Madonna keeps fans waiting for nearly FOUR hours before taking to the stage for a bizarre evening of comedy, anecdotes and music during Tears of a Clown show in Melbourne

Having delayed a gig in New Zealand for one-and-a-half hours past the estimated start time last week, Madonna delivered a repeat performance on Thursday night.

According to fans tweeting from Melbourne's Forum Theatre, concert goers were only allowed into the theatre space shortly before midnight - nearly FOUR hours later than scheduled.

The doors were supposed to open half an hour before her free Tears of a Clown gig - a mixture of comedy, story-telling and music - planned to start at 9pm.

See Madonna news as she keeps fans waiting for 3 HOURS before appearing in Melbourne

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Waiting game: Madonna was nearly FOUR hours late for her Tears of a Clown show in Melbourne on Thursday night

Clowning around: The Erotica songstress took to the stage in a full clown outfit 

In the mix: The show was a mixture of comedy, story-telling and music

Despite arriving at the venue well in advance, Madonna was seen making an entrance earlier in the day but she once again kept up her habit of leaving fans waiting.

A London journalist who was in attendance reported Madonna's management making a statement that evening that she would be an hour late - approximately a 10pm start time.

But as 10 o'clock came and went, fans were still left wondering about the fate of the concert.

 Emotional: During the performance, Madonna projected a black and white image of her 15-year-old son Rocco behind her while performing in Melbourne 

Hearing: Madonna's performance came the same day her ex-husband Guy Ritchie was in High Court in London for a hearing relating to the former couple's custody dispute over the future of their 15-year-old son

Later, the singer's manager Guy Oseary made an appearance at the Forum's lobby area - where fans were gathered - to reveal that Madonna may not be onstage until 11:30pm. 

Meanwhile, '#tearsofaclown' became a trending topic on Twitter in Australia shortly after midnight when she failed to make an appearance.

Some fans were speculating on social media that the lateness was due to Madonna rehearsing - while others thought that an on stage duet with Kylie Minogue was in the works.

Anticipation: A Madonna fan website tweeted this image from inside the venue around midnight as fans - who had already been waiting for several hours to see the Material Girl perform - hoped she would take the stage

Early start! Fox FM breakfast show co-host Fiona 'Fifi' Box tweeted this snap from the concert shortly before Madonna finally made her appearance - almost four hours later than scheduled - and noted that she needed to be up in a few hours for her morning shift

At approximately 12:50am, the curtain rose and the show finally began as Madonna made her way onstage dressed in a pink wig while riding a bright pink tricycle.

She then explained to the crowd that the show was a 'work in progress' and told them not to 'expect a polished performance' before commencing.

Later, journalist Nathan Rao tweeted her saying: 'One thing I'm going to do tonight which I've never done before on stage is drink.' 

She told the crowd she was drinking Cosmopolitans, before launching into her third song of the night, X-Static Process.

Bizarre: At approximately 12:50am, the curtain rose and the show finally began as Madonna made her way onstage dressed in a pink wig while riding a bright pink tricycle

Naughty: The veteran star also flashed her latex underpants and suspenders 

Red nose: Madonna also wore a red nose as she played a ukulele with her accompanying band

However, she soon called for the music to stop so she could start the number over again.

Madonna's Thursday night performance came the same day her ex-husband Guy Ritchie was in High Court in London, for a hearing relating to the former couple's custody dispute over the future of their 15-year-old son, Rocco.

During the show, Madonna did an emotional rendition of her hit Intervention while a black and white image of Rocco was projected on a large screen behind the performer.

Sitting down with an acoustic guitar she belted out her emotionally charged lyrics.

The track's chorus was particularly poignant given the dedication to her child, with Madonna singing: 'I know that love will keep us together'.

The song went on: 'I know the road looks lonely... And either way my baby, we'll never be the same'.

Dressed in her floppy yellow smock, pink wig and off-centred top hat, the star's slapstick outfit juxtaposed the overwhelmingly sad tones behind her performance and some audience members said on Twitter that they were moved to tears.'

'I cried my eyes out when @Madonna sang #intervention #TearsOfAClown,' one user wrote.

Another said: 'Wow! @madonna #TearsOfAClown show was even better than the Rebel Heart show. #intervention made me cry'.

It comes after the songstress herself broke down in tears while on stage in New Zealand at the weekend. 

Dramatic: On Friday Madonna posted this snap of her fully made up face

Here she is: After her late arrival Madonna explained to the crowd that the show was a 'work in progress' and told them not to 'expect a polished performance' before commencing

Centre stage: She also told the crowd she was drinking Cosmopolitans, before launching into her third song of the night, X-Static Process

'There is no love stronger than a mother for her son. If I talk about him too much I might cry,' she said.

She then went on to dedicate her song La Vie en Rose to him, explaining: 'I hope he hears this somewhere and knows how much I miss him.'

Madonna and Ritchie split in 2008 after eight years of marriage.

The two have been engaged in an increasingly bitter custody dispute that has become especially complicated as they live on opposite sides of the Atlantic, and the singer is on a world tour for her Rebel Heart album.

Separately, a New York judge in December asked Ritchie to send Rocco back after he decided to move to London rather than stay in his mother's home or accompany her on tour.

The father and son refused and last week the court agreed that Rocco can stay tentatively in London until his parents sort out their differences.

Earlier on Thursday Madonna smiled as she arrived at the Forumahead of the show.  

A stand up girl! Earlier that day Madonna opted for a low-key look in a black cap and matching bomber jacket as she arrived at the Forum Theatre in Melbourne ahead of her one-off comedy show 'Tears of a Clown' on Thursday

She opted for a low-key look in a black cap and matching bomber jacket ahead of her intimate, one-off comedy show.

She concealed her gaze behind dark sunglasses as she stepped out of a black SUV at the entrance of the 1,500-capacity venue.

A tall bodyguard was spotted escorting the Michigan-born star from her vehicle to the front door, as her staff could be seen unpacking the car.

She also clutched a large, black leather handbag in her left hand and dressed for comfort in a pair of dark trousers and sandals 

The previous day, she was spotted heading into a rehearsal for the 'secret' gig wearing bright green silk Gucci jacket, a pair of baggy jeans and black brogues. 

Making a comeback: Madonna's arrival also marks her first tour of Australia in 23 years

Meanwhile, Thursday night's intimate, one-night-only show was on a far smaller scale to the huge stadium set-pieces she's famous for.

She previously described the concert - exclusive to members of her fan club - as a mixture of 'performance art, comedy, story telling and music.' 

Madonna will officially launch the Australian leg of her Rebel Heart Tour at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Saturday night.

She last played Australia back in 1993 during The Girlie Show World Tour in support of her fifth album Erotica - when she was making headlines for her explicit coffee table book Sex.

This month marks her first Down Under dates in over two decades - including her first ever live performances in New Zealand, which took place at the Vector Arena in Auckland last week. 

Pre-show arrival: The previous day, Madonna was spotted attending a rehearsal for the 'secret' gig in a bright green silk Gucci jacket, a pair of baggy jeans and black brogues

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Nearly 23 years ago: The Like A Virgin hitmaker last took to the stage in Australia in 1993 for her Girlie Show World Tour to promote her fifth album Erotic

She previously said in statement: 'I wanted to do something special for Australia because you have been so patient and waited so long.'

Madonna first hinted at performing a music and comedy mash-up called Tears of a Clown while onstage in Macau last month.

She made her stand up debut in April last year on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to mixed response.

New direction? Madonna previously said that her one-off 'Tears of a Clown' show in Melbourne will be a mash-up of 'performance art, comedy, story telling and music'