Stephen A Russell

Stephen A Russell is a Melbourne-based arts writer. His writing regularly appears in Fairfax publications, SBS online, Flicks, Time Out, The Saturday Paper, The Big Issue and Metro magazine. You can hear him on Joy FM.

Stephen A Russell's Latest Articles

Performing Lines Tas. Image: Michael O'Neill.
Features

Performing Lines Tas at 20: 'For the survival of the human race, arts and culture are medicine'

As Performing Lines Tas marks a milestone, what will it take to secure Lutruwita’s cultural future for artists, producers and…

Deborah Cheetham Fraillon. Photo: Wayne Quilliam.
News

Deborah Cheetham Fraillon on Short Black Opera’s new home in Melbourne

Short Black Opera’s Artistic Director Deborah Cheetham Fraillon discusses how the First Nations-led company is expanding the artform.

Steph Tisdell, who is performing at this year's MICF. Image supplied.
Interviews

First Nations funnies: Steph Tisdell and Elaine Crombie talk turning pain into punchlines at this year's MICF

Comedians Steph Tisdell & Elaine Crombie talk to ArtsHub as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) begins.

Tomáš Kantor, a curly-haired 20-something person dressed in non-traditionally gendered clothing, in the 2026 Midsumma production Sugar at Arts Centre Melbourne.
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Sugar review: a frothy, fun and fearless Midsumma treat

This whirlwind production works Chappell Roan into Pretty Woman by way of Tomáš Kantor’s commanding queerness.

A woman in a bright roller derby uniform and protective gear, including pads and helmets, skates out of a cloud of theatrical smoke. Mama Does Derby
Features

Rock and rolling into Mama Does Derby

Virgina Gay and Clare Watson discuss the comic horror of adolescence and a mother who redefines herself through roller derby.

This summer, playright Danish Sheikh presents Much To Do With Law, But More To Do With Love as part of the Queer Playwriting Award and Midsumma Festival at Gasworks, Melbourne. Photo: Tom Noble.
Features

A new era begins at Gasworks

Multi-hyphenate creative Sam Strong talks to ArtsHub about his new role as Gasworks CEO and what it takes to nurture…

Kylie Minogue's Padam Padam outfit is featured in DIVA. Image: Supplied.
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Diva review: mighty goddesses unite in this glittering exhibition

The first exhibition at Melbourne's new Australian Museum of Performing Arts is a star-studded look at the diva through the…

Iestyn Davies as Orpheus and Samantha Clarke as Eurydice in Opera Australia's production of Orpheus and Eurydice, 2025. Photo: Jeff Busby.
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Orpheus & Eurydice review: a magisterial marvel

Opera Australia’s collaboration with Circa breathes dazzling new life into Gluck’s mythology-mining Orpheus & Eurydice.

One Night Only by Jackson Castiglione and Rawcus. Darebin Arts Speakeasy. Protagonist: Charlie Mayne and Josh Lynzaat. Image: Darren Gill.
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One Night Only review: form-melting theatre that scoops us up

One Night Only, a new collaboration from Rawcus, presented by Darebin Arts Speakeasy, soars and swoops through time and place.

Jessica Stanley and Rajendra Moodley in Titus Andronicus at Theatre Works. Photo: Steven Mitchell Wright.
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Titus Andronicus review: a deep cut of the Bard's bloodiest revenge play

Taking on the Titus Andronicus is no easy feat, though this impressively scaled Theatre Works production takes a good stab…

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