Darebin Arts Speakeasy

The Speakeasy program

What's happening in 2023?

Darebin Arts Speakeasy celebrates 10 years as an influential hub for performing artists to develop and present innovative new work. Since 2013, the program has invested in contemporary dance, circus, theatre and multi-disciplinary work that speaks to issues that matter to the community, celebrate cultural diversity and reflect the times we're living in.

Over the past decade Darebin Arts Speakeasy has supported over 1,500 artists to create over 150 original works presented to over 75,000 patrons, receiving 40 creative industry awards and a further 116 nominations. Darebin Arts has backed many of the ground-breaking artists and companies that make Melbourne's art sector so iconic: RAWCUS, Ilbijerri Theatre Company, The Hayloft Project, Little Ones Theatre, Stephanie Lake Company, Elbow Room, MKA, Double Water Sign, and lead artists like Joel Bray, Michele Lee, Emilie Collyer, Anna Seymour, Stella Young and Sammy J.

Our 2023 season features well-known companies, hot young ensembles, and talented emerging artists, presenting three new plays, three contemporary dance works, and a cutting edge First Nations-led circus company.

Our 2023 Season includes:

Slip by Rebecca Jensen | 1 - 5 March, Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre

A Certain Mumble by Amelia Jean O'Leary | 15 - 19 March, Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre

A Body of Work + QWERTY by Atlanta Eke | 23 - 25 March, Darebin Arts Centre

Arterial by Na Djinang Circus | 20 - 30 April, Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre

Crocodiles by Vidya Rajan | 24 May - 4 June, Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre

Animal Farm by Bloomshed | 12 - 23 July, Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre

The Fence by Fleur Murphy | 9 - 20 August, Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre

Sign up to Darebin arts news to get the latest information about upcoming Speakeasy shows or opportunities to be a part of the program.

Darebin Arts Speakeasy is an award-winning year-round independent performance development program offered at Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre and Darebin Arts Centre.

The program partners with artists and arts organisations from Melbourne and beyond to generate thrilling artistic experiences, collaborations and possibilities for Darebin's diverse community, and serves to increase the vibrancy and dynamism of our cultural spaces, enabling an inclusive, empowered community to develop and present creative events.

Speakeasy embraces the idea that our varied cultures, stories and ideas are essential to our sense of belonging, meaning and a rewarding way of life.

You can find out more about our development support through the Grants page.

We love hearing from artists!

Do you have a creative idea you want to pitch to us? Are you struggling to find and secure support for your project? Would you like to know more about the opportunities we offer artists?

Send an email to one of our helpful staff members and introduce yourself:

Beau McCafferty
Head of Programming
beau.mccafferty@darebin.vic.gov.au

Mark Pritchard
Senior Arts Programmer
mark.pritchard@darebin.vic.gov.au

April Erskine
Marketing Supervisor
april.erskine@darebin.vic.gov.au