring Australian actor Teresa Palmer as a Yale University historian and witch, as well as Downton Abbey's Matthew Goode as a biochemistry professor and vampire. Palmer plays Diana Bishop, with A Discovery of Witches chronicling her story after she finds a bewitched manuscript and gets reluctantly drawn back into the magical world. Where the show's first season charted her initial efforts to protect the enchanted text, known as Ashmole 782, the currently screening second season kicks off with a jump back to London more than four centuries ago.
After playing more than his fair share of stoners, Seth Rogen co-writes and lends his voice to a film that was probably thought up in a pot-toking, munchies-craving state. What if our food was sentient, aware of everything around it, and had feelings, thoughts, hopes and dreams? What if each edible item interacted with others, and their exchanges mimicked humanity's issues with sex, religion, race and class? That's the world Sausage Party brings to the cinema, from its opening sing-a-long to its climatic display of a very different kind of food porn. As far as Rogen and co-writers Evan Goldberg, Kyle Hunter and Ariel Shaffir are concerned, talking grocery products just want to get laid. Otherwise, they're generally happy conforming to cultural stereotypes and being kept in their place via a placating ideology. Turns out food isn't so different from the people who eat it. In case it's not clear, this film is for adults only, with directors Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan — best known for helming Madagascar 3 and episodes of Thomas & Friends, respectively — operating in much ruder, cruder territory than they're used to. A sausage by the name of Frank (Rogen) serves as the film's protagonist, whose primary goal in life is to consummate his relationship with his hot dog bun girlfriend Brenda (Kristen Wiig). As the Fourth of July approaches, they're both eager to leave the Shopwell's store they call home and move into the utopia of The Great Beyond. But things change after a jar of Honey Mustard (Danny McBride) returns from the supposed paradise outside, screaming that everything they thought they knew is a lie. Working his way around a shop also inhabited by a Jewish bagel (Edward Norton), an Arabic flatbread (David Krumholtz), an affectionate taco (Salma Hayek) and more, Frank sets out to discover the truth — all while an obnoxious, juiced-up douche (Nick Kroll) stalks the aisles. In waxing philosophical about the nature of belief systems, Sausage Party's premise proves surprisingly smart and thoughtful, with its characters forced to face the fact that their ultimate fate involves being eaten by the humans they consider gods. Unfortunately, the anti-Pixar flick also feels decidedly over-stuffed, bogged down by everything from endless food puns and hit-and-miss gags propped up by Scorsese-level swearing, to an over-reliance on bodily functions, drug use and pop-culture references to generate a laugh. Thankfully, a stacked cast of Rogen's male regulars, including Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Paul Rudd and James Franco, helps keep Sausage Party bouncing merrily along. Everyone's clearly having fun spouting their inappropriate dialogue, even if their glee isn't always contagious. In that way, the film quickly becomes the movie equivalent of a tripped-out dinner party, one that boasts plenty of quality ingredients, but can't quite deliver a satisfying meal.
In news that every Victorian has been waiting to hear, Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed that the state's five-day snap lockdown will come to an end at 11.59pm tonight, Wednesday, February 17. The city's residents will be allowed to leave their homes for more than just the familiar four reasons, and to travel more than five kilometres from their houses; however, with nine days still remaining as part of the usual 14-day COVID-19 incubation timeframe, some rules will stay in place for the near future. The lockdown came into effect in a bid to contain Melbourne's Holiday Inn COVID-19 cluster, and has seen all of Victoria revert back to stage four restrictions since Friday, February 12. It proved a case of deja vu, after the state underwent two lockdowns in 2020. Thankfully, as at midnight on Tuesday, February 16, Victoria currently only has 25 active COVID-19 cases, and reported no new cases in the past 24 hours. It's due to those low numbers that lockdown will finish, and that most restrictions will revert back to the conditions that were in place before the five-day stay-at-home period. Not all of them will, though. You'll only be able to have five visitors to your house per day, for instance, which is a reduction from 15 pre-lockdown. Outside gatherings in public will also be limited to 20 people. https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1361823417121468416 These new rules will remain in place until at least Friday, February 26, and the Premier doesn't expect any other changes to occur between now and then. Masks will also remain compulsory everywhere indoors except at when you're at home — including at the supermarket, the office and at hospitality venues — and you'll also need to keep wearing them outside if you can't maintain social distancing. Hospitality and retail businesses can reopen and welcome in customers, but there will be capacity and density limits. For restaurants, cafes, bars and eateries, the one person per two-square-metres rule will be in effect both indoors and outdoors, but only once 25 people are onsite. There's no requirement for seated service, though, and dancefloors are allowed — with one person per four-square-metres, up to a cap of 50 people. And, for shops, the one person per two-square-metres rule applies, with no other caps. https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1361823864712400896 Entertainment venues will be back in action, too, but they'll have limits as well. Seated indoor venues, including cinemas, will have to max out at 50-percent capacity — up to a total of 300 people. Indoor non-seated venues such as galleries will have the same caps, as well as the one person per two-square-metres rule if they're using electronic record keeping to track attendees (and one person per four-square-metres otherwise). Both seated and non-seated outdoor venues will be able to welcome in 75-percent crowds, with the same rules on density and record keeping applying. Weddings and funerals can occur with no attendee limits, but density quotas of one person per two-square-metres will be in effect if electronic record keeping is used to track attendees. Indoor exercise, including at gyms, is back with the one person per four-square-metres rule applying, as well as class caps of 50 people. And, in terms of heading to the office, workplaces will be able to have 50 percent of their employees onsite. As always, the usual hygiene and social distancing practices remain in place, as does the request to get tested if you exhibit even minor COVID-19 symptoms. All of Victoria will come out of stage four restrictions at 11.59pm on Wednesday, February 17. For more information about the rules moving forward, head to the Victorian Department of Health website. Top image: Taquito by Julia Sansone.
It has won 11 Tony Awards. It's one of the Obamas' favourite musicals. A filmed version of its Broadway production was nominated for several Golden Globes. Now Lin-Manuel Miranda's game-changing musical Hamilton is finally making its way to Australia, with its Sydney Lyric Theatre season kicking off on March 17 — and, if you're as keen to attend as its namesake was about American politics in the 18th century, you just might be able to nab yourself a cheap ticket. As happened with The Book of Mormon before it — and is presently happening with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child's current Melbourne season, too — a ticket lottery is being held for Hamilton. And, this one is cheap. Very cheap, in fact. Via Today Tix, you can sign up for your chance to score a ticket for just $10. Yes, that figure is accurate. You won't want to throw away your shot to see the most talked-about musical of the decade for less than the price of a cocktail. To take part in the lottery, you will need to download the Today Tix app — which is available for iOS and Android — and submit your entry each Friday for the next week's performances. The lottery will go live at 12.01am every Friday morning, starting from March 5, with winners drawn between 1–6pm on the following Thursday. If your name is selected, you'll have an hour to claim your tickets from when you receive the good news. If you need a reminder, you can also sign up for lottery alerts via Today Tix, too. [caption id="attachment_731122" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joan Marcus[/caption] 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. As well as its 11 Tony Awards, which include Best Musical, it has nabbed a Grammy Award and even a Pulitzer Prize. After hitting Broadway in 2015, then West End in 2017, Australians are finally getting their turn. Usually, tickets will set you back $70–250 a pop — so the $10 lottery really is an absolute bargain. There's no word yet on whether Hamilton will head to other Aussie cities later on. It's possible, as other big musicals, such as The Book of Mormons, have. But, if you don't want to risk it, those located interstate should to start planning a trip ASAP — we think it'll be more than worth it. Of course, if you're hoping to make the journey to NSW from elsewhere, you'll want to keep an eye on internal border requirements. This isn't Miranda's first musical to hit Australia, either, with his take on the classic 2000s film Bring It On: The Musical hitting Melbourne in 2018 and quadruple Tony Award-winning In The Heights playing a short season at the Sydney Opera House in 2019. In the meantime, you can watch the filmed version of Hamilton with the original Broadway cast on Disney+ — yes, it's as phenomenal as you've heard. Hamilton will make its Australian premiere at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from Wednesday, March 17–Sunday, September 5, 2021. To enter the Today Tix $10 lottery, download the company's iOS or Android app, and head to the company's website for more information — and to set up an alert. Images: Hamilton, Broadway. Photos by Joan Marcus.
If you find that your temptation to play World of Warcraft greatly outweighs any need to talk to friends, eat food or breathe fresh air, you may be suffering from an addiction to the internet. And now the detrimental effects of spending hours online may be solidified in the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," a widely-cited guide for medical practitioners and others in the field. There are proposals for internet addiction to be classified as a substance-related disorder in the manual, which is due to be published again in mid-2013. This proposal is hardly surprising, given that a recent survey of 250 people in the journal Psychological Studies found that people had a greater urge to check Facebook than have a cigarette or alcoholic beverage. So how can we do we classify somebody as a certified internet addict? Many of us use the internet for hours on end, either for leisure or employment purposes. Dr. Jerald L. Block stated in the American Journal of Psychiatry that symptoms include "excessive use... withdrawal... and negative repercussions, including arguments, lying, poor achievement, social isolation, and fatigue." Oh no. Sounds like me on weekdays. If internet addiction is indeed classified as a mental illness, it will be interesting to see how this affects the community at large. Will more people begin to blame their crimes and failures on the crippling need to get a fix of Facebook? If so, how will the legal system respond to this new-found mental illness? Furthermore, it will be interesting to see how one gets cured of internet addiction. Maybe a healthy dose of television will do the trick.
Remember the animation devices of ancient times, such as the zoetrope, praxinoscope and phenakistoscope? No, of course you don't. Fortunately, we have artist and technician Richard Balzer, who has taken it upon himself to perform the necessary updates. For more than 30 years, he has been dipping into cabinets of curiosity and combing through flea markets in order to find detailed drawings, diagrams and photographs from the old world and breathe new life into them through the popular gif image. From an early fascination with the magic lantern, Balzer has accumulated a comprehensive collection of optic toys and illustrations. These forms of visual entertainment were originally developed as an attempt to better understand the functioning of the eye and the brain. Enthralled by the phenomenon of illusory movement, Balzer has spent the last five years curating a virtual museum, bringing the image-making magic of these devices to the web. Peruse the catalogue and uncover innumerable psychedelic head-spinners, from galloping devils to backflipping knights in armour to monstrous faces swallowing and re-swallowing each other. Balzer's aim is simply to share his passion with as wide an audience as possible, whilst preserving and digitising an art archive on the verge of being forgotten. Via psfk and Colossal.
East Malvern's humble Central Park isn't quite as grand as the one in NYC, but it'll certainly be tastier with the East Malvern Food and Wine Festival coming to its green lawns on Sunday, November 17. The weather will (surely) be warming up by then and it'll be a wise call to spend a day in the park — especially when you add 20 Victorian wineries and a handful of breweries into the mix. Go along to taste vino from Bendigo, Rutherglen and Heathcote regions, beers from Cheltenham's Bad Shepherd Brewing Co, G&Ts from Great Ocean Road Gin and espresso martinis from Mr Black, and taste till your heart is content and you've forgotten tomorrow is Monday. Food-wise, there'll be snacks from 48h Pizza & Gnocchi Bar, Mishiki Dumplings, Nepal Dining, The Greek Shop, The Smoke Pit and an ice cream stall where you can really go all out and treat yourself. You'll be able to stock up on artisanal produce (including lots of cheese) and, if you or your mates have kids, you can send them to a magician masterclass. It's also dog-friendly, so bring along your fur babies, too. The event is free to attend — you'll just need to buy your food and wine as you go — but you can pre-buy wine-tasting packages if you're super keen. East Malvern Food and Wine Festival runs from 11am–5.30pm.
In 2007, a wave of albino murders swept across Tanzania. Their slaughter was at the command of witch doctors, who believe that albino limbs deliver prosperity and good luck. Horrified, British filmmaker Harry Freeland flew to Tanzania, where he spent spent six years following Josephat Torner, an albino who had left his family home and was travelling from village to village, risking his life to confront superstition. The resulting documentary, In the Shadow of the Sun, is just one of the films in the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival, in Melbourne from May 9-23. Screening on closing night, it will make sure this a month of movies you won't forget in a hurry. Jamie Meltzer's Informant, a portrait of fanatical humanitarian-turned-FBI bedfellow Brandon Darby, is a highlight, as is Alex Meillier's Alias Ruby Blade. It's the story of Australian activist Kirsty Sword, who left for East Timor to make documentaries and found herself working as an underground operative for the imprisoned Xanana Gusmao.
Prior to 2020, if someone told you that Chess the Musical was a very real thing that definitely exists, you could've been forgiven for being a little perplexed. But it does and, with everyone obsessed with the chess-focused Netflix series The Queen's Gambit over the past few months, it's hitting Australia's stages in 2021. Chess the Musical actually dates back decades, first hitting London's West End in 1986. In line with that era, it's set against the background of the Cold War. Here, Soviet and American forces both try to use an international chess championship for political gain, and manipulate the outcome. The tale that also involves a love triangle, between Hungarian-born refugee Florence Vasse and two chess grandmasters. If you thought that singing about chess mightn't be all that exciting, ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus wrote the tunes, while Ulvaeus and musical veteran Tim Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King) penned the lyrics. And, if you've ever heard 80s tracks 'I Know Him So Well' and 'One Night in Bangkok', they actually hail from Chess the Musical. Folks in Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane will get to experience the show for themselves from April–June next year, with the production hitting up Melbourne's Regent Theatre on Saturday, April 24, Perth's Concert Hall on Saturday, June 5 and Brisbane's QPAC Concert Hall on Thursday, June 10. It's doing two shows on each date, at 2pm and 7.30pm — each with a 25-piece orchestra. Tickets are on sale now for Melbourne and Perth, and will be available from 9am on Thursday, December 17 in Brisbane. Keen for a glimpse of what you're in for? Check out the video for Elaine Page and Barbara Dickson's 'I Know Him So Well' below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2SDInk6voA Chess the Musical heads to Melbourne's Regent Theatre on Saturday, April 24, Perth's Concert Hall on Saturday, June 5 and Brisbane's QPAC Concert Hall on Thursday, June 10 — for more information, and to buy tickets, head to the production's website.
'Drink fresh' is the general rule of thumb when it comes to beer, but not all brews must be consumed according to a 'best by' date. Because really, some things are just better with age (see: wine, whisky, wisdom). And in actuality, some beers are better with some age. So, in celebration of Coopers' 2017 Vintage Ale release, we're exploring the idea of ageing, and more particularly, ageing beer, because time can be of the essence when it comes to some of the finest things in life. We've already looked at five unexpected things that get better with age (number one being beer), and now we're diving deeper into this idea of ageing brews. Chief brewer of the iconic Coopers Brewery, Dr Tim Cooper is an impressive figure within Australia's beer scene. Not only is he a certified medical doctor, but he also heads up the family business, continuing to grow its legacy. As part of this legacy, his team has explored the process of ageing beers since 1998 when they released their very first Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale. For the uninitiated, these beers are made with the intention that they should be cellared before enjoyed in order to help deepen flavour and bring out new aromas as the brew ages. Looking to dive a bit deeper into this cellaring process, we sat down with Dr Tim to talk through all things aged beer — why you should try it, which beers you should (and shouldn't) cellar and how to age them correctly. WHY YOU SHOULD AGE BEER "My father used to tell tales at the brewery of a Norwegian sea captain who would purchase a year's supply when docking in port closest to the Adelaide brewery," says Dr Tim. "He would hoard the beer for his travels, preferring to drink those stored from the previous years as they had matured. This was back in the 1970s, and showed that people were interested in ageing back then." Come the 1990s, numerous requests from publicans pressured the brewery to consider a vintage seasonal; by the time 1998 came around, the Coopers Vintage Ale was born. Whilst it's not entirely clear what will happen when a beer ages — there are just too many variables — maturation cannot be considered emphatically better or worse, it merely changes the beer's flavour. "Ageing takes some of the raw edges off the perceptible flavour and can definitely be an improvement," Dr Tim asserts. Ageing beer brings out new flavours, replacing harsher notes with softer, sweeter aromas. "Fermentation with ale yeast imparts fragrant esters of tropical fruit, pineapple and banana evident early on," explains Dr Tim. "These compliment the floral and fruity notes arising from the addition of aroma hops. Consumers will enjoy these flavours when drinking these ales fresh." Then, over a relatively short time, the fruity and floral character of the ferment esters and hops dwindle, so by the five year mark, the malt characteristics become fortified. This further ageing will foster umami and vinous characteristics of, say, port wine. When it comes down to it, however, it's all dependant on your own tastes. The reason you should try ageing beer exists in why you drink it in the first place — "the end goal should be for better enjoyment." WHICH BEERS CAN BE AGED Overall, beers with higher alcohol are up to the challenge of cellaring. "By and large the Coopers Vintage products are generally higher than average in alcohol," Dr Tim explains. Similarly, sour styles and beers you can buy already barrel-aged fend nicely, developing flavour and complexity as time goes by. These heftier, more alcoholic beers — think stouts, porters and barley wines — not only have natural means of reducing the negative effects ageing has on taste, but their flavours often benefit. Fruity, floral notes and any bitterness decrease due to the natural degradation of hop profiles, all while malt characteristics such as bready notes and sweetness generally take over. Just keep in mind that hop-centric beers, lagers and beers with lower ABV are generally brewed for fresh consumption. Their flavours will suffer from any prolonged ageing. HOW TO PROPERLY CELLAR Implicitly funky and unpredictable, beer is like a jazz musician who leads by listening rather than following any sheet music. So ageing beer can go in strange directions, both pleasant and less than. How should you cellar your beer to best bring out deeper flavours and avoid ruining the brew? It's best to avoid oxygen, heat and sunlight. A young beer will age gracefully under proper conditions. Coopers helps you out on the oxygen front, by naturally conditioning their bottles to help remove any free oxygen that will ruin your beer. Dr Tim explains how "naturally conditioned beers can be best [for ageing], as the yeast mops up the oxygen left over in the bottles helping to curb oxidation and spoilage." He also suggests storing a carton or two in a central part of your house that isn't likely to heat up, "preferably a dark cellar, but anywhere that is cool, around ten to 15 degrees, is good." A space with minimal light is also ideal to avoid too much sun. Without breaking open the chemistry textbooks, the reason to avoid storing your beer in sunlight is that ultraviolet light breaks down acids from the hops to the same sulphur radical as the smell of skunk spray — hence why as some beers age, they can become 'skunked', particularly hoppy beers and lagers like IPAs and golden ales. Quite possibly the biggest challenge of ageing beer is keeping it cellared long enough to allow for the ageing process to take place. "I'm completely hopeless," says Dr Tim. "I do always enjoy every vintage, but [I don't] always remember to take it home." We can appreciate that when it comes to tasty beers, it is hard to keep your hands off them. Sometimes ageing can be a great thing. Stock up on some Coopers Vintage Ale 2017 and try it yourself. Words: Mikey Lowe and Quinn Connors.
Imagine a fully immersive theatre experience with a choose-your-own-adventure twist and lots of macabre nods to Edgar Allan Poe, and you'll have some idea of what to expect when A Midnight Visit takes over an abandoned Melbourne warehouse this winter. Unlike any theatre offering the city has seen before, this captivating experience is part performance, part playground and part film set. And it's being brought to life across 36 rooms of an eerie North Melbourne warehouse. Audiences will find themselves transported into a dream world that takes its cues from those notoriously macabre works of Edgar Allan Poe, as imagined by a team of local actors, circus performances and burlesque dancers and a crew of innovative sound, film-set and costume designers. Expect an air of David Lynch and some Stanley Kubrick vibes, with a spot of steam-punk thrown in for good measure. [caption id="attachment_690993" align="alignnone" width="1920"] A Midnight Visit, Sydney by Anna Kucera.[/caption] "We wanted to create an experience that explores themes of madness, guilt, death, impermanence and memory — just the small things in life," explains director and co-creator Danielle Harvey. "It's sometimes funny, sometimes sexy, sometimes wistful, and yes, sometimes a bit scary." It won't be for the faint-hearted, with hints to uneven floors, suffocatingly small spaced and many 'troubled characters'. The one-of-a-kind experience took over a Newtown warehouse late last year, before heading to Perth. A Midnight Visit will run from July 30 to November 3, at an undisclosed address in North Melbourne. Tickets cost between $44–79 and are on sale now. Images: A Midnight Visit, Sydney by Anna Kucera and Tim Da-Rin. UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 18, 2019 — Due to overwhelming demand, A Midnight Visit has extended its Melbourne season from September 15 to November 17. The above article has been updated to reflect this.
Over the past 25 years, director Glenn Elston’s Australian Shakespeare Company has entertained a staggering half a million punters across the country. Most well known for what is now a deeply ingrained tradition in the city – Shakespeare in the Royal Botanic Gardens (which returns for its latest season on December 30) — Elston recently received a prestigious 2014 Melbourne Award for his service to open-air theatre. So how did we go from begrudgingly powering through plays in high school English to excitedly spending summer days with the Bard? "When I was studying, I was working with a fantastic director from America, and I got to do all sorts of things ... lighting, playing music, acting," Elston says. "It was just such a wonderful experience that I started to explore it more and more, and then the whole idea of doing it outdoors just seemed to fit really well, the whole marriage of art and nature was just a great combination that was inspiring, and off it went from there." Guy Pearce, Tim Minchin and Nadine Garner are just some of the notable Australian performers who’ve since joined the casts of Elston's open-air productions since he founded the ASC in 1988. In that time, he and his company have weathered their share of mishaps while touring around the country. Bushfires, floods and storms have been the main offenders, followed closely by occasional marriage proposals in the audience, and stage invasions from spotlight-hungry possums. But Elston believes the unique kind of performance setting achieved in the open air more than makes up from any unforeseeable distractions. "The main thing is the easy accessibility for the audience and to the play — in this environment, the actors, the audience, and the story all become joined together much more easily than you do in a traditional theatre space. Because people are much more relaxed, they’re really much more willing to just go along with the story and enjoy the contact with the actors, they can walk offstage and into the audience; they can participate. Everyone is readily available. Surrounded by nature — by the open air, the birds, the breeze — everything is stimulating, and that makes it enjoyable." Australian audiences' enthusiasm for Elston's brand of Shakespeare has remained undiminished over the years; if anything, it has grown stronger over time. "We see more people coming back. It becomes something that gets passed on. What we have is an experience, more than just being a play. What has grown and grown over the years is people's appreciation of what it’s like to inhabit this kind of environment while being able to engage with Shakespeare’s text.” Elston’s next production is a new version of the music-heavy satire As You Like It featuring ASC regulars such as Charlie Sturgeon and Claire Nicholls as well as newcomers like Louisa Fitzhardinge. The character of Rosalind and the play’s unique combination of romance, humour and insanity within Shakespeare’s canon makes the text one of the director's favourites. "It’s a wonderful celebration of renouncing hatred for love and a story that rejoices in feminine strength, wit and comedy," he says. And with the sun out in full force and everyone giddy off the unavoidable Christmas craziness, a madcap day in the gardens is looking better than ever. The Australian Shakespeare Company’s production of As You Like It runs from December 30 until March 14, and appears as part of Melbourne’s first SummerSalt Festival. Tickets are available here.
Another year, another new version of Cinderella. Some stories just can't stay away from the screen, and this is one of them. Filmmakers have been drawn to the fairy tale since the silent era, resulting in beloved animated flicks, playful takes on the tale such as Ever After and Ella Enchanted, and Disney's 2015 live-action adaptation. Arriving next, and soon: a new musical that combines glass slippers and pining for a better life with singing, dancing and a fairy godparent named Fab G — with the latter played by Pose's Billy Porter. This version of Cinderella stars singer Camila Cabello as the titular character, while The Craft: Legacy's Nicholas Galitzine plays Prince Robert. Also popping up: Idina Menzel (Frozen II) as Cinders' stepmother, Minnie Driver (Starstruck) and Pierce Brosnan (Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga) as the king and queen, and Romesh Ranganathan (Staged) and James Corden (The Prom) as both footmen and mice. The latter is a producer, too, and came up with the idea for the film, while Pitch Perfect writer and Blockers helmer Kay Cannon sits in the director's chair. Clearly, if a new version of Cinderella doesn't hit the screen every few years, Hollywood must turn into a pumpkin. While musical takes on the tale aren't new — see also: the stage version that's slated to hit Australia — this one is set to feature pop songs. So, you'll be seeing Cabello, Menzel and company singing tracks you know, as well as crooning their own new original tunes. Just how that'll turn out will be revealed on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, September 3, with the film originally slated for a cinema release, but then snapped up by the streaming platform instead. In both the initial first-look trailer and a just-dropped first new sneak peek, there's plenty of songs, colour and empowerment. Cinders won't stand for her stepmum's terrible treatment, or for simply being a dutiful princess when she hits it off with Prince Robert. There's also humour in this version, crucially, including around Fab G and the abilities that come with being a fairy godparent. "Do you want to go to that ball?" asks Fab G, to which Cinders replies: "yes, I was just crying and singing about it like two minutes ago". Check out the latest Cinderella trailer below: Cinderella will be available to stream via Amazon Prime Video from Friday, September 3. Top image: Kerry Brown.
Anyone with kids knows that they grow up fast but you’ve probably never seen them grow up quite this fast. Before Your Very Eyes, one of the more intriguing acts at this year’s Melbourne Festival, shows a group of children aging through their entire lives within the space of an hour. The cast of child actors play out their possible futures – as teenagers, as adults, as elderly – on a stage walled by two-way mirrors, so they play in private to each other and their own reflections, while the audience watch through the glass. Devised in collaboration between Belgian theatre company CAMPO, which has done a series of plays for adults using child performers, and convention-defying Anglo-German troupe Gob Squad, it will be as thought provoking and innovative as theatre gets. Book fast, because its brief season at the Malthouse will be gone before you know it.
If you're a Harry Potter fan keen to relive the wonder of your favourite book-to-film series, you don't need to cast a spell or wind your time turner to get some wizarding fun. Pottermore, Fantastic Beasts spinoffs and The Cursed Child might've followed the original franchise, but JK Rowling's boy-who-lived and his pals are never far away from a big screen — or a concert hall. After doing the honours with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, it's hardly surprising that this piece of prime movie and music magic for muggles has now turned its wand to the third flick in the series. From April 2018, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban will be heading to the Sydney Opera House, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, and Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to screen the film while the score is played live by each city's symphony orchestras. Prepare for John Williams' Oscar-nominated music to echo through your ears as you watch Harry, Hermione, Ron and company meet Sirius Black, realise that they shouldn't believe every dark tale they hear, learn something new about their new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and tussle with Peter Pettigrew. That means dogs, wolves, rats and Dementor's Kisses are all part of the action, plus Buckbeak the hippogriff, and trips to The Leaky Cauldron and the Shrieking Shack. It's arguably the best movie in the series, as directed by a pre-Gravity Alfonso Cuarón, and it's certain to prove even more enchanting with live music. We've said it before and we'll say it again — will sell like pumpkin pasties, so get in quick or spend eternity griping about it like some Moaning Myrtle-type character. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Concert teams up with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House from 18 - 20 April 2018, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre for two shows on 19 May 2018, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 8 - 9 November 2018. For more information, head to the SSO, QSO and MSO websites.
When acclaimed Australian playwright Michael Gow was approached by Four Letter Word Theatre about the rights to his already-debauched Live Acts on Stage, he insisted on rewriting the script; dialing up the filth to the level demanded by the company’s established fondness for provocation. The play’s a roller-coaster ride through Greek mythology, with the actors from a company on the rise juggling 45 characters in Gow’s savagely funny text. Read the rest of our top ten picks of the Melbourne Fringe Festival here.
The 79th Annual Wee Waa Show, while 'a highlight of the district calendar', was never destined to be more than a warm up for the big 'eight oh' in 2014. We all knew this. Of course, the 'Wee Waa Has Talent' contest (alongside the showgirl, wood chop and mouse racing competitions) is always a riot. And let's not forget the demolition derby! But the 80th Annual Wee Waa Show was the party on everyone's mind. Then along came two helmeted Frenchmen, whose music has been described as "a dafty punky thrash", with an announcement that would shake Wee Waa (and the entire internet) for weeks to come. Their new record Random Access Memories, out May 21 through Columbia Records, will be launched at the festival on the evening of Friday May 17. The global release party for Daft Punk's first studio album in eight years... in Wee Waa. And, unless you're already locked in as a 'wool steward' or wood chop competitor, chances are you missed out on the 4,000 tickets that were released and exhausted in April. But read on, oh readers, for we may have good news for the desperate Daft-devotees among you. Concrete Playground is giving readers the chance to win ten (!) tickets to the Daft Punk album launch at the Wee Waa Show. That's right, one lucky reader will get to take 9 of their friends along to the most hyped album launch OF ALL TIME. To go in the running, enter your details below. The competition is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Bianca Macliver.
Your art and culture fix has likely looked a little different than usual the past few months, as Aussies sank deep into #stayathome mode, and institutions like galleries and museums shut their doors to the public in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines. With crowds and gatherings off the menu, a slew of large-scale art events and exhibitions were forced to cancel, postpone or switch to the digital realm. But as of June 1, the Victorian Government has given the green light for museums and galleries to reopen to a limited number of visitors. Yep — along with regional road-trips and restaurant dinners, real-life gallery-hopping is back on the cards. From this month, you can catch a much-anticipated solo show dedicated to modernist icon Joy Hester, check out a pandemic-inspired group exhibition and delight in decades of trailblazing threads by Japanese fashion label Comme des Garçons at the NGV. Here are our top picks of Melbourne art exhibitions you can visit IRL this winter. From 11.59pm on Wednesday, July 1, until at least Wednesday, July 29, stay-at-home orders have been reintroduced in ten Melbourne postcodes, which means their residents can only leave for one of four reasons: work or school, care or care giving, daily exercise or food and other essentials. For more information, head to the DHHS website.
How do you capture the essence of a pub in a drink? How do you make sipping a cocktail conjure up the feeling of hanging out in a hotel's front bar, with your feet almost glued to the carpet and the unmistakable smell of beer in the air? How do you whip up a spirit that pays tribute to an iconic Australian watering hole that's closing in on a century and a half of pouring beverages, too? These are the questions that Four Pillars is answering with its Sticky Carpet Gin. This tipple dates back to 2018, when it arrived as a boozy ode to the legendary haunt that is The Espy in St Kilda in Melbourne. First, you could only try it in cocktails at the pub it was inspired by. Then, it became available by the bottle in 2019, but only as a limited release. Now, Four Pillars has brought it back — and also given it some tinkering. The Healesville distillery had one aim from the outset with its Sticky Carpet Gin: capturing the spirit of a venue that's meant many different things to different people for many, many years. Four Pillars co-founder and distiller Cameron Mackenzie's first effort was such a success that it's become the gin that more folks request to be brought back than any other of the brand's gin. Start saying cheers to Sticky Carpet Gin again, then, given that it's back in Four Pillars' online store now. The new version of the tipple still wants to give everyone that's sipping it an unmistakable pub feel. This time, however, Mackenzie has swapped out roasted dark stout for using Little Creatures Pale Ale in the gin's base. The beer goes into the still with juniper, coriander, barley, cassia, macadamia nuts, orris root, lemon myrtle, honey, lavender, ginger and lemon peel, plus the base spirit. Also, hops hang in a bag over it to extract the aromatics. "The Little Creatures brewers have made a beer that is the benchmark for American-style pale ale, with slightly tropical and resin-y flavours, like Sierra Nevada, my fave US beer," said Mackenzie. "In a way, this is the closest we've come to making a Jenever-style of gin. It's a dense canvas of resin-y juniper with deep brown spice notes. There's a chewy, malty hop character that hangs onto the macadamia nut and it's a touch fruity with bright citrus notes, too. As well as buying Sticky Carpet Gin online for your gin shrine or getting it from Four Pillars in-person — it retails at $88 for a 700-millilitre bottle — it's on offer at The Winery in Surry Hills in Sydney; both The Regatta and Riverland in Brisbane; Yarra Botanica, The Espy (of course) and Garden State Hotel in Melbourne; and the Claremont in Perth. The Espy is also hosting a free launch party on Wednesday, April 17 from 6pm, complete with free gin and tonics upon arrival. You'll need to nab a complimentary ticket to attend, however — and you'll catch live sets from Floodlights and Back Pocket as well. For those knocking it back at home, Four Pillars recommends using Sticky Carpet Gin in a new twist on the G&T called Sticky and Tonic, in a boozy pink lemonade spider, with cordial, or as part of a lemon, lime and bitters sour. Four Pillars Sticky Carpet Gin is available to purchase online, from Four Pillars in-person, and from select bars — head to the distillery's website for more details.
Thailand is undoubtedly one of Australia's favourite holiday destinations, and Bangkok is one of the world's most visited cities by international tourists. The sprawling metropolis makes room for the old and the new — one minute you're cruising down the Chao Phraya river, the next you're travelling through the city at breakneck speed on the BTS skytrain. We've going to bet that a few of you have been to Bangkok before. Maybe you've even trekked up to Chiang Mai and Pai, or soaked up some sun scuba diving off one of Thailand's many islands. That's why we've left some of the obvious Bangkok destinations out of this article, like the mind-boggling Chatuchak markets, the opulent Grand Palace and the silk-lovers heaven that is Jim Thompson House. If you're in the country's capital and looking for a fun way to spend a few days, we recommend giving a few of these a visit. Drink at high altitudes Bangkok has quite a nifty reputation for its rooftop bar scene, so we decided to check out the highest one we could find — it was the Sky Bar at the Lebua State Tower (also known as the rooftop bar from The Hangover 2). Come alone or come in a wolf pack to the 65th floor — the service is friendly and the cocktails are outstanding. We could drink their blueberry sour G&T's all damn day, but there's also a Hangovertini for those looking to stay in theme. Sunset is generally the best time to arrive but, then again, we're yet to find a bad time to drink at high altitudes. We also climbed to the top of Moon Bar at the Banyan Tree Bangkok, located on the 61st floor. It's extremely easy to pass the hours when you're seated against the glass wall overlooking the city — with free bar snacks that were constantly replenished, no less. There was a smart casual dress code at both of these rooftop bars, so it's worth checking ahead to make sure drinking in the clouds stays firmly on your conquered list. Yes, both of these places were a bit pricier than your average 60 Baht bottle of Chang beer, but if you're after a nice night out, this is it. What can we say? Bangkok has us now. Work Your Way Out Of Escape Hunt Escape rooms are becoming a bit of a thing in Australia, but we tried out the Bangkok version at Escape Hunt anyway. For the uninitiated, escape rooms are like playing real-life Cluedo: you get 'locked' in a room, left to solve a murder mystery before your time is up. In our case, we had an hour to figure out who had killed a female painter — one of her three boyfriends, or the groundskeeper? This was totally awesome. And if Bangkok hasn't already tested your relationship with your travel partner, this certainly will. You're allowed to get clues from your host, but each clue deducts one minute off your time, so we recommend only using them when you're desperately seeking some Sherlock intuition. Thankfully, we made it out with just under two minutes to spare, and we were given the cutest tweed detective gear to put on and take photos in. Check Out Cat, Dog and Bunny Cafes Cat cafes did originate in Asia, so it's no surprise there are a few here in Thailand's capital. We're not sure exactly how many cat cafes Bangkok has, but we know there are at least three. Purr Cat Cafe Club is one of the more prominent ones in Sukhumvit, and in a city filled with apartment buildings and high rises, it's no wonder Bangkok locals are looking to spend some quality time with a furry friend. Purr is run by a Thai sitcom actress and houses 14 fluffy Persians cats. At the cafe you can have cat-shaped brownies and whiskers drawn on your hot chocolate. There is also Kitty Cat Cafe and Makura Cat Cafe in Bangkok if you can't get enough of your feline friends. Cats not your thing? Don't even worry about it. Bangkok also has a cafe that specifically houses Siberian huskies called True Love Cafe. There are 17 of these adorable pups running around, all of different colours and sizes. One final animal establishment we'd like to throw out there is the Lucky Bunny Cafe & Restaurant, which houses happy, healthy rabbits. All of the cute, all at once. Food and (Safe) Sex Together At Last With a tagline like 'Our food is guaranteed not to cause pregnancy', how could you possibly refuse a meal here? There are mannequins covered in elaborate condom costumes which are hilarious and honestly quite impressive, but Cabbages and Condoms is not the money-grabbing, photo-opportunity establishment you might first think. Cabbages and Condoms was initially created to promote a better understanding of sexual health and family planning, as a portion of the profits go towards the Population and Community Development Association (PDA). It's all in the name of an excellent cause, so you might as well get amongst. The menu is strictly Thai cuisine, and there's plenty to choose from. There are a few Cabbages and Condoms located all over Thailand, so if you're heading over to Thailand but not staying in Bangkok, there's still a chance to check this out. Grab a handful of free dingers on the way out and have yourself a safe and merry day. Choose Your Own Adventure: Thai Street Food Let's be honest, this section could be a whole article to itself. Thai street food is the best kind of street food — cheap, unpredictable (in a good way), and, above all, delicious. The rules are simple: eat anything that looks interesting, ask questions later and try something new every time. On a personal note, I spent two years of my childhood living in Thailand, so I had a slight advantage of knowing that (1) My chances of death were slim if I chose wisely, and (2) I could identify some of the strangest looking toppings on Thai snow cones. Boat noodles (kuay tiew rua) are a Bangkok street food staple, and there is a whole alley dedicated to this delicacy located near Victory Monument. For other noodles on the run, a safe bet is the readily available stir-fried wide rice noodles (pad see ew) or Pad Thai. Our favourite savoury snacks were easily the bacon-wrapped enoki mushrooms, as well as the ever-present and super cheap grilled pork sticks (moo ping). For sweets you can't go passed mango and sticky rice (kao niao mumuang) — it's traditional and delicious. For some who are keen for a little lucky dip, give the Thai snow cone (nam kang sai) a go. You fill the bottom of the bowl with anything from black jelly, chestnuts, sweetened taro to red beans, then place a mound of shaved ice on top of that and cover with flavoured syrups and condensed, evaporated or coconut milk, depending on how sweet you want it. Top image thanks to Scalino, Lubua photo taken by Vicky Chung via Flickr, cat image thanks to ironypoisoning, Cabbages and Condoms image thanks to micamonkey, street food image thanks to jaaron.
Ever wanted something other than a beer to go with your burger on a Friday night? Or wondered which bev would pair well with the ramen you get delivered from UberEats? Well, the answer is wine. It doesn't just go well with steak or cheese — it goes down a treat with any number of foods. You just have to know which wine to choose. It's all about balance. A successful pairing creates a symbiotic relationship between the dish and the wine, and neither element will overpower the other. This can be achieved by picking a flavour in both the wine and the dish that you wish to enhance — this will create a connection between the dish and what you're drinking. A basic example is smoke; when you pair barbecued or chargrilled beef with a red wine that has a smoky element to its bouquet, it's going to enhance that flavour in both things. It makes for a cohesive dining experience that begins with the first bite of food and continues with a sip of wine. The other rule to remember is that acid and tannin (that's the 'puckering' feeling in the mouth when you drink a wine) break down protein in food — it's why your folks love a Barossa Shiraz or Coonawarra Cabernet when they're eating roast lamb on a Sunday. And don't forget to experiment with flavours and matches — it's how you'll get better at it. My only word of caution is to always take into consideration the weight of the wine that you plan to match with your dish, as a lighter, more aromatic wine can tend to get lost in a dish that is a heavier style of protein (and vice versa). To get you started, we've done the hard work (that is, the eating and drinking) to come up with the best Aussie wine pairings for some unconventional dishes. RAMEN AND ROSÉ Now that we're heading into winter, there will be more soups and broths on the agenda — and the king of liquid-based meals is, of course, ramen. However, ramen comes in all different flavours and styles (miso vs. broth, pork vs. tofu, black garlic vs. chilli, or all of the above) making it hard to pinpoint which style of wine to pair with it. Which is why Rosé is your hero — it comes in all different flavours and styles and has just enough fruit character to counteract the varying degrees of chilli in ramen. Side note: don't be fooled by the colour of the wine, as not all deeper-coloured Rosés are automatically sweet. Some have bolder fruit flavours with a dry finish, and for those of you who load up their ramen with every type of chilli, a more fruit-driven rose may just be your saviour. In one sentence: No matter your style of ramen, a fruity style of rose will create a nice counterbalance to any chilli or salt-driven flavours. Good if you like: Bold flavours, strawberries, sitting in the warm autumn sun when there's just a slight chill in the air. One to try: 2016 Vignerons Schmolzer and Brown 'Pret-a-Rosé' (Sangiovese, Pinot Noir and Shiraz), Beechworth, Victoria. FRIED CHICKEN AND PINOT NOIR One of the biggest mistakes you can make when pairing wine is thinking that you have to match red wine with red meat and white wine with white meat. Not true. If you work on the principle that you're matching flavour with flavour, the possibilities for food and wine matching become exponential. Fried chicken is a great dish to experiment with a lighter or aromatic style of red, like Pinot Noir or Cabernet Franc. You just need something with enough tannin structure to break down some of the protein of the chicken, a touch of acid to freshen the palate and counteract the grease, and something with a bit of spice to complement or enhance the seasoning on the chicken. In one sentence: A lighter red like a Pinot Noir will give a bit of freshness to the dense protein of fried chicken — and if the winemaker has used whole bunch to create a savoury element in the wine, this will pair nicely will the spices in the seasoning. Good if you like: Cranberry sauce on your turkey at Christmas time or like experimenting with flavours in the kitchen. One to try: 2016 Mallaluka Pinot Noir, Canberra District, NSW. CHEESEBURGER AND SPARKLING A vintage sparkling wine (particularly one from our spiritual home of sparkling, Tasmania) and a great burger is one of my all-time favourite food and wine pairings. The crunch of a toasted brioche bun with the smokiness of the grilled meat and a creamy bit of cheddar cheese is perfect paired with a sparkling wine — particularly one that has similar toasty flavours but the same backbone of acidity. This will refresh your palate after each greasy (but delicious) bite. In one sentence: Bring an element of luxury to your next takeaway burger with a sparkling wine — the toasty notes in the sparkling will pair with the bun and the acid will cut through the greasiness of the burger. Good if you like: Well, if you're human with tastebuds, you will love this pairing. One to try: 2007 Arras Blanc de Blancs, Tasmania. GOLDEN GAYTIME AND CHARDONNAY Desserts are often the hardest thing to create a pairing for as sugar tends to coat and dominate the palate. Find something with acid (like a late harvest Riesling) or a more delicate style of dessert wine (like a fortified wine or Mistelle) that isn't going to be cloyingly sweet on the palate (just avoid anything that has Botrytis on the label at all costs). Try sweet dishes paired with a lighter, fresher style of wine with citrus flavours and white floral notes, like a Chardonnay, so that the palate is refreshed at the end of the dessert. In one sentence: Sugar + sugar = avoid. Good if you like: Caramel and honeycomb flavours — basically anyone with a sweet tooth. One to try: Bremerton Mistelle fortified Chardonnay, Langhorne Creek, SA. POKÉ BOWL AND RIESLING Like Bert and Ernie and Vegemite and cheese, there are some pairings that are sacrosanct. Riesling and seafood is one such pairing that works every time — in particular with creamier or oilier fish like tuna, kingfish and salmon that you would find in a poké bowl. The floral layers of Riesling (in particular ginger blossom) would work harmoniously with this dish too, as they would pick up on the subtle ginger, miso or sesame characters you might have in your bowl. In one sentence: A creamier or oily fish paired with a bright and acid-driven Riesling is a classic pairing. Good if you like: Squirting lemon on your fish and chips before devouring it. One to try: 2016 Ochota Barrels 'Kids of the Black Hole' Riesling, Adelaide Hills, SA. Celebrate all types of Australian wine by getting involved with Aussie Wine Month over May — there will be events and tasting opportunities all over the country. Images: Kimberley Low.
Classic flicks just keep making the leap to the stage, turning their big-screen tales into song-filled musical adaptations in the process. From 9 to 5 and Muriel's Wedding to Moulin Rouge! and Shrek, a hefty number of beloved movies have done just that — and now Adam Sandler's smash-hit film The Wedding Singer is joining them. The Wedding Singer: The Musical Comedy was originally due to hit Melbourne in June this year but, as we all know, the pandemic hit. Now it'll head to the city in April 2021, before hitting up the Gold Coast in June and Sydney in July. When it does finally arrive on our shores, The Wedding Singer: The Musical Comedy will deliver an all-singing, all-dancing stage show based on its hilarious namesake 90s flick. And it's from the same crew that propelled it to sell-out success on Broadway and across the UK, including the writer of the original movie, Tim Herlihy. This one promises to yank you right into The Wedding Singer's 80s world of big hair and classic wedding bangers, thanks to a toe-tapping score that's sure to prompt a few hearty crowd singalongs. It retells the story of party-loving wedding singer and wannabe rock star Robbie Hart, who's left stranded at the altar at his own nuptials. Heartbroken, he sets out to destroy every other wedding he's a part of, until a chance encounter with a waitress: Drew Barrymore's character Julia. Now, he just has to win over the girl... and somehow put a stop to her own upcoming marriage along the way. If you need a refresher, you can watch the OG nostalgic film trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yjOXMTa6vA THE WEDDING SINGER: THE MUSICAL COMEDY AUSTRALIA 2021 TOUR Melbourne: from Friday, April 30 at The Athenaeum Theatre, with tickets via Ticketek Gold Coast: Wednesday, June 16–Saturday, June 26 at HOTA, Home Of The Arts, with tickets via the venue Sydney: from Thursday, July 1 at the State Theatre, with tickets via Ticketmaster The Wedding Singer: The Musical Comedy starts touring Australia from Friday, April 30, 2021, with seasons in Melbourne, on the Gold Coast and in Sydney. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday, December 1 — for more details, and to join the waitlist, head over to the show's website.
In 2023, Kylie Minogue was one of the headline acts at the first-ever Sydney WorldPride. In 2024, Australia's favourite homegrown pop star is leading the bill at another huge event: Splendour in the Grass. 'Padam Padam' will echo across North Byron Bay Parklands to warm up winter — and festivalgoers will be spinning around to the music megastar's three-plus decades of hits. Kylie tops a lineup that also boasts Future and Arcade Fire, with Minogue headlining the Friday night with an exclusive set, then Future doing the Saturday and Arcade Fire taking to the stage on the Sunday. The dates, in case you don't already have them in your diary: Friday, July 19–Sunday, July 21. And yes, 2024's biggest Splendour names have plenty of company. [caption id="attachment_870885" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Darenoted Ltd[/caption] You'll also be catching G Flip, Turnstile, The Presets doing a DJ set, Yeat, Hayden James, Girl in Red, Baby Gravy, Tash Sultana, DJ Seinfeld, Fontaines DC, Royel Otis, Tones and I and more. Of course the list goes on from there — it's Splendour. Omar Apollo, The Last Dinner Party, Lizzy McAlpine, The Kills, Thelma Plum, Partiboi69, Angie McMahon, Viagra Boys: add them all to your schedule for the three days, then a whole heap more. [caption id="attachment_945649" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leonardo Samrani via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Splendour 2024, which is the festival's 22nd birthday, will feature beats and projections at The Forest, LGBTQIA+ dance club Rainbow Bar, everything from immersive installations to giant sculptures as part of its arts program, and Little Splendour turning a trip to the fest into a family-friendly experience, too. Don't forget that there's also a lineup for the Thursday night as well, with Jimi the Kween, Krissy Jaman, Victoria Anthony and Summer Lover kicking off the proceedings. Splendour in the Grass 2024 Lineup: Friday: Kylie G Flip Turnstile Tash Sultana Omar Apollo Partiboi69 Angie McMahon Viagra Boys ISOxo Confidence Man Otoboke Beaver Allday A.B. Original Yard Act Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers JK-47 Leisure Kita Alexander Skeleten Radio Free Alice Becca Hatch Nick Ward Triple J Unearthed Mix Up DJs: Dameeeela Baschoe Reenie The Forest: Anthony Pappa Wongo Morgazmk Miles Jackson Arya Data Roaming K Dizzy Saturday: Future Yeat Hayden James Fontaines D.C. Lizzy McAlpine Tones and I The Last Dinner Party The Presets (DJ set) Pond Boywithuke Middle Kids Beddy Rays Swim Coco & Clair Clair Michael Marcagi Floodlights Rona. The Dreggs Teenage Joans Good Neighbours Rum Jungle Willo Miss Kaninna Logan. Mix Up DJs: Naynay Naycab The Forest: Grouch Marnie Megapixel Ish K Sophdexx Lucidream Justtim Camila Rosa. Sunday: Arcade Fire Girl in Red Baby Gravy (Yung Gravy X Bbno$) Royel Otis DJ Seinfeld The Kills TV Girl Thelma Plum Fletcher Polaris Eyedress Sofia Kourtesis Sam Alfred Pacific Avenue Erika De Casier Grentperez Danny Ocean Old Mervs Paris Paloma 6 Sense The Slingers Vv Pete Belair Lip Bombs Triple J Unearthed Mix Up DJs: Jhassic & Rakish Bria The Forest: Opiuo Godlands Käse Kochen Grouch in Dub (solo) April Kerry Surge Crooks Farfetchd Smish Wren Thursday night: Jimi the Kween Krissy Jaman Victoria Anthony Summer Lover Splendour in the Grass will take over North Byron Bay Parklands from Friday, July 19–Sunday, July 21, 2024, with ticket presales from 9am–9pm AEDT on Thursday, March 14 for Splendour members, 10am–4pm AEDT on Sunday, March 17 for locals, 9am–9pm AEDT on Monday, March 18 for PYP, 9am–12am AEDT on Tuesday, March 19 for Optus and 9am–9pm AEDT on Wednesday, March 20 via TikTok — and general sales from 9am AEDT on Thursday, March 21. For more information, head to the festival website. Images: Charlie Hardy, Bianca Holderness and Claudia Ciapocha.
Arts House are about to round out a year of compelling theatre with a production of The Hanging of Jean Lee, an "underbelly song cycle" that traces the life (and death) of the last woman to be hanged in Australia. The work premiered at the Sydney Opera House in 2006 to massive acclaim and was hailed as a uniquely Australian piece of music theatre. Lee's story plays out in the form of vivid projections combined with lurid, visceral text, written by Jordie Albiston and Abe Pogos. The score verges into gritty territory, straddling the border between jazz, pop and improvisation, with some of the Bad Seeds (Max Sharam and Hugo Race) adding their post-punk credentials to the mix. The performers are backed by a band of musos who've played with the likes of Gotye and Deborah Conway, as well as jazz maestro Lachlan Davidson.
What would you bring to a Kurt Cobain-themed exhibition? Maybe you come from a live art background, and think an installation performance piece could go down nicely — one that explores the intersection between this joke Simon Amstell makes about Courtney Love on Buzzcocks and grunge culture's DIY ethos, as embodied in this chiptune cover of Teen Spirit? Thankfully, none of those things will be happening in Don’t Kurt Cobain, an exhibition co-curated by Rosemary Forde and Lisa Fadford that brings together a bunch of Kurt-related artwork into one simmering Cobain-marie to mark the 20th anniversary of his death. The exhibition at Collingwood gallery Slopes takes its name from a piece by Matthew Griffin (pictured above), who's joined by other individual artists and collectives, including Simon Zoric, Lyndal Walker, Blair Trethowan, Masato Takasaka, Kati Rule, Dan Price, Sue Dodd, Colleen Ahern and Greatest Hits. Unfortunately, Don't Kurt Cobain will be the final exhibition hosted by Slopes. But never mind, Nirvana is without a doubt the perfect way to say goodbye.
UPDATE, October 19, 2020: Climax is available to stream via SBS On Demand, Google Play, YouTube, iTunes and Amazon Video. A bowl of LSD-laced sangria. A thumping soundtrack. Dancers at the top of their game. With the lurid and kinetic Climax, Gaspar Noé takes a trip into a memorable, manic and murderous all-night party. Loosely based on a true story that dates back to the 90s, it starts with a troupe busting moves, downing beverages and blowing off steam after rehearsals, then discovering that their drinks have been spiked. That said, 'discover' isn't really the best word to describe folks realising that their nightmare is real. It's wholly accurate, however it can't completely convey Selva (Sofia Boutella) and her crew's horrific predicament. Writing as well as directing and co-editing, Noé isn't interested in explaining or describing, so that's about as far as his narrative goes. But, as the Argentine-born, French-based provocateur keeps demonstrating with each successive picture, he loves plunging audiences into hallucinatory and immersive worlds. From I Stand Alone and Irreversible to Enter the Void and Love, every movie on his resume involves a straightforward set-up, followed by a descent into chaos and mayhem of varying kinds. That said, Climax's might just be the most literal. One moment, everyone is eagerly strutting their stuff in a seemingly safe space. The next, an orgy of screams, tears, paranoia, sex, blood and death is the new normal. From a largely non-professional cast that numbers 24, all trapped in a remote hall as snow falls outside, connective threads emerge. Selva isn't particularly happy with anyone, and David (Romain Guillermic) considers himself the ladies man of the gang. Emmanuelle (Claude Gajan Maull) is trying to balance her career with being a mother to the young Tito (Vince Galliot Cumant), while everyone just wants to let loose as Daddy the DJ (Kiddy Smile) hits the decks. Personal squabbles, petty grievances and plenty of baggage all add to a jittery, claustrophobic mood, and that's before the acid takes effect. When the drugs kick in, so too do the group's fears and insecurities, the competitive vibe that comes with performing for a living, and the emotional and physical slaughter. Epitomising the idea that style can equal substance (as he has across his entire filmography), it's how Noé spins this story that mesmerises. Whether he's watching the troupe unleash their stellar dance skills in Climax's hypnotic first half, or charting carnage in its second, there's never a dull moment. There's never an average or unengaging moment either, or one that doesn't want to get a rise out of viewers. All of the director's usual traits are on display, from the propulsive tunes that set a distinctive rhythm, to the fluid and floating camerawork by his now four-time cinematographer Benoît Debie, to his penchant for evocative red lighting. And yet, pairing them with dance is a masterstroke. Noé already has a handful of music videos to his name, including for Nick Cave, Placebo and Daft Punk's Thomas Bangalter (who contributes a new song to Climax's soundtrack), but in mixing fancy footwork and horror, he might've found his true calling. That's not to say that Climax doesn't have thematic bite as it both revels in and dissects hedonism, and posits that creation and destruction are two sides of the same coin. Nor does it mean that Noé isn't up to his usual tongue-in-cheek tricks (he introduces his main players via video auditions screened on a TV, with VHS tapes of boundary-pushing classics like Suspiria and Salò underneath). But the film is an experience above all else. Purposefully overwhelming the senses — and trying to shatter them, too — it pulls you in with a lengthy sequence of astonishing choreography. It gets your toes tapping until they can't stop. Then, it forces its pulsating frenzy into your soul. The result is Noé at his best, and is best summarised by a song by his regular collaborator Bangalter. In a sea of sweat and terror, Climax loses itself, its characters and its audience to dance in the most bold, unhinged and thrilling way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=-ydNrDCw58c
After seven years of bringing food to Australians' doors — and alcohol, kitchen and household products, and pop culture-themed board games in some places, too — Deliveroo has delivered a significant piece of news: it now no longer operates in the country. Via a series of messages to customers, on social media and on its local website on Wednesday, November 16, the company announced that it was shutting its Aussie service effective immediately. "Deliveroo no longer operates in Australia," the organisation's website now reads. "Deliveroo has taken the difficult decision to leave Australia. We have been proud to bring so many people amazing meals from Australia's great restaurants over the years," it continues. The company is now in administration, with KordaMentha appointed to oversee the process. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Deliveroo (@deliveroo_au) In its statements on social media, Deliveroo called the news a "sad announcement" and reiterated that it "has been a very difficult decision to make". It also called out Australia's "amazing food" and "thousands of brilliant restaurants and riders". Obviously, the sudden shuttering will impact both considerably. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Deliveroo staff will receive compensation, and drivers who made a delivery in the past three months. As a result of the closure, Deliveroo's app is now no longer accepting orders, leaving customers to use competing food-delivery services such as UberEats, Menulog and DoorDash. Since opening in Australia in 2015, in efforts to stand out in a crowded market, Deliveroo has done everything from giving away burgers and Tim Tams, offering free delivery during lockdowns and slinging free fries based on vaccination levels through to even dropping off free Gelato Messina choc tops by boat. For more information about Deliveroo ceasing operations in Australia, head to the service's website.
The year is 2113, you are about to embark on a walking tour that dissects the consumerism, ignorance and individualism of 2013. Well, sort of. It's not really 2113, but this comedic tour of our fair city (as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival) pokes fun at the rampant idiocy of contemporary living and the possible implications of living in an age of overconsumption and intolerance. The tour (led by Xavier the Penguin) takes in all the interesting artefacts of our time, including 'cars', 'mobile phones', 'beef', 'pop music', 'sport', 'the stock market', 'advertising' and 'reality television' and examines the pop culture obsession that threatens to dumb down our future. The tours depart the Lithuanian Club in North Melbourne daily (except Mondays) from 20 September to 5 October at 6.30pm, with an additional 2pm show on Saturdays and Sundays. The mixture of comedy, activism, archaeology and strolling is a rare one that prompted Artshub to call 2013 - When We Were Idiots"interactive theatre at its energetic best". Thanks to Graceful Productions, we have three double passes to 2013 - When We Were Idiots on 20-22 September to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email us with your name, postal address and preferred dates at hello@concreteplayground.com.au.
"Well sir, there's no easy way to say this. Your wife isn't who she says she is." So starts the just-dropped full trailer for the fifth season of Fargo, the anthology TV show inspired by the big-screen Coen brothers masterpiece. Spinning blackly comedic crime tales just like the movie, this series charts a different caper with each go-around — and enlists a different cast, too — with the wife being spoken about here played by Ted Lasso's Juno Temple. Like season one, two and the movie, Fargo season five spends its time in Minnesota and North Dakota. The year: 2019. Dorothy 'Dot' Lyon (Temple) is the otherwise-ordinary person falling afoul of the law, or so it seems. Indeed, as her husband Wayne (David Rysdahl, Oppenheimer) learns, she not an average Midwestern housewife. And, as also seen in two prior sneak peeks, there's plenty more to this story. With Jon Hamm (Good Omens) also starring as Roy Tillman, the North Dakota Sheriff (and preacher) on Dot's trail, this tale is set to get twisty fast — and also include a heap of other familiar faces. Joining Temple, Hamm and Rysdahl: Jennifer Jason Leigh (Hunters), Joe Keery (Stranger Things), Lamorne Morris (Woke), Richa Moorjani (Never Have I Ever), Sam Spruell (The Gold) and Dave Foley (The Kids in the Hall). In a case of spectacular casting, Keery will put his famous hair to good use as Tillman's son Gator, in a franchise that also loves unpacking the ties of blood that bind and cause chaos. Spruell plays a drifter who is enlisted to help on the search for Dot, while Leigh hops onboard as Wayne's mother, aka the 'Queen of Debt' thanks to being a debt collection company CEO — and Foley plays her in-house counsel. Among the cops, there's Moorjani as a deputy from Minnesota and Morris as a North Dakota counterpart. Oh you betcha there's accents, crime capers, dedicated cops, and people doing dark deeds for selfish reasons and then getting karmic comeuppance, with Fargo season five arriving in Australia via SBS On Demand on Wednesday, November 22. 2023 marks almost a decade since writer, director and producer Noah Hawley leapt from Bones, The Unusuals and My Generation to diving back into crime in often-frosty American places with sly laughs. The first two seasons arrived back to back in 2014 and 2015, with season three then following in 2017 and season four in 2020. Now, after another three-year gap, the show returns with another new story and cast, but still set in the same world as the Fargo movie. Check out the full trailer for Fargo season five below: Fargo season five will start streaming via SBS On Demand on Wednesday, November 22. Images: Michelle Faye/FX.
A Secret Service agent-turned-bodyguard falls for the superstar singer he's been hired to protect. It's pegged as one of cinema's most iconic love stories, with Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner first tugging at our heartstrings back in 1992. And now, The Bodyguard is set to come alive for the Australian stage, with producers David Ian, Michael Harrison and John Frost bringing their award-winning musical show Down Under this year. Kicking off in Sydney in April 2017 before coming to Melbourne in August, this local production of The Bodyguard — which follows the just-as-awesome news that Moulin Rouge! will finally be made into a stage show — comes off the back of a wildly successful and star-studded run in London theatres, and record-breaking UK tour, which commenced in February this year. Paulini (of Australian Idol fame) will play Houston's Rachel Marron. Based on the eponymous Warner Bros. film and adapted for the stage by Academy Award winner Alexander Dinelaris, The Bodyguard musical features all those epic Houston tracks that audiences fell in love with the first time around. According to co-producer Frost, the emotionally-charged storyline, along with those "soaring ballads" — like 'Queen of The Night', 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' and the legendary 'I Will Always Love You' (you know the ones) — were simply destined for the stage. The album is still the biggest selling movie soundtrack of all time. Yep. Still.
A smart, self-effacing send-up of the entertainment industry, Top Five, like most of Rock’s best material, feels at least partly autobiographical. Rock plays Andre Allen, a comedian turned Hollywood superstar and recovering alcoholic, best known for his role in the million-dollar Hammy the Bear franchise. Unfortunately, Allen’s funny bone has been blunted since going sober, and his first attempt at a ‘serious’ film — playing Haitian slave revolutionary Dutty Boukman — is shaping up to be a box-office bomb. Even more out of control is his upcoming televised wedding, to Kardashian-esque reality star Erica Long (Gabrielle Union). Enter Chelsea Brown (Rosario Dawson), a sardonic, whip-smart writer for the New York Times, who’s been assigned to profile Allen over the course of a single day. Although initially suspicious of Brown and the Times, whose resident film critic has made a career out of tearing his movies to shreds, Allen soon finds himself opening up to the writer, as the pair begin to trade stories while walking around NYC. Top Five (©2015 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.) is in cinemas on March 12, and thanks to Paramount Pictures, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and then email us with your name and address. Read our full review here. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
With the holidays just coming to an end, we're all now emerging from prime binge-watching season. So, if you feel like you've glued your eyes to every possible TV show and movie there is recently, that's completely understandable — but the great thing about streaming is that there's always something else popping up, demanding your attention and helping you maintain that comfy groove in your sofa. Returning series releasing their latest seasons, brand new shows that haven't been on your radar, recent favourites that you mightn't have seen, retro classics that are always worth a revisit, flicks that'll keep you talking — they're some of the fresh additions to the streaming world recently, and they're all ready to add to your 2021 watch list. If you're wondering where to start, we've teamed up with streaming platform Binge to pick five must-sees that'll help you start the year with some top-notch viewing. You can view them all on the Australian service, including via a 14-day free trial for new customers.
He took home this year's best director Oscar thanks to his enchanting monster romance, and now he's in the spotlight at the Spanish Film Festival. That'd be The Shape of Water's Guillermo del Toro, with the fest celebrating his 2006 Academy Award-winner Pan's Labyrinth as its closing night selection. Of course, on its stop at Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Palace Brighton Bay, Kino Cinemas and The Astor Theatre from April 19 to May 6, the country's long-running celebration of Spanish-language filmmaking has plenty of other delights amongst its 25-film program. Marking its 21st year in 2018, that includes opening night's The Tribe, a street-dancing musical comedy inspired by real-life Spain's Got Talent winners, plus No Filter, this year's Spanish box office smash about a woman who can't stop speaking her mind. Other high-profile highlights range from screenings of Pixar's gorgeous Coco — in case you missed it in cinemas late last year — to a who's who of Spanish talent in historical epic Gold; to Loving Pablo, which features Javier Bardem as Pablo Escobar and Penélope Cruz as the journalist who falls for him. Fans of both actors can also catch them in Jamón Jamón — which, released back in 1992, was actually Cruz's first film. It plays as part of a four-feature retrospective dedicated to filmmaker Bigas Luna, alongside his fellow hits Golden Balls and The Tit and The Moon. A documentary compiled from the late director's video diaries, Bigas x Bigas, will enjoy its Australian premiere to round out the program strand. Plus, in the kind of curation that every film festival could benefit from, the Spanish Film Festival will also showcase the work of emerging Spanish female directors. While Summer 1993 actually played at last year's fest as well, the charming delight is getting another spin, with Málaga Film Festival hit Julia Is, Spanish Civil War-focused The Bastard's Fig Tree and the Goya-nominated The Open Door also on the bill. In addition, Melburnians get an extra pick thanks to doco Singled [Out], which was partially shot in Australia by the Melbourne-based Mariona Guiu and Barcelona-based Ariadna Relea.
Looking to step up your regular trivia game? Over in Richmond, The National Hotel is giving the humble pub quiz a fun — and sinister — twist, kicking off a series of murder mystery-themed trivia nights. Launching on Thursday, August 9, the sessions each feature four quiz rounds, with punters answering questions and collecting clues along the way to help solve the final whodunit puzzle. Topics will cover everything from pop culture to general knowledge, so you'd best start brushing up on some facts. There's a swag of prizes up for grabs, from jugs of beer, to a huge $150 bar tab for the night's champion team. Entry's free and you can even bring along your pup. Round up a team of between four and six players and book your spot by emailing functions@thenationalhotel.com.au. Image: Gareth Sobey
They're doing more than just jamming: actors Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch and James Norton, plus writer/director Reinaldo Marcus Green, that is. Teaming up for Bob Marley: One Love, the first major biopic about its namesake — and a film driven by Marley's family, with wife Rita producing with children Ziggy and Cedella, plus their sibling Stephen the music supervisor — this quartet knows that their task is formidable and important. Anyone wondering whether the feature's focal point, a Jamaican icon and the initial person that anyone instantly thinks of when reggae is mentioned, could be loved is pondering a pointless question. Ben-Adir, who stars as Bob fresh from playing one of Barbie's Kens — and steps into another real-life figure's shoes again after giving One Night in Miami its Malcolm X and TV's The Comey Rule its Barack Obama — is among Marley's fans. He has company on the movie; of course, everyone should be. "He was an artist first, and one of the great, great songwriters. I don't know if there's anyone who can write songs [like him]. Like, he's top five, but my number one," he tells Concrete Playground. So for him, his job "was always about trying to understand him as an artist, and as a father, as a man," Ben-Adir explains. "Here's a musician who dedicated his life to writing songs that we now all get to enjoy. Understanding what that meant, to play the guitar and to write that many songs, that many albums, in that ten-year period, it was just incredible." Bob Marley: One Love arrives after documentaries have already had the sun shining on Marley's impact and legacy. A birth-to-death filmic biography isn't its aim or approach, then. The man, the music, the message: that's the movie's trinity as it hones in Bob in the late 70s, specifically around the making and touring of his 1977 album Exodus. The record was named the best album of the 20th century by TIME magazine; however, it's not just its contents but the political context in Jamaica that brought it to fruition that speaks volumes about the man behind it. "That was a period of time of musical genius, musical creation. Bob created Exodus, which was one of the greatest albums of the 20th century — and after the assassination attempt on his life in 1976, [and the] political turmoil in Jamaica, it was just such a rich period of time," says Green. The filmmaker both directs and co-writes, in his first feature since fellow biopic King Richard. "And also, he had made several albums that we can pull from. The backbone of the story is the music. So it felt such like a rich period of time in Bob's life, before he obviously gets sick — it just felt like a really prime time in his life that that captured the essence of who the man was," Green continues. [caption id="attachment_940714" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Antony Jones/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures[/caption] This isn't just a story of one person, either. Turning in the picture's other powerful main performance, Captain Marvel, No Time to Die and The Woman King's Lynch is Rita to Ben-Adir's Bob. It's as much her tale as well. "Frankly, if her voice wasn't as present as it is in the movie, if she wasn't as dynamic a character as she is in the movie, I wouldn't have taken the role," Lynch advises Concrete Playground. "Because I knew from afar before I had the role who she is, what she represents, how respected she is in Jamaica, in Ghana, in different countries over the world — that if it wasn't going to be that, then I don't have any business lending my voice to that." As for Happy Valley, Nowhere Special and Little Women star Norton, another veteran of playing real-life figures after Mr Jones and Rogue Agent, he brings influential record producer and Island Records founder Chris Blackwell to the screen. "It is daunting," he advises. "Especially if they're alive, because you know they're going to watch it — well, they might watch it one day — and there's only one person who's going to give you the full appraisal of your work: it's the person who you just played." With Bob Marley: One Love releasing in cinemas Down Under on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, we also chatted with Ben-Adir, Green, Lynch and Norton about the importance of finding the right person to play Bob, plus making a Bob Marley movie with his family so heavily involved — as well as why a Bob Marley biopic hasn't reached screens before and learning about the singer while working on the film. On Finding the Right Actor to Play Bob Marley — and Being That Actor Reinaldo: "We looked at thousands of tapes from everywhere, everywhere we could find. It's just hard. It's Bob Marley. You're looking for a needle in the haystack — and we're talking really good actors — that it just was really hard to find it. So when I saw Kingsley's tape, it was the first time that I thought it was possible. He had a look. He had an enigma. He had a vulnerability. He had a charisma. And his tape, it was pulling me closer to him. I was leaning in in a way that I hadn't leaned into any of the other tapes, and so I knew that there was a baseline. Obviously I wanted to meet him immediately. I didn't know Kingsley or Kingsley's work — or I didn't remember 'oh, that was the guy that played that'. And so it was interesting to find it and say 'oh, okay, he was a chameleon in those movies, he was able to disappear'. And there was something quite special about that. There was obviously a level of intelligence that I was looking for, somebody that was going to put in the work and be able to make an interpretation of Bob, rather than mimic Bob. So the tape gave me so much excitement that it was possible to even attempt to make a movie about Bob, and from that moment we went on the journey of discovering who the man was." Kingsley: "When the audition came through, I was told that as soon as you get the tape to us, the family will see it within 24 hours. So that's a good motivation to get your shit together and prepare something meaningful or worth sharing. That's what I always do when there's a big audition or interesting audition or something that feels substantial, you just take three to four days — you just need a bit of time to wrap your head around, in this case, Bob. I spent some time really watching him and watching him in concert and listening to some of his interviews. And yeah, I guess when I got the call saying that Ziggy had approved and wanted me to fly over and meet him, it was a pretty special feeling. I didn't have the job, but I was going over to meet Bob's child, which is really surreal." On Making a Movie About Bob Marley with the Help of Bob Marley's Family Kingsley: "Ziggy remembers a lot about him. He was in Zimbabwe with his dad. He was in Jamaica. What was so amazing was that the process of building the character was with Bob's friends and family. So I read all the books, but after a while you just go 'don't need those, I can just call people who knew Bob — I can just call people who were there in London with Bob, I can call people who are on stage with him'. It's really incredible, looking back. It was work, there was a lot to find out and there was a lot of work to do, but I loved working with Ziggy. All throughout the prep, we would message and talk, and then he was there with us every day on set, which was just game-changing. Neville Garrick [Bob Marley's art director] and Ziggy were with us every day from the beginning. And I mean, there wasn't a morning where Ziggy wasn't on set first. He was always there. Any questions? Anytime. And so my process was really our process — it was really a communal thing." Lashana: "You read everything. You read her book — thank god she wrote one. You watch everything. And then you hope that it makes sense. And it did, to a certain extent, until I called for some time with her. Then after I met her, I thought I could just throw away all the information, to be honest. It's really helpful to have facts, but it's more the types of beings that Mrs Marley and that Bob are and were at the time for everybody, is so intricate and so beautiful, that it requires a tapping in of their level of spirituality in order for me to even portray any of her. There needs to be a spiritual connection there. So I ensured that the energy was right, and whenever I didn't feel like I was approaching her well, I had to just take a beat with myself and remember who she is and what she deserves. And thankfully, this production knew that we had the children's support and guidance throughout the shoot. That helped us really get to those sweet spots in the movie." Reinaldo: "It was quite special obviously to meet Ziggy for the first time, and to understand why they were making this movie — and why me, and just try to try to get an understanding of that. Ziggy had seen a short film of mine called Stone Cars. It wasn't even the King Richard Oscar [attention] — he was talking about my short film, which I shot in South Africa, and I thought that was really interesting because I shot that film with no money, with no lights, all natural light. And it was raw, and I think that's what he was after. He was after something raw. He was after something pure. And once I knew that, I knew that he wanted to make something quite special. So that was just a connection. It was an immediate connection, somebody's valuing your short film work as a filmmaker. Since then I had learned a lot, so I was like 'okay, I can take what I learned from my short films and bring that to that'. I can bring that kind of energy. I can bring a City of God energy to this film in a way that maybe we hadn't seen on the screen, or I was hoping that that what we were trying to achieve was something different — not necessarily a musical biopic; a movie like City of God or Black Orpheus, something that felt organic and pure and raw. We were aligned right away when it came to that, to the visuals in the film, and what I wanted to look and feel like. I'm very grateful to him for that, and that was the start to a three-year-long journey." On the Process of Stepping Into Such Influential Figures' Shoes Kingsley: "What was really exciting about it originally, he's an icon and a hero and everyone knows Bob, and there's a huge pressure around that and the family are involved, but really when I started working, it was about understanding the musician — and understanding the meaning of his songs, and understanding what it was that Bob was trying to do. And my mind was just blown. I'd spend a few days on an album, then I'd move on to another one, then I'd get stuck on a song, then I'd be on that song for four weeks. And Cedella, Bob's daughter, sent me some files that only the family have. There were a number of interviews that are not available on YouTube or anywhere. I was listening to them and transcribing them all the way through, even when we were shooting. It was just amazing to get to listen to Bob talk over a 12-year-period so extensively about his religious beliefs, about writing, about life, about everything." Lashana: "I wanted to make sure that she was authentically portrayed, and that she was given the light and the flowers that she deserves — and that her spirit and her energy was in the film. So it was important for me to be able to rest firm in that at the beginning, and then be able to impart, I guess, the wisdom and the information that I gained from meeting her into the script and onto set. I think that the most-daunting thing at the very beginning was the fact that I have a responsibility to Jamaica. I represent Jamaica to the fullest. I'm of Jamaican heritage. My parents were born there. And also this is one of the queens of our country. So I knew that the responsibility was going to be big and that this had to be right. Once I saw how weighty that responsibility was, I just threw it away and decided to just focus on Mrs Marley, because she's who has the voice here and she's who people are going to remember — whether they're learning more about her because they know her already, or they don't know her and they're learning her for the first time. I wanted her portrayal to be balanced." James: "Chris Blackwell was a legend in his own right. In terms of music producers through the ages, there's no one really like him. As people have said, he's more one to introduce reggae to the world than anyone. And if you look at his roster of talent that he's represented and careers that he's launched, his taste is immaculate and he's clearly brilliant at his job. Also, the way that he kind of cross-pollinated, the way that he brought Junior Marvin into The Wailers because he knew the sound it would bring, which is nodded to in the movie — the guy's a genius. I think most music producers would say that there's only been one Chris Blackwell and there only will be one. So it was a responsibility to get him right. It was a pleasure and a privilege to learn about him. It was a privilege to meet him in Jamaica when we premiered the film, and I got to shake his hand — and I think he was approving of my portrayal. He didn't seem too upset, which is which is a relief." On Why a Bob Marley Biopic Hasn't Reached Screens Before Reinaldo: "I think time. Time wasn't right. I know they tried to make it for 30 years. Neville Garrick, who was our consulting producer on the film, told me I think he had tried to make it for 25 years. I had heard names like Oliver Stone and Scorsese, and many, many directors at some point, because everybody loves Bob. I just think time wasn't on their side. Time was on my side. It was the family's time. I think it was hopefully finding the right filmmaker. I think there's a time for everything and for whatever reason, this was our time. And we had to run with it. And also part of it was discovering who was going to play Bob. I think for so long it was trying to find who could carry the weight, who could carry that burden in in a lot of ways. Fortunately for us, it was Kingsley." On Learning More About Bob Marley by Making the Film James: "I was a fan, but like a lot of people, my life as a fan was limited to legend. I think probably when I was a teenager I was given or I brought that compilation, and I gorged on it. It became really, genuinely an important part of my teenage years and my 20s. He provided an apt soundtrack to those periods: the upbeat, celebratory moments; the crashes; the lower, more-pensive moments with 'Redemption Song' or whatever it might be. So I listened to his music and I didn't really know much about the context. And this is why I think this film for me and for hopefully the audience is going to be so important, because you realise that his message is so much bigger than his music. As there's a line in the film, the message and the music can't be separated. But it's been a real journey, a real revelation to me, to understand more about the man and where that message came from — and the fact that it came from struggle. Reinaldo: "I was definitely a fan. Grew up with the music in my household. My dad named me Reinaldo Marcus Green after Marcus Garvey [the Jamaican political activist], who Bob had studied, and so there were all these kismet signs that I was somehow supposed to be the person that helped bring this story to life. And I resisted it like I resist everything. 'Why me? It's too much. It's too hard. This is crazy. This is Bob Marley!'. But it was something about Bob in particular. He's a superhero. He's really unlike any other musician. He's like Peter Parker — he's a common man who then puts on a cape at night and rescues us with his music. It's a fantasy, and it's amazing when you see somebody that has that ability to transform our lives with his music. I mean, it's very rare to get that. You see the face, you see the image on the T-shirts and it's like 'who is that? Who is that man?'. I think we always we always feel that. He's a revolutionary, his spirit, what he was singing for. So going on that discovery was amazing. I only knew the tunes, right? Very rarely do you dissect lyrics. And that was the quest for me in this film, was really trying to understand where the music was coming from. I wasn't so well-versed in Jamaican politics, what was happening at that time, what was really going on — and Jamaica's rich history, and colonialism, and what was happening in politics. And so it was a great way for me to rediscover that period of time and do it through his music. I was hoping that we can weave the film in a way that the music comes out in a very organic way in the film that feels part of the fabric of how we made the movie; it's the DNA, it's the backbone, but it's not a musical." Bob Marley: One Love releases in cinemas Down Under on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. Read our review.
It's almost that time of year, somehow. Christmas is fast approaching, winter is behind us, both New South Wales and Victoria have announced their plans for transitioning out of lockdown, and you're probably thinking about your summer shenanigans. While we don't know exactly when jetting overseas might become an option again for Australians just yet — other than likely at the 80-percent fully vaxxed rate — many Aussies can still make plans to roam around parts of this country we all call home. Border rules remain in place due to NSW and Victoria's COVID-19 outbreaks; however, for plenty of Australians, a trip to the Northern Territory is not only possible but comes with an extra incentive. Last year, the NT Government and its tourism body launched the NT Summer Sale campaign, which offered discounts on trips to Australia's Red Centre and Top End. To all of the Northern Territory, actually. This year, it's doing the same, but with two caveats. Firstly, the special is only open to Aussies who've had both their jabs. So, it joins the growing list of offers, giveaways and discounts that reward people who've rolled up their sleeves — and encourage those who haven't yet. It's also the first vaccine incentive by an Australian tourism body. Secondly, to take advantage of the discount, you'll need to come from a non-hotspot part of the country as deemed by Territory officials. That currently rules out all of NSW and large parts of Victoria — but the 2021–22 NT Summer Sale does run from Friday, October 1, 2021–Thursday, March 31, 2022, so it's possible that Sydney and Melbourne won't be on the NT's hotspot list for that entire period. What's on offer? For each $1000 you spend up to $5000, you'll receive a $200 discount. It maxes out at $1000 off, but that's still 20 percent off the price. The discounts are available for a number of things too, covering plenty of essential elements of every holiday. You can use them on flights, accommodation, tours and attractions, and vehicle hire. You will need to both book and travel between that six-month October–March period, though. The other big stipulation: you'll need to book through one of Tourism NT's campaign partners to score the discount. They include retailers such as Holidays of Australia, Helloworld Travel & Viva Holidays and NT Now. If you've always been meaning to make the trip — and you've had both Uluru and its incredible Field of Light installation on your must-see list for ages — here's a mighty fine excuse to put those dreams into action. Border-wise, it's best to keep an eye on the NT Government's coronavirus hub for the current rules — and any future changes, For further details about the NT Summer Sale campaign — which will be on sale between Friday, October 1, 2021–Thursday, March 31, 2022 for travel within the same period — head to the Tourism NT website. Top image: Tourism NT, Kyle Hunter and Hayley Anderson.
The Killers are taking a shot at the night, Satellite Stories are letting the lights go low and Cruiser want you to kidnap them. So kick off those work-week blues and listen to these five tracks to soundtrack your weekend. 1. 'SHOT AT THE NIGHT' - THE KILLERS This is a new direction for The Killers. It retains the anthem attributes fans love, but it presents a new element to their sound, courtesy of production by Anthony Gonzalez of M83 fame. It is like the two bands had a sonic love child, and this is it. It is a wonderful way to celebrate the Las Vegas quartet's tenth anniversary and is one of two new tracks to be featured on a greatest hits (so far) album, with 'Just Another Girl' also due to drop soon. The album Direct Hits will be released globally on November 11 so let this tide you over in the meantime. 2. 'BED PEACE' - JHENE AIKO FEAT. CHILDISH GAMBINO This is the smoothest song I have ever heard. Jhene Aiko's gentle vocals perfectly compliment Childish Gambino — otherwise known as Donald Glover — and his playful voice. When layered over the top of the simple R&B vibe it creates a song that is both graceful and sexy. You can play it to fall asleep, when you bring someone home or just on a lazy Sunday. This is an angelic song for all occasions. 3. 'LIGHTS GO LOW' - SATELLITE STORIES Satellite Stories have been receiving a lot of deserved hype lately. The Finnish band's sound has drawn a number of comparisons to Two Door Cinema Club, but there is one difference — they sound like they could be even better. Now that is saying something, as Two Door Cinema Club is this writer's favourite band. However, they just have an excellent understanding of the music they are trying to make, resulting in tracks like this that your ears will love you for offering to them. 4. 'KIDNAP ME' - CRUISER Cruiser is Philadelphia native Andy Stykes and he could not have dropped this summer-sounding track at a better time. So as the sun begins to heat things up, soak up this track's resplendent musical rays and please do not kidnap Cruiser. We need him to continue making music and his ransom would be far too high given how good this new track is. 5. 'DAWN' - CLOUD BEHIND Cloud Behind are a band from Thailand that make truly beautiful music. 'Dawn' is an excellent showcasing of their talent and has perfect timing, starting slowly before building momentum into a heartwarming ending. This is the type of music that accompanies life-changing decisions in indie movies so pop it on and see what epiphanies come your way.
When the ancient Greeks dreamt up democracy many moons ago, they surely knew their labour of political love would reap plentiful rewards for humanity — barbecuable rewards. Why else would our society have evolved so deliciously to the point where Election Day is synonymous with hot snags in bread? Yep, here in Australia, voting and sausage sizzles go together like Q&A and provocative tweets. But thanks to a bit of ingenious technology, you don't have to simply cross your fingers and hope your local voting booth is one of the ones firing up the barbie on voting day. There's a nifty online map that'll tell you exactly where to find those glorious democracy snags. The Democracy Sausage website crowdsources data from social media sites, as well as from direct audience submissions, to map out the polling places that feature sausage sizzles and other food and drink offerings. While the site has offered a comprehensive sausage database for various elections since 2016, it's currently getting a run for the upcoming 2022 federal election, which takes place this Saturday, May 21. [caption id="attachment_839440" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elliott Kramer[/caption] Jump onto the map to easily identify which polling places will be slinging sausage sizzles, cake stalls, bacon and egg rolls, and coffee. You'll even spy separate icons marking those spots that are serving vegetarian food and halal options. According to the website's own stats, there are currently 722 polling places confirmed to feature sausage sizzles for this weekend's voting, with more to come. Of course, since the map is built largely off community intel, it's not entirely exhaustive — if you've got some goss about sausage sizzle locations, you can help by sharing it with the team via a direct message or tweeting #democracysausage. If you're a diehard fan of the humble Election Day snag, you'll also find a selection of snag-related merch available on Democracy Sausage's Redbubble online store. Of course, if you're one of the many Aussies who took advantage of early voting or postal voting for this election, you might have to settle for a Woolies run and a home-cooked homage to that democracy sausage instead. To plot your sausage haul during the federal election on Saturday, May 21, head over on the Democracy Sausage website. Top image: Jonathan Taylor, via Unsplash.
For five years between 2005–2010, David Tennant played one of the most iconic roles there is; however, he'll never just be known for his work on Doctor Who. Since stepping out of the TARDIS, the British actor has been filling his resume with supremely interesting parts. Miniseries Deadwater Fell is the latest — and yes, if you've spotted that Tennant has become very comfortable in crime thrillers, drama and mysteries, you're completely right. Here, he plays Tom Kendrick, a doctor in a Scottish village who is also the only survivor when his home catches ablaze. Over four tense episodes, the twisty series explores the events and aftermath, including its impact upon the local community. It's not all what it seems, of course, which goes with the territory. In terms of actual terrain, the show is set in a fictional town, but expect to feast your eyes on plenty of scenic Scottish sights.
On years ending in four in even-numbered decades, we watch new Mean Girls films. So goes the 21st century so far, as the hit 2004 teen comedy about high-school hierarchies returns to the big screen in 2024 as a musical, after breaking out the singing and dancing onstage first. Just like donning pink every Wednesday because Regina George (Reneé Rapp, The Sex Lives of College Girls) demands it, there's a dutifulness about the repeat Mean Girls. Tina Fey, writing the script for the third time — basing her first on Rosalind Wiseman's 2002 non-fiction book Queen Bees and Wannabes — seems to fear the consequences for breaking the rules, too. Cue a Mean Girls movie musical that truly plays out as those four words lead viewers to expect: largely the same down to most lines and jokes, just with songs. Anyone looking at the longer running time in advance and chalking up the jump from 97 to 112 minutes to the tunes is 100-percent spot on. The latest Mean Girls also resembles protagonist Cady Heron (Angourie Rice, The Last Thing He Told Me): eager to fit into its new surroundings after being perfectly happy and comfortable elsewhere. That causes some awkwardness, sometimes trying to break the mould, but largely assimilating. Penning her first film script since the OG Mean Girls was her very first, 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Mr Mayor creator Fey revises details and gags that were always going to need revising. Social media, the internet and mobile phones are all worked in, necessarily so, as is sex positivity. Mean Girls 2024 is primarily dedicated to making Mean Girls 2024 happen, though; here as well, it's exactly as those three words have audiences anticipating. Scrap the songs and choreography (other than the Winter Talent Show performances, of course), and directors Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez (Quarter Life Poetry: Poems for the Young, Broke & Hangry) would've just remade the first film two decades later. There's a message in the Means Girls cycle, as the initial movie closed with. No matter how many obnoxious and angsty young women learn to cope with their ire and embrace kindness, more will follow the same journey, then more again. Accordingly, Mean Girls could easily be restaged every generation with nothing but era-appropriate changes and the tale would still ring true, as proves the case with its second cinema telling — plus the musical angle. That's a testament to the strength of and insights in Fey's foundational screenplay. It's also a sad truth about human nature. But like Gretchen Wieners (Bebe Wood, Love, Victor) yearning for a life and acceptance that doesn't involve everything that Regina decrees, viewers can be forgiven for wanting more from each Mean Girls iteration. While this is a winking, nudging, self-referential take that's forcefully trying to get playful with its devotion to its source material, Regina herself might call it an obsession. Once more, Cady swaps the savannahs of Africa for Evanston, Illinois, then homeschooling for North Shore High School, entering a savage teenage jungle in the process. With talented artist Janis (Auli'i Cravalho, the voice of Moana) and the "almost too gay to function" Damian (Jaquel Spivey, a 2022 Tony-nominee for A Strange Loop) to steer her, she joins the world of cliquery, where the Plastics — Regina, plus Gretchen and fellow entourage member Karen Shetty (Avantika, also The Sex Lives of College Girls) — rule the school. Befriending the in-crowd is meant to be a social experiment. Cady's mum (Jenna Fischer, Splitting Up Together) is a zoologist, after all. But after Cady gets a maths class-sparked crush on Regina's ex Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney, The Summer I Turned Pretty), the newcomer's stint at the popular lunch table morphs into a vengeance mission. Opening with the Cravalho- and Spivey-sung 'A Cautionary Tale' — Janis and Damien are viewers' guides, too — the Mean Girls movie musical uses songs in place of the original's voiceover, and to plumb the characters' emotional and psychological depths. Composer Jeff Richmond (Girls5eva) and lyricist Nell Benjamin (The Sea Beast, and another Tony-nominee) rework their tunes from the stage production that debuted in 2018, then was locked in for a film adaptation in 2020, with additions and exclusions; rarely are they the most memorable parts of the movie. Collaborating with YouTube-famous choreographer Kyle Hanagami (Red, White & Royal Blue), Jayne and Perez opt for a more-is-more vibe; however, the musical numbers ape the overall feature in miniature. Some aspects shine, such as the pure energy of the plan-setting 'Revenge Party' and the sincerity in Gretchen's 'What's Wrong with Me?'. Others are catchy but perfunctory, like the Rice-crooned 'Stupid with Love', plus Cravalho and Spivey again with 'Apex Predator'. Karen's ditty 'Sexy' is an entertaining social-media riff. And whenever Rapp sings, she's electric, but better than the material. Rapp was always destined to be one of the new Mean Girls' highlights. She's been here before, stepping into Regina's shoes again after wearing them on Broadway (Only Murders in the Building's Ashley Park also returns from the theatre after originating the role of Gretchen, but as a teacher). In a film so infrequently willing to switch up anything substantial, Rapp's interpretation of Regina is one of its biggest alterations: where Rachel McAdams (Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret) was icily piercing, the IRL pop singer is fiendishly ferocious. That fits today's times where the entire online realm is a burn book, making nastiness virtually the status quo, and it's never one-note. Among her co-stars, Rice, Cravalho, Spivey, Wood and Avantika all ensure that no one is desperately pining for Lindsay Lohan (Falling for Christmas), Lizzy Caplan (Fatal Attraction), Daniel Franzese (Not So Straight in Silver Lake), Lacey Chabert (A Merry Scottish Christmas) and Amanda Seyfried (The Crowded Room) as their characters instead — with Cravalho making the second-biggest impression, and screaming for more non-voicework parts. Fey returning as Ms Norbury, Tim Meadows (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) similarly back as Principal Duvall, Busy Phillips (also Girls5eva) taking over from Amy Poehler (Moxie) as Regina's mother: they're all grool touches. It almost wouldn't be a Fey comedy without Jon Hamm (Fargo) popping up, although he's given little to do — but scrapping Coach Carr's sex scandals was among the essential updatings. Mean Girls has always known that striving to conform is a clunky task, though it didn't need to live it. While this isn't the first movie to become a stage musical and then return to film also as a musical (see: Little Shop of Horrors, The Producers, Hairspray and Everybody's Talking About Jamie) and won't be the last (the new The Color Purple will follow it into cinemas Down Under, for example), it's firmly an example of being too committed to doing what's expected to have enough of its own fun.
The power of Back to the Future isn't really a curious thing. As viewers have known since 1985, the Michael J Fox-starring sci-fi/comedy is timeless delight. But as well as making film lovers weep with joy for almost four decades, the iconic movie is now making other folks sing — the cast of the newly minted Olivier Award-winning Back to the Future: The Musical, that is. Exclaiming "great Scott!" is obviously the only fitting response to this development — and there's clearly plenty to get excited about. Yes, Back to the Future: The Musical is a real thing that exists, and has been racing towards clocktowers on-stage in the UK since early 2020 (around a pandemic hiatus or two, of course). Yes, it just picked up the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Yes, the show does indeed follow the Marty McFly and Doc Brown-led story we all know and adore, but with songs, including renditions of Chuck Berry's 'Johnny B Goode' and Huey Lewis and the News' 'The Power of Love' and 'Back in Time', naturally. Now, the news that might have you speeding 88 miles per hour towards Britain: for now, Back to the Future: The Musical is solely treading the boards in Britain. But if a trip to London is on your agenda between before Sunday, October 23, the show is playing at the English capital's Adelphi Theatre until then. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Back To The Future: Musical (@bttfmusical) If you won't be making a visit overseas by plane or DeLorean, start crossing your fingers that the production eventually makes its way Down Under — or pop on your own white lab coat, start tinkering around with electronics and whip up your own time machine to try to make it happen. Also featuring music and lyrics by OG Back to the Future composer Alan Silvestri and acclaimed songwriter Glen Ballard (Ghost the Musical), plus a book by Bob Gale — who co-penned all three Back to the Future film scripts with filmmaker Robert Zemeckis — Back to the Future: The Musical was nominated for seven Olivier Awards. It only won the big one, but emerged victorious over heavy-hitters and fellow screen-to-stage shows Moulin Rouge! The Musical and Frozen. Check out the trailer for Back to the Future: The Musical below: For more information about Back to the Future: The Musical, or to buy tickets for its London season, head to the show's website. If an Australian and/or New Zealand season is announced, we'll let you know faster than you can speed towards a clocktower. Top image: Sean Ebsworth Barnes.
St Kilda gallery Linden New Art has reopened to the public following lockdown, now taking limited visitor bookings across two sessions from Tuesday–Friday: 11.30am to 1pm and then between 2pm and 3.30pm. One of three exhibitions on its starting lineup, The Long Shot stars a new collection by award-winning Victorian artist Jacqui Stockdale. Both locally celebrated and with a slew of international exhibitions under her belt, Stockdale is known for her symbolic, theatrical works, delivered through a diverse catalogue of painting, drawing, collage, photography and performance art. Tied to the artist's continued exploration of Australia's early colonial past, The Long Shot flips the script on some of the more dominant narratives served up throughout our history. Here, catch an alternative version of the infamous Ned Kelly story, which challenges long-held perceptions by honing in on the experiences of the bushranger's mother, Ellen. It's an interactive show, featuring a variety of sculptural works — you'll see a piece cast from real dung that pays homage to the world's largest ever gold nugget, and even a towering likeness of Kelly's horse, crafted to the exact dimensions of fellow icon Phar Lap. [caption id="attachment_773494" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Images: Jacqui Stockdale 'The Long Shot' exhibition view at Linden New Art[/caption]
