Seven ways to support independent theatre in Melbourne

Ticket sales get the artists paid and cover costs like venue hire, so being able to see a projected profit early is extremely helpful. Making theatre in general holds a large financial risk, and that’s especially true in the independent sector. Since arts funding has been slashed over the last decade, artists are having to contribute their own money to fund their projects. So the earlier your ticket is purchased, the earlier that stress starts to lift. Check out how Theatre Works breaks down their ticketing and programming here to get a better idea.

Tiered ticket prices are becoming more and more common at independent venues, so if you've got some extra change to spare, choosing to pay a little more can go a long way. Venues like La Mama Theatre have an option when booking called ‘Artist Lover’ which bumps a full priced ticket from $35 to $40. Standard practice is that the venue will take a smaller percentage of the box office revenue, and the majority is split between the artists. This is known as profit share, and many projects offer profit share as the only form of artist payment. So, that extra $5 can really make a difference. 

Since box office revenue largely goes to the artists, venues do rely on bar profits for added income. Venues often offer generous in-kind support to the artists coming through, so it’s important to consider the theatres themselves when supporting the independent theatre scene. Your Pinot Grigio and sea salt chippies aren’t going to fund a whole production, but it is going to help pay the wage for the usher working that night. Every little bit cycles back into the economy of the space, so you’re doing a good thing by getting a little treat or two. If you’re still looking to kick on, the Motley Bauhaus is a venue and artist bar open until late, so check them out for a post post show bev.

It's pretty common for indie artists to mingle in the foyer after the show and it’s perfectly acceptable to go have a chat with them about the work. If you see a show that you enjoy, look up the artists and company involved. Venues will have an email newsletter and signing up for these will keep you in the loop with everything going on. Instagram is also a great place to follow venues and artists alike. Theatre artists love to plug their upcoming projects, along with cool events happening within the community. Word of mouth is a genuine advertising structure – so speak up if you love something, and get along to support their future works.

There are options to donate to venues year round via their websites, which are tax deductible of course. Some ticketing sites will also have a voluntary donation option while purchasing tickets (note that this isn’t shared with the artists). You can also look out for GoFundMe campaigns, or fundraising nights. A trend on the up in the last few years is artists holding fundraising events to help support their work. Usually these will follow a variety night style with a preview of the show at the end. This is a fun way to get the community involved and excited about upcoming shows. Cafe Gummo in Thornbury loves to host these events, along with Scratch Nights where new work can be trialled. 

The aforementioned La Mama Theatre, Theatre Works and the Motley Bauhaus are excellent indie venues and host a wide variety of work. Other Melbourne venues worth checking out are Fortyfivedownstairs, Arts House, Red Stitch, Northcote Town Hall, the Substation, and Abbotsford Convent. All of these are versatile venues that have more than just theatre going on, and have regular programming year round. Another place to look will be looking much closer to home: check out what's going on in your local council. There are often gems to be found here, as a lot of independent theatre receives local funding in the early development stages. You might be able to snag a seat at a showing of the next big thing.

Melbourne hosts a plethora of arts festivals, with the biggest one for independent theatre makers being Melbourne Fringe Festival. Trades Hall transforms into the Festival Hub, with events taking all place day and night, (and kicking on to a nightclub in the AM). Perhaps a more advanced challenge on this list, but set aside a day during a festival to just see back to back shows at the one venue. See something because you think the title is weird, or because you like the poster. See something because you have time to fill. See something because there were only three tickets sold and they gave you a free ticket because they needed bums-on-seats. It's an exhausting but exhilarating way to spend a day, and you’re guaranteed to see some wild, and wildly contrasting things.