RISING Melbourne has announced its 2025 program, featuring 65 events, 327 artists, 15 new commissions, and nine world premières. The festival, running from June 4 – 15, celebrates new art, performance, and music, transforming Melbourne into a vibrant hub of creativity and cultural exchange.

DATES & DEETS

BLKDOG by Botis Seva will premiere from June 4 to 7. This Olivier Award-winning hip-hop dance production, supported by The British Council, delves into the struggles of youth through raw, autobiographical choreography. Seva’s visionary work, accompanied by Torben Lars’ powerful score, features seven dancers in a gripping, hallucinatory performance. The production’s exploration of identity and mental health promises to be both thought-provoking and visually stunning. Don’t miss this exclusive Australian debut at The Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne.

Another highlight is The ACT from June 11 to 14, supported by The British Council’s Connections Through Culture programme. This innovative performance piece challenges traditional theatre norms, blending immersive storytelling with interactive elements. It is a collaboration between Amrita Hepi, a Bunjalung Ngapuhi artist and one of Naarm/Melbourne’s pre-eminent voices in contemporary dance, and Tilly Lawless, a writer and sex worker who shares sharp and heartfelt insights into queer romance and the stigma faced by sex workers. Audiences will experience a unique narrative journey that explores themes of rebellion and societal change.

Tickets are on sale now! Don’t miss out.