Our Mission

Dirty Pennies Theatre Project is a Naarm/ Melbourne based company dedicated first and foremost to the fostering and development of new work, with a particular focus on women, trans, nonbinary and queer voices, accessibility and daring. Our ethos is rooted in a shared passion for the art of theatre-making, in all its glorious and vexing forms. We’re galvanised by work that asks something more of an audience than to simply be entertained, although we’re big fans of the entertainment part too.

As a company we’re committed to our continued evolution and growth. Our goal is to get better and better at what we do, to forge meaningful creative connections and to deliver theatre that packs a punch, engages hearts and minds and sparks dialogue among communities big and small.

How We Work

We believe in making theatre from the ground up and place a high value on ethical and sustainable practice. Our bread and butter are the brilliant actors, directors, writers and designers who work with us and bring their unique talents to the table. We strive for a collaborative working structure, always open to ideas and willing to puzzle a problem with positive communication at the helm. We believe that when actors and creatives are respected and valued, the work will thrive. Ultimately we want to cultivate a progressive space where creative freedom reins in a supportive, hard-working environment, and where high quality theatre is the result.

What’s in a Name?

Many moons ago, one of our co-founders was walking around the Guggenheim Museum, and they stumbled upon an installation. There was a shimmering curtain of golden beads hanging from the ceiling, which school children gleefully ran through. On the other side was a small pile of something crumpled and dirty looking on the floor. As it turns out, the golden curtain was made of cheap, spray painted beads, and the ugly little pile was actual gold. Somewhere in the balance of the curtains fleeting pleasure, and the real gold’s hard-earned, unassuming value, was a metaphor for the often fickle value we place on art. At least that’s what they got out of it… They might be a wanker. In any case, it inspired the name Dirty Pennies.