3 shows worth visiting Melbourne for this winter

Australia’s major cities are all vying to be the cultural destination this winter, but for me, it’s hard to beat Melbourne.

Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetle… If you know, you know. The audience at Beetlejuice the Musical, on at the Regent Theatre until August 31, certainly did and loved this witty adaptation of the cult film.

Eddie Perfect, who plays the titular naughty demon, tells the audience, “It’s a funny show about death,” but it’s as touching as it is irreverent. I saw it on a winter trip to Melbourne, a chaser to a few days of culture that began with Rising, a refreshingly offbeat 12-day festival of art, music, and theatre.

There’s a friendly rivalry among cities in Australia, all vying to be the cultural destination this winter. For me, it’s hard to beat Melbourne for its art, culture and, of course, food.

A cornerstone this year is the French Impressionism exhibition from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, on until October 5 at the National Gallery of Victoria. Eight years in the making, it’s a do-over after the original show was cancelled in 2021 due to the pandemic. I daresay the new iteration is even better, with extra works added. The Boston Museum’s collection is renowned, and having more than100 works on display is extraordinary.

The exhibition traces the late 19th-century movement, featuring key figures who rejected state-sponsored Salon conventions and exhibited their “impressionistic” works elsewhere. It highlights that Impressionism was once unpopular, these artists seen as rebellious for their innovative techniques and unique subjects.

A cornerstone this year is the French Impressionism exhibition from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, on until October 5 at the National Gallery of Victoria. Picture: Dan Castano/Supplied.

Visitors can see 16 remarkable Monet works in a room resembling the oval Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris, featuring haystacks, lilies, street scenes, and snowy landscapes. Along with works by my favourite, Berthe Morisot, and Paul Cézanne, Édouard Manet and Claude Monet, the show offers a sensory experience amplified by a magnificent set-up reminiscent of grand Bostonian mansions, with red panelling, gold ormolu, and velvet sofas creating a sumptuous ambience.

Round off the exhibition with a visit to Kimono (until October 5), as part of a combined ticket. The Impressionists were inspired by Japanese printmaking, making it a perfect complement. Showcasing 70-plus garments from the NGV’s collection, it’s a feast of embroidered silk kimonos adorned with birds and flowers, as well as lacquerware, accessories, woodblocks and posters. It features work from the Edo period to today, including contemporary pieces by Issey Miyake and Kyoto designer Jotaro Saito, from a long line of artisans, reminding us that the kimono remains a timeless garment.

Round off the exhibition with a visit to Kimono (until October 5), as part of a combined ticket. Picture: Mitch Fong/Supplied.

Where to eat in Melbourne

Keep the French theme going at Chris Lucas’s chic Maison Bâtard. Its niçoise is delicious, but the cheeseburger – mon dieu!

Where to stay in Melbourne

Hyde Melbourne Place is a brilliant addition to the city’s hotel offerings.

The writer travelled to Melbourne as a guest of Visit Victoria.

Originally published as 3 shows worth visiting Melbourne for this winter