Parties & Social Events

Opening Night Gala

Taste-test this year’s Melbourne Fringe Festival at our glamourous opening night celebration!

Dates 01 Oct
Time 7:30pm (90 minutes)
Venues The Capitol

$39.00

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Michelle Brasier performs on stage facing an audience at the Capitol Theatre. There is a purple colour wash

Gillian Cosgriff, a white woman with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes, wears a bright puffy pink shirt and chequed red and pink pants. She has one arm crossed in front of her, and her left hand resting under her chin. She looks towards the camera with a look of anticipation.

Parties & Social Events

Image Credit: Nick Robertson

Hosted by: Gillian Cosgriff
Featuring: Maude Davey, Ivan Aristeguieta, Na Djinang Circus and more!
Presented by: Melbourne Fringe, supported by RMIT Culture

There's no other way to kick off the Melbourne Fringe Festival than by gracing the purple carpet at our glorious Opening Night Gala. It's outrageous, glamorous, and very, very fringey.

At the historic Capitol Theatre, you'll rub shoulders with the crème de la crème of the independent arts amidst a variety showcase featuring a tasty selection of snippets from the fest.

To celebrate the 2024 Festival theme ‘Eat Your Art Out,’ the dress code for the Gala is ‘Culinary Couture.’ Whether it's your chef whites or an inflatable hot dog costume, we want to see your best food-themed finery. Get down early to have your outfit snapped and chat to our Purple Carpet host, Tash York!

Whet your appetite for the 2024 Melbourne Fringe Festival with this scrumptious opening night celebration of all things Fringe. Featuring performances from Maude Davey, The Huxleys, Na Djinang Circus, Ivan Aristeguieta, The Burton Brothers, Hannah Camilleri and Nat Harris, the cast of Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence, Tomáš Kantor from SUGAR, and the Secret Immersive show LOCUS — this is one not to be missed!

Duration: 90 minutes
Event Accessibility: Deaf or Hard of Hearing Rating: Partially Accessible
Age suitability: PG
Event warnings: Contains Sustained Bright Lights, Haze Effects, Some Nudity, Moderate Coarse Language, Both Sudden And Sustained Loud Noises, Some Infrequent/Low Pressure Audience Interaction.

Please join us at the official Opening of the Festival over at COOKED: Seasoning The Grill at Fed Square from 5pm, where the oldest continuously grilling culture lights up the BBQ for a night of smoke, dance, art and mad feeds in this First Nations led event. Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony will take place at 6pm.

The Capitol
113 Swanston St, Melbourne, vic, 3000

Wheelchair Access

The Capitol is wheelchair accessible.

Assistive Hearing

The Capitol is hearing loop accessible. Please advise of access requirement when buying tickets.

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