The theatre kids are eating well next year.
Clocktower Centre has dropped its 2026 season program, stacked with national touring acts, intimate theatre productions and family-friendly performances. Casey Donovan, The Whitlams’ Tim Freedman, and iconic duo Vika & Linda are just some of the big names headed to the beloved Moonee Valley venue in the new year.
The brand new season kicks offwith Melbourne Chamber Orchestra on 27 February, featuring guitar virtuoso Slava Grigoryan performing a world premiere with songs by composer Joe Chindamo, alongside eternal crowd-pleasers Vivaldi and Beethoven. It’s the kind of opening night that sets the tone for what’s coming.
Stage veteran Rachael Beck brings In Their Own Words to Clocktower on 27-28 March, weaving together stories from 20 trailblazing Australian women including Ita Buttrose, Tanya Plibersek, Marcia Langton and Carlotta. The one-woman show combines those stories with music from Missy Higgins, Kate Miller-Heidke, Kate Ceberano and Dami Im, creating a powerful tapestry of female strength and achievement.
Clocktower Centre 2026 season
- What: Full season program announcement featuring touring acts, theatre productions, family shows and morning music series
- When: Season runs 27 February – 6 November 2026
- Where: Clocktower Centre, Moonee Ponds
- Tickets: On sale now here
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
Contemporary circus and new Australian theatre
Na Djinang Circus lands at Clocktower on 17-18 April with Of The Land On Which We Meet, a contemporary circus work exploring three artists’ distinct relationships to Country. The show follows an Indigenous Australian, a descendant of migrants, and a descendant of colonial settlers through physically demanding performances that examine what it means to be on Country.
Theatre Works brings Tom Holloway’s Beyond the Neck to the venue on 1-2 May. Directed by Suzanne Chaundy, the production follows four characters whose lives intersect in the aftermath of a day Australia won’t forget – in the wake of the Port Arthur massacre, this evocative show weaves together a profound exploration of storytelling, memory, and the human spirit. The 2 May performance includes Auslan interpretation.
The big touring names
Casey Donovan’s This Is Me tour hits Clocktower on 24 May, featuring music from her theatre credits including The Sapphires, We Will Rock You, Chicago, 9 To 5, Sister Act and more. The powerhouse vocalist and proud Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti woman will also debut new original songs.
Tim Freedman strips things back for an intimate cabaret-style performance on 15 August, sharing stories from his nine-album catalogue from The Whitlams, including Blow Up the Pokies and No Aphrodisiac. It follows the sold-out success of the Love This City 25 Years tour in 2024.
Vika & Linda bring their powerhouse voices and showcase their35-year career to Clocktower on 4 September. The dynamic sibling duo willperform songs and stories from their time with The Black Sorrows through to their eight studio albums and collaborations with Paul Kelly and Kasey Chambers. The sisters also have a new album dropping in 2026 – be sure to nab tickets and be among the first to hear it live.
International imports and bold new works
View this post on Instagram
Yellow Brick Theatre’s Dust arrives on 3 October, examining generational trauma and resilience through one man’s journey in a morphine-fuelled delirium at Pinderfields Hospital during the 2020 lockdown. The production is fresh off a sold-out tour, andawarded the inSPACE Award at the Adelaide Fringe Festival.
Karma Dance’s Temple of Desire closes out the main season on 6 November with a sensual and breath-taking that celebrates induvial identity – and audience members can join in on the fun with a post-show party rave! The award-winning work features dancers trained in classical Indian Bharatanatyam, exploring themes through bold, queer performance. It won the Melbourne Fringe Director’s Choice Award and earned a Green Room nomination for Outstanding Choreography.
Family programming and workshops
The family season includes The Box Show on 10-11 April, where household junk transforms into musical instruments for ages five to 12. CDP Theatre Productions hen brings beloved character Spot to life on 27-28 June, including an Auslan-interpreted and relaxed performances. Best for kids aged 18 months to seven years. Kids sensation Teeny Tiny Stevies perform hits from their new album Brain Fart on 19 September
Workshops include circus skills with Na Djinang Circus performers, drama holiday programs, Australian Ballet sessions, and Junkyard Beats musical workshops. The venue also runs a monthly Dance for Seniors program and the beloved Morning Music series featuring performances from Ian Stenlake, Nina Ferro, Victorian Opera and more.
The Clocktower Centre continues its Ignite & Create Residency Program in 2026, supporting three selected artists with studio time, technical support and professional development opportunities.
For more information, head here.
This article was made in partnership with The Clocktower Centre.
