YIRRAMBOI Reveals Second Major Program Drop

400+ FIRST NATIONS CREATIVES, 10 DAYS, ONE CITY.

A 10-day feast of mediums spanning the breadth of artistic expression, YIRRAMBOI returns for its fifth iteration, breaking new ground as it takes centre stage in Narrm’s arts precinct. This year’s festival explores four powerful anchors—Legacy, Joy, Reclamation, and Akin—that form the foundation of its most ambitious program to date.

Deeply rooted in purpose, YIRRAMBOI platforms expressions of culture, identity, unity, and truth through evolutionary and experimental practices, breaking away from preconceived ideas of First Nations ‘art’. YIRRAMBOI provides a stage for First Nations voices to be heard, for stories to reverberate through generations, to drive change and create a future where First Peoples are rightly celebrated.

YIRRAMBOI Co-Lead, J-Maine Beezley (Wakka Wakka/Kabi Kabi) said, “We are honoured to have inherited the legacy of YIRRAMBOI and to be trusted as the caretakers of such a powerful platform. YIRRAMBOI may be perceived as a young festival, taking its opening bow in 2017; however, the spirit of the festival comes from 4,000 generations of cultural knowledge and over 230 years of resilience.”

YIRRAMBOI Co-Lead, Sherene Stewart (Taungurung/Filipino) said, “The 2025 program is evolutionary, explorative, diverse, and deeply rooted in purpose, amplifying the voices of now, presented in unwavering truth. It’s with immense pride, we again create a platform where brilliant First Nations minds from across the globe converge—where old stories awaken, and new narratives are forged.”

Aboriginal Melbourne portfolio head, Dr Olivia Ball said, “YIRRAMBOI is an established mainstay of the cultural landscape on this ancient continent and is back in May for a fifth stupendous outing of First Nations performers and artists from home and abroad. With possibly the most exciting program yet, YIRRAMBOI 2025 is centred at the Malthouse Theatre, but spread over more than 40 venues across Narrm. Do not miss it!”

Creative and Arts portfolio head, Phillip Le Liu said, “This year’s festival will platform a record 400 creatives, filling our streets and laneways with stories, performances and art told through First Nations voices.”

Following the announcement of 7 groundbreaking works and activations at the Uncle Jack Charles Festival Hub, YIRRAMBOI is thrilled to unveil an additional lineup of local, national, and international shows that are set to captivate audiences. This is just the beginning! Stay tuned for the next exciting program drop on March 20.

In 2025, YIRRAMBOI hosts a convergence of 400+ First Nations creatives across 180 performances and activating over 40 venues, cracking open the heart of Narrm and revealing the hum of Country beneath. Will you hear it?
As a critically acclaimed international arts festival, YIRRAMBOI possesses the power to lead the arts industry into a new TOMORROW.
Change is NOW.

LEGACY
Through film, photography, and visual art, Apryl Day and Jirra Lulla create a love letter to Country in their deeply moving exhibition, HOLDING
S P A C E. The exhibition invites audiences to reflect on resilience and the enduring ties that bind people to place.
1–11 May. QVWC

World premiering at YIRRAMBOI 2025 in partnership with Fed Square, led by Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Vicki Nicholson-Brown & Wurundjeri, Dja Dja Wurrung and Ngurai Illum-Wurrung woman Stacie Piper, banj ba walert : water and possum reawakens and renews the cultural practice of possum skin drumming from ancestors right here on this soil. Audiences are invited to discover the creation of the drums and the tradition of water dance.
2–11 May. The Edge, Federation Square

Table for 6, please! Prepare to be captivated by a theatre dinner show that pays tribute to the bold, brilliant, and unapologetically strong women who have not only paved the way but fearlessly shaped the future of the stage. This isn’t just dinner - it’s a moment in history. Starring Kylie Belling, Lily Shearer, Dr. Lynette Narkle, Margo Kane, Rachael Maza, Rhoda Roberts, Hosted by Emily Wells & Co-Devised by Sherene Stewart & Sage Wright.
Tue 6 May. The Show Room, Arts Centre Melbourne

Step into a sultry world where cabaret meets drag in Tina – A Tropical Love Story. Written and performed by Ben Graetz (Miss Ellaneous), this concert, cabaret, and variety show recounts personal tales of transformation inspired by the legendary Tina Turner. This vibrant production radiates pure joy.
Step into a sultry world where cabaret meets drag in Tina – A Tropical Love Story. Written and performed by Ben Graetz (Miss Ellaneous), this concert, cabaret, and variety show recounts personal tales of transformation inspired by the legendary Tina Turner. This vibrant production radiates pure joy.
Wed 7 May. Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre

Blak Women’s Healing transforms Arts House into a sanctuary of resistance, sovereignty, and cultural expression. Guided by Dr. Paola Balla and Aboriginal women’s voices, visitors will engage with powerful installations, yarning circles, live weaving, and workshops that create space for healing and shared storytelling.
23 April–17 May. Arts House

TENYA, meaning “Us” in Anaiwan, is a profound exploration of Anaiwan cultural revitalisation through walking as practice. Created by Anaiwan and Gumbaynggirr artist Gabi Briggs, this new work builds upon her 2024 piece ARKAN & IRBELA, deepening her journey into language renewal and connection to Country.

As Briggs prepares for a 100km journey on Anaiwan land, TENYA unfolds as a multi-layered sound and visual installation, capturing the act of communicating with Country. This process becomes a song—woven into a larger narrative of Anaiwan knowledge systems, intergenerational dialogue, and the deep ties between identity and Place, echoing the sentiment: “I am located, therefore I am.”
30 April–10 May. The Substation

JOY
Meanwhile, Mabu Mabu serves up bold flavours and fierce comedy, pairing Native Torres Strait Islander dishes, free flowing mimosas with drag performers & comedians in two highly anticipated sit-downs, Bottomless Drag Brunch and Sunday Comedy Roast.
3 & 10 May. Big Esso by Mabu Mabu

Chunky Move’s Dance Class Program will run during the YIRRAMBOI, offering adult beginner, open-level, and masterclasses. All classes are taught by First Nations dance practitioners working within Melbourne’s esteemed contemporary dance community.
1-10 May. Chunky Move

RECLAMATION
Look out! Blak to the Future is crash landing onto the forecourt of Arts Centre Melbourne. Returning for its fifth iteration like never before, this Installation reflects on the deep-rooted history and ongoing presence of Blak art in Narrm. It dives into Blak to the Future’s grassroots origins, presenting archival footage and new works within an immersive, 360 lounge room.
1–11 May. Forecourt, Arts Centre Melbourne

A gripping modern mystery unfolds in The Black Woman of Gippsland, a poetic and thrilling exploration of Victoria’s dark past. Written and directed by Andrea James, this story dives into the myths surrounding a ‘white woman’ said to have lived among the Gunaikurnai people in the 1840s, blending beauty, tragedy, and rebellion in a powerful reflection on silenced histories.
5–31 May. The Sumner, Southbank Theatre

When Monster premiered as part of the first YIRRAMBOI Festival in 2017, the work became an urban legend in the arts industry, an enigma that left a lasting impression for those lucky enough to have seen it.

For YIRRAMBOI 2025, performance artist Joshua Pether presents Monster in the Cyborg Body—a merging of two pivotal works from different moments in his life and artistic journey. Staged as a sun-up-to-sundown event at Arts Centre Melbourne’s The Channel, this reimagined performance blends Monster with his earlier work, Cyborg Body, a work which became the catalyst for Monster and the cornerstone of Pether’s artistic practice and interrogation of the body.
Sat 3 May. The Channel, Arts Centre Melbourne

Peggy Sue & Wiran’s Dream is a double bill of new works from Deadly Creatives at Melbourne Theatre Company, presented together in a single performance. Wiran’s Dream tells the story of two brothers whose lives are changed when young Jack is chosen for a prestigious city school. Torn between family loyalty and the promise of a new future, he must navigate cultural divides and uncover hidden secrets to find his place. Peggy Sue follows a young Blak woman whose move to a North Melbourne share house becomes a journey of self-discovery. Exploring sexuality and relationships within a microcosm of the settler colony, she confronts challenges that will ultimately define her future.
2–3 May. The Lawler, Southbank Theatre

For families and bubups (babies), ENOKi’s Wonderland transforms Artplay into a hub of artful play. From sculpting ancient creatures to shadow play and storytelling, this dynamic space, led by Darcy McConnell (ENOKi), offers a space where kids can connect, collaborate, create, and let their imaginations soar! ENOKi’s Wonderland will also host a Bubup’s First Rave! on Sunday, May 11th (Mother’s Day) Kids and families are invited to move their mooms (bottoms) in this fun and energetic dance party!
1-11 May. ArtPlay

Iluka Sax-Williams is taking over the SIGNAL building, presenting his highly anticipated art exhibition, Dabana meaning to “to fill up” or “pour in” in the Taungurung language. Sax-Williams invites viewers to immerse themselves in a dynamic exploration of identity and place as a young Indigenous person. Reflecting on his Narrm upbringing, Sax-Williams offers a unique perspective shaped by both the urban environment and his deep connection to his ancestral roots. In Dabana, the artist reflects on how these two worlds—modern city life and traditional practices—intersect and inform his sense of self.
2-11 May. SIGNAL

PLATFORM is a First Nations-led creative development program celebrating the evolution of contemporary dance through a multi-generational lens. This exhibition captures the journey of choreographers and dancers as they expand their creative expression, led by a powerhouse of First Nations artists including Djirri Djirri dancers Mikayla George and Kiera Hunter, under the guidance of Dr. Mandy Nicholson, worked alongside renowned choreographers Vicki Van Hout, Joel Bray, and A Daylight Connection—Carly Sheppard, Kamarra Bell-Wykes, and Small Sound. Documenting the creative development process through photography and interviews, the exhibition offers an intimate insight into the artistic reflections, experimentation, and evolution of these choreographers and dancers.
8–18 May. St Heliers Street Gallery, Abbotsford Convent

AKIN
A groundbreaking cross-cultural collaboration between Australian and Canadian First Nations artists, Frances Belle Parker, Tess Allas, and Adrian Stimson, We Are the Land We Walk Upon celebrates cultural exchange, resilience, and belonging. This captivating installation traces the shared journey of walking upon each other’s lands, together weaving together stories, traditions, and the deep connection to the earth.
1–11 May. Immigration Museum

Legendary Cree-Saulteaux Métis artist Margo Kane (Canada), renowned for her groundbreaking contributions to Indigenous performance, returns to the stage with an evocative new theatre work, There’s Something I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You… through her signature wit, wisdom, and warmth, she poses powerful questions: What territories have we traversed? What paths have brought us here? Where do we stand, and what do we stand for? Why stand at all—why not sit?!
3–4 May. The Show Room, Arts Centre Melbourne

Sorry For Your Loss is a heartfelt and hilarious story about growing up on the mean streets of Aotearoa with a sometimes-there-mostly-not Dad. Cian Parker (New Zealand) shares her story about reclaiming her heritage when she is unexpectedly introduced to a father and a family she didn’t know existed. Parker has teamed up with director and dramaturg Laura Haughey, who brings her unique physical approach to storytelling in this vibrant, award-winning piece of devised theatre.
9–10 May. The Channel, Arts Centre Melbourne

Secure tickets to the full YIRRAMBOI 2025 program at yirramboi.com.au/program