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Songs in Yorta Yorta
GANBINAN! is written entirely in Yorta Yorta, and Allara and Lou Bennett turn the album into an immersive live show.
Festivals & traditions
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Malthouse Theatre and its square in Southbank, Melbourne, in 2008, where SWIM plays; a file photo. · Report image rightsMelbourne · AustraliaFestivals & traditions
2027.05.06 — 2027.05.16 · Coming soon
The hum of Country beneath the city.
YIRRAMBOI Festival 2027
YIRRAMBOI is narrm (Melbourne)’s First Nations festival and a leading platform for First Nations evolutionary and experimental arts; it marks ten years from 6 to 16 May 2027. Four new commissions premiere there: GANBINAN!, an album written entirely in Yorta Yorta that becomes an immersive live music experience; Somewhere Over the Blak Rainbow, roving street theatre in which two drag personas guide audiences through the Blak and Queer histories of Fitzroy; Withewa, a film work honouring Aboriginal Elders; and What Yet, contemporary circus on how cultural knowledge passes to young First Nations people. The first show announced is SWIM by Ellen van Neerven, directed by Andrea James, at Malthouse’s Beckett Theatre from 12 to 22 May, now on sale.
GOWOAH / Melbourne
A REASON TO GO
A REASON TO GO
Venues across Melbourne (narrm)2027.05.06 — 2027.05.16Festivals & traditionsAdmission cost unconfirmed
FIND YOUR REASON
What draws you to this experience?
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Street theatre with drag guides
A chocolate-lily drag queen and a wombat drag king lead audiences through Fitzroy’s Blak and Queer histories.
Festivals & traditions03
SWIM opens the program
Ellen van Neerven’s play, directed by Andrea James, where memory moves through water, comes to Melbourne for the first time.
Festivals & traditionsA LITTLE CLOSER
A closer look.
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2024 · Shkuru Afshar · Photo source · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Preview cropped; enlarge for full image. · Report image rights
MAKE IT YOUR EXPERIENCE
Does this fit what you are looking for?
This could be for you if you are…
- Anyone drawn to First Nations culture and contemporary art
- Anyone in Melbourne in May
Before you decide
The full program is not out yet.
Shows are at different venues, each ticketed separately.
SWIM runs until 22 May, past the festival.
FIND YOUR PLACE
Explore the layout. Plan your route.
Shows are spread across Melbourne, and venues are not all announced.
Open official guide ↗FROM AN IDEA TO A PLAN
Make a plan that works for you.
Dates & times
2027.05.06 — 2027.05.16Thursday 6 to Sunday 16 May 2027 (Melbourne time); times and venues per show to be announced. SWIM runs 12–22 May.
Australia/MelbourneMore programme details
- Songs in Yorta Yorta
- Street theatre with drag guides
- SWIM opens the program
Venue & travel
Venues across Melbourne (narrm)Shows are spread across Melbourne; SWIM is at Malthouse Theatre, 113 Sturt Street, Southbank.
Entry & companions
Times, venues and prices are set per show; SWIM is on sale through Malthouse Theatre.
Tickets & access
Set per show · SWIM on sale
Confirm accessibility services and companion policies with the organiser before travel.
Sources & image credits
Dates and entry details refer to this edition; individual sessions may differ.
Donaldytong · CC BY-SA 3.0 Image source
YIRRAMBOI Festival
Malthouse Theatre and its square in Southbank, Melbourne, in 2008, where SWIM plays; a file photo.
Information checked on 2026-10-16
Suggest a correction ↗Festivals & traditionsThe Doug Anthony All Stars at Melbourne Town Hall during the 2016 Melbourne International Comedy Festival; a file photo.
Photo source · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped preview· Report image rights
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Photo source · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped preview· Report image rights
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