Dangerous When Wet: The Musical Premieres 8-18 October

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A fabulously funny, brand-new, all-Australian, all-woman, Vaudeville-styled musical comedy, DANGEROUS WHEN WET, splashes down in Sydney this October.

It celebrates the friendship and rivalry of swimmers Fanny Durack and Mina Wylie and the untold, true story of their fight to represent Australia and – ultimately – win Gold and Silver in the 100m women’s freestyle at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics.

Boasting an insanely talented all-female cast, this hilarious and touching show will have you laughing, crying, singing along to dangerously catchy tunes… and rejoicing in Sydney’s stellar swimming history.

Featured performers include burlesque legend Megan Walshe as Narrator Annette Kellerman, Hayes Theatre star Cypriana Singh as Fanny, recent NIDA graduate and rising star Grace Trainor as Mina, sweet-faced and powerful-voiced Addy Roberts as British swim champion Jennie Fletcher, drag-king extraordinaire Jacinta Gregory as journalist Cecil Healy (it’s not vaudeville if it ain’t got drag!), hilarious Annerose de Jong as sports entrepreneur Mrs Mack and opera diva Eliane Morel as misunderstood villain Rose Scott.

Developed over several years by award-winning creators Eliane Morel, Merran Hughes, Joanna Weinberg and Daryl Wallis (including a Randwick Town Hall ‘takeover’ creative development where it was described as ‘Better than Hamilton!’), this is a world-premiere you won’t want to miss.

DANGEROUS WHEN WET
WHEN: 8 to 18 October, 2026
PREVIEWS: 2pm and 7pm, Thursday 8 October
OPENING NIGHT: Friday 9 October
WHERE: Randwick Town Hall
TICKETS: $25-$100
BOOKINGS and INFORMATION: www.dangerouswhenwet.com.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DangerousWhen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DangerousWhenWetMusical

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Summer Spectacular Hook’s Neverland Sails Into The Concert Hall

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A thrilling new adventure from the minds behind GATSBY at The Green Light

The swashbuckling spectacular Hook’s Neverland sails into the Concert Hall this summer for its world premiere, with the irrepressible Captain James Hook at its helm. Forget the boy who wouldn’t grow up: this tale is all Hook’s as he flips that well-trod legend of villainy and introduces a world filled with reverie and wonderment. With his right-hand man Smee, and a maverick Tinkerbell causing trouble along the way, Hook guides audiences through an unforgettable journey filled with circus, illusions, humour and tomfoolery. A raucous carnival of extraordinary performers will astonish and delight in this voyage across the realms of Neverland, from the waters of Mermaid Lagoon to the decks of the Jolly Roger.

Captain Hook and his motley crew cast off into the high seas, juggling and teetering towards a luminous Fairyland, where soaring aerials ignite mischief and whimsy. Tripping into the Lost Boys Hideout, they find themselves in a riotous underground world, with high-energy acrobatics echoing the thrumming chaos of childhood, before diving into an underwater paradise filled with sirens and suspense. In Skull Rock, Hook weaves his way across a knife-edge of danger as he tries to evade the relentless crocodile.

Shaped by the imaginations of Craig Ilott, Stuart Couzens (GATSBY at The Green Light and L’Hotel) with Neil Dorward – known for directing theatrical extravaganzas (Circus1903, The Illusionists and Cirque du Soleil’s Mad Apple) – this bold and enchanting production will thrill the young and the young at heart. The show will be brought to life by an exhilarating, cinematic score from Evan Duffy, composer for Cirque Du Soleil’s Auana as well as film franchises such as Now You See Me.

Director Neil Dorward says: “What excites me about Hook’s Neverland is taking a world we all think we know and completely turning it on its head. We’re bringing together an outstanding international cast of entertainers in circus, magic, comedy and variety, alongside dazzling visual effects, to create a Neverland full of danger, mischief, adventure and possibility. I’m incredibly excited to return to the Sydney Opera House with a brand-new production, and I can’t wait for audiences to step into our Neverland for the first time.”

Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Performance Harry Prouse says: “Every year, we look for remarkable, large-scale work that matches the daring of the Opera House itself, and Hook’s Neverland is exactly that. This circus of the imagination – led by a cunning, scene-stealing Hook – brings together a first-rate line-up of acrobats, high-flyers and illusionists to transform our Concert Hall into Neverland itself. From the creative minds behind some of the world’s most breathtaking theatrical productions, it’s the perfect addition to our summer program, and a chance for audiences of every age to experience childlike wonder under our Sails.”

KEY INFORMATION
WHAT: Hook’s Neverland
WHEN: 9 January – 17 January 2027
WHERE: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
FOR: Ages 8+
PRICES: From $74.90 plus $8.95 booking fee
PRE SALE: 9am, Tuesday 1 September
WHAT’S ON: 9am, Wednesday 2 September
GENERAL PUBLIC: 9am, Friday 4 September

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Magical Storyteller, Roisin Mcalinden Highly Anticipated Return To Melbourne For Fringe With Fairytale: Ending

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In a fairytale-turned-nightmare, Roisin McAlinden was swept off her feet by a knight in shining armour, but she quickly found a darker side to the saviour fantasy.

Fairytale: Ending sees British-born comedian, Roisin McAlinden, blend dark humour and intimate storytelling into a cheeky satire of the stories that shape our ideas of love. After critically acclaimed runs at Perth Fringe World, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Sydney Fringe, McAlinden will return to Melbourne playing at Bard’s Apothecary from 6-10 October 2026.

“Why did you stay?” A common question asked of women after a bad relationship. McAlinden answers, exploring how these love stories lead women to believe that the only path to happiness is being chosen by a man. Even if that man is an angry loner who lives in a dusty tower with only furniture for friends (looking at you, Belle). Better to be like Snow White, perhaps. On the surface a typical housewife, McAlinden reframes her as a savvy business woman who strategically bakes pies for seven wealthy diamond miners.

Directed by Penny Greenhalgh (writer of URZILA starring Urzila Carlson), Fairytale: Ending is a personal and playful exploration of feminism, gender roles, queer identity and the power of women telling their own stories. “Before the Brothers Grimm, the first person to coin the term fairytale was a woman, Madame D’Aulnoy.” McAlinden enlightens. “She was arrested for revolutionary activities. These stories were once used to fight against forced marriage, warn women of the dangers of the world, and build hope for a better future. How different would our ideas of love and happiness be if women had been able to tell our own stories?” Fairytale: Ending is the answer.

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The Homecoming: A Timeless Modern Classic

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Harold Pinter’s multi Tony Award-winning drama The Homecoming comes to the intimate Athenaeum Theatre 2 for a strictly limited season. This gripping production explores a volatile world of tension, family conflict, and shifting power. Known for its sharp dialogue, psychological complexity, and exploration of power and desire, The Homecoming brings one of the twentieth century’s most celebrated plays to the stage in this smouldering and provocative production.

Directed and Designed for the Melbourne stage by Greg Carroll (Swansong, Glory Dazed) with Sound by Paul Norton (Much Ado About Nothing) – this intimate new production brings together an outstanding cast of Australian stage and screen talent.

Starring Kate Kendall (Stingers, Rush) as Ruth, Richard Piper (The Lady in the Van, Twelfth Night, Come from Away) as Max, Ben Geurens (Reign) as Lenny, Peter Houghton (Shakespeare in Love, North by Northwest) as Teddy, David Field (City Homicide) as Sam, & Eddie Orton (Touching The Void) as Joey.

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In a crowded house in East London lives a family of butchers, fighters, and men bound by routine and rivalry. When Teddy returns from America with his wife Ruth – a woman his family has never met – old tensions surface and an unsettling battle for control begins. As loyalties shift and desires emerge, the household is thrown into a dangerous and unpredictable power game.

Director Greg Carroll says; “One of the greatest joys of bringing this production to life has been working with such an exceptional cast. Every actor helps create an ensemble capable of meeting Pinter’s extraordinary demands. In this production we have some of Australia’s finest stage performers, and their commitment to uncovering the complexity, humour, and danger within these characters has been truly inspiring. I can’t wait for audiences to experience the electricity they create together on stage.”

Venue: Athenaeum Theatre 2, 188 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000
Preview Night: 17th September
Opening Night: 18th September
Dates: 17th September – 3rd October 2026

Times: Evening: 7.30pm Matinee: 2.00pm Wednesdays and Saturdays – No performances Sundays and Mondays
Price: Adults from $59 Concession from $56.05 Under 30 $53.10

Book at www.homecomingplay.com.au or Ticketmaster

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