After three jam-packed weeks of Melbourne’s most exciting independent art, the curtains have closed on the 2024 Melbourne Fringe Festival.
The Melbourne Fringe Awards are an opportunity for Melbourne’s arts community to celebrate and acknowledge the diversity, professionalism and exceptional quality of work in each year’s Festival.
2024 BEST IN CATEGORY
Best Cabaret:
Madame Martha’s Hush Cabaret
Best Circus:
In Place
Best Comedy:
C*N’T
Best Dance & Physical Theatre:
Dancing in Infinite Worlds
Best Experimental:
I’m Ready To Talk Now
Best Kids:
Dream Swamp
Best Music:
Gikilangangu Wergaia
Best Theatre:
Running Into The Sun
Best Visual Arts & Film:
FLAMES DANCED IN THEIR HAIR BUT DID NOT BURN THEM
Best Words & Ideas:
Borrow a Brick for Contact Listening
2024 SPECIAL AWARDS
Spirit of the Fringe:
Weave: The Solos
Best Work by an Emerging Artist:
Black Girl Rising
Access and Inclusion Award:
Flies on What-If Island
Director’s Choice
Temple of Desire
Crowd Pleaser Award:
Business and Pleasure
Sound and Technical Excellence Award, supported by Front of House Productions:
CON 2077
Venue of the Year:
La Mama
2024 TOURING AWARDS
Edinburgh Touring Award: supported by Summerhall
Shitbag
New Zealand Touring Award: supported by New Zealand Fringe
Assigned Magician at Birth
NSW Touring Award: supported by Sydney Fringe
Twenty Million Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
QLD Touring Award: supported by Brisbane Comedy Festival
A Night with Cherry Vinyl
SA Touring Award: supported by Adelaide Fringe
Transmission – into the dark
WA Touring Award: supported by FRINGE WORLD Festival
a scary thing happened by the CAMPFIRE
2024 ARTIST DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
Artform Shaker Award: supported by Theatre Network Australia
Shitbag
Change Maker Award: supported by Theatre Network Australia
Oliver Ayres, I’m Ready To Talk Now
Best Emerging Indigenous Artist: supported by Wilin Centre (VCA & MCM)
Maggie Church-Kopp, In Place
Best Emerging Producer: supported by MILKE
Ryan Stewart
Market Ready Award: supported by Regional Arts Victoria
Marcus Ryan – Eat, Pray, Walk
Headroom Award: supported by RISING
The Bloom
Emerging Company Incubator Award: supported by Monash’s Faculty of Arts
Running Into The Sun
Outstanding Newcomer: supported by Auspicious Arts
Bisexual Intellectuals
Geelong Creative Development Award: supported by Geelong Arts Centre
KINDER
New Writing Award: supported by Melbourne Theatre Company
Ballkids (or, scenes from a friendship)
Comedy New Work Award: supported by Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Robyn Reynolds is on trial
2024 DESIGN FRINGE AWARDS
Best in Furniture:
Britt Salt, Turning the Grid (I and II)
Best in Lighting:
Richard Greenacre, Crux (Quintet and Trio)
Best in Object Design:
Makushla Harper, Sobremesa Cup Set
Best in Bespoke:
Eugenie Kawabata, Botanica Exotica: Unknown Civilisations #2
Best in Experimental:
Evie Rosa, The Comforter
Authentic Design Alliance Design Futures Award 2024:
Carl Broesen, Loom Lounge
2024 MELBOURNE FRINGE LIVING LEGEND AWARD
Yumi Umiumare
For more information about the Melbourne Fringe Festival, visit: www.melbournefringe.com.au for details.
Image: Yumi Umiumare – photo by Vikk Shayen