All posts filed under: What’s On

Japanese Film Festival 2018

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The Japanese Film Festival will showcase 30 features and one fascinating documentary across Canberra (17 – 21 Oct.), Brisbane (24 – 28 Oct.), Perth (31 Oct. – 4 Nov.), Adelaide (9 – 11 Nov.), Sydney (15 – 25 Nov.) and Melbourne (22 Nov. – 2 Dec.). Each city features carefully curated programming by The Japan Foundation, Sydney, from star-studded drama Yakiniku Dragon and tear-jerking true story The 8 Year Engagement, to viral genre-bender One Cut of the Dead, and one of the latest works from master filmmakers including Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters – winner of the Cannes Palme d’Or in 2018). The Festival in Sydney and Melbourne will open with viral microbudget genre-bender One Cut of the Dead. Direct from sold-out screenings across Japan, this action-packed spectacle is a brilliantly-disguised low-budget, high-concept take on the zombie comedy genre. Flowing seamlessly from monster mayhem, to hilarious satire, into a family comedy-drama, Shinichiro Ueda’s debut follows a film crew shooting a zombie flick, during which they are attacked by real zombies. Read more about the event here. Your chance …

Night Noodle Markets 2018

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The eagerly awaited Night Noodle Markets  will once again transform Birrarung Marr  into a bustling Asian street food festival, this Spring . Over eighteen balmy nights from 8-25 November , Melburnians can embark on a vibrant flavour journey through Asia with more than twenty sizzling hawker-style stalls, served alongside DJs, live music and the city’s stunning nightscape. Night Noodle Markets will return for its second year as a stand-alone spring culinary event, as Good Food Month presented by Citi enjoys its new appearance in June. Sampling signature dishes and innovative tastes from the likes of Puffle, Red Spice Road and Son In Law, guests will discover the best traditional and contemporary cuisines and flavours from across the continent in one vibrant, open-air experience. Guests can explore the Asian market stalls along the riverside, and then find a coveted spot on the grassy hillside overlooking the markets, taking in the strong scents of aromatic smoke and exotic spices as the sun sets. As the evening darkens, the spice and smoke will be matched by the lights …

Peninsula Vine Hop Festival 2018

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Get ready for your taste buds to dance, at the Peninsula VineHop Festival With most ticket options to the VineHop Saturday selling out quickly, attention is turning to the Peninsula VineHop Festival’s foodie-focused event, the PostHop Sunday Session on Sunday 18 November. With a relaxed ‘Sunday Session’ feel, the PostHop Sunday will be a five-course food and drink pairing event held at Hickinbotham of Dromana, with a focus upon maximising flavour in a relaxed environment. According to event organiser Lisa MacGregor, everyone who attends the PostHop Sunday event will be given a ‘Degustation Passport’ entitling them to a five-course picnic style lunch, to enjoy at their own leisure throughout the day. “Each course has been specifically matched with a premium Peninsula beer, wine or cider, which can be purchased on the day,” said Lisa. Passport holders can opt for vegetarian options, or indulge on the following degustation menu: A selection of three Boatshed cheeses, served with crackers (can be GF) Matched with Hickinbotham Estate Merlot or a Mornington Peninsula Brewery VinAle Grilled fish taco, corn …

Join in the spook-tacular fun at ‘Luna Dark’ if you dare!

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HAVE YOURSELF A HAUNTED HALLOWEEN AT LUNA PARK AND YOU’LL BE GUARANTEED A DARK CASE OF THE HAIR-RAISING HEEBIE-JEEBIES! As Luna Park transforms into the ghoulishly delightful Luna Dark you’ll be a sad spook to miss out on Melbourne’s biggest costume party this Halloween! So what’s in store for the brave guests willing to plunge into the world of Luna Dark and experience the scariest two-days and four-nights in town (26-28th and 31st October). The House of Horrors – For the fearless punters ONLY! Enter into the darkness to witness the zombie doctor inflict blood-curdling terror on his deathly patients. Menacing monsters everywhere – Make sure to look around every corner and behind shoulders because you never know when a staggering zombie, ghostly ghoul or creepy cadaver will reach and grab you! Fresh from the local tombstones in the area, this terrifying troupe will not stop until they sniff you out. And while you are checking behind you don’t forget to look up at nine-metre long ‘Giant Web’ housing a set of slinky spiders spectacularly suspended …

MINI British Film Festival

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Presented by Palace, the MINI British Film Festival is thrilled to announce the full 2018 program which boasts a sensational selection of the most eagerly awaited films of the year from the British Isles. Featuring a roll call of British cinema royalty as well a host of exciting new talent, this year’s British Film Festival program promises to delight and engage audiences. The Australian premiere of COLETTE will open the festival. Keira Knightley stars as trailblazing French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, whose provocative debut – falsely credited to her husband – becomes the toast of Paris in this mesmerising biopic, one of several films screening that depict the lives of literary figures. Closing the festival this year is STAN & OLLIE, coming straight from its world premiere at the 62nd BFI London Film Festival. From BAFTA-winning screenwriter Jeff Pope (Philomena) and starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly, this is the truly funny and touching story of one of Hollywood’s greatest double acts: Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. This year we pay tribute to British cinema …

Hook Turn Orchestra

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Hook Turn Orchestra is thrilled to announce their exclusive album launch of Jazz And The Silver Screen. Performing reimagined cinematic scores at The Alex Theatre in St Kilda, formerly The George Cinemas. Hook Turn Orchestra is an eclectic nine piece ensemble of Melbourne’s most accomplished jazz musicians featuring an exquisite string quartet with members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria. It combines three key ingredients; the beautiful vocals of Musical Theatre star Alinta Chidzey (West Side Story); Violinist/arranger, Roger Young (MSO) and Dutch-born jazz saxophonist/arranger and multi-instrumentalist, Remco Keijzer. (we had a chat with Remoco, read about it here.) During this intimate Sunday afternoon iconic songs of the silver screen will be performed live in what used to be the beloved George cinemas. This beautiful collection of soundtracks will fill you with nostalgia, taking you on a journey from the classic Smile by Charlie Chaplin to the heart wrenching music of Schindler’s list all the way to Joni Mitchell’s masterpiece Both Sides Now from Love Actually. These reinventions are the brainchild of Remco …

Royal Melbourne Oktoberfest 2018

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Since the early 1800’s, Oktoberfest has been the world’s largest Volksfest (Beer Festival), and to celebrate over 200 years of fun, the Royal Melbourne Oktoberfest will see lederhosen clad partygoers shouting Prost from the top of their lungs once again in 2018! Taking place at the Royal Exhibition Building (REB), this incredible heritage listed building rivals the great Bavarian beer halls of Germany and will play host to the most traditional Oktoberfest event Melbourne has seen, with German oompah bands, folk dancing, on-stage competitions and an atmosphere that is guaranteed to be electric. Royal Melbourne Oktoberfest boasts a drinks list that will have even the most avid connoisseur licking their lips with the 2018 event featuring over 50 different imported German beers, plus cider, wine, schnapps and much more. To tantalise your taste buds, the event will feature numerous German caterers serving up traditional meals such as pork hocks, schnitzels, bratwurst and other German sausages, brathendl (roast chickens), pretzels and German pastries. Royal Melbourne Oktoberfest only runs over two sessions, a Day Session and an Evening Session. Last year SOLD …

A Celebration of Nelson Mandela – Mabiba The Musical

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Energetic and compelling new stage show Madiba the Musical – a Celebration of the Life of Nelson Mandela opens in Melbourne in October. Madiba the Musical, which celebrates the life of the former South African leader, who would have turned 100 in July this year, is interwoven with stories of the fight against apartheid and forbidden love in a troubled land. Playing the role of Nelson Mandela is Perci Moeketsi, a South African star of stage, television and film, who dared to dream the impossible, encouraged by Mandela’s own words: “It is impossible until it’s done”. Perci joins Tim Omaji;  Tarisai Vushe; Blake Erickson; Madeline Perrone; Barry Conrad; Ruva Ngwenya; David Denis along with  Courtney Bell and Riley Sutton to star in this energetic and compelling new stage show. African dance and vocal traditions are given a contemporary setting alongside eternal love songs and stirring anthems in a show that tells of Mandela’s lifework as a lawyer and activist for peace through the story of young artist Will, who is the victim of apartheid in …

Tap Dance Festival 2018

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The 7th annual Australian Tap Dance Festival takes centre stage in Melbourne this spring, 29 September – 6 October, with a world class line-up of talented Tappers arriving for Australia’s premiere celebration of Tap. The Australian Tap Dance Festival is the only festival of its kind in Australasia and offers an action-packed week of Tap and choreography, lessons and master classes, dance battles, seminars, a Gala show and special events for all ages and levels. The festival will run at Melbourne’s Ministry of Dance, a full accredited dance and training studio founded by renowned Australian dancer, choreographer, performer and presenter Jason Coleman. This year’s Festival faculty features an exceptional line up of accomplished Tap artists including American headliner Melinda Sullivan – one of the most sought after Tap soloists and choreographers in the world (The Late Late Show with James Corden, La La Land, SYTYCD USA). Other esteemed faculty include Winston Morrison (founder of Melbourne Tap Dance and Australian Tap Dance Festival Director), Tyler Knowlin (currently touring with Riverdance), Peta Anderson (currently touring with Eireborne), …

WORLD-FIRST: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S 50 GREATEST WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHS EXHIBITION

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Melbourne Zoo visitors will be the first in the world to view the very best wildlife photographs from 130 years of National Geographic magazine at an immersive exhibition launching this spring. 50 Greatest Wildlife Photographs, curated by renowned nature picture editor Kathy Moran, is a celebratory look at wildlife with captivating images from some of National Geographic’s most iconic photographers, including Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols, Steve Winter, Paul Nicklen, Beverly Joubert and David Doubilet. The pop-up exhibition will make its global debut as an outdoor installation in Melbourne Zoo’s historic Carousel Park and be accompanied by an INDE augmented reality (AR) experience, titled Air, Land & Sea. Air, Land & Sea gives viewers a unique chance to travel to an ever-changing watering hole where a diverse range of animals, from Africa to the Arctic, graze, drink and interact with the environment around them. Melbourne Zoo director Kevin Tanner said the spectacular photographs and AR experience would provide zoo visitors with an opportunity to see wildlife from around the world. “These extraordinary photographs show what some of …