swim at Malthouse Theatre tickets
About swim
If you get tired, lie on your back and let the water carry you.
Sizzling hot concrete. Rainbow towels on half-dead grass. On a hot summer’s day, bodies of all shapes, colours and sizes journey to the public pool longing to do one thing… swim.
Genderfluid protagonist E negotiates the space between the men’s and women’s change rooms. They flex in front of the cute pool attendant. As they step onto the diving blocks, the words of their Aunty come to them – and suddenly, the crystalline blue tiles give way to much deeper water.
Mununjali poet Ellen van Neerven is one of Australia’s finest and most awarded writers (Throat, Heat and Light). swim, which premiered at Griffin Theatre Company, is their debut work for the stage. Now, ILBIJERRI Theatre Company, YIRRAMBOI and Malthouse Theatre bring the magical realism of this poetic play to the Kulin Nations, with direction from ILBIJERRI Artistic Director Andrea James.
Starring award-winning storyteller Cynda Jace Beare (Poems of a Transsexual Nature) and Tahlee Fereday (*Black Light, Because the Night8), swim is delicate and tough, honest and achingly beautiful – musing on everything from the sovereignty of water to gender identity and the binding strength of culture and family.
Know before you go
Time to Talk: Tuesday 18 May, 6.30pm
Run time
1hr 5min. No Interval.
Categories
Start date
12th May, 2027
End date
22nd May, 2027
Venue
Beckett Theatre | Malthouse Theatre
Accessibility
Ground floor of The Malthouse is accessible by wheelchair (enter via the ramp near the Box Office). The Merlyn and Beckett Theatre, MALT Kitchen & Pantry, Box Office, Bar and bathrooms are all located on the ground floor.
Directions
BY TRAM: The No. 1 South Melbourne tram goes right past our door. Get off at Stop 18. Any tram down St Kilda Road—jump off at Grant Street, Stop 17 and take a 3-minute walk.
BY TRAIN: Any train to Flinders Street, then a 12-minute stroll through Melbourne’s sparkling Arts Precinct.
BY BIKE: Secure your bike to one of the many racks outside the foyer.
BY CAR: Limited on-street parking is available on Grant Street, Sturt Street and Dodds Streets. Two disabled parking spaces are just outside The Malthouse entrance on Sturt Street.
More information about swim
★★★★ "A trip to the public pool provokes deep, submerged reflections." - Artshub
Writer: Ellen van Neerven
Director: Andrea James
Associate Director: Tré Turner
Movement Director: Kirk Page
Set & Costume Designer: Romanie Harper
Lighting Designer: Karen Norris
Composer & Sound Designer: Brendon Boney
Video Designer: Samuel James
CAST
E: Cynda Jace Beare
Samena / Aunty: Tahlee Fereday
Upcoming performances
Frequently asked questions
What is the running time of swim?
swim runs for 1hr 5min. No Interval.
Which theatre is swim at?
swim is at Southbank's Beckett Theatre | Malthouse Theatre, which is located at 113 Sturt Street, Southbank, 3006.
How much are tickets for swim?
swim tickets start at $45.
How do you get tickets for swim?
Check the top of this page for current availability on swim tickets on TodayTix.
How long is swim on for?
Tickets for swim are available through 22 May 2027 — check the calendar for the latest availability.
Is swim accessible?
Ground floor of The Malthouse is accessible by wheelchair (enter via the ramp near the Box Office). The Merlyn and Beckett Theatre, MALT Kitchen & Pantry, Box Office, Bar and bathrooms are all located on the ground floor.
