Lake Macquarie will light up the dark winter nights with a line-up of live entertainment.
From award-winning theatre and big-name comedy to heartfelt music tributes, contemporary art and pop culture fandom, the season promises something for every kind of night out.
Venues across the lake, including MAP mima at Speers Point and the Hunter Sports Centre at Glendale, will come alive with a winter program that celebrates connection, creativity and shared experiences.
Check out the guide to what’s happening and where, below.
CRIPS & CREEPS – ARE YOU PULLING MY LEG?
SATURDAY, 6 JUNE
WARNERS BAY THEATRE
One of Australia’s boldest and funniest comedy line-ups heads to Lake Macquarie with Are You Pulling My Leg?, an accessible comedy showcase featuring performers with disability or chronic illnesses. Expect sharp humour, uncensored storytelling and brutally funny takes on awkward encounters and everyday life. Open Captions and Auslan will be included as part of the performance.
MACBETH
SATURDAY, 27 JUNE
WARNERS BAY THEATRE
Following a sold-out 2025 season, Come You Spirits brings its acclaimed production of Macbeth to Warners Bay. Hailed by Sydney Arts Guide as “THE Macbeth”, the five-star adaptation dives deep into ambition, power and redemption while exploring the emotional darkness at the heart of Shakespeare’s tragedy.
POP BAM!
SATURDAY, 25 JULY
HUNTER SPORTS CENTRE, GLENDALE
Cosplayers, gamers and fandom lovers will once again descend on Glendale when POP Bam! returns this July. The popular event promises cosplay panels and parades, Newcastle Swordcraft demonstrations, interactive displays, a mobile gaming truck and a celebration of all things pop culture.
SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL SHOWCASE
FRIDAY, 7 AUGUST
WARNERS BAY THEATRE
The laughs continue in August when the Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase rolls into town with a curated selection of standout comedians from this year’s festival. Featuring a mix of rising talent and established favourites, the touring showcase delivers two hours of rapid-fire stand-up comedy.
THE POEMS, PRAYERS & PROMISES OF JOHN DENVER
FRIDAY, 14 AUGUST
WARNERS BAY THEATRE
Award-winning performer Darren Coggan returns to celebrate the music of John Denver in a heartfelt live tribute to one of country music’s most beloved voices. Audiences can expect classics including Take Me Home Country Roads, Rocky Mountain High and Annie’s Song recreated live with warmth and authenticity.
MARTY SHEARGOLD
SATURDAY, 22 AUGUST
WARNERS BAY THEATRE
Australian comedian and media personality Marty Sheargold will bring his trademark observational humour and no-filter storytelling to Lake Macquarie as part of The Red Card Tour Live. With decades across radio, television and stand-up, Sheargold remains one of the country’s most recognisable comedic voices.
SHOPTALK
FRIDAY, 28 AUGUST
MAP MIMA, SPEERS POINT
Original Australian musical comedy Shoptalk takes aim at retail life, workplace burnout and twenty-something chaos in a relatable and absurd production conceived by Jack Madden with a score by Imogen Bilinsky. The story follows retail workers navigating crushes, exhaustion and customer service disasters — all while trying to smile through it.
THE EDGE OF THE WORLD EXHIBITION
OPENING EVENT: THURSDAY, 5 JUNE
MAP MIMA, SPEERS POINT
Visual art also features prominently in the winter program with the edge of the world, an exhibition exploring the landscapes and mythologies of Australia and Iceland. Through screen recording, 16mm film and digital media, the exhibition creates a shared artistic language between the two countries.
