Jesse Chaffey

‘Waitress’ is a sweet but understated slice of pie, with a heartwarming plot that can lose its momentum at times. ‘Waitress’ features music and lyrics from Sara Bareilles (‘Love Song’, ‘Brave’) and a book by Jessie Nelson. It tells the story of Jenna (Natalie Bassingthwaighte), who is a baker and a waitress, in an abusive relationship with her husband. Throughout the show, we watch Jenna grapple with a crisis of conscience. . . And the prospect of running away to start life all over again.

Melbourne has been blessed with 40 years of laughs through Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and ‘The Big FOUR-OH!’, featuring a massive line-up of funny folks from past, present and future, was an epic night for lovers of all kinds of comedy. Audiences filed into the Regent Theatre, and before long, the laughs were coming thick and fast.

Gather round – award-winning NZ stand-up Melanie Bracewell is back with a brand-new show, and her storytelling skills are just as sharp as ever. Melanie has been a consistently impressive, go-to act for Comedy Festival season. Her previous show, ‘A Little Treat’, was her first on the other side of an ADHD diagnosis, and leaned into the chaos.