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Play Date: Elementary Brings Bold New Short Works To The Stage

21/01/2026 Breaking News🥇

Knock And Run Theatre is proud to announce Play Date: Elementary, the latest iteration of its short play festival celebrating new writing, emerging artists, and experimental performance.

Returning on February 21st at The Laneway Theatre (also known as Newcastle Theatre Company), Play Date: Elementary will present a curated program of short plays responding to the theme “Elementary” – interpreted by artists in playful, abstract, and unexpected ways. The festival showcases a diverse lineup of writers and directors, each bringing a distinct voice and theatrical approach to the stage.

Following an open call that attracted a high volume of submissions, a script assessor (nationally acclaimed playwright Vanessa Bates) chose 9 short plays to be developed and presented as part of the festival. The final program reflects a wide range of styles and perspectives, united by a spirit of curiosity, invention, and bold storytelling.

“Play Date is about creating space for artists to take risks,” says James Chapman, Play Date festival director. “Elementary gave writers permission to strip things back, flip expectations, and approach theatre with a sense of play. The selected works are surprising, smart, and full of energy.”

Play Date has become a key platform for emerging and independent theatre-makers in the region, offering opportunities for writers, directors, and performers to collaborate on new work within a supportive and creatively ambitious framework. The festival prioritises accessibility, simplicity of production, and strong artistic voice.

This year’s festival includes short plays such as “Fridge” by Joshua Maxwell, “Her Element” by Nat Newman, “Cow Juice: An Origin Story” by Dez Robertson and “The Escape” by Alison Lancey. This year’s Play Date is the third iteration of the festival following Play Date: Time & Space (2021) and Play Date: Four Seasons (2025) and will feature multiple short works presented across a mixed bill, with performances at 2pm and 7:30pm on Saturday 21st Feb. Tickets are on sale now and are available via https://events.humanitix.com/play-date-elementary, with full program and artist announcements to follow.

EVENT DETAILS
What: Play Date: Elementary
Presented by: Knock And Run Theatre
When: 2pm & 7:30pm Saturday 21st, Feb
Where: The Laneway Theatre, Lambton
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/play-date-elementary

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Picnics, Pop And Pride: Fair Day Returns For 2026

15/01/2026 Breaking News🥇

Feature-Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day returns to Victoria Park on Sunday 15 February 2026, bringing together music, performance, community and pure daytime euphoria as the Festival’s largest free, all-ages event under the 2026 theme ECSTATICA.

Music Line-up
Leading the celebrations is international house music icon Janice Robinson of Livin’ Joy (Miami, USA), making her Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras debut with an exclusive Fair Day performance. A defining voice of 90s house, Robinson will deliver sun-soaked dancefloor energy with iconic anthems including Dreamer, Don’t Stop Moving and There Must Be Love featuring David Morales, tracks woven deep into queer dance culture and collective joy.

“I am super excited to be coming to Australia to perform for Mardi Gras,” said Robinson. “I am a dreamer who continues to live her dreams, and Australia is a country I love deeply. This moment means more to me than words can express.”

Joining Robinson is Blusher (VIC), one of Australia’s most exciting pop acts to watch, arriving fresh from supporting Rebecca Black and performing at Laneway Festival the week prior. They are joined by genre-blurring pop artist Go-Jo, bringing bold, feel-good energy, and drag icon Courtney Act delivering unmistakable star power and Mardi Gras flair.

Kathy Pavlich and Mits Delisle - Co Chairs of SGLMG.jpg

Mits Delisle and Kathy Pavlich - Co Chairs of SGLMG.jpg

Also appearing across the day are dance music icon Zoe Badwi (VIC) serving up classic house vocals, DJ James Alexandr taking the stage with Nada Leigh for a club-ready set, Kath Ebbs bringing queer country tunes for a boot-stomping round of line dancing, and IVANA (VIC) in her Mardi Gras debut live show, will electrify the Main Stage with her euro-dance hits including ‘Liar Liar’, ‘Need Your Love’ and ‘Burning’.

Beyond the Main Stage, international acts Mila Jam (Los Angeles, USA) and Arisce (New York City, USA) join local stars Felicia Foxx, Aunty Tamara, Atomic Kiss, Jackel Doll, Tiddalicious, DJ Nate and more across Fair Day stages and activations, rounding up a full day of pop, dance, drag and party from first light through to golden hour.

Across the Park
Fair Day transforms Victoria Park into a vibrant playground of culture, creativity and connection. The day begins at the First Nations Circle with a Smoking Ceremony and performances by the Buuja Buuja Butterfly Dancers, honouring Country and grounding the celebrations.

Beloved Fair Day favourites return, including Doggywood, the country’s most adored canine pageant, Trans Camp, back for its second year as a proudly trans-run community zone, Karaoke Cave: Disco and Divas hosted by Vybe, serving unapologetic sing-along chaos and the Drag King Games with their signature mix of muscle, mischief and mayhem.

Also strutting back on stage is the Queer Fashion Runway, showcasing works from 10 local designers in a fast, fabulous 50-minute show. EOIs are open until Friday, 30 January 2026 via fairday@mardigrasarts.org.au

More than 200 community stalls, food trucks, pop-up bars and picnic spots fill the park, creating a relaxed, joy-fuelled day of wandering, grazing and gathering with friends, family and chosen family.

Festival-goers are encouraged to download the Mardi Gras App for maps, set times and on-the-day updates.

Event Details
Sunday 15 February
Victoria Park, Parramatta Rd, Broadway
Free, all-ages event
Mardi Gras App is Free to download via App Store and Google Play
More info: mardigras.org.au/event/fair-day

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Joseph Green Takes The Mushroom Lady Centre Stage At Melbourne Comedy Festival

15/01/2026 Breaking News🥇

If you didn’t get a front row seat to the trial that gripped the nation, then don’t worry, Joseph Green has you covered. As Associate to a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Joseph worked on the trial of Erin Patterson, now infamously known as The Mushroom Lady. After seven murder trials and months of working on the pre-trial for Ms Patterson, Joseph resigns and goes to clown school. The combination of which provided the perfect backdrop to create Mushroom Lady, touring Australia in 2026 and coming to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Joseph Green is a comedian and storyteller, he’s performed stand-up across America, UK, Europe and India. An accomplished actor, Joseph appeared in the Superwog series Son of a Donkey (Netflix) and trained with the Atlantic Theatre Company in New York. Leaning into the handsome and charming, Joseph has also worked as a model in New York and Paris.

“Handsome, charming and possessing the type of voice that audiobook companies have wet dreams about.” TheMusic ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Green’s a gifted storyteller.” ArtsHub ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mushroom Lady will premiere in Sydney on January 25 before touring the country to Fringe World, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival and Brisbane Comedy Festival. This is a show for anyone fascinated by trials, mushies and how not to cook with them.

More information visit josephgreen.com.au.

MUSHROOM LADY 2026 TOUR DATES

SYDNEY
Sunday 25 January
Chippo Hotel
Tickets

PERTH
Thu 5 February
Balmoral Hotel

FREMANTLE
Sunday 8 February
The Sail & Anchor
Tickets

ADELAIDE
Wed 25, Thu 26, Fri 27, Sat 28 February, Sun 1 March
Venue TBC

BRISBANE
Sat 7 March
Good Chat Comedy Club
Tickets

HOBART
Sat 14 March
Brewlab
Tickets

MELBOURNE
Wed 25 – Sun 29, Tue 31 Mar, Wed 1 – Sun 19 Apr
House of Maximon
Tickets

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Europa! Europa Film Festival To Open With The Testament Of Ann Lee

09/01/2026 Breaking News🥇

Europa! Europa Film Festival returns for its fifth year, screening again in Melbourne and Sydney and expanding for the first time to cinemas in Brisbane, Hobart and Auckland. For one month, from 19 February to 19 March, the festival will present an exciting line-up of European cinematic treasures, comprising 43 films from 22 countries. The festival has announced its opening night film, Mona Fastvold’s The Testament of Ann Lee, the remarkable true story of the founder of the devotional Christian sect known as the Shakers in the mid-18th century.

The third feature directed by Norwegian Mona Fastvold (co-written with her partner Brady Corbet, their follow-up to the Academy Award-winning The Brutalist), The Testament of Ann Lee is an ambitious and visually stunning musical portrait of an unconventional religious leader, who is played with reverent commitment by Amanda Seyfried, who is nominated for a Golden Globe for the role.

The film will screen on Thursday 19 February at Classic Cinemas and Lido Cinemas in Melbourne, Ritz Cinemas in Sydney, Angelika Cinemas in Brisbane, State Cinema in Hobart and Bridgeway Cinema in Auckland. In Sydney at Ritz Cinemas, the film will screen in 70mm.

The Testament of Ann Lee_key still 1.jpg

“We couldn’t be more excited to open our festival with this impressive feature from Mona Fastvold that is as propulsive and passionate as its subject” said Artistic Director Spiro Economopoulos. “This film encapsulates what Europa is all about: bold filmmaking and epic storytelling that spotlights fascinating subjects and showcases European talent.”

The festival has also announced its first retrospective strand spotlighting one of the most revered and influential directors of the 20th century with Michelangelo Antonioni: Modernist Master, which includes four films from the Italian director’s artistic zenith. Collaborating with icon and muse Monica Vitti on L’Avventura, La Notte, L’Eclisse and Red Desert, Antonioni shaped a century and invented a new film language that dissected the tensions between people and their modern worlds with an elegant, eerie cool. The four films will screen throughout the festival in Melbourne and Sydney.

THE DETAILS:
OPENING NIGHT FILM – THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE

MELBOURNE
Classic Cinemas, Elsternwick
Thursday 19th February
6:45pm – Opening night event
7:30pm – The Testament of Ann Lee

Lido Cinemas, Hawthorn
Thursday 19th February
6:45pm – Opening night event
7:30pm – The Testament of Ann Lee
Tickets include drinks, DJ and nibbles.

SYDNEY
Ritz Cinemas, Randwick
Thursday 19th February
6:45pm – Opening night event
7:30pm – The Testament of Ann Lee in 70mm
Tickets include drinks, DJ and nibbles.

BRISBANE
Angelika Cinemas, Woolloongabba
Thursday 19th February
7:15pm – Drink on arrival
7:30pm – The Testament of Ann Lee

HOBART
State Cinema, North Hobart
Thursday 19th February
7:15pm – Drink on arrival
7:30pm – The Testament of Ann Lee

AUCKLAND
Bridgeway Cinema, Auckland
Thursday 19th February
7:15pm – Drink on arrival
7:30pm – The Testament of Ann Lee
Tickets include a drink on arrival.

FESTIVAL DATES & VENUES
MELBOURNE
Classic Cinemas, Elsternwick
Thu 19 Feb – Thu 19 Mar
Lido Cinemas, Hawthorn
Thu 19 Feb – Thu 19 Mar
Cameo Cinemas, Belgrave*
Fri 20 Feb – Mon 2 Mar

SYDNEY
Ritz Cinemas, Randwick
Thu 19 Feb – Thu 19 Mar

BRISBANE
Angelika Cinemas, Woolloongabba*
Thu 19 Feb – Sun 1 Mar

HOBART
State Cinema, Hobart*
Thu 19 Feb – Sun 1 Mar

AUCKLAND
Bridgeway Cinemas, Auckland*
Thu 19 Feb – Wed 4 Mar

*New venue

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