Roll Up, Roll Up to the Melbourne Fringe Festival

Local Community

Under the big top of Melbourne city, a circus of artists and performers are about to make merry mischief. Melbourne Fringe Festival is here for another year, celebrating all things creative, collaborative, engaging and fun! Today C&G leaps into the colourful world curated by Melbourne Fringe, highlighting to best of the festival to come.


Beginning in 1982, the Melbourne Fringe Festival has always been a highlight of the local arts and culture calendar. Opening Night on the 19th of September starts with a bang – as people pack out North Melbourne Town Hall for an arts party to remember. Bring your dancing shoes and expect a night filled with performance plus DJs to get your toes a-tappin’ and your hands a’clappin’.  

The Fringe Festival has something to offer everyone - no matter the category of arts you like best - with different categories of program running throughout its duration. At the heart of the Fringe community is the Fringe Hub in North Melbourne’s Errol Street . With over 60 events to anticipate including comedy, dancing, singing and improvisation, the Hub is the place to visit to get your Fringe-fill. 

The Fringe Club plays hosts to several comedic acts, magicians, circus and cabaret performers, as well as the prestigious Fringe Awards Night. A highlight of Fringe Club performance is “8 First Dates”, featuring musical accompaniment from talented members of Melbourne’s indie music scene. After laughing ‘till your belly hurts and dancing ‘till your feet are sore, head off to The Warren. With a good brew on hand, comfy couches and quirky installations to enjoy, The Warren is a chill zone to relax in when Fringe becomes too boisterous.

This year’s Creative Program presents a trifecta of projects exploring film, furniture design and location. Uncommon Places examines what is termed as the “third place”- neither home nor work but a social environment imbued with belonging - with ten artists exploring spaces throughout Melbourne. Fringe Film: Digital Creatures showcases the best in short films, animation and video art, with nightly screenings throughout the festival. Fringe Furniture returns once again, with the theme of “living traces” - delving into the notion of items carrying a past, a present and a future.