Author: Kara Bertoncini

Australia’s first Marvel’s Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. experience is open in Melbourne (Running until June 30)

For all Marvel enthusiasts, there is a total immersive experience that awaits you. This world-class experience steeped in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, integrates science and modern technology with movie based props for all of you to experience for yourselves.  The Marvel’s Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. Melbourne experience includes never before seen exhibits on Black Panther, Thanos and The Wasp. The…

Read More

Review: Hand To God is the most hilarious show you’ll see this year (Performances until March 18th)

Hand To God has become one of Broadway’s classic comedies with two Tony Awards under its belt. Now Australian audiences have the opportunity to broaden their theatrical minds with a play that has no boundaries. I don’t think you’ll fully understand what the show is about until you immerse yourself into the crass and messed up…

Read More

Theatre Review: Esther Hannaford Shines in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Performances until June 24th)

When news first broke of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical making its way to Australia, the buzz was high. But who would play the coveted role of Carole King? In what has to be one of the best casting triumphs in Australian musical theatre history, Esther Hannaford was the prized winner. It’s safe to say…

Read More

A love note to Melbourne soul: Looking back at Mayfield’s Victim of Circumstance

Melbourne soul outfit Mayfield have been hard at work creating their debut album Victim of Circumstance, and boy is it good. This 12-track body of work was produced by Mayfield’s drummer Ivan ‘Choi’ Khatchoyan (Cooking on 3 Burners), and it is everything your emotional heart desires – those big band sounds, a big diva voice…

Read More

10 years on and Priscilla Queen of the Desert stills stands as one of Australia’s best musical productions

A decade doesn’t seem like very long ago, especially when reminiscing of the very first time I saw this magical production make its debut. Priscilla Queen of the Desert transitioned from screen to stage when the concept of a movie-musical was still quite new, but cut to 2018, and it is almost the norm for the…

Read More

Strangers in Between is yet another triumph for Tommy Murphy (Performances until February 11)

In what is another standout dramatic piece of writing from playwright Tommy Murphy, Strangers in Between is a heartwarming tale of friendship and self-discovery. As part of this year’s Midsumma Festival theatregoers were treated to an extraordinary piece of work led by three of Australia’s greatest male actors; Simon Burke, Guy Simon and Wil King. Directed by Daniel Lammin, is…

Read More

Review: Melbourne’s new Amy Winehouse exhibition gives insight into the girl behind the star (until 25th March 2018)

It is one of the most anticipated exhibitions to come to Melbourne this year, and what an absolute privilege it was to step inside the Winehouse world. Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait was curated by Jewish Museum London, and Amy’s brother Alex to show the world that Amy was so much more than just a…

Read More

Treat yourself to a perfect weekend getaway in Perth

As the seasons change and we transition into summer, a weekend getaway to the West Coast should definitely be on your radar. Coming in at a tied fifth place with Adelaide in this year’s “World’s Most Liveable Cities” list is Perth, naturally making it one of Australia’s much-loved cities. Having grown up there, I do…

Read More

Hotel Review: Aloft Perth stands tall; creates a unique experience for local and international visitors

Perth is fast becoming one of Australia’s most beloved travel destinations as it boasts clean air, wide open spaces and a warm sizzle to the skin. As tourism begins to boost it means accommodation options must meet the expectations of visitors and provide them with a sanctuary of calm and orderliness, whether they’re in town…

Read More

Midsumma Festival 2018 is going to be bigger and better than ever. Here’s why!

It’s been a historic week for the LGBTQI community with an almighty YES vote from 61.6% of Australians who believe same-sex marriage should be legalised. There’s no denying it’s been tough time for all those involved, and it’s hard not to reflect on the events leading up to the result but standing together in strength…

Read More

Interview: Designer Misty Copeland on launching her new Under Armour Collection

Misty Copeland represents strength, courage and female empowerment, but now the Under Armour athlete and Principal Ballerina can add fashion icon to her bio. Copeland made the journey to Sydney to launch her new collaborative collection with Under Armour which is fashion-forward, transformative and transitional, celebrating her undeniable drive and unmistakable style. Why have you chosen to collaborate with…

Read More

Melbourne Festival Review: Tree of Codes lights up the Arts Centre and inspires everyone to dance

Dancers are nothing short of athletes. Their athleticism, precision and dedication to their craft evokes an innate sense of wonder to the regular person, but in a show like Tree of Codes, it leaves you bewildered. Choreographer Wayne McGregor joins forces with visual artist Olafur Eliasson and music genius Jamie xx to produce a work that accentuates the human form through an…

Read More

Hearing stories of over 65’s having sex is a genius work at the 2017 Melbourne Festival

Sex is such a wonderful exploration of two bodies on an intimate and physical level. For some, it started at a very young age, for others they may have been late bloomers or are even still virgins. Either which way, sex has always been a conversation topic for everyone, but have we as a society…

Read More

Review: Memphis: The Musical is a rock ‘n’ rollin good time! (At Melbourne’s Chapel on Chapel until Oct 28th)

Over the past six years, StageArt has fast become one of Melbourne’s leading theatre companies, allowing performers the opportunity to be a part of works that are fresh from Broadway and not necessarily major touring productions in Australia. MEMPHIS won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2010 and is loosely based on the true story…

Read More

The Melbourne Festival is officially underway, and Taylor Mac leads the charge (Performances until October 20th)

It’s astonishing to think about how much music has filled our ears and hearts over the years; and I don’t just mean the years we’ve been alive. I’m talking from day one, when Earth was created. Think about the genre discoveries, the melodies, the development of instruments, idols both past and present. Imagine, what it…

Read More

Review: National Theatre Live puts on their best work yet with YERMA (In Select Cinemas from October 14th)

Oftentimes, a contemporary theatrical work can leave a strong impression on an audience, but none more so than the modern-day adaptation of Federico García Lorca‘s YERMA. Directed and re-written by Australian Simon Stone is a radical production of this intense Lorca masterpiece. Starring Billie Piper in her Olivier Award-winning role, and joined by acclaimed Australian actor Brendan Cowell sees the…

Read More

Melbourne Fringe Festival Review: Appropriate Kissing for All Occasions (Performances until September 30th)

A show title can make or break the moment a viewer picks your show in an epic Fringe line-up. Well, Appropriate Kissing for All Occasions certainly caught my attention and it was everything I wanted and expected. The 60-minute work is broken up into two 30-minute short pieces, with the second titled to heat you up and cool you…

Read More

Melbourne Fringe Festival Review: SELF is a must-see (Performances until October 1st)

Michael Ralph is one of Australia’s leading choreographers, always striving to create work that is ground-breaking, fresh and relevant. As part of this year’s Melbourne Fringe Festival, Ralph has gifted audiences with a 60-minute dance piece that explores every facet of an artist’s psyche. It is appropriately titled SELF, and stars none other than musical theatre heart-throb,…

Read More

Music program announced for Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait

A few days ago our beloved Amy Winehouse would have turned 34 years old. It’s still so hard to think that this world no longer has such a soul gifting us with her talents. All is not lost however, as an exhibition in her honour is so close to opening thanks to the Jewish Museum…

Read More

How to spend a perfect Sunday in Singapore

Sundays are important to so many of us for different reasons, but I think one thing we can all agree on is that it should be a day of fun and exploring. For me, an average Sunday in Melbourne includes brunch with friends, going to some sort of exhibition, heading to a bar in the…

Read More

Melbourne Fringe Festival Review: The Sky Is Well Designed (Performances until September 28th)

Melbourne Fringe Festival is an opportunity for theatre lovers and theatre novices to open their minds up to the many creative minds this great country of ours has. Presented by Darebin Arts Speakeasy and Fabricated Rooms, The Sky Is Well Designed is a two-person, 60-minute exploration into the soundscape of our atmosphere, and how certain tests can…

Read More

Singapore Night Festival celebrates 10 years of magic. Here’s to the next decade!

Night festivals are a chance for cities to showcase their prowess in a way that glitters.  The Singapore Night Festival (SNF) is always evolving and in its tenth year they pulled out all the stops. For 10 balmy nights young and old were out of the house and hitting the streets in what was a celebration of…

Read More

National Theatre Live’s Angels in America is an eight hour epic that will leave you speechless

As part of the National Theatre Live broadcasts, we have been privy to some of the West End’s most prestigious plays from playwrights that span far and wide. However, Tony Kushner’s multi-award winning two-part play Angels in America is something else. You will never see anything like this in your life. Ever. Directed by Olivier and Tony award winner…

Read More

Amy Winehouse exhibition set to make music lovers fall in love with the songstress all over again

Six years ago, the world lost a musical soul that will forever leave an imprint on your heart. Amy Winehouse was a young singer-songwriter at the peak of her career when it all came tumbling down. Tragically, we lost her but her music truly does live on. Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait is a personal…

Read More

National Theatre Live pulls out all the stops for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (In Select Cinemas from August 19th)

If ever there was a play to see in your lifetime it has to be Edward Albee‘s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright creates work that errs on the edge of voyeurism and what reality actually is. Funnily, when people asked Albee what this famous classic was about, he often said it was about…

Read More

The 11 unmissable works of the 2017 Melbourne Fringe Festival

Melbourne Fringe Festival is back for its whopping 35th year allowing our creative culture to flourish within the margins of diversity. Fringe is not a weird place as some may think; it is a play and space that is accessible to everyone, providing opportunities to thousands of artists each year. The aim is to nurture artistic…

Read More

Melbourne Fringe: Sophie deLightful gives us an insight into what it means to be a “Power Pussy”

Melbourne cabaret artist and power pussy Sophie deLightful is all about the #GirlPower in her latest work, Diary of a Power Pussy. Taking part in Melbourne Fringe Festival‘s cracking line-up for 2017, which was revealed last night, this show will open your eyes up to a whole lot more than meets the eye. Ms deLightful is one-of-a-kind…

Read More

Theatre Review: Kim Noble is the ultimate voyeur in his latest work You’re Not Alone (Performances until August 13th)

As you enter the Beckett Theatre, ‘Rebel Yell’ by Billy Idol is blasting through the speakers and various Google searches are being projected onto the big screen at the back of the stage. Ever wondered how much a horse costs, or how much a blow job costs, or if you can take a dead squirrel…

Read More

Contemporary and historical artworks shift between dance, music and vocal performance in The Score

Spanning all three floors of the Ian Potter Museum of Art at Melbourne University, is an exhibition that explores music and dance notation from Medieval manuscripts through to graphic notation of the 1960s, alongside artworks and performances. Curated by Jacqueline Dought, The three-month long exhibition The Score features international and Australian artists from the early 20th century…

Read More