When Ken Kesey’s debut novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was released in February 1962, it didn’t arrive quietly. It exploded onto the global stage, selling over ten million copies worldwide and forever changing American literature.More than a novel, it became a major cultural turning point challenging the ethics of psychiatric care, sparking conversations on patient rights, and standing as a timeless symbol of resistance against oppressive systems.
Now, Melbourne audiences are stepping back into Kesey’s world in a powerful new production at the historic Athenaeum Theatre. It’s a gripping story about power, freedom, and the universal fight for individuality. Its core questions remain as urgent and electrifying today as they were over sixty years ago.
Athenaeum Theatre From 13th November https://cuckoosnest.com.au
Established back in 1887, the National Gallery of Victoria Travelling Scholarship spent generations shaping our country’s finest creative minds. Conceived by NGV Director George Folingsby, the scholarship was built on the belief that studying European Old Masters firsthand was essential to an artist’s education.
Awarded every three years to standout painting students from the National Gallery School, this incredible three-year stipend funded travel to the great artistic capitals of Europe. In return, recipients gifted three original works back to enrich the NGV’s growing collection: an Old Master replica, a nude study, and an original composition. Today, this storied scholarship stands as a testament to Australia’s rich artistic lineage and the enduring power of global exchange. Discover the masterworks and history behind this iconic legacy at the NGV today!
Finishes 15th November www.ngv.vic.gov.au
If you appreciate true craftsmanship and want to support Australia’s best independent creators, get ready for a vibrant weekend of design, food, and creativity! The Makers and Shakers Market is returning to Melbourne, bringing a premium curated showcase of genuinely Australian-made homewares, ethical fashion, lifestyle products, and mouthwatering artisan eats. This boutique event brings together over 120 curated stalls featuring established and emerging designers.
It’s the ultimate destination to discover unique ceramics, handcrafted jewelry, organic skincare, and slow-fashion pieces you simply won’t find in major retail stores making it the ideal spot to score meaningful, one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts.
Beyond the shopping, visitors can get hands-on with creative drop-in workshops to learn new skills, chat directly with the makers, and enjoy a fantastic day out celebrating quality, sustainability, and local talent.
7th & 8th November https://themakersandshakers.com.au
For a quarter of a century, Australia’s premier home for circus arts has trained the nation’s most extraordinary physical performers. Today, the National Institute of Circus Arts, NICA, is stepping into a bold new era.
Celebrating twenty-five years of delivering world-class circus arts education, NICA is forging an independent future, backed by a strengthened Board and a vision to become a Registered Training Organisation.
From its state-of-the-art Melbourne facility, NICA continues to champion global exchange, connecting Australian talent with world-renowned creative partners while driving access to excellence across the country. As NICA flips the page to its next major chapter, Australia’s contemporary circus landscape has never looked brighter.
NICA’s 25th Anniversary Show: Coming Home 19 – 21 November 2026 www.nica.com.au
It is widely acclaimed as one of the single greatest musicals of all time and now, a theatrical masterpiece returns to the stage in all its glory. Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady arrives at the Ian Potter State Theatre to celebrate a monumental 70 years since its world-premiere Broadway debut.
This lavish recreation is based on the acclaimed 2016 Australian production directed by Dame Julie Andrews who was famously catapulted into global stardom when she originated the iconic role of Eliza Doolittle, the irrepressible Cockney flower girl transformed into a lady of high society. Hailed by The New York Times as “one of the best musicals of the century,” this is a sweeping theatrical treasure you simply cannot afford to miss.
From 14th Nov https://opera.org.au
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Based on the beloved 1993 film starring the legendary Robin Williams, this feel-good theatrical sensation arrives in Australia direct from hit runs on Broadway, the West End, and major international tours across Germany, South Korea, and Brazil.
Directed by four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks, the show packs in all the iconic, hilarious moments fans know and love, elevated by fabulous new musical numbers and show-stopping choreography.
The heart of the story follows out-of-work actor Daniel Hillard, who will do absolutely anything for his kids. After losing custody in a messy divorce, he creates the unforgettable alter ego of Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire in a desperate bid to stay in their lives. But as his new persona takes on a life of its own, Daniel learns far more than he bargained for about love, family, and what it truly means to be a father.
Princess Theatre Starts November https://mrsdoubtfiremusical.com.au
