Melbourne’s new A-list: Big names in our arts, music and theatre scene

This city thrives off its rich arts, music and theatre culture. Here are the players who dominate the scene.

Melbourne A-list: The arts, music and theatre players who make our city memorable.

These are the players who dominate Melbourne’s arts and music scene.

G FLIP

Georgia Flipo is a non-binary singer-songwriter, producer and drummer. Beloved by Triple J, G Flip is also reportedly engaged to Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause.

MICHELLE LIM DAVIDSON

Korean-born, Australian-raised actor Michelle Lim Davidson got her start on Ben Elton’s Live From Planet Earth skit show, before being cast in roles for Top of the Lake, The Newsreader, Utopia and Doctor Doctor. Children will recognise her as a favourite from Playschool.

Jackson (left) with her castmates from SIX the Musical. Picture: Matt Turner

PHOENIX JACKSON MENDOZA

Landing a starring role in the hit Australian version of Six the Musical has launched Mendoza to the next level in our theatre scene and has established her as a singing, dancing and acting triple threat.

MAGGIE MCKENNA

Non-binary actor McKenna stole the spotlight in Jagged Little Pill, a harrowing musical centred on Alanis Morissette’s classic album. McKenna got standing ovations mid-show after their searing performance of You Oughtta Know. And deservedly so.

Artist Atong Atem with some of her art. Picture: Ian Currie

ATONG ATEM

It’s been a breakthrough year for Ethiopian-born, Melbourne-based artist and writer Atong Atem. Atem, 31, won the inaugural $80,000 La Prairie Art Award, and her winning piece was acquired by the Art Gallery of New South Wales and brought her national attention. Her work has been exhibited across Australia, including in the National Gallery of Victoria, MUMA Monash, Gertrude Contemporary, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, the Red Hook Labs in New York, Vogue Fashion Fair in Milan and Unseen Amsterdam art fair.

KYLIE AND DANNI MINOGUE

Hopefully Kylie’s Neighbours finale cameo signals a meaningful return to the hood, alongside her permanent resident and perenial favourite sister Dannii, who moved home for family but has immersed herself in local hits including Australia’s Got Talent, X Factor, and Masked Singer. A working mother who values privacy, she chooses her red carpet events carefully.

MATT GUDINSKI

The son of late Mushroom Group boss Michael Gudinski. Matt helms an empire that includes a record company, touring business, television and film divisions and merchandise and media arms. Like father, like son, he’s extremely passionate about Australian music.

Melbourne singer G Flip has been making a name for herself both at home and in the US. Picture: AFP

ROGER FIELD

The young(ish) gun at touring giant Live Nation. Field is Live Nation’s President for the Asia-Pacific region. Their upcoming tours include Harry Styles, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kendrick Lamar.

EDDIE PERFECT

Perfect has the best of both worlds; he writes at home in Brunswick, and stages his work in New York. Bravo. He shot to fame writing a Shane Warne musical, then hit Broadway for six with the dark saga Beetlejuice.

Dejonge with Austin Butler, Baz Luhrmann and Tom Hanks. Picture: Getty

OLIVIA DEJONGE

She has several Hollywood films on her resume, but Melbourne actor DeJonge’s role as Priscilla Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s mega-hit Elvis skyrocketed her to new heights.

SARAH SNOOK

From Adelaide to New York to Brunswick, we’re claiming Snook, the star of HBO’s dysfunctional family drama Succession. Indeed, she fell in love and married local actor and comedian Dave Lawson during lockdown, so she’s Melbourne family.

CASEY DONOVAN

A new resident, so we’re claiming her, too. Donovan moved to Melbourne for love; specifically to be with her partner, Renee Sharples. Donovan shot to fame in Australian Idol, and is an unstoppable force in musical theatre.