Imagine Grand Theft Auto set to a live jazz soundtrack, an evening of John Farnham bangers, theatre with a cast of actors aged from 4 to 93, or circus popping up in your local shopping strip.
These are just some of the surprising and entertaining experiences coming to Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay during this year’s Melbourne Fringe Festival, running from 29 September to 18 October.
Fringe is Victoria’s longest running multi-arts festival. For more than forty years it has given artists the freedom to try new ideas and invited audiences along for the ride. Whether you’re a seasoned theatre-goer or simply curious about what’s happening around the corner, Fringe is a chance to discover something unexpected, inspiring or just plain fun.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the events happening locally this October.
La Trampa
30 September – 3 October
Bluestone Church Arts Space, Footscray
A bilingual (Spanish and English) theatre work by Smoko Theatre, exploring family, migration, grief and belonging – told through the eyes of three sisters who stage seances to uncover deeper truths.
Jazz Theft Auto
30 September and 8 October
Kindred Studios, Yarraville
A live jazz heist where the musicians and audience are all in on it together… asking the question “how can modern content be original when everything has already been stolen?”
The Enormous Radio
30 September–10 October
The Substation, Newport
An immersive audio experience that speculates on the possibility of interspecies communication.
Age of Reason
1–2 October
Kindred Studios, Yarraville
Jayda D’Agostino is a twenty-something, self-proclaimed John Farnham ‘stan’. Join her and her band for an evening of coming-of-age stories set to a soundtrack of Farnsy classics.
In Between Worlds
3 October
Louis Joel Arts and Community, Altona
Embark on an immersive art journey with live art, spoken word, sound, and site-responsive practice.
Greg Kimball: One More Year
8–15 October
Pride of Our Footscray
Greg Kimball was never going to play AFL. He knew that. His body knew that. His knees vocalised it daily. But somewhere between middle age and a dumb idea, he decided to try anyway. One more year of footy. Just to see…
Made to Share
11 October
Woods Street Arts Space, Laverton
A creative workshop especially for older people, bringing together art and food in a relaxed and welcoming space.
Prime Time
14–17 October
The Substation, Newport
A celebration of life in all its stages, from award-winning theatre company Born in a Taxi – featuring a cast of actors aged from 4 to 93.
Holding the VĀ
14–18 October
Bluestone Church Arts Space, Footscray
A Pasefika spoken word theatre work that journeys through humour, grief, migration, climate anxiety, family and belonging from a Pacific diaspora perspective.
From the Mouth
16–17 October
Woods Street Arts Space, Laverton
Live music, short film screenings and community conversations centred around the unique ecology of the Kororoit Creek mouth.
Ocker
8 and 11 October in Williamstown
9 October in Yarraville
10 October in Footscray
From local First Nations company Na Djinang comes Ocker, a new circus work combining daring acrobatics, physical comedy and unexpected encounters.
Part performance, part absurd expedition, Ocker sees a troupe of circus artists laying a portable railway track in real time as they race after something perpetually out of reach.
Popping up in locations across Footscray, Yarraville and Williamstown, Ocker is an energetic celebration of curiosity, persistence and collective adventure.
Presented in partnership by Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay City Councils, and suitable for all ages.
For full program details including dates and ticket bookings, head to the links below.
maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/fringe
hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/fringe
