Circus-cabaret Spectacular, La Ronde Makes Its Melbourne Debut At Spiegel Haus This October

Feature-La Ronde

The five-star circus cabaret sensation from Strut & Fret, the creators of Blanc de Blanc Encore and Late Night Vice, arrives in Melbourne for the first time, following a huge national tour.

Melbourne, get ready to surrender to the spectacular.

Following critically acclaimed seasons across Australia and a swag of five-star reviews, La Ronde will make its highly anticipated Melbourne debut at Spiegel Haus Melbourne from Wednesday 21 October, bringing its intoxicating blend of world-class circus, cabaret, comedy, live music, glamour and jaw-dropping physical artistry to the heart of the CBD. The Melbourne season follows hot on the heels of an extended 260-show residency in Sydney where La Ronde has racked up more than 1600 five-star audience reviews.

From the internationally renowned creators of Blanc de Blanc Encore and Late Night Vice, La Ronde brings together some of the world’s most extraordinary circus performers for one whirlwind night of spectacle, seduction and skill.

Inside the velvet-draped Spiegeltent, audiences are invited into a world where glittering bodies spin overhead, gravity is defied and the impossible becomes reality.

“Saucy, sensational and undeniably sexy.” ★★★★★ The Advertiser
“All-killer no-filler.” ★★★★★ THE LIST
“Glitz, glamour and incredible displays of talent.” ★★★★★ The AU Review
“If you only see one show (at Adelaide Fringe), make it La Ronde.” ★★★★★ Time Out

Featuring an international cast of elite performers, La Ronde is a high-energy collision of circus, cabaret, comedy and live music, with breathtaking aerial acts, feats of strength, acrobatics, comedy and artistry performed up close and personal in the intimate surrounds of the Spiegeltent.

Among them:
– Acrobat and cabaret artist – Adam Malone (Australia)
– Fire-loving provocateur – Danik Abishe (Australia)
– Guerilla Comedy artist – David Erikson (Sweden)
– Pyramid trapeze aerialist – Diana Bondarenko (Ukraine)
– Singer and dancer – Dorival Junco (Cuba)
– Flying pole virtuoso – Sergiy Mishchurenko (Ukraine)
– Hair-hanging sensation – Zoe Kelly (New Zealand)

Strut & Fret and La Ronde Producer, Jess Copas hinted at what to expect:
“Every act in La Ronde pushes the boundaries of what the human body can do, combining extraordinary technique with humour, sensuality, danger and a healthy dose of irreverence. And with the action taking place on and around a central stage (hence the name La Ronde/The Round), the show feels very intimate as the performers are never far away.”

The result is a night of circus, cabaret and pure physical artistry that is as glamorous as it is outrageous.

Spiegel Haus Melbourne Creative Director Chris Mitchell said Melbourne audiences were in for something unlike anything they had experienced at the venue before.
“La Ronde is everything we love about live entertainment. It is bold, glamorous, cheeky, surprising and incredibly skilful, with some of the world’s most extraordinary performers bringing the stage to life right in front of the audience.

“We have watched La Ronde build an incredible following around Australia and we can’t wait for Melbourne audiences to experience it for themselves.”

REVIEWS: A SPECTACLE THAT HAS AUDIENCES TALKING

After receiving 11 five-star reviews in its debut season at Adelaide Fringe 2025, the production has continued to attract critical acclaim.

The accolades have continued, with Australian arts and entertainment publications embracing the production’s extraordinary combination of physical artistry, glamour and sheer spectacle.

“Breathtaking and wonderous” – ★★★★★ The Au Review
“La Ronde is truly the best show we’ve seen yet.” – ★★★★★ About Adelaide
“A collection of the planet’s most exhilarating variety artists.” – ★★★★★ Hi Fi Way
“A thrilling cocktail of tease and astonishment that excites and amazes beyond imagination.” – Broadway World
“Leave(s) the audience in awe with their mastery of physicality and creativity.” – Australian Arts Review
“A captivating and dazzling theatrical experience” – Theatre Travels
“Extravagant… stunning… magnificent… fun” – ★★★★★ PLAY & GO
“‘timeless artistry”’ – ★★★★★ ENTERTAINMENT NOW
“Wow. Just wow!”– ★★★★★ KIDS IN ADELAIDE
“Not to be missed!” – ★★★★★ MY ADELAIDE TRIBE
“Outstanding.” – ★★★★★ THE ADELAIDE REVIEW TEAM
“it’s easy to forget they’re mere mortals.” – ★★★★★ FIFTY+SA

Strictly for audiences aged 18+, La Ronde contains mild nudity, strobe lighting and theatrical haze.

Season opens: La Ronde opens at Spiegel Haus Melbourne on Wednesday 21 October 2026 at 7:00pm.
Media Night: Tuesday 27 October 2026 at 7:00pm
Venue: Spiegel Haus Melbourne, 217 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne CBD
Season: 21 October 2026 to 31 January 2027 – Wed-Sun
Tickets: spiegelhausmelb.com | From $69:00 + booking fee
Duration: 90 minutes including interval

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Cast Announced For Premiere Of Live Storytelling Concert The Trumpet Of The Swan

Feature-The Trumpet of the Swan

Opera Australia has today announced the cast of The Trumpet of the Swan, a family friendly, live storytelling concert that will premiere at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre from 20 to 22 November 2026.

Helpmann Award-winning actor Bert Labonté, as Sam the Storyteller, will guide audiences through this enchanting musical journey, adapted from E. B. White’s (Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little) charming children’s classic for the stage by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Marsha Norman (The Secret Garden, The Colour Purple), and with music by Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown (The Last Five Years, Parade).

Joining La Bonté onstage, playing Father Swan will be versatile actor and performer Ben Mingay who wowed Melbourne audiences earlier this year in OA’s Gilbert & Sullivan celebration concert, and powerhouse vocalist Marney McQueen, most recently known for her portrayal of Celine Dion in Titanique, as Mother Swan.

Completing the cast will be accomplished screen and stage actor Grant Piro, and local Melbourne based artists, Scout Hook and Arjun Tiwari, who will bring Louis’s world to life through movement and imagination.

Directed by the award-winning Tyran Parke, who is currently Head of Musical Theatre at the Victorian College of the Arts, the concert will be led by Australian-based British conductor Chad Kelly, and acclaimed Melbourne-born choreographer Freya List will add another dimension of storytelling to the performance.

Featuring a soaring score performed live, onstage by Orchestra Victoria, The Trumpet of the Swan tells the story of Louis, a swan born without a voice, as he learns to express himself through music and find his place in the world.

A hit at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC, this beloved tale of friendship and self-discovery comes to life as a magical concert experience and a delightful introduction to live orchestral music for all ages.

Creatives

Conductor: Chad Kelly
Book: Marsha Norman
From the novel by: E.B. White
Music: Jason Robert Brown
Director: Tyran Parke
Choreographer: Freya List

Performance information

7:00pm 20 November
12:00pm 21 & 22 November
3:00pm 21 November

Running time

Approximately 80 minutes, no interval.

Performed in English.

Cast

Sam the Storyteller: Bert Labonte
Father Swan and others: Ben Mingay
Mother Swan and others: Marney McQueen
Louis’s thoughts, voice of Louis and others: Grant Piro
Serena, Sam’s Love and others: Scout Hook
Louis, Sam’s friend, the Swan: Arjun Tiwari
Orchestra Victoria

Bookings

Child tickets from $55 (+ booking fee)
Adult tickets from $79 (+ booking fee)
Family 4+ Offer $55 per ticket (+ booking fee)

Opera Australia Box Office (03) 9685 3700
www.opera.org.au

Regent Theatre, Melbourne

A Novel Symphony for Actors and Orchestra
Based on the Book by E.B. White
Book by Marsha Norman, Music by Jason Robert Brown

This adaptation of E.B White’s “Trumpet of the Swan” was commissioned by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and was first produced at the Kennedy Center in December 2008.

By arrangement with ORiGiN Theatrical on behalf of Theatrical Rights Worldwide, New York.

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Hit Broadway Musical Anastasia Loved By Brisbane, Opening To Rave Reviews

Feature-ANASTASIA

The Courier Mail said “Georgina Hopson is every bit the star” and that ANASTASIA is “the ultimate theatrical tasting platter. You get the show tunes and soaring ballads, but you also get comedy, romance, opera, ballet, extravagant costumes and big Broadway moments”. Scenestr said that “Georgina Hopson is a perfect princess” and “an absolute must see” while The Hollywood Reporter called it “musical theatre at its absolute finest. Don’t miss it.”

The cast for this charming modern fairytale and much-loved musical includes Georgina Hopson as Anya, Robert Tripolino as the charismatic con artist Dmitry, Joshua Robson in the role of antagonist Gleb, Rodney Dobson as Vlad, the universally adored Rhonda Burchmore as Countess Lily and theatre icon Nancye Hayes AM in the role of the Dowager Empress.

The ensemble cast includes Sophia Bae, Elliot Baker, Nicholas Cunningham, Davis Giotopoulos Moore, Todd Goddard, Matthew Jenson, Stephanie Kurlow, Bella Minniti, Simon Plant, Nathan Stafford, Alexis Van Maanen, Patrick Volpe, Annie Wilson, Deone Zanotto and Andrea Zappacosta with the Swings team featuring Manon Gunderson-Briggs, Iosefa Laga’aia, Nathan Pinnell and Emma Russell. The local Queensland performers who feature as Little Anastasia include Eva Boldery, Kalina Kita, Harvey Rose McClelland and Holly Murray.

Inspired by the mysterious tale of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov’s rumoured escape in the dawning days of the Russian Revolution, and the 1997 Oscar nominated animated film of the same name, ANASTASIA has been brought to life on the stage by the Tony Award-winning creative team of Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens.

ANASTASIA is a lavish musical for all ages, transporting audiences from the twilight years of the Imperial rule to the euphoria and exuberance of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman named Anya sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by an army officer determined to silence her, she enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family.

Directed by Tony Award winning director Darko Tresnjak, ANASTASIA premiered on Broadway in March 2017. It received a Tony Award nomination for Best Costume Design in a Musical and won more than 15 major international awards including Best Musical awards in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.

The book for ANASTASIA was written by the late five time Tony Award winning writer Terrence McNally, whose credits include Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class, Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime.

Music and lyrics for ANASTASIA were written by the renowned writing team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens who have been referred to as “one of the greatest songwriting teams in Broadway history.” (Chicago Tribune).

Lyric Theatre QPAC, Brisbane until 18 October 2026

For tickets and further information, please visit www.anastasiathemusical.com.au

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‘Come Alive!’ The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular Coming To Adelaide October 29

Feature-‘COME ALIVE!’ The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular

‘COME ALIVE!’ The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular is coming to Adelaide, opening at the Morphettville Racecourse on October 29. This is the third stop on the production’s Australian tour which has already delighted fans across Sydney and Perth. Following its six week run in Adelaide the spectacular will then move on to Brisbane before farewelling Australia in Melbourne in early 2027.

Performed beneath a purpose-built Hippodrome, this all-ages spectacular reimagines Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s iconic soundtrack from the 20th Century Fox motion picture like never before—live, loud and breathtakingly close, with world-class circus artistry, dazzling visuals and electrifying performances.

Since its Australian premiere in May in Sydney, COME ALIVE! has become a must-see favourite, bringing to life beloved anthems including This Is Me, Rewrite the Stars and A Million Dreams.

Leading the all-Australian cast of actors, singers, dancers and acrobats Des Flanagan (CATS, Moulin Rouge!) as The Showman and Ruby Clark (The Lord of the Rings) as Max have won over audiences along with the local and international circus sensations responsible for bringing this internationally acclaimed production to life.

David Hutchinson, CEO of The Path Entertainment Group said: “After an ongoing sellout run in the UK, we have been thrilled to see Australian audiences so warmly and enthusiastically embrace COME ALIVE! We look forward to taking the show to Adelaide for the next stop on our national tour after being so warmly welcomed by fans new and old in both Sydney and Perth.”

At the helm of the production is Drama Desk award-winning Creative Director Simon Hammerstein (Masquerade, a bold new immersive production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera; Usher’s sold-out ‘My Way’ Las Vegas Residency; and Queen of the Night).

The creative team behind the production and its expansion consists of Music Producer and Olivier Award-nominated Matthew Brind (Paddington 2, Just For One Day, Legally Blonde – West End), Choreographers Jerry Reeve (Taylor Swift, The Queen’s Jubilee Platinum Party At The Palace) and Lukas McFarlane (Strictly Come Dancing, So You Think You Can Dance?, The X Factor), Emmy Award-nominated Lighting Designer Adam Bassett for Woodroffe Basset Design (The Rolling Stones – ‘SIXTY’ Tour 2022, London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony, Adele – Live), Set Designer Ruby Law (Billie Eilish, Jorja Smith, the Royal Albert Hall, Sadler’s Wells Theatre), Costume Designer Susan Kulkarni (The Peripheral, Silence, Dirty Dancing – Secret Cinema), Co-Musical supervisor Greg Arrowsmith and Technical Consultancy by Gary Beestone Associates.

‘COME ALIVE!’ The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular is inspired by the 20th Century Fox Motion Picture The Greatest Showman story by Jenny Bicks and songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

‘COME ALIVE!’ The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular in Australia is produced by Showpath Entertainment Ltd by special arrangement with Outside The Box Amusements and TSG Entertainment.

Tickets are on sale now at comealiveshow.com.au

‘COME ALIVE!’ The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular 2026/27 remaining Australian Dates:
Adelaide – From 29 October 2026, at the Morphettville Racecourse
Brisbane – From 23 Dec 2026, at Royal Queensland Golf Course
Melbourne – 25 Feb 2027, at Caulfield Racecourse

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