UMAC closes out 2025 with two bold new productions

The University of Melbourne Arts and Culture (UMAC) is closing out the year with two standout productions that promise to captivate audiences with their depth, artistry, and heart.

The productions include the Victorian premiere of Whitefella Yella Tree by Dylan Van Den Berg, and the 20th anniversary season of PIECES, a landmark contemporary dance showcase.

Running from November 13 to 15 at the University’s Union Theatre, Whitefella Yella Tree marks the Victorian debut of one of Australia’s most celebrated new works. Described by The Sydney Morning Herald as “a new Australian classic,” the play has earned acclaim for its tender, powerful portrayal of love, Country and Blak queerness.

Written by award-winning playwright Dylan Van Den Berg, the story unfolds “once in a blue moon, in the middle of nowhere,” where two young Aboriginal men, Ty and Neddy, meet under a lemon tree. What begins as an awkward encounter blossoms into friendship, and eventually a fragile romance – one shadowed by the changes that colonisation will bring.

Directed by Declan Greene and Amy Sole, the play stars Joseph Althouse (The Visitors) and Danny Howard (Jacky), whose performances have been praised for their warmth, humour, and emotional truth.

“I never dreamed two lovestruck boys under a lemon tree would have such long legs,” Van Den Berg said ahead of the Melbourne premiere. “This story means a great deal to me, and I’m so proud to see it take root again.”

Just two weeks later, UMAC will host the 20th anniversary of PIECES, the acclaimed contemporary dance program established by choreographer Lucy Guerin in 2005. Running from November 28 to 30, the 2025 edition features three bold new works from choreographers Jenni Large, Jo Lloyd, and Siobhan McKenna – each commissioned by Lucy Guerin Inc. and UMAC.

Originally known as Pieces for Small Spaces, the program has evolved into one of Australia’s most significant platforms for experimental choreography. Guerin said the milestone season would celebrate two decades of creative risk-taking and discovery.

“Many of the most daring and celebrated choreographic voices in Australia have tested their early ideas in this program,” Guerin said. “Every year for 20 years I have eagerly anticipated PIECES, and I can’t wait for this milestone season to unfold.”

Among this year’s works are McKenna’s Hush, exploring the rhythm and tone of respiration as a form of communication; Lloyd’s Post hoc, a playful reflection on suspense and the passage of time; and Large’s Lip, a sharp and visceral duet where “the body becomes a weapon, and revenge is a complicated game.”

Presented in the Union Theatre, both Whitefella Yella Tree and PIECES highlight UMAC’s growing reputation as a major hub for performing arts innovation in Victoria.

Tickets for both productions are on sale now at umac.melbourne or via
Ticketmaster. •