Five Shows and Exhibitions To See at Arts Centre Melbourne This Season

Arts Centre Melbourne in Southbank, Australia’s largest performing arts hub, is gearing up for another jam-packed season of shows. The program has breadth, with a one-woman Kate Bush cabaret, Shrek-inspired burlesque and indie band Spacey Jane at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl just some of the headliners. It’s easy to turn a ticket into a full night with pre- and post-show dining  at The Barre, the centre’s cosy restaurant and bar. Designed to evoke a ballet studio and with flooring made from the former Hamer Hall stage, the polished space offers local booze and a tight menu of European-leaning bites. The Barre runs happy hour from 4–6pm daily (beverages start at $8) and late-night dining from 8pm daily, serving moreish small plates including cacio e pepe croquettes, tuna tartare and a classic burger.

Here are the shows and exhibitions to keep on your radar.

Encore!

Encore! unearths 50 objects from iconic Australian onstage moments, marking the 50th anniversary of the Australian Performing Arts Collection. Find everything from costumes and  instruments to puppets and scripts, as well as personal keepsakes from household names like Olivia Newton-John, Hugh Jackman, Nick Cave and more. Some of the most precious artefacts include Kylie Minogue’s gold hot pants from her Spinning Around music video, Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst’s drum kit and a vest worn by Archie Roach when he performed his final show at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. It’s the largest collection of its kind in the country. Spend an afternoon exploring the exhibition, then go for dinner at The Barre and order the sugarloaf cabbage with Vegemite hollandaise and puffed buckwheat to round out an Aussie-themed excursion.

Encore! is on from September 16, 2026, to May 9, 2027, at the Australian Museum of Performing Arts. Tickets are on sale here.

Triptych

Award-winning choreographer Lewis Major combines three short contemporary dances in Triptych and, after touring the show internationally, he’s bringing it to Fairfax Studio. The triple bill has been met with wide acclaim, taking out the Best Dance award at Adelaide Fringe, the Spirit of the Fringe award at Edinburgh Fringe, and Overall Best Dance Work at Sydney Fringe since premiering in 2025. The show fuses movement, light and sound to create a dreamscape where the setting appears to ripple and shift around the dancers. The performance travels from a dystopian future to the deep sea, as ancient sculptures come to life. Head to The Barre for a post-show debrief over a “seacuterie” platter with smoked salmon, taramasalata, sardines and artisanal crackers and a glass of wine.

Triptych is on September 22 to 26 at Fairfax Studio. Book your ticket here.

An Evening Without Kate Bush

This one-woman cabaret show starring Sarah-Louise Young goes far beyond a Kate Bush tribute. It celebrates Kate Bush superfans (who dub themselves “fish people”) like Young, as she traces encounters with Bush through her life. An Evening Without Kate Bush meshes song, storytelling, banter, elaborate costume changes and, of course, the singalongs Bush is so loved for. While the ’80s pop star may not be in attendance, you’ll still bob along to era-defining hits like Running Up That Hill, Hounds of Love and Wuthering Heights. Keep the party going afterwards with the Urban Garden cocktail from The Barre: gin, house-made thyme cordial, cucumber, fresh lime and cracked pepper.

An Evening Without Kate Bush is on October 13 to 18 at Fairfax Studio. Book your ticket here.

Spacey Jane

If you don’t know the name Spacey Jane, you’ve probably heard them on Triple J radio. The Aussie indie-rock band is on a continual rise – their third studio album If That Makes Sense is dominating charts, earning Aria noms for Best Rock Album and Best Video. Now, after a mega international tour, they return to home soil for their Heading Back Down Under tour supported by local bands Telenova and Armlock. Over nine outdoor shows across Australia, including two at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, expect to hear the soaring melodies and heartfelt storytelling that have made the band one of Australia’s biggest exports in recent years. Grab a feed at The Barre before the band hit the stage; we recommend the burger with beef or beetroot on a potato bun with cheese, pickles and a signature sauce.

Spacey Jane plays December 4 & 5 at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Book your ticket here.

Swamplesque 2

Ben Trigger (aka Trigger Happy) returns to Melbourne after a sold-out Australian tour with a Swamplesque sequel more unhinged than the first. Nothing is off the table in this Shrek-inspired parody that’s part burlesque, part drag and part circus; expect magic potions, sword swallowing, trapeze, a dash of ballet and a wonderfully camp villain, all squashed into 80 minutes. Described as “prescription medicine for people who need a darn good pick-me-up” by Stage Whispers, Swamplesque 2 is glittery, chaotic and wildly fun. Gear up for a night of laughs at The Barre with half a dozen oysters with mignonette, and a few glasses of bubbles.

Swamplesque 2 is on December 3 to 20 at the Playhouse. Book your ticket here.

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