Vampires, werewolves and witches are taking over the City of Melbourne’s dedicated youth space SIGNAL this winter, with immersive theatre work Monsteen set to premiere as part of RISING from 6-14 June 2026.
Designed for participants aged 13 to 17, the experience transforms the space into a fictional supernatural high school. Across each session, a group of up to 20 young people create their own characters, forming alliances, navigating friendships and making choices that shape how the story unfolds.
There’s no acting experience required. Instead, the work leans into roleplay, drawing on cosplay, gaming and live action roleplaying to build a structured but flexible world. Players move through scenarios that mirror teenage life, from awkward family dinners to shifting social dynamics, before confronting the more chaotic parts of their characters.
Created by Naarm based performance company Infinity, Monsteen has been developed with young people from the ground up. Early versions were tested through Arts Centre Melbourne’s PLAY program at The Channel, where participants helped shape the story and mechanics.
Throughout the experience, cast members guide players through the game, introducing spells, rules and pathways that influence how each session plays out. One of those guides, Zara Nawaz, said the appeal lies in the freedom it offers.
“I enjoy seeing [other] young people have fun and immerse themselves in the experience. Monsteen gives them a chance to be whoever they want to be in a supernatural world, a chance that many people haven’t experienced before,” Zara says.
Arts Centre Melbourne’s Head of Creative Engagement Cynthia Nolan Myers said the project’s journey to premiere highlights the value of early creative support.
“Watching Monsteen grow from its early development to a premiere presentation with the City of Melbourne’s SIGNAL team at Melbourne’s premiere arts festival, RISING is a proud moment for Arts Centre Melbourne and a powerful reminder of how the early investment in creativity can launch extraordinary artistic journeys,” Nolan Myers said.
Sessions run across the festival, offering a different kind of theatre experience shaped by the people inside it.
For more information visitartscentremelbourne.com.au.
