See & Do
Defiant and daring, this new musical takes on the story of a literary giant
Creating a musical from scratch is a difficult and laborious challenge. Stella refuses to set its sights low, and quite rightly.
- Cameron Woodhead and Tony Way
Latest
The one thing that put David Sedaris off moving to Australia
In his new essay collection, the beloved US writer reflects on his travels to Australia – and why he would be reluctant to move here.
- Pat Sheil
To Barbie and beyond: How a plastic doll became a design icon
A 1959 first-edition Barbie worth up to $40,000 will be among 150 dolls on display as part of an exclusive Australian exhibition devoted to the plastic figure turned cultural icon.
- Kayla Olaya
‘What if my writing is terrible?’: The six-week sprint to opening night
What does it take to turn Shakespeare’s Macbeth into a glitter-soaked tale of child stardom set in 2006?
- Yve Blake
Hit or miss? Our take on the week’s biggest new book releases
From a queer coming-of-age novel and serial killer family secrets to children’s books, cancer care and climate policy, this week’s books take readers in all directions.
- Cameron Woodhead and Fiona Capp
Your favourite journalists’ favourite books from the first half of 2026
You might know our journalists and editors through the stories they write, but what are they reading when they’re off the clock?
- Melanie Kembrey
Is this Aussie comedy film racist? Its director doesn’t think so
There are plenty of people who think the last great Australian comedy was Crocodile Dundee – and filmmaker Tony Rogers might just be among them.
- Karl Quinn
- Review
- Arts
Beautiful but shallow: The NGV’s new blockbuster is big on celebrity but light on insight
Mostly, the pieces are designed to showcase the wealth of the wearer, and a jewel is nothing if not draped across a powerful figure.
- Will Cox
Is this how it feels to be young, broke, scammed and cast out on the street?
The new film Mad Rush, premiering at Melbourne International Film Festival, is urgent and powerful – and couldn’t be more relevant to many young people.
- Karl Quinn
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