Welcome to a Melbourne theatre awards night.

A night of decadence, schmoozing, and... hostage negotiations? A decade of cuts to arts funding has left Australia’s performing arts in hyper-crisis. All that's left is a legion of livid artists prepared to take matters into their own hands.

So, while a pack of indie theatre makers take the arts minister hostage at the biggest awards night of the year, one over-funded and over-nominated Opera soprano goes on the run to keep the money flowing and the doors locked behind her.

30 SEP – 4 OCT, 2026
FESTIVAL HUB: TRADES HALL