We've handpicked two solo shows and two venue programs that are set to delight audiences as part of the Melbourne Fringe's 40th anniversary celebrations.
For 40 years, the Melbourne Fringe Festival has epitomised the most integral values of the arts by supporting artists and artworks that elicit boldness, honesty and experimentation, and through its dedication to inclusivity and diversity.
We think as the festival notches up the big 4-0 there’s no better way to celebrate than catching a few of the shows listed below, our personal picks for a range of diverse and enlightening experiences.
Joshua Batten: Learn to Live Again
Joshua Batten: “I’ve reached a point where mental health needs to be discussed in the mainstream”
Using the pandemic as the backdrop, Learn to Live Again is a stage show and concept album featuring an eclectic mix of songs that tells a cohesive story about the challenges and acceptance of mental health and neurodiversity. For the first time in Batten’s career, he’s chronicling his experience as a working musician on the Autism Spectrum.
Not only is Batten delving into this side of his life through the new album, which is released on October 3 – one week before Mental Health Awareness Day – he’s also premiering a live show as part of Melbourne Fringe Festival from October 13 to 16.
Taking place at the MC Showroom in Prahran, the Learn to Live Again stage version will be performed in a semi-acoustic format, where he’ll be joined by multi-instrumentalists Franca Locandro and Ayden Gadsden.
Catch his show at Melbourne Fringe Festival, from October 13 to 16. Grab your tickets by heading here.
Gasworks Arts Park’s Melbourne Fringe program
Melbourne Fringe Festival returns to Gasworks Art Park in October
Starting on October 3 2022, Melbourne Fringe Festival will return to Gasworks Arts Park, making the venue a lively, one-stop location for inventive and creative theatre, circus, kids shows, comedy, visual art, and more.
Spanning over three weeks in October and comprising of eight acts, the line-up boasts a variety of talents and performances ranging from stand-up comedy sketches to plays, from dance acts to live bands, and offering everything in between for a diverse line-up with something for everyone.
The festival will kick off on Tuesday 4 October with The Goddesses opening the bill with their showcase of music, dancing and design through till closing night capped off by Laura Charlton and Sabina Donato’s production of Haml3t concluding the 3 weeks on Saturday October 22.
Head to the Gasworks website for a full rundown of their 2022 Melbourne Fringe program.
Victorian Pride Centre’s Melbourne Fringe program
Hosting a whopping 26 shows over 10 days, the Victorian Pride Centre are showcasing a diverse lineup of LGBTQIA+ talent, with a program running from October 7 until October 23. The 2022 Fringe Festival at Victorian Pride Centre is set to be huge – with everything from stand-up comedy, theatre, cabaret, live music, an interactive music show for kids and panel discussions about inclusive design.
Festival highlights this year include Cheers, Queers! (Oct 20-23) – a showcase with some of Melbourne’s brightest LGTBIQ+ comedians, The Big D (Oct 14-16) – a hilarious new show from drag performer Abril LaTrene, and Shapeshifting (Oct 15) – a storytelling and music event for Trans communities with Key Change choir. The Pride Centre is the definitive home for queer works at this year’s Melbourne Fringe Festival.
The Pride centre is also going to be the host for two incredible Design Fringe events, with two free events including the Design Fringe Keynote Talk & Industry Networking Night on October 7 and Strange Bedfellows: First Nations Fashion vs Inclusive Architecture on October 23.
Tickets available now from the Melbourne Fringe website, check it out by heading here.
Vivian Nguyen: a moment to love
Fringe Festival shows to see: ‘a moment to love’ explores love in the age of online dating
Vivian Nguyen’s latest work is equal parts genuine, relatable, vulnerable and witty – if you liked ‘Fleabag’, you’ll love ‘a moment to love’.
An examination of love in the digital age, a moment to love is a comically sad yet brutally honest piece about love and dating in the modern era. It’s a new work from a bold and powerfully original voice in Australian theatre, Vivian Nguyen, who was shortlisted for the Patrick White Playwrights Award for her debut play Thin Threads.
a moment to love is a 45 minute, blistering one woman show that’s premiering as part of this year’s Melbourne Fringe Festival. It’s on at The Motley Bauhaus’ Black Box Theatre for a season of seven performances from October 3 until October 9.
Don’t miss this spectacular show – catch it at The Motley Bauhaus from October 3 – 9. Grab your tickets by heading here.
This article was made in partnership with the Melbourne Fringe performances listed above.
