Arts Centre Melbourne has announced the creation of a new 150-seat performance space, The Show Room.

“While the State Theatre undergoes refurbishment until 2027, we saw an opportunity to transform the existing State Theatre Rehearsal Room into a more intimate performance space, along with a year-round program” said Arts Centre Melbourne’s Director of Programming Stephen Armstrong.

The Show Room. Photo @ Marie-Luise Skibbe

“Without The Show Room we wouldn’t be able to present performances that have the potential to truly capture audiences in such an intimate space. The curated, site-specific program allows us to engage with the broader Victorian and international performing arts communities in completely new ways.”

The Show Room program will feature productions from independent artists and established arts institutions, including new works from theatre creators Van Badham, Gary Abrahams and Kristen Smyth and the much-anticipated return of Wang Chong 王翀. The Show Room will also host collaborations with and productions from The Australian Ballet, Arts Access Victoria and Melbourne Fringe.

The Show Room’s premiere work is Little Murmur, an international contemporary dance production from Aakash Odedra and Lewis Major. The stage adaption of the children’s book Grug is on stage...