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Cate Blanchett, Australia’s unofficial queen of acting (sorry, Nicole), is about to bless the stage once again—this time channeling her inner 19th-century Russian existential crisis in a Chekhov revival. If anyone can make sitting through three hours of aristocratic whining about the weather feel like a religious experience, it’s Cate.

Theatre nerds are already hyperventilating into their tote bags. 2025 is shaping up to be a blockbuster year for theatre, with a smorgasbord of big names and big emotions. Alongside Blanchett’s Chekhov masterclass, there’s everything from laugh-out-loud comedies to "please clap, this is serious" dramas.

Expect sold-out shows, ticket prices resembling small mortgages, and at least one avant-garde production involving someone crying into a cabbage for two hours (because "art"). The broader context? In a world drowning in TikTok dances and Marvel reboots, live theatre is staging its own comeback tour, reminding everyone there’s still something magical about watching real humans emotionally combust five metres from your seat.

Blanchett's involvement is basically a glittery guarantee that actual culture snobs will turn up—and drag their reluctant Instagram husbands with them. Latest update? Tickets are already harder to get than a rental in Sydney, so if you don’t have a friend who knows a friend who knows a box office intern, good luck.

See you in the cancellation line, peasants. Sources: The Guardian (27 April 2025), Sydney Morning Herald (27 April 2025), ABC News Australia (27 April 2025)