Melbourne Fringe Festival is taking over the city and suburbs with a whopping 475 events this spring. That makes it the biggest Fringe in its 41 year history. Over three glorious weeks, you’ll find art and experiences around every corner. Check out 50 free events and exciting activations, including an eight-metre tall playground swing at State Library Victoria. See 44 award-winning shows from Australia and overseas, and enjoy comedy acts, cabaret, theatre, dance and more! Melbourne Fringe Festival will run from Tuesday October 3 to Sunday October 22.
Melbourne Fringe Festival
This year, the Festival invites you to PLAY UP! and find fun and frivolity everywhere you look. Stumble across performances in hidden places, see public art projects, discover pop-up performance tents and more exciting events in venues around the city.
The Trades Hall Festival Hub is the place to be, with over 100 events taking over the theatres, meeting rooms and spaces of this historic venue. After you catch a show, stay out late at the Club Fringe art parties, and dance the night away.
Meanwhile, the pop-up Festival Park will return to the heart of Queen Victoria Market from October 3 to 29. Underneath two domed tents, you’ll have fun with exhilarating new shows. Marvel at Mythos: Ragnarok, a Scandinavian WWE-style circus smack down, where Norse gods battle each other in spandex. Carrying on with the theme, see Garry Starr attempt to perform all of Greek mythology in 60 minutes, and watch Head First Acrobats perform their smash-hit GODZ. After the show, unwind in the beer garden and feast on snacks from food trucks.
Free events
The joyful public art project, Swing, is landing on the forecourt of State Library Victoria. Play on a massive, eight-metre-tall playground swing, and have fun on your lunch break, after work, or whenever it strikes your fancy. If you come at the right time, you might even catch it in performance mode. Swing through the air and listen to the sound of a choir. Swing is fully accessible.
Then, venture inside the State Library for Solace: The Sensory Experience. Running from October 11 to 22, this immersive experience combines interactive artworks with an audio guide.
Head over to Fed Square and check out In Common by One Fell Swoop Circus from October 6 to 8. This work of circus and sculpture will see acrobats exploring support in all its forms.
Journey along the Yarra River, and admire Sky Symphony, a free laser and light show that will dance along to music recorded by Orchestra Victoria.
Pop over to Prahran Square for the Circus and Street Arts Spectacular, and see roving performers and staged shows throughout the space.
Other highlights
Visit Fed Square as part of Melbourne International Games Week and take part in the VR experience, VOLO: Dreams of Flight. Soar through the sky on a da Vinci-inspired flying machine and admire the view. Then, see a transformation on the forecourt of Fed Square, in Cult of the Lamb. Watch a gothic ritual performance, projections, and a wicked dance floor.
See a heap of incredible drag shows, including some hosted by Kween Kong and Beverly Kills from RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under.
Visit Melbourne Baths for the music concert, Shower Thots, and jump into the pool with the aquatic choir.
See a parade of puppets take over Seaworks in Williamstown in Puppet Mayhem 2.
Enjoy a singalong night at “Weird Al” Piano Bar, and listen to songs from the hilarious Weird Al Yankovic.
That’s just scratching the surface of all the weird and wonderful things you can look forward to at Melbourne Fringe Festival. There’s something for everyone to enjoy, and you can check out the full program here.