The Melbourne Fringe Festival is Open Access – that means that anyone with something to say is invited to come say it under our umbrella. With 450+ events presented annually by Melbourne’s emerging and independent artistic talent across every possible artform, in-theatre experiences sit alongside digital art, live streams and outdoor events made by big names, new names and everyday citizens scratching their creative itches.

Located in Melbourne’s iconic Trades Hall, Common Rooms is Melbourne Fringe’s year-round home for independent artists, for workers and for people who like to party. It’s a meeting place housing a licensed performance space and a salon, for one-off and regular events, including live music, performance, comedy, cabaret, dance parties, spoken word, workshops and rehearsals.

We’re a cultural enterprise, which means that we use bar sales from commercial events to support local artists with opportunities to test their ideas and reach new audiences. We offer a vibrant year-round program of accessible performances and events at Trades Hall, ensuring everyone can discover the best emerging and independent artistic talent.

Fringe Common Rooms is a culturally and physically safe space for our community, including LGBTIQ+, First Nations, people who are Deaf or with disability. We welcome all artists and creative people, as well as the residents of Trades Hall, workers and members of the union movement.

Fringe Common Rooms is where culture and community collide.

So if you have an idea for an event, whether it’s a show, private function (or really anything you can dream of) then we want to hear from you. Click here for venue hire.

Supported by Maureen Wheeler AO and Tony Wheeler AO