Polite Society’s Social Diary – August

After the death of Christine McVie in 2022, bandmate Stevie Nicks declared Fleetwood Mac would never perform again. Understandable, perhaps, but devastating for fans, which is why we predict so many in Melbourne will be booking tickets for Yesterday’s Gone – The Fleetwood Mac Legacy this month. Featuring Australian performers Kav Temperley (lead singer of Eskimo Joe) and soul singer Karen Lee Andrews, the tribute will cover all the hits including ‘Dreams’, ‘Go Your Own Way’ and more. August 25, Hamer Hall, Melbourne

Cost of Living earned Polish-American playwright Martyna Majok the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and now Australian audiences can see this witty, thoughtful play in Sydney and later Melbourne. First off the rank is the Sydney Theatre Company’s pared-back production that explores the relationship between two couples: Ani, a woman with an acquired disability, and her estranged husband Eddie; and John, a wealthy Princeton student with cerebral palsy who hires Jess, who’s juggling multiple jobs to stay afloat, as his carer. Catch the final performances at the Wharf Theatre this weekend. Ends August 18

…And if you miss out, there’s always the Melbourne Theatre Company’s production in October, with an impressive ensemble cast including Aaron Pederson and Rachel Edmonds. Southbank Theatre, September 14-October 19

Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is written from the perspective of a 15-year-old autistic boy, Christopher (although he doesn’t have a specific diagnosis in the novel), who sets out to discover who killed his neighbour’s dog. Much of the joy of the novel comes from Christopher’s unique take on the world, so it’ll be interesting to see how Belvoir St Theatre’s adaptation captures this fascinating character. Part detective story, part family drama, we can’t wait to see it. Belvoir St Theatre, Upstairs Theatre, August 17-September 22

Back for a second year of cutting edge of music, dance, installations and all-round brilliance, Now or Never brings some of the world’s most innovative performers to Melbourne. The Royal Exhibition Building turns into a mind-blowing venue for techno and house music; if you prefer your art less loud, we suggest a stroll down Southbank Promenade, where Studio Lemercier’s ethereal installations will light up the Yarra. Highlights include a talk by the always thought-provoking Roxane Gay and the world premiere of Plagiary, in which 10 dancers take their instruction from an AI choreographer, creating a new performance every night. Various venues, August 22-31

Also in Melbourne, which seems determined to battle winter with culture (and win), there’s the Melbourne International Film Festival, with more than 250 films from over 62 countries. In the mood for a Tunisian thriller about a father who – literally – flies away from his troubles with his young son? MIFF has exactly the movie for you in Behind The Mountains. Seized by an urge to discover more about the place of women in Bolsonaro’s Brazil? There’s Cidade; Campo for that. If you’re looking for Indian movies, however, may we suggest another festival entirely – the 15^th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, which has over 65 films on the program, in 26 different Indian languages. The opening night movie, My Melbourne, features four unique stories based on true events, and it’s the world premiere. MIFF, various venues until August 25; IFFM, various venues, August 15-25

And for dog lovers such as ourselves (shout-out to Hugo, the dachshund in our logo), this year’s Sydney Dog Lovers Festival has long been in the diary. Held at Sydney Showgrounds, the event includes a dedicated dog supermarket (the perfect place to stock up on fancy treats), a hub showcasing dog-friendly travel options, mini-dog races (featuring dogs under 30cm), and more. Sadly, it’s a human-only event so pups have to stay home, but Hugo assures us his loneliness for the few hours we’re away can be soothed by a well-chosen chew stick. Sydney Showgrounds, August 24-25