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Grace Carroll as Juliet and Joseph Caley as Romeo.

Catastrophe and drama collide in this lavish production

John Cranko’s 1962 Romeo and Juliet is most admired – among those who do admire it – for the ensemble grandeur of its large set-piece scenes.

  • Andrew Fuhrmann, Cameron Woodhead, Tony Way, Sonia Nair and Jessica Nicholas

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Melbourne nightclub firebombings have hit the local hospitality industry.

Nightclubs at risk of ‘disappearing forever’ in aftermath of crime wave

There hasn’t been a targeted attack against a Melbourne hospitality venue since mid-May, but workers within the city’s nightclub scene say it’s still struggling to stay afloat.

  • Gemma Grant and Isabel McMillan
Ketamine Sofa from Belfast choreographer Oona Doherty.

With 26 acts in six spaces, it’s impossible to see it all – but I gave it a red-hot go

Rising’s full-day music festival had something for everyone, even if they didn’t know it beforehand.

  • Karl Quinn
The Shepherds at Rising festival

This is the best dance work I’ve seen at this year’s Rising

The show runs for little more than an hour – with an ensemble of just four dancers – but nonetheless gives the impression of an epic drama.

  • Andrew Fuhrmann, Nick Buckley, Will Cox and Cameron Woodhead
Never Closer

This is one of the finest ensemble performances I’ve seen. It’s hard to believe it’s a debut

Never Closer is a love story – also a ghost story – set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles

  • Cameron Woodhead, Bridget Davies, Tony Way and Jessica Nicholas
Gabriyel Thomas, Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Mackenzie Dunn in waitress.

Starry cast redeems problematic, pie-in-the-sky plot in Waitress

Yes, there’s a squeamish rom-com vibe and a problematic plot in this Broadway musical - but don’t let that put you off.

  • Marcus Teague, Cameron Woodhead, Kelsey Oldham and Sonia Nair
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Lily Wilson, 30, finds metalcore music to be therapeutic.

Hell’s bells: Tough times drive surge in hard rock music

Amid cost-of-living pressures and global turmoil, music lovers are increasingly streaming punk, hard rock and heavy metal for catharsis.

  • Michael Lallo
Chris “come sing with me!” Martin.

Shut up and listen: Why your singing is ruining the concert I paid for

If you want to sing along, there is a place for you – it’s called a karaoke club.

  • Ben Coady
The Heathers, a self-appointed troika of bullying and bitchiness, are choreographed to camp perfection.

Heathers the musical is here – and it’s so much more than a nostalgia hit

Can musical theatre do justice to the doom-laden subversiveness of Heathers?

  • Cameron Woodhead, Tony Way, Martin Boulton and Sonia Nair
The Wu-Tang Clan gig at Rod Laver Arena was messy and chaotic, with flashes of brilliance.

This was supposed to be a Wu-Tang gig – so where were the Wu-Tang Clan?

Although this tour was billed as “all living members, together for the final time”, four members were absent, without explanation.

  • Liam Pieper, Cameron Woodhead and Andrew Fuhrmann