Backstage Blog

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN plays 8 - 24 October at Theatre Works.

In today's Backstage at Fringe, we speak to Kevin Hopkins and Claire Nicholls from Timon of Athens, which comes to Theatre Works very soon. Following their production of Titus Andronicus at Theatre Works in November 2025, Th'UnGuarded Duncan now co-present Timon of Athens, which was developed as part of the Prague Shakespeare Company's 2025 Summer Shakespeare Intensive program. Claire Nicholls Kevin Hopkins Q: Welcome to Theatre Works! How are preparations going so far? Kevin

From the outrageous mind of Mel Brooks comes Young Frankenstein, the gloriously silly, lightning-powered musical comedy that celebrates everything wonderfully ridiculous about classic horror and big Broadway spectacle.

Go behind-the-scenes of Na-Iba: The Other, a performance development work by Divergent Theatre Collective, drawn from Euripides' Medea and made entirely in the present tense. This ensemble with roots across the Philippines, India, Malaysia, Chile, and Vietnam & Iran ask where this ancient story of displacement, betrayal, and rage still lives. NA-IBA: The Other, A Look at Medea plays 15 - 17 October at Explosives Factory.

In today's Backstage at Fringe, we speak to Roman Berry and some of the Ensemble from NA-IBA: The Other, A Look at Medea, which comes to Explosives Factory next week as part of our Melbourne Fringe Festival Hub! Na-iba — The Other is a performance development work by Divergent Theatre Collective, drawn from Euripides' Medea and made entirely in the present tense. A myth about displacement, retold by those who have lived it from the inside. Q: Welcome to Theatre Works! How are

In this week's Backstage Blog, we speak to director Christian Cavallo about Mel Brooks' YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, which opens at Theatre Works this week! From the outrageous mind of Mel Brooks comes Young Frankenstein, the gloriously silly, lightning-powered musical comedy that celebrates everything wonderfully ridiculous about classic horror and big Broadway spectacle. Q: Welcome to Theatre Works! How have rehearsals been going? How is everything shaping up? Rehearsals are going h

The new era of hip-hop is (nearly) upon us! Get a sneak peek at Young Squizzy & McRizz, The brainchild of Louis Prandolini and Hugo Postregna, before it opens tomorrow night at Explosives Factory! YOUNG SQUIZZY AND MCRIZZ: THE WORLD TOUR plays 6 - 10 October at Explosives Factory.

After their knock-out Adelaide Fringe season, and international debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August, these girls are ready to bring the bathroom to the Melbourne Fringe! Sneak a peek at GIRLHOOD IN THE BATHROOM before it opens next week at Explosives Factory! And don't wait, tickets are selling fast! Girlhood in the Bathroom plays 6 - 17 October at Explosives Factory.

In today's Backstage at Fringe, we speak to Louis Prandolini & Hugo Postregna about Young Squizzy & McRizz: The World Tour, which comes to Explosives Factory next week as part of our Melbourne Fringe Festival Hub! The brainchild of Louis Prandolini and Hugo Postregna (The Gen Z Comedy Talent-O-Rama!, Louis Prandolini Cracks a Cold Case), 'McSquizz' was conceived as a series of concept albums, EPs, and extended bits in 2025. For the first time, Prandolini and Postregna are tak

In today's Backstage at Fringe, we speak to Noah Skape about Noah Skape's Human Entertainment, which comes to Explosives Factory next week as part of our Melbourne Fringe Festival Hub! Noah Skape's Human Entertainment is a punk rock operetta about an ADHD outsider struggling to comprehend his place in life and society. Set somewhere in between reality and 90's free-to-air television, it's a cartoonish nightmare sequence about purpose and belonging, told with comedy-adjacent s

Take a look inside the laboratory with these behind-the-scenes rehearsal pics for Mel Brooks' YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN! This gloriously silly, lightning-powered musical comedy opens NEXT WEEK at Theatre Works! YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN plays 8 - 24 October at Theatre Works.

In today's Backstage at Fringe, we speak to Hannah Manderson from Girlhood in the Bathroom, which comes to Explosives Factory this Fringe Festival after a season in Edinburgh Fringe! Girlhood in the Bathroom is a new Australian Musical set entirely in a club bathroom on New Year's Eve. Amidst the chaos of the female bathroom, five 20-something-year-old girls navigate love, friendship, and the truths about the world they live in through passionate scenes and original songs! Q:

Don't miss the FINAL PERFORMANCES of Lord of The Flies this week! ★★★★★ “An exceptional production for the 2026 season at Theatre Works that should not be missed," (What's The Show), Lord of the Flies is "an extraordinary experience." (Theatre Matters) ★★★★★ Tuesday Night'ss performance is already sold-out, leaving you only three chances to see this phenomenal cast deliver a truly groundbreaking work. Don't wait, book your tickets now! ★★★★★ "Brilliant direction, incredible a

Thank you to everyone who attended the sold out opening night performance of LORD OF THE FLIES this week at Theatre Works. This incredible team has created something truly extraordinary and it was a joy to share this experience with an absolutely packed theatre. Playing until 2 October, tickets are available now via https://www.theatreworks.org.au/2026/lord-of-the-flies 📸: Alec Farrow

In today's Backstage at Fringe, we spoke to Ellis Austin Finnie, writer of Fairytalers, which comes to Explosives Factory this fringe after a sold-out season last year! Once upon a time, there lived four women who invented fairy tales... You're cordially invited to attend the salon of the 'Conteuses Précieuses.' Long before the Brothers Grimm, there was Charlotte, Catherine, Marie and Henriette. And they're pretty annoyed you're not talking about them. They were heroines, poe

Look what Kasey Barratt is whipping up! From the same kitchen that made Nihilistic Optimism on Trampolines, My Anxiety is a B*tch who Bakes is on it's way to Explosives Factory this Melbourne Fringe Festival! Here's what the team's been up to. My Anxiety is a B*tch who Bakes plays 29 September - 3 October as a part of Melbourne Fringe.

Today on Backstage at Fringe, we speak to Kasey Barratt, Lizzy Love and Anita Mei La Terra, director and cast of My Anxiety is a B*tch who Bakes. They say baking is good for the soul. Well... whoever said that is a massive f*cking liar!Luce's kitchen has been taken over by Annie, a drag queen who won't stop making muffins. After yet another disastrous attempt at blueberry muffins, Luce decides it's time to put an end to Annie's incessant baking, before they burn down the kitc

After a sold-out season at Melbourne Fringe in 2025, Fairytalers returns to Melbourne stages at The Explosives Factory as a part of Melbourne Fringe 2026! Take a look at these stunning photos from their previous season, and book your tickets to a feminist night of fantastical fairytale fanaticism. Image: Cameron Grant Fairytalers plays at Explosives Factory September 29 - October 3 as a part of Melbourne Fringe.

Defrost your fringe passes! We're back with Backstage at Fringe for 2026! First up to bat, we spoke to Matthew J. Young about How to Stay Married Without Exploding!, which will play at Explosives Factory September 29 - October 3 as a part of our Fringe Festival Lineup. What if your whole life was built on not moving an inch? Stranded on a WWII landmine, Francis Molloy built a life, family, and reality TV show without ever moving. Now, his 1950s studio set has landed in Perth

A song cycle prepares for it's debut at Explosives Factory. Have a look through some shots inside the rehearsal room as The Eternally Hopeful sing their way to Theatre Works later this month. The Eternally Hopeful plays 22-26 September at Explosives Factory.