It was recorded at their concert held on 19 April 2003, at Newcastle Civic Theatre in the band's home-town of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia,[5] and was the second show to be held there[6] during the band's Across the Night world tour of March to June 2003.

[8] On all shows of the Across the Night tour, the concert was divided into two sets,[5] which were introduced on the three large video screens above the stage as "Act 1" and "Act 2"; the respective CDs and DVDs in the album are labelled in the same manner.

[9] "Act 1", which showcased mainly quieter and more experimental material,[5] was "dominated" by songs from the band's then-latest studio album, Diorama, and was marked by "grand orchestrated sections (replicated by two extra keyboards); dramatic flourishes, both vocally and instrumentally; [and] an almost parodic leap into prog rock's 'look at me, look at me' shifts of form and time.

"[10] "Act 2", which consisted of heavier rock songs,[5] saw the band "revert to more of a hard rock set-up, with the cabaret touches junked for less subtle, but brutally effective delivery.

"[11] The album spent three weeks on the Australian ARIA Charts, peaking at #13.