VIC

PALM CROSS MAKING
Easter is fast approaching. Learn to make palm crosses, and take part in the preparation of the church for Palm Sunday in an informative session on Saturday 20 April at Sts Anargiri Parish & Community Oakleigh (83-87 Willesden Rd, Hughesdale) at 12.30 pm. Free to attend.

OOOPAAA GREEK NIGHT
Dimples (100 Fletcher St, Essendon) is hosting a Greek night this Saturday 20 April from 9.00 pm-3.00 am. DJ Missailidis will be spinning all your favourite modern and traditional Greek hits.

‘MURIEL’S WEDDING THE MUSICAL’
A new season of ‘Muriel’s Wedding The Musical’ has kicked off, with Greek Australian Stefanie Jones in the role of Rhonda, Muriel’s best friend. Based on the cult 90’s film, the musical sees Muriel stuck in a dead-end life in Porpoise Spit, where she dreams of the perfect wedding. Unfortunately, there’s one thing missing: a groom. Following her dreams to Sydney, Muriel ends up with everything she ever wanted; that’s when things start to go really wrong. With music by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall, the musical features an incredible soundtrack of addictive new songs, plus your favourite ABBA hits. Directed by Simon Phillips. On now until 16 June at Her Majesty’s Theatre (219 Exhibition St, Melbourne). To book, visit https://murielsweddingthemusical.com/

COMEDY THEATRE: ‘MAS PIASANE’
‘Mas Piasane’, a production by Greek Stage Theatre, is making its way to Melbourne from Sydney this weekend. The hilarious stage show sees Zikos take part as an extra in a movie representing a policeman. He goes to the police station to get a new ID issued. Still wearing his prop police uniform, he is intercepted by the real police officers who are under the impression that he is a highly reputable police officer in the force. As time goes on, things get more complicated when a notorious terrorist comes in for a misdemeanour and no one recognises who he is. Performed in Greek with English surtitles. Catch ‘Mas Piasane’ at Clayton Community Centre (9-15 Cooke St, Clayton) on 20 April at 6.30 pm and 21 April at 5.30 pm. For enquiries and tickets, call 0450 724 600 or visit www.bit.ly/greekstagem

LIVE GREEK MUSIC NIGHT
This Sunday 21 April Mediterranean Greek Tavern (511 Glen Huntly Rd, Elsternwick) is hosting another one of their live Greek music nights. Enjoy the long weekend with great music, food and drinks. On from 7.00-10.00 pm. For bookings, call (03) 9530 0396.

MONDAY LIVE AT SEAGULLS GREEK TAVERN
Enjoy live acoustic Greek music from the 1920’s to the ’40s in an intimate setting at Seagulls Greek Taverna (491 Nepean Hwy, Frankston) every Monday night. To book for Monday 22 April, call (03) 9783 7555.

FUNDRAISING LUNCH: ORTHODOX MISSION OF FIJI & PACIFIC
The Orthodox Christian mission in the South Pacific (Fiji, Tonga and Samoa) recently established a missionary centre, an orphanage and a safe home for mothers and children offering social and welfare services to locals. To help them continue their work, a fundraiser lunch will be held at the Greek Orthodox Church of North Altona & Districts (272 Millers Rd, North Altona) on Wednesday 1 May at 12 noon, $30 pp including drinks. All funds will go directly toward maintenance of the Mission’s services and new infrastructure. Head of the mission, His Eminence Myron Metropolitan of New Zealand will be in attendance, and will preside at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Panagia Portaitissa. Those unable to attend can donate through the church.

‘PITTSBURGH’
Highly-acclaimed Greek play ‘Pittsburgh’ is heading to Australia next month. Written by Soti Traintafyllou and directed by Arkadia Psalti, it is the year 1913 in Chios, when the island is experiencing poverty, hunger, refugees, and sickness. Yet the telephone and the cinema have already arrived, creating links to a wider world. The first great wave of emigration to America has begun. Elengo has received the first letter from her husband Demosthenes, who is in Pittsburgh. A whole world in crisis, a whole world is trying to find the way forward. This is the story of a love that struggles to come to flower. See the play at The Greek Centre (168 Lonsdale St, Melbourne) between 3-5 May. For tickets, visit https://bit.ly/2G8o93C

P4K VICTORIA MELBOURNE HIGH TEA
A high tea will be hosted on Sunday 5 May at the Greek Orthodox Church of St Demetrios (380 High St, Prahran) from 2.30-5.30 pm to raise much-needed funds for the Greek Orthodox mission in Sierra Leone, led by Fr Themi. P4K Victoria Director Jane Pallot has just returned after four weeks helping Fr Themi and has good news and faith filled stories to share. Ticket donation $60.00. For more information and to book, visit https://bit.ly/2v6SmK6

ROMIOSINI & BEYOND
The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) is hosting a performance of Mikis Theodorakis’ classic anthem of Greek identity and other well-loved works featuring international vocalist Dimitris Basis and conducted by George Ellis. The well-loved song cycle, ‘Romiosini’ is based on the poetry of Yannis Ritsos, and describes the feelings of oppression and suffering in a country under foreign occupation. Basis has a special personal relationship with Theodorakis and it is his request for the GCM to present the masterpiece. Taking place on Friday 17 May from 8.00-10.00 pm at the Melbourne Recital Centre (31 Sturt St, Southbank), this concert champions works previously not performed in Melbourne written by the great maestro. For tickets, visit melbournerecital.com.au

EFFIE IN ‘LOVE ME TINDER’
Effie is set to return to the stage with her new 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

‘PITTSBURGH’
Catch the highly-acclaimed Greek play ‘Pittsburgh’ in Sydney from 10-12 May at The Greek Theatre – Mantouridion (Building 36/142 Addison Rd, Marrickville). To book, call (02) 9750 0440 or visit trybooking.com/472601. (See our guide to Victoria for full details on ‘Pittsburgh’).

 

SA

MARIOS PAPADEAS & PASCHAL LATRA
Following on from their performance in Melbourne, Marios Papadeas and Paschal Latra are heading to South Australia, where they will present a journey of songs from Asia Minor and the diaspora in the 1930’s. Catch them on Wednesday 17 April at Marion Cultural Centre (287 Diagonal Rd, Oaklands Park) at 8.00 pm. Tickets $35.00. To book, call 0417 844 140 or 0407 894 623, or visit Spartan Electrical (140 Henley Bch Rd, Torrensville).

 

ACT

THE MARIOS PAPADEAS ENSEMBLE
Following his appearance in Melbourne (see our guide to Victoria), Marios Papadeas is heading to Canberra to enchant audiences with his spellbinding melodies, woven effortlessly with such finesse at the National Folk Festival. He will be joined by vocalist Pascal Latra and the multi-talented Byron Triandafilides and Paddy Montgomery for three performances and two workshops from 18-22 April. For tickets, visit https://www.folkfestival.org.au/tickets/

* If you know of any Greek events taking place across the country, including those organised by Greek community groups, please forward details to anastasia@neoskosmos.com.au