Trades Hall and the Magic of Independent Theatre

Walk with us to get a glimpse behind the curtain of Melbourne’s vibrant indie theatre scene, sharing a decade’s worth of magic (and tragic) theatre memories and connecting you with opportunities to immerse yourself in that scene year-round. If you’re curious about how art gets made beyond our city’s grandest theatres—in all its messy, silly, and delightful glory—then this walking tour is for you! 

What to expect: 

A 60-minute walking tour of Trades Hall. 

While every effort will be made to accommodate mobility levels, please note the tour will involve approximately 3km of walking, including across uneven surfaces. 

Being Human Festival 2025 

This project was produced in collaboration with the 2025 Being Human Festival. Founded in the UK as the only national festival of the humanities, Being Human is now a global celebration dedicated to demonstrating the breadth, diversity and vitality of the humanities. 

Your tour guide

Adam Hembree completed his PhD in English and Theatre Studies at the University of Melbourne, where he also works as an Academic Skills Advisor. His theatre company, Soothplayers, has been performing Completely Improvised Shakespeare in Melbourne and across Australia since 2015. In addition to his role as producer and Artistic Director for that show, Adam is also an ensemble performer at Impro Melbourne, where he has most recently performed in their festival seasons of Jane Austen Improvised. 

Questions? Contact arts-engage@unimelb.edu.au

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Top image credit: Mark Gambino