Dua Lipa pumps the Palais: ‘What the f--- is up?’

Pop star Dua Lipa played a world-first show at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda on Sunday. Here’s what happened.

Don’t stop now ... Dua Lipa performs at the Palais Theatre, St Kilda, on Sunday night. Picture: Michelle Grace Hunder

British pop star Dua Lipa is booked to play two shows at Rod Laver Arena in November – however, she gave us a taste of what to expect with a world-first performance at the Palais Theatre on Sunday night.

The show, at St Kilda’s historic 2800-seater, marks the only theatre show on Lipa’s arena-sized Future Nostalgia world tour.

“Melbourne, what the f--- is up?” Lipa asked a full house of roars and applause, after the energetic opener, Physical. “Let me hear you!”

New Rules, with a rolling bass undercurrent followed, then the sly funk of Love Again, gritty Cool, and coy Pretty Please.

Dua Lipa performs at the Palais Theatre. Picture: Michelle Grace Hunder

Squeezing Lipa’s massive hits and concert production into a smaller room is no mean feat, but it’s also a coup.

Lipa has clocked up 9.7 billion streams with hits including One Kiss, Levitating, Cold Heart (with Elton John) and New Rules, and her tour has played at 85 arenas across the globe.

Future Nostalgia defines Lipa’s dancefloor-ready recipe: tomorrow beats with lashings of yesteryear soul, funk and disco.

Live, it’s like a fresh and fierce mixtape from a daring and assertive songstress in full control. The home stretch of One Kiss, Hallucinate, Cold Heart, Levitating and Don’t Stop Now was sheer bliss.

Dua Lipa last played the Palais in 2018 as support act for Bruno Mars. Now she is a legit headliner.

“Thank you for your love, your energy and your support,” she told the crowd. “To get the chance to come back here and put on a big show for you is really surreal and special.”

Her Palais Theatre show was part of the Victorian music initiative Always Live. Lipa’s show was co-presented by Live Nation and Visit Victoria.

Always Live aims to promote Victoria as a world-class music hub, and will host 150 artists at 90 events across 12 regions, in October and November.

She performs at Rod Laver Arena on November 11 and 12.

SEEN AT THE SHOW

Sharon Hall and Maeve Danda. Maeve: “I love Dua Lipa’s energy. It’s really good.” Picture: Josie Hayden

Fiorella Hussein and Pat Favorito. Picture: Josie Hayden

Zoe Dubuc, Caitlin Dyson and Ben Siva at Dua Lipa show at Palais Theatre. Picture: Josie Hayden.

(L-R) Marisa and Emma Codespoti. Emma: “Dua Lipa’s songs are badass.” Picture: Josie Hayden

Niki Paris, Areti Arvanitis, Danielle Angelo and Sylvia Ktori. Picture: Josie Hayden

Monica Kelly, Clinton O'Farrell and Mimi Chester. Picture: Josie Hayden

Samantha Weber, Markos Elliott, Nathan Elliott and Tony Casdorff. Picture: Josie Hayden

Kate Prigg and Kate Smith. Picture: Josie Hayden

Bridget and Isobel Hyland. Picture: Josie Hayden

Kitty Kelso and Stephen Wakefield. Picture: Josie Hayden

Markos Elliott and Nathan Elliot. Picture: Josie Hayden