Illawarra Performing Arts Centre

For this exciting and much-needed work to happen, the building itself will be closed from 21 Dec 2022 to the end of May 2023. That doesn’t mean Merrigong won’t be open – the show will go on! We will be making great use of the Wollongong Town Hall, presenting a number of shows in an intimate theatre mode with raked seating. Our Box Office will also be located at Town Hall while work on the IPAC building is underway. On reopening we can look forward to vibrant, refreshed interiors, improved accessibility for all, a new air conditioning and heating system, and brand-new theatre seats. We hope you’ll enjoy our program at the Town Hall, and celebrate with us

Need a hand?

Our friendly Box Office staff are available Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm.

Visit us in person

Jan – May Wollongong Town Hall, Cnr Kembla St & Crown St, Wollongong Jun – Dec IPAC, 32 Burelli St, Wollongong

Email boxoffice@merrigong.com.au

Call 02 4224 5999 merrigong.com.au/season2023

Artist’s impression: foyer refurbishment

In the last few years, we’ve all experienced isolation – lockdowns and restrictions kept us isolated in our homes or local government areas, and then border closures kept us isolated from those interstate or overseas. It’s been a reminder of how fundamental it is to our human experience to connect beyond our own personal experience – to discover and interact with others, and in doing so to come to a greater understanding of our own selves. In a very tangible way, this is what theatre provides us – a window into the lived experience of others, through which we can learn, and empathise, and maybe most importantly, sometimes catch a glimpse of ourselves, and realise the essential unity in our human diversity.

Our 2023 Season offers just this opportunity – it’s an eclectic mix of theatrical experiences that invite you to connect with diverse voices, stories and energy. From the captivating charm of a Bangalore chai-wallah in Guru of Chai, a reluctant Chinese-Australian beauty pageant contestant in Miss Peony, a group of First Nations Elders gathered in January 1788 in The Visitors, and the neuro-diverse performers of our very own Strangeways Ensemble with their next stunningly original work, Something that Happened, we’ll be reminded that it’s not just the story that matters, but who tells it. And we’ll be exposed to an extraordinary range of styles of performance too – the heart-stopping stunts of Air Time, the incredible movement and undeniable clarity of voice of SILENCE, and the soaring gospel singing of Choir Boy. 2023 is a big year for us at Merrigong. With a major refurbishment project at IPAC, we’ll be creating a special intimate theatre with raked seating within the Wollongong Town Hall space, before inviting you back to the refreshed IPAC theatres in June. And we are excited to welcome a new voice into the direction of our program, with our colleague Leroy Parsons joining us as Producer – First Nations Program.

Our hope is that in 2023 you’ll connect with us, with the diverse range of artists on our stages, and with each other, and that together we’ll explore beyond, and find home.