VIC

‘ECHO CHAMBERS: ART & ENDLESS REFLECTIONS’
Curated by James Lynch, ‘Echo Chambers: Art & Endless Reflections’ is an ambitious exhibition bringing together 16 contemporary Australian artists who work with mirrors, mirrored surfaces and reflections, among them Greek Australian artist and book designer Yanni Florence. A series of portraits captures people while they commute, through the darkened, dirty, badly scratched and opaque glass tram windows. On show now until 29 March across three exhibition venues: Deakin Art Gallery and Deakin University Library Gallery (both in Burwood); as well as Deakin University Downtown Gallery in Docklands.

KOS CLUB GALA DANCE
The Pankoaki Brotherhood of Melbourne & Victoria is hosting its Annual Gala Dance at the recently renovated Kos Club (1 Bastings St, Northcote). On this Saturday 16 March at 7.00 pm-1.00 am, attendees will enjoy a four-course meal (Sardelis Catering), drinks, music and dancing. Tickets $75.00 p.p., $40.00 children (5-12 y.o.), under 5 attend free. To reserve tickets, call Kerry Sourasis on 0413 265 544 or Maria Voulgaris 0413 825 610.

CRETAN BROTHERHOOD GETS INTO APOKRIES SPIRIT
Don’t miss the apokriatiko (carnival) celebration at the Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne & Victoria (148-150 Nicholson St, Brunswick) this Saturday 16 March! The Brotherhood is hosting an apokries dinner dance at 7.00 pm with entertainment by Stelios Vamvakas direct from Crete. Tickets $80.00 and $50.00 for children.

POLYXENI LIVE AT THE GREEK
Organisers of the Melbourne Rebetiko Festival are proud to present Polyxeni for a special edition of Live at The Greek. Much-loved band Polyxeni is back in Melbourne and will perform their signature soulful Greek roots at The Greek Centre (168 Lonsdale St, Melbourne) on Friday 22 March from 8.30-11.30 pm. Enjoy the return of Jenny Theologidis (guitar, vocals), Wayne Simmons (guitar, banjo, accordion, laouto, vocals) and maybe even a special guest appearance.

KALAMATA DANCE FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY
The Society of Kalamata 23rd March is hosting their annual dinner dance on Saturday 23 March to celebrate the historic 198th anniversary of the Independence of Kalamata, which took place on 23 March, 1821. Taking place at the Malvern Town Hall (1251 High St, Malvern) from 7.00 pm-1.00 am, guests will be entertained by legendary DJ Peter B with a great variety of music, plenty of dancing, glendi and lots of kefi. Tickets will be available shortly, so stay tuned for further details.

MELBOURNE REBETIKO FESTIVAL
The Melbourne Rebetiko Festival is back for another year! Returning to the Melbourne Recital Centre (31 Sturt St, Southbank) on Saturday 23 March from 3.00-11.30 pm, the exciting line-up features local and international artists, among them Rebetien. Direct from Greece, they will showcase their fresh rebetiko sound. To see the full program and for tickets, visit melbournerecital.com.au

PAMMESSINIAN BROTHERHOOD PAPAFLESSAS 60TH ANNIVERSARY
This year marks a special milestone for the Pammessinian Brotherhood Papaflessas. On Saturday 23 March the Brotherhood will celebrate its 60 year anniversary at Merrimu Receptions (1300 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone) from 7.30 pm. Performing on the night will be Rythmos Band. Tickets $95.00, children 12 and under $55.00. For tickets, visit greekdance.com.au or call 0423 182 158.

BYZANTINE ICONOGRAPHY
Ever wanted to learn the wonders behind iconography? This is your chance! Queenscliff Gallery & Workshop (81 Hesse St, Queenscliff) is hosting a Byzantine Iconography workshop over two days, 23-24 March 10.00 am-4.00 pm (hour lunch break). Run by Anna Prifti, participants will learn to prime, sketch, gild and paint an icon; the traditional technique of gesso and egg tempera; use of powder pigments, their content and formulation; colour combinations and composition problem solving; along with practical hints and new materials to make work easy. Each participant will complete their own icon. Tickets $595.00 (all materials included). To book, visit qgw.com.au

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is back this month from 27 March-21 April with hilarious shows taking place across the city. Among the comedians are a number of Greek origin, including locals George Dimarelos and Charisa Bossinakis, as well as the UK’s George Zacharopoulos. This year’s line-up also includes the Festival’s first ever Greek-language stand-up show direct from Greece: Lambros Fisfis & Michalis Mathioudakis with ‘Σταντ Απ Κόμεντι ιν Γκρίκ’. To see the full guide and to purchase tickets, visit comedyfestival.com.au (See Pg 13 for more).

‘WILD WOGS 2’: MEGA COMEDY GALA
Attendees of ‘Wild Wogs 2’ will be immersed into the biggest ethnic comedy Gala ever over two nights in April. It will feature comedians George Kapiniaris, Joe Avati, Gab Rossi, James Liotta, Piero Viavattene along with special guest performers from Sydney Anthony Locascio and Bouzouki player Kostas Sakellaris. Catch the show on 12 & 13 April (Saturday show sold out) at Melrose Melbourne Conference & Reception Centre (2-8 Carrick Drive, Tullamarine) from 6.00-11.00 pm. For tickets, visit https://www.trybooking.com/book/sessions?eid=450328

EFFIE IN ‘LOVE ME TINDER’
After a sold out national tour of ‘Star Wogs’ in 2018, and two successful national tours in 2016 & 2017 of her critically acclaimed one-woman show: ‘Effie the Virgin Bride’, Effie is back on stage with her new stage show ‘Love Me Tinder’ on Friday 24 May. Effie holds up a mirror to the complexities of finding love and keeping it, as only she can. The urge to swipe left or right or to scratch that seven-year or seven-month itch is hard to resist even with the greatest of willpower. Who isn’t on Tinder? How can we humans claim to be evolved and yet still have such animal urges? Is it possible to be smokin’ hot and hit upon every day and still stay faithful? Hello, if love is the answer then why are there so many questions? Is it love at first sight or love at first swipe? If I had you at hello then why can’t I get rid of you at goodbye? If love don’t cost a thing then why is divorce so expensive? On from 8.30-11.30 pm at Yarraville Live (135 Stephen St, Yarraville). For tickets, visit yarravillelive.com

NSW

‘TROJAN WOMEN’
Written by Euripides and first produced in 415 BC during the Peloponnesian War, ‘The Trojan Women’ was the third tragedy of a trilogy dealing with the Trojan War. This year, Hellenic Art Theatre and The Greek Festival of Sydney are presenting a version of the Greek tragedy directed by Stavros Economidis. In the ruins of their burning city, Queen Hebuca (Ekavi) and the women of Troy still mourning the slaughter of their husbands and sons, await enslavement and exile. One of the greatest of all anti-war plays, it is a timeless mediation on the moments of individual choice that separate death and life, despair and hope, past and future. The play will be performed in Greek with English surtitles from 15 March-7 April at 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville. To book tickets, visit hellenicarttheatre.com.au/

‘”SORRY”, WRONG BED’
Mytilenian House (225 Canterbury Road, Canterbury) is hosting a hilarious Greek play intriguingly titled ‘”Sorry”, Wrong Bed’. It sees a couple pull up to a mysterious looking motel to rest after an exhausting drive. At this motel, nothing seems to work as it should and even the hotel’s manager has an eerie air about him. Frustration and exhaustion lead the couple into an all out fight. The presence of an eccentric maid further adds to the tensions whilst the arrival of another couple unleashes a strange chain of events with unexpected outcomes. What secrets are held behind the walls of this hotel and its strange occupants? Catch the play between 16 March-14 April. To book, visit https://www.trybooking.com/book/sessions?eid=456972

REBETIEN DIRECT FROM GREECE
Calling all rebetiko lovers! Rebetien is in Australia direct from Greece. The group of four musicians will perform songs mostly from the rebetiko and the Greek traditional music repertoire, as well as compositions of their own. Catch them on Friday 29 March at St George Auditorium (16 Montgomery St, Kogarah) at 7.00 pm. Tickets $30.00 (plus booking fee). To book, call (02) 9750 0440 or visit trybooking .com/471722

PYX LAX BY IHO NYX
As part of the Greek Festival of Sydney program, Sydney band Iho Nyx will pay tribute to one of Greece’s most successful groups, Pyx Lax. Taking place on Sunday 7 April at Factory Theatre (105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville), they will perform hits by the beloved Greek rock band from the 1990’s. On from 7.00 pm. Tickets $30.00 (plus booking fee). To book, call (02) 9550 3666 or visit factorytheatre.com.au

‘GREEK-ROMIOI’
An exhibition featuring location and portrait photography by Yannis Dramitinos will be on show at Kudos Gallery (6 Napier St, Paddington) from 19-23 March as part of the Greek Festival of Sydney. His photos are shot in Istanbul and Halki Theological College (Turkey), Nicosia old town (Cyprus), and Sydney (Australia), exploring themes of Hellenic identity, transforming landscapes, and the juxtaposition of the secular and the religious, of youth and old age. Free to attend.