Premiere at Gasworks

Please note: applications for 2024 will open on Monday, September 4. 

Premiere at Gasworks is a production opportunity to assist artists and creatives stage new and original works in a Gasworks Arts Park Theatre for the first time.

Staging new work can be overwhelming, especially when time and energy is splintered between the creative development, venue hire, marketing, and production processes. Premiere at Gasworks is an initiative to help alleviate some of these pressures so you can focus your energy into the creative aspects and produce a high-quality premiere season with greater accessibility. 

About Premiere:

Premiere at Gasworks offers artists assistance in the form of reduced venue hire rates, discounted staffing rates (where applicable), free rehearsal space (subject to availability), guided assistance through the hire process, marketing and graphic design support and advice on production design and technical aspects of their show. Successful applicants will have a package tailored to their unique work, providing them with the most resources we can offer that fit the needs of their show.

Successful applicants will have their production featured in the Gasworks Season Guide booklet which is distributed widely in the City of Port Phillip and to Arts venues throughout metropolitan Melbourne.

If successful, dates that work for both the venue and applicant will be discussed – there are no fixed dates that a performance must be staged.

Who can apply?

This initiative invites anyone to apply who meet the following criteria:

  • Have an original work (play, musical, dance or physical theatre)
  • The work must not have been performed anywhere else before (except for development showcases)
  • The applicant must have the rights to perform this work.

Benefits of Premiere

Participation in this initiative is an opportunity to stage an original creative work with the assistance of the Gasworks Arts Park team. You will be supported through the hire process allowing you to focus energy on the creative development and outcome of the performance.

Premiere at Gasworks creates the environment where creativity and artistic output are not compromised due competing factors involved in staffing a production. Providing financial subsidies, marketing support and venue hire support Premiere at Gasworks will allow you to stage your performance without compromising on the quality.