Melbourne is the most dynamic performing-arts city in Australia. Its theaters offer the gamut, from offbeat independent productions to large-scale Broadway-style musicals. The city is also the home of the most prestigious festivals, with the annual Melbourne Fringe Festival and the annual Melbourne International Comedy Festival, attracting top Australian and international talent.
Venues all over the city participate in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and the Fringe Festival sees the streets, pubs, theaters, and restaurants playing host to everyone from jugglers and fire-eaters to musicians and independent productions covering all art forms. Another good time to plan your visit is during the annual Melbourne International Film Festival, when new releases, shorts, and avant-garde movies play at venues around the city.
The official government entertainment information site, www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/whatson, shows “What’s On” in the theater world for up to a month in advance, as well as what’s happening in dance, film, comedy, music, exhibitions, sports, and tours.
The best place to buy tickets for everything from theater to major sporting events, and to obtain details on schedules, is Ticketmaster.
Most of the city cinemas are within 2 blocks of the intersection of Bourke and Russell streets. Tickets usually cost around A$15 for adults. Among the independent cinemas, the one that stands out is the Astor. Housed in a superb Art Nouveau building, the Astor shows a mix of classic movies and interesting recent releases.
Melbourne’s nightclub scene used to center on King Street, and while that area is still popular with large disco-style venues, the city is now awash in unique, hidden bars and clubs. It’s best just to follow the crowds — or in some cases, that couple slipping down a side lane and disappearing into a dimly lit entrance. Otherwise, the options listed are more enduring in their appeal.
Pubs generally stay open from midmorning until at least midnight most nights. Many remain open until 2 or 3am on Friday and Saturday nights, and you can always find a few open 24 hours.
Pick a Card … for a Unique Pub-Crawl — All the rage in Melbourne (and developed by clever Melbourne girl Michelle Matthews) is a pack of 52 playing cards called Bar Secrets Melbourne. The cards have pictures of and information (including maps) on the hippest and most unusual pubs and cocktail bars in town. Locals pick out a few at random, and the night’s planned. The cards cost A$9.95 at bookshops and newsdealers, or you can buy them online at www.bar-secrets.com. They are well worth seeking out. Alternately, if you have an iPhone, you can buy it as an app for A$5. You will find yourself weaving up dark alleyways, climbing into lofts and down into basements, and always faced with something unique.
