Monash University Performing Arts Centres

22/07/2026

Three-time Grammy nominated artist Nai Palm comes to Alexander Theatre for one night only.

As the creative force behind Hiatus Kaiyote, Nai Palm has shaped a sound that moves between soul, jazz and fearless experimentation. Her solo work is intimate, inventive and unmistakably her own.

A rare opportunity to experience one of Australia's most distinctive musical voices, on stage and in residence.

📅 16 October
🎟️ Tickets are limited

The Grammy nominated songwriter and creative force behind Hiatus Kaiyote comes to Alexander Theatre for one night only.

21/07/2026

✨ Big news for Djeembana yalinwa (Community Day) ✨

Joining the incredible Electric Fields for our free closing concert are two of the most exciting voices in First Nations music: Alice Skye and Velvet Trip.

From Alice Skye’s soaring songwriting to Velvet Trip’s dreamy blend of psych-rock, soul and indie-pop, this is a lineup built for celebration, connection and spending an unforgettable afternoon with friends, family and community.

Taking place in Robert Blackwood Hall on Saturday 5 September, this free concert brings Kindred People to a vibrant conclusion with a celebration of contemporary First Nations music.

📅 Saturday 5 September
🎟 Addmission is free, but bookings are essential: mpac.monash.edu/event/djeembana-yalinwa

Gather your people and lock in your spot now.

Everyone’s welcome at Kindred People. Come listen, learn and gather on Country.

20/07/2026

What does Kindred People sound like?

The festival’s sonic identity was created by Jaadwa musician, composer and researcher James Howard, whose work draws on First Nations culture, Country and storytelling to create something both deeply grounded and contemporary.

For Kindred People, James brought together the sounds of Koorie songs and ceremonies – hand claps, clapsticks, breath and voice – alongside the sounds of Country, weaving them through contemporary electronic production. The result is a living soundtrack that reflects the festival’s spirit of gathering, exchange and connection.

As James shares, Kindred People is an opportunity to connect and share knowledge and stories with Mob, locally and globally, on our own terms.

Everyone’s welcome at Kindred People. Come listen, learn and gather on Country.

📸 Photo by

13/07/2026

The visual identity of Kindred People was created in collaboration with Gumbaynggirr artist, activist and creative Aretha Brown.

Drawing on symbols that connect people, Country, culture and creativity, Aretha’s artwork reflects the festival’s spirit of connection and exchange. Eels, eel traps, mangrove roots, turntables and trumpets sit alongside one another, creating a living visual language that honours both tradition and contemporary Indigenous expression.

As Aretha shares, art is cultural memory – a way stories, knowledge and identity are carried forward across generations. Her work helps shape Kindred People as a gathering grounded in community, creativity and cultural strength.

Swipe through to hear Aretha reflect on the meaning behind the artwork and what Kindred People represents to her.

🎟 Explore the program: kindredpeople.monash.edu

Everyone’s welcome at Kindred People. Come listen, learn and gather on Country.

10/07/2026

Our forest adventure has come to an end 🌿

Thank you to everyone who stepped into the forest with us at Family Fiesta 2026.

Across four days, MPAC transformed into a world of wonder, filled with theatre, music, dance, art and hands-on discovery. Together, we created moments of imagination, play and connection.

Swipe through to revisit some snapshots from this year’s festival.

Until next time, keep exploring the worlds beneath, around and beyond us.

📸 John Lloyd Fillingham

08/07/2026

From Australia to Aotearoa and across the Pacific, Kindred People brings together First Nations voices, stories and knowledge.

In a feature for Limelight, Creative Director Tom Molyneux reflects on the ideas, connections and cultural exchange at the heart of the inaugural Indigenous-led festival.

“Kindred People is unique. It's a celebration of First Nations art, culture, ceremony and wisdom. It is a coming together of global communities, an exchange of knowledge, stories, truths, and research. It is a weaving together of our collective experiences in the face of existential challenges. It is healing. It is transformative. It is where tradition and the contemporary collide."

kindredpeople.monash.edu

Australian Dance Theatre, composer Aaron Wyatt, Electric Fields and Marlene Cummins to feature in a new festival bringing together First Nations musicians, performers, artists and thinkers from Australia and beyond.

06/07/2026

Experience chamber music up close with Affinity Quartet.

Join us for an evening of Beethoven, Shostakovich and music by Australian composer Alice Chance in the intimate surrounds of the David Li Sound Gallery.

Hear Chance’s Gifts from a Thieving Bluebird, written especially for Affinity Quartet, alongside Beethoven’s luminous Harp Quartet and Shostakovich’s powerful String Quartet No. 10.

The Sound Gallery’s intimate acoustics invite close listening from every seat.

Affinity Quartet
FRI 7 AUG | 7.30pm
David Li Sound Gallery

Affinity Quartet in concert at MPAC, 7 August. Beethoven, Shostakovich and Alice Chance in the Sound Gallery's intimate chamber music setting.

01/07/2026

Big news for a little show with a huge universe 🌏

We’re celebrating Lemony S Puppet Theatre’s Little Blue Dot, commissioned by MPAC, securing a $244,888 Creative Australia grant for a national tour from 2026–2028.

Sparked by children’s big questions and shaped alongside Monash astrophysicists, this beautiful co-creation blends together science, story and striking puppetry into something truly special.

Now, it’s heading to 23 venues across the country, sharing wonder and curiosity with audiences far and wide.

A proud moment for Lemony S and for MPAC 💫

Read more: go.monash.edu/news

30/06/2026

Bringing together First Nations artists, Elders and Knowledge Holders from Australia and across the world, Kindred People spans performance, music, visual art, ceremony and knowledge exchange.

Explore the festival program: kindredpeople.monash.edu

29/06/2026

Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria present Patience 🌻

Sparkling with wit, romance and some of Arthur Sullivan’s most beautiful music, this hilarious satire follows lovestruck maidens, confused soldiers and a faux poet in a sharp send-up of Victorian society and the Aesthetic Movement.

Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Vic bring this tale to life with 40 singers on stage with a live orchestra.

10–12 July
Book tickets: mpac.monash.edu/event/patience