his year, as well as the tent itself, a garden will be built around it with all kinds of distractions to keep you entertained. Tickets are available at Stop 14 and drinks at the W-Class tram bar. There’s a Reading Room for coffee, high tea in the Trophy Room, cocktails in The Banana Lounge or croquet on the Games Lawn.

All of this, however, is just a prelude to the wonders of the Famous Spiegeltent and its season of cabaret, music, circus and comedy – with 200 performances in under three months it certainly will be jam-packed.

Up until 2008 the Famous Spiegeltent used to visit from October–November/December as part of the Melbourne Festival. This upcoming season will be the first time it has been in Melbourne since 2008.

And so February and March will see performers like iOTA, Tim Rogers, Die Roten Punkte and Paul Capsis as well as kids’ sessions during the day, Mix It Up Saturdays featuring music from all over the globe and chilled out Cruisy Sundays. Come April, the Comedy Festival takes over at night, celebrating its 25th Anniversary in style.

The Famous Spiegeltent will return to the Arts Centre Forecourt from February 12 to April 24.

We have a double pass to give away to the opening night of Smoke & Mirrors (Saturday 12 Feb, 10:30pm) and a double pass to the opening night of The Wau Wau Sisters’ Last Supper (Tuesday 1 March, 8:30pm). To win email win@broadsheet.com.au with the show you’d like to see in the subject.

spiegel.theartscentre.com.au