Across the Aisle's October episode every year is devoted to Melbourne Festival. This year the gang attended a 6 hour performance by Taylor Mac and a panel of elderly people talking about their sex lives.

A new play about adoption and a water ballet about menstruation are discussed. At intermission, Carla and Philip talk Melbourne Fringe [gamelan + improvised Shakespeare] and brand new Star Trek.

Covering Nightdance by Melanie Lane at Arts House and David Williamson's new work Credentials at La Mama, two very different works that we felt beautifully book ended the spectrum of work we can see in Melbourne.

One company, two productions and a special guest! In this queer episode of Across the Aisle, Carla and Philip attend "The Moors" at Red Stitch and "Merciless Gods" at Northcote Town Hall, considering the work of Little Ones Theatre across two sites. Podcast supporter Wesa Chau joins them at intermission to share her insights, and the guide to Melbourne Fringe is riffled.

In this episode, Carla and Philip review Fraught Outfit's "The Book of Exodus, Part I" at Theatre Works; and Malthouse Theatre's "Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again." Both of these productions spark talk about identity, representation and dressing up. There is also a scandalous Secret Intermission in which one of us gets reviewed!

Special Guest Lisa Dempster joins Carla and Philip to discuss two productions: Lara Kramer's "Native Girl Syndrome" at Yirramboi - First Nations Arts Festival; and Katy Warner's "Spencer" produced by Lab Kelpie at Chapel off Chapel.

This month the gang visit with Joan of Arc through The Rabble's theatrical invocation of the saint. Then they are back at 45 Downstairs to have a tour of the Cascades Female Factory in This is Eden. The team discuss the feminist art moment of Handmaid's Tale, Joan, This is Eden and Hannah Gadsby's Nannette converging on the same fortnight.

Carla and Philip head onto a bus and explore Docklands in the compelling and site specific piece Passenger, presented by Women of the World Festival and Footscray Arts Centre. They then head over to sit in line at The Arts Centre for Tix and Six and get to see The Australian Ballet's contemporary program Faster.

In this episode, Carla and Philip see something very familiar at the Malthouse [The Homosexuals, or Faggots] and something much less familiar at La Mama Courthouse [The Age of Bones, part of AsiaTOPA]. Profundity ensues.

A special episode at Melbourne's 30th Midsumma Festival. Carla and Philip take in two shows from this celebration of queer culture: I Am My Own Wife and The Happy Prince. At intermission, they banter about Hobart's MONA FOMA and the Golden Gaytime Crumb Shed. Happy Midsumma!