CHEAT SHEET
Melbourne blooms with great things to do this season
Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion
Drive your 1960s convertible to Bendigo for an exhibition of the fashion great’s most famous and elegant outfits.
Until Nov 10.
Blackie Blackie Brown
It’s another chance to see Nakkiah Lui’s hilarious and bloodthirsty comedy of revenge.
àuntil Sep 14.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Enter Roald Dahl’s world of pure imagination, live on stage.
Until Dec 1.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Yes, Melbourne is still wild about Harry – but accio those tickets fast.
Until May 17.
Bangarra: 30 Years of Sixty Five Thousand
Our top Indigenous dance troupe marks three decades with a tripartite dance extravaganza.
Sep 5-14.
Downton Abbey
Let’s play master and servant once more with Dame Maggie and the gang in the film of the TV show.
Opens Sep 12.
Melbourne Fringe
The city bares its cultural underbelly – give it a good rub! àsep 12-29.
Haroon Mirza: The Construction of an Act
A red-hot London artist brings his work to ACCA for a free show.
Sep 14-Nov 17.
Tesselaar Tulip Festival
Tiptoe through a world of bulbs in the Dandenong Ranges.
14-Oct 13.
Kaws: Companionship in the Age of Loneliness
See the work of the New Jersey pop artist/designer at NGV International.
àsep 20-Apr 13.
Royal Melbourne Show
Kids big and small will go bonkers for bags, rides and all the usual showtime excitement. à Sep 21-Oct 1.
Kate Miller-heidke
The Eurovision hero and operatic pop queen is set to bring the house down at Hamer Hall.
Tue Sep 24.
Melbourne Festival
Jonathan Holloway presents an epic program of music, theatre, visual arts, dance and cabaret.
Oct 2-20.
Chelsea Handler
The influential standup and activist brings fire and fury (and laughs) to the Arts Centre.
Mon Oct 7.
Melbourne Marathon Festival
Go the distance, from 5km up to 42, in the nation’s biggest run. àsun Oct 13.
Holey Cheese Festival
Slutty for cheese? Get down to QVM for a world of dairy deliciousness. àoct 22-27.
Doctor Sleep
Here’s Ewan! Return to the Overlook with the long-awaited movie sequel to The Shining.
Opens Nov 7.
Night Noodle Markets
Asian snacks ahoy down at Birrarung Marr will make those spring evenings doubly welcome.
Nov 7-24.
Apocalypse Meow: Crisis is Born
Wicked chanteuse Meow Meow stars in a Christmas-themed cabaret at Malthouse.
Nov 7-24.
Steve Martin and Martin Short
Here’s your chance to see two comedy amigos live at Melbourne Arena. àfri Nov 15.
Teddy Tahu Rhodes stars in Opera Australia’s production, a gorgeous evocation of 1870s Paris. ànov 27-Dec 7.
Cat Lovers Show
Find everything feline at Melbourne’s festival of pretty kitties. ànov 30-Dec 1.
Spilt Milk
Ballarat gets a music festival featuring Khalid, Chvrches, Middle Kids and more. àsat Nov 30.