Back in 2012, there was something missing from the Melbourne Fringe Festival Scene. The festival is amazing and there are hundreds of excellent shows on display in some beautiful venues around Melbourne, but the action is centered predominately around the North Melbourne Hub. Those from the south-eastern side had nothing locally to enjoy.

In response to this, Afterdark Theatre launched  'Gasworks Afterdark' for the Melbourne Fringe Festival in 2013. Featuring 6 shows across two venues this festival was a big success for Afterdark Theatre and finally brought the Fringe Festival to the South East.





Building upon last year,  Afterdark Theatre wants to do something bigger and better for the 2014 Fringe season. This year we hope to create the 'Boardwalk Republic', the FIRST Southside HUB garden for Melbourne Fringe in 2014.
The Boardwalk Republic is a centralised collection of venues, drawing inspiration from two of America’s famous boardwalks in entertainment history; the infamous Atlantic City boardwalk and the family friendly Coney Island. You might have seen the show Boardwalk Empire. We liked it, too
It will be a self sustained arts and entertainment village, covering multiple art- forms; from theatre, comedy, cabaret, circus, burlesque, magic, sideshow and visual arts, and will be home to multiple venues, food stalls, bars, and pop up stalls and galleries.

The Boardwalk Republic this year is planned to have 3 venues. That Gasworks Main Theatre which will be renamed 'Big House', the Studio Theatre (or the 'Clover Club' as we like to call it) and an all new venue 'The Bally'.




The Bally is a geometric dome tent that will be placed at the northern end of the 'Big House' and will house a number of small to medium size shows along with being the picture house for the Boardwalk Republic Movie Nights. The Bally provides a unique feel to shows and is most well known for its position in the Gluttony gardens during the Adelaide Festival. Sadly though great venues iike this don't just roll up for free, and to get The Bally to the Boardwalk Republic is looking at costing $6000. If this Pozible campaign can get us most of the way to helping us fund this venue, then that leaves more funds for the rest of the site, including...

The second and biggest new feature of the Boardwalk Republic compared to 2013's Gasworks Afterdark is the addition of a large outdoor area, of which the previously mentioned Bally will be part of.


The outdoor section will encompass the park directly to the south east of the gasworks main theatre. It will feature a number of community stalls, an art gallery, a bar (Either named Jimmy's Pier, or Charlie's Cocktail house, we're still deciding), an outdoor stage for free entertainment, food trucks, popcorn & fairfloss for the picture house, and tables and chairs to eat and make merry.

Naturally, a big outdoor setup like this requires some logistics. We're talking:

- Additional Toilets $2500
- temporary Fencing $2000
- Outoor stalls $1000
- Festoon Lighting $1000

Although this scope of this campaign is to assist with bringing The Bally to Gasworks, by raising these funds it will reduce the financial pressure on Afterdark to help create the rest of the park.

Apart from the obvious issue of funds, a project like this requires lots of planning and paperwork. Council permits, liquor licensing, booking food trucks, budgeting everything. But the goods news is we are slowly but surely getting through it. The council is on board and Gasworks themselves have been amazing, they are incredibly supportive and are helping guide us through everything that needs to happen.

The shows are booked and are rehearsing, and there is some serious talent there. If you like circus, cabaret or magic, the Boardwalk will be the place to be. And with your support, it will happen. We can't wait to see you all there.