The Sitchu Guide to Melbourne Fringe Festival 2024
Get amongst Melbourne’s celebration of everything arts and culture this October.
The Melbourne Fringe Festival is back for another year of fun, eccentric and bold performances, exhibitions and pop ups. Now in its fourth decade, the festival will play host to 450 events across 20 days in October, providing Melbournians with plenty of things to do on their nights and weekends. It's set to be a celebration of all things diversity and culture!
Not sure where to begin? To help plan your visit, we’ve rounded up the best shows, events and unmissable experiences Melbourne Fringe 2024 has to offer, so you don't need to feel overwhelmed with the plethora of activities and performances on offer.
Opening Night Gala
There's no better way to kick things off at the Melbourne Fringe Festival than by attending the Opening Night Gala. Kick the night off by gracing the purple carpet in your most outrageous look (the theme is 'Culinary Couture) before heading inside to watch the performance unfold. You'll experience a taste of what the Fringe Festival has to offer, watching snippets from performances that grace the lineup. It's a great way to pick out what you want to see in its entirety.
Tuesday 1st October, from 7.30pm
Secure your tickets here
The Capitol, 113 Swanston Street, Melbourne
'Eat Your Art Out' Around the City
Melbourne Fringe Festival’s 2024 lineup invites you to ‘Eat Your Art Out’ with over 470 eclectic events celebrating food and art. Highlights include COOKED, a Civic Commission project at Fed Square featuring a dynamic hot plate stage where Long Prawn chefs serve up BBQ delights alongside live performances. Starting on 1st October, don’t miss Seasoning the Grill, a First Nations BBQ celebration, and Hot Nights, offering evenings of food, art, and underground cinema.
Pony Cam is set to premiere FEAST at The Substation, a captivating blend of multi-course degustation and performance art. Plus, Nocturnal: Food for Thought at Melbourne Museum promises an engaging mix of food and performance. The festival offers a delectable fusion of flavours and creativity for a truly memorable experience.
Tuesday 1st October, 5pm to 11pm: COOKED: Seasoning the Grill at Fed Square Amphitheatre
1st–20th October: COOKED is open at Fed Square
9th–19th October: FEAST at The Substation, 1 Market Street, Newport
Fringe Flavours Night Market
The Queen Victoria Market is bringing its spring night market series back, this time in partnership with the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Every Wednesday for five weeks, you will be able to enjoy feating on an array of cuisines from market favourites, including Pierogi Pierogi, La Trafila, La Mano, Crème Brûlée Donuts and many more. Once you feel like you're about to burst, you can digest while watching all sorts of Fringe Festival entertainment, from cabaret to burlesque, circus to music. Some of the talent performing on rotation include Tash York, Ruby Slippers, Boyd Kelly, Darby James and more!
Every Wednesday from 18th September to 16th October, 5pm to 10pm
Corner of Queen and Therry Streets, Melbourne
Digital Echoes
Created and performed by Aaron Wyatt in collaboration with Speak Percussion, Digital Echoes is a musical performance that explores how time and space can displace and transform sound, messages and meaning. In this unique performance, technology and live music combine as the viola is played, sent via internet connection to five locations around Australia, then sent back to the performance space in partnership with the live percussion.
This unique show is unlike any other live music you have ever seen, as the viola bounces in and out of live performance.
Thursday 17th to Sunday October 20th, 5pm or 7.30pm
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521 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne
A Figure in the Yellow Wallpaper
The Melbourne Fringe Festival has a range of feminist performances on offer, and one we're truly excited about is A Figure in the Yellow Wallpaper. Inspired by the short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and the play, The Yellow Wallpaper, this show presented by Eleanor Golding is an exploration of male violence, abuse, and mental health.
Wednesday 16th to Sunday October 20th, 5pm, 8pm or 9.30pm
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67 Inkerman Street, St Kilda
Cabaret Unscripted
Cabaret Unscripted may be cabaret...but not as you know it. Musical comedy improviser duo Isabella Valette and Greg Lavell take to the stage at the Festival Hub: Trades Hall to deliver laughs, music and all around good vibes to their audience as they deliver an entirely improvised 1930s inspired cabaret show. Crafted from audience suggestions and lightbulb moments, Isabella and Greg will deliver a unique show each night, so there's plenty of reason to go more than once!
Wednesday 2nd to Sunday October 13th, 8pm and 9pm
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54 Victoria Street, Carlton
A Brief Episode
Weird, whacky and fun is what you want from the Melbourne Fringe Festival, and that's exactly what A Brief Episode is. The team behind this comical performance is also responsible for the critically acclaimed 'End Of,' and this show will be no different.
During A Brief Episode, you'll follow a nameless protagonist (Ash Flanders) as he attempts to find a place on Australian television for a mouthy middle-aged homosexual with too many opinions. You'll follow the protagonist to Greece, wherein everything goes haywire. This true story is almost too crazy to believe, which is why we definitely recommend going to see it.
Wednesday 2nd to Sunday October 20th, 6.30pm and 7.30pm
Secure your tickets here
54 Victoria Street, Carlton
For more whacky and wonderful events happening during the Melbourne Fringe Festival 2024, be sure to check out their what's on guide. Can't get enough of the fun events Melbourne has to offer? Why not enjoy a pre-show meal at one of these restaurants offering set menus for under $70 per person, or keep the party going afterwards at one of these magical cocktail bars.
